In a competitive craft beer market increasingly burdened by rising costs and supply chain volatility, Arbru Solar Brewery is doubling down on its off-grid roots.
The Eastern Ontario brewery — Canada’s first fully off-grid brewery — recently tripled its power output by expanding the number of solar panels powering its operations in Mallorytown, a move co-owner Phil Audet says will help future-proof the business and deepen its commitment to sustainability.
The expansion includes three times more solar panels and inverter capacity and a doubling of the battery storage system, enabling Arbru to store more power and rely less on backup generators during low-light seasons
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Audet, who describes Arbru as “a big science experiment,” has been fascinated by renewable energy since childhood, when he wired his boombox to run on solar panels. For him, Arbru is the intersection of two passions: craft beer and solar power.
“I love craft beer and I love renewable energy,” said Audet. “It’s just two passions married into one.”
Since opening, Arbru has never been connected to the power grid, not because it had to be that way, but because Audet wanted to push the limits of what could be done.
“We could easily hook up to the utility,” he said, “but we never have.”
A niche market with broad appeal
Arbru’s expansion comes at a time when Ontario’s craft beer industry is facing mounting pressure. Input costs have ballooned due to inflation and small brewers are contending with price hikes on everything from aluminum cans to imported ingredients.
Solar power may not be the easy fix for these structural issues, but for Arbru, it offers insulation from some of them.
“There’s definitely a capital cost upfront,” said Audet, who secured a FedDev Ontario loan to finance the solar expansion. “But the return on investment isn’t just about saving on electricity — it’s part of our marketing, our identity. That has value.”
That branding edge — being the only brewery in the province entirely powered by the sun — resonates with a growing consumer base that values environmental stewardship.
“It’s a differentiator in the market,” Audet said. “There are so many breweries now and, very respectfully, a lot of them are doing similar things. We wanted to make a splash by doing something different.”
Solar-powered storytelling
That narrative power is something Arbru leans into heavily. The brewery, also a restaurant and event space, offers customers not just pints and pub fare, but an education on renewable energy.
“It’s an experience,” said Audet. “You come here, enjoy craft beer, eat food and learn about solar.”
While fully off-grid operations come with unique challenges — like staff needing to monitor energy usage based on daily forecasts — the recent solar upgrade has provided some breathing room.
“It’s definitely getting easier,” said Audet. “We don’t have to stress like we used to. That’s why we did it.”
Still, he admits the setup isn’t for everyone. “Honestly, I hate to say it, but the way we’re doing it, I don’t recommend it,” he said with a laugh. “You have to be a little bit crazy.”
Local roots, national vision
Beyond the renewable energy focus, Arbru is leaning hard into localism. The brewery has partnered with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority to plant 16,000 trees (equivalent to 20 acres of new forest) near its Mallorytown location. Arbru is also moving toward brewing with 100 per cent Canadian ingredients, including Ontario-grown malt and local honey. The brewery recently joined Dominion City’s “Glorious and Free” initiative, aimed at encouraging Canadian breweries to use all-local inputs.
With the added power from the solar upgrade, Arbru can now run its entire brewing process on solar energy, including the previously propane-powered boil stage.
“That’s our holy grail moment,” said Audet. “A fully solar-powered brew.”
Shielding against industry volatility
Arbru’s approach may offer inspiration for others in an industry vulnerable to external shocks. Tariffs on aluminum and other imports have already driven up packaging costs and broader trade disruptions could threaten access to hops and other foreign-sourced ingredients.
By generating its own electricity and sourcing locally, Arbru is creating a hyper-local value chain. Audet believes it is not just about being green, but about being self-sustaining and less dependent on global markets that are increasingly unstable.
That could be a boon for craft breweries trying to stay nimble in the face of supply chain and regulatory challenges. The Ontario Craft Brewers Association has called for more support for local producers, and while government grants and industry alliances help, businesses like Arbru are finding their own paths forward.
Staying small by design
Despite its growing profile, Arbru has no plans to scale up. “We’re focused on small-batch artisanal beers,” said Audet. “The fact that we brew with solar forces us to keep it small and we like it that way.”
The team is more interested in drawing visitors to the brewery than filling LCBO shelves. Arbru hosts live comedy, food events and even a sober festival promoting non-alcoholic local products.
“We want people to come here,” he said. “That’s how we stay connected to our community.”
