Curiously inviting, unique yet approachable: Something in the Water Brewing

Curious beer? Must be Something in the Water.

The Something in the Water Brewing Co. taproom on Princess Street in Kingston has been an instant success, attracting fans and favs from across the region to savour something different in a welcoming, cafe-like setting. 

It’s the second location for Something in the Water, after they quickly outgrew the original taproom in Toronto. Co-founder Rick Tanton said that shortly after opening in Toronto, they realized they were undersized and limited by space constraints: they didn’t have enough tanks to produce the quantity of beer needed. That led them to seek out a second location - deciding on a spot in Kingston, which had already been a brewery. The fact that co-founder Steve Waugh used to roam the city as a student at Queen’s University made it all fit the bill perfectly.

But this is no ordinary taproom. It’s more of a stylish yet chill vibe, with a large pink velvet banquette, elegant light fixtures and stemmed glassware. “Steve and I both knew, to make our space truly one that anyone and everyone would feel comfortable and happy inside, we needed another point of view,” Tanton said. “We hired a female designer and architect team to help us get there, and we felt they really delivered.”

While Toronto was the first location, Kingston became a great opportunity to take that design system and fit it into a fresh space. “We do hope that we can become a place where anybody can feel at home,” he said. 

The Beer

Something different - enjoyable and to be shared. The team at Something in the Water wanted to create memorable brews that nudged the drinker once they dove in. “We clung onto the term “curious” early on, which we took to mean a little different than the standard, but not so weird that it was hard to enjoy,” Tanton said. 

In that vein, he said their Pilsner is true to style, but also uses ingredients sourced from close to the brewery. In addition, perhaps their most curious concoction is the annual Bumper Boat beer, which delivers peanut butter and jelly inside a white stout.

Tanton said the main goal with their beer is shareability. “We want to be the place you think of when your friends want to go out for the night, or the mixed case you buy for a party because we've covered all the bases for you,” he said. “Flawless execution is the goal, but shareability is the mission.”

So far, so good. Something in the Water Brewing Company was awarded Canada’s New Brewery of the Year in 2023 at the Brewer’s Choice Awards; double gold for branding at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards in 2021, as well as silver at the World Beer Awards for their Pancake Bay Sweet Brunch Stout in a blind tasting in London, England.

But the taste test that always hits home is with their patrons - and Liberty's Farm-to-Glass Pilsner, the all-Ontario ingredient beer Something in the Water launched in 2022, is consistently the top seller in the taprooms. 

Surprisingly, Tanton said Painted Lake Peach Crisp, a 3.8% peach ring candy sour, is now also top three in the taprooms and lighting up the shelves at the LCBO. “It was supposed to be an annual seasonal release when we first made it, but people couldn't get enough, so we kept bringing it back,” he said. 

Tanton attributes their success to pairing a quest for perfection with an incredible staff and customers who enjoy their brews and then spread the word. “It powers us to stay experimental but accessible,” he said.

Moving forward

On the topic of pairing, Something in the Water recently partnered with Ghost Taco in Kingston to bring food to the brewery. Tanton said it has been above expectations. “It’s incredible seeing more people in our community through our doors and enjoying not just the drinks but this wildly creative food offering, too,” Tanton said. He noted that if you’re only going to try one thing, he would point visitors to the Flagship Flight: four of their core beers, each paired with a taco, to be eaten one-by-one and savoured by experiencing what each beer can bring out of the taco.

Not ones to sit idle, the crew behind Something in the Water has big plans for what’s to come. Not only have they started introducing Hop Saturated Ales, but the beloved Red River Japanese Rice Lager is set to be released again shortly. It’s made with local hops grown on Wolfe Island. Lastly, Bumper Boat Concord Grape PB&J Milkshake Beer is almost here, as well.

Mix in weekly trivia, power hours and a smattering of live music, and it’s a recipe for a curiously good time.

Thirsty for more? Check out somethingbrewing.ca or better yet, experience the inviting Kingston taproom for yourself at 275 Princess Street. Follow along on @somethinginthewaterygk on Facebook and Instagram.