By Matthew Boudreau, Contributing Columnist
For many Haligonians, the word Stillwell is commonly associated with its craft beer bar on Barrington Street in downtown Halifax or the Freehouse location on Agricola. What many do not realize is that Stillwell’s new brewery and taproom may be the closest location to get a fresh pint of beer. Located on Kempt Road, the brewery features a spacious sit-in taproom as well as beer-to-go.
Stillwell brews a classic lineup of beer: a German Pils, a Czech Lager and Dark Lager, an English Best Bitter, an American Cream Ale, and a West Coast Pale Ale. If you had to pick a roster of six beers from one brewery in the city, it is certainly as good as any.
The taproom has a great atmosphere, and it is gearing up to become a community hub. There is a fantastic sound system, and the venue plays host to musical events. It is also common for there to be a food truck on the weekend. Check their social media for details on upcoming events and times.
While I certainly enjoy my time at the brewery, it always drives home the disconnect caused by the Windsor Exchange. At noon on a Monday, I can drive to the brewery in four minutes. It is 2.3 kilometers and yet it still does not feel part of my community; but why?
For starters that four-minute drive turns to fifteen minutes each way after work. I am a regular cyclist and biking thirteen minutes is normally not a problem, but I do not feel safe biking on Bedford Highway or through the Exchange. It is a thirty-three-minute walk and even that is not the most appealing in many high danger areas. Really the best option is to take the bus along Windsor and double back from Hood Street for the safest route.
Kempt Road is ingrained as the location for car dealerships and mechanics and thus some of the great businesses get overlooked. The city seemed to assign Windsor Street as the throughway for transit and bikes from the Exchange and left Kempt Road to the cars. As the proposals for the redesign of the Windsor Exchange are debated, I certainly hope that the neighborhood connectivity between Clayton Park and Fairview to the North End is a priority and not simply a throughfare from Bedford to the MacKay. I should not have to drive in the first place, but even if I do, four minutes should not feel like driving across town.
