Sutton resident Peter McAuslan, founder of McAuslan Brewing in Montreal in 1987, has published his first book entitled Brewing Better Beer: The Story of St-Ambroise and the Birth of Quebec Craft Brewing. After selling his business in 2013, McAuslan decided it was time to write about his journey with wife Ellen Bounsall in establishing the brewery and how it contributed to the craft brewing industry in Quebec. He will be hosting a book launch at Brome Lake Books on May 19 to connect with the local community. 

“During the pandemic, all of us had a lot more time on our hands and I used that time to sort of get this thing done,” said McAuslan. “I wanted to do it because it is an interesting industry and it’s perhaps one of the first industries that was really focused on local. I think all of us now are aware of how significant local productions and products are and how good they are for our communities.”

McAuslan said that while the title of his book may mislead people to think that it’s a "how to" for beer making: it’s more along the lines of something personal. 

“It’s about me and my wife starting a business from scratch, all of the trials and tribulations you go through. There’s a focus, obviously, on beer, the history of beer, the history of beer in Quebec, and the way that brands are developed. There’s sections on marketing and there’s sections on our involvement in the community,” explained McAuslan. “It covers different aspects of what a business can be.”

He also dives into his Scottish roots and his family making its way to Quebec in 1920. 

“I focus on that to a degree in the way we sold beer, how we sold beer, the relationships we developed,” said McAuslan. “It is personal in the sense that my wife talks about her background (…) and how she came to being a brewer and that’s early. Back then, being a brewer let’s say 30 years ago, was not an obvious choice for a woman and the industry wasn’t necessarily ready for that either. “

McAuslan hopes that his book will provide insight for readers into the ins and outs of building a business. 

“The risks that they (entrepreneurs) undertake, the amount of hard work that it takes to do it, but it’s an enriching life. I think the entrepreneurial life is something very important to us as a community to create jobs, to create richness in our society. So, I think that’s really an undertone throughout the book is how significant small businesses can be and how important they are to the fabric of our communities,” said McAuslan. 

There will be a book launch taking place at Brome Lake Books located at 45 Chem. Lakeside, Knowlton on May 19 from 5-7 p.m.

“I’m going to drag along some of the beers that I started, but I’m interested in also bringing some beers that are now made in our community here along to have a very small tasting,” said McAuslan. 

Listen to the interview below: