Joey Seaman, co-founder of Upstreet Craft Brewing draws me a long cool Czech style pilsner while regaling me with the story of how the brewery got its start. “Basically it was just a few buds sitting around slugging back homebrew and dreaming big”, says Joey with a wink and a smile.
Unlike many such ideas which often disappear as fast as the foam on a cool ale, Joey, along with co-founders Mitch and Hogie put their noses to the grindstone and made their dream a reality. Hogie is Upstreet’s “secret weapon”, a self-taught in-house genius, he comes up with new brews with the dedication of a mad scientist poring over beakers and retorts in a castle dungeon. Most craft brewers won’t touch pilsner, as they require more time and skill to brew…but this doesn’t daunt Hogie and his crew from bringing one to this local neighborhood in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Speaking of which, neighborhood is an important concept for the Upstreet gang. The Upstreet Taproom has proven to be a great place to catch up with old friends, sit down and play a board game or just hang out and try great beer. Regulars can join the Upstreet Mug Club which boasts a number of perks including a hand-made personal mug which hangs proudly over the bar for when its service is needed.

Handmade from salvaged wood, Upstreet’s in-house artist designed a custom logo to grace the walls of the taproom.
Besides the Commons Czech Style Pilsner, Upstreet’s balanced and crisp take on a Bohemian classic, there’s the Do-Gooder American Pale Ale, a balanced ale with Upstreet’s own super-hero on the label. He hasn’t been named yet so suggestions are welcomed. I love the image on the Rhuby Social Strawberry Rhubarb Witbier which reminds of the elegantly dressed skeletons one sees in Mexico for the Day of the Dead ceremonies. Labels are designed by Newfoundland artist, Jud Haynes, and are quirky and imaginative, much in keeping with the contents.
My recommendation? Next visit to PEI why don’t you head over to “Up-street” and sample the legendary PEI friendliness… and some fine beer?
If you go … check out: Upstreet Craft Brewing
Photo Credits
All Photos By George Burden – All Rights Reserved
First published at Life As A Human
Guest Author Bio
George Burden
George Burden is a family physician in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, a graduate of Dalhousie University Medical School, class of ’78. He is a freelance journalist who writes extensively for the national medical newspaper, The Medical Post, and served on their medical advisory board for over a decade. Dr. Burden has served in the past as a Regional Director of the Canadian chapter of the Explorers Club and was recently designated a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is a past recipient of the Governor General’s Medal.
Publications to date have included topics such as studying aviation medicine from the perspective of a CF-18 pilot during an aerial combat exercise, descending in both a Canadian naval SDL deep sea submersible as well as time aboard the Victoria class submarine, HMCS Windsor. Dr. Burden has also traveled to and written on all seven continents including the Antarctic, West Africa and Southeast Asia.
He has published articles on diseases depicted in ancient Egyptian art at the Cairo Museum and has done an analysis of the Edwin Smith Papyrus from a modern medical perspective. Medical history is also an interest of Dr Burden and he has co-authored a book on this subject entitled Amazing Medical Stories, published by Goose Lane Editions/University of Toronto Press.
Dr. Burden presently resides in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He won 3 awards at the 2010 North American Travel Journalism Awards.
Read George Burden’s full bio and over 180 articles by him at Life As A Human.
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