"With more than a dozen craft breweries now driving traffic to the region, Old Flame is proud to be one of the first, and an inspiration to the other talented brewmasters around Durham."
Jack Doak knew exactly what he wanted. He just wasn’t sure where it would go.
A lifetime entrepreneur with a lengthy career in the fitness industry, he was ready to launch his next venture—a brewery.
He had a particular building in mind, an old firehall in Newmarket, but when that didn’t pan out, he knew he needed a change of venue. Enter Port Perry.
Jack had warm memories of Port Perry going back decades. A Newmarket native, his mother purchased a cottage in Havelock in the early 1980s, and Port Perry was always the halfway point of their journey.
As his children grew up, Jack enjoyed his stopovers more and more and eventually decided to settle in the community.
Today, Old Flame Brewery has successfully taken over a piece of the town’s 19th-century history, occupying the original Ontario Carriage factory at the corner of Mary and Perry Streets.
“When we got the building, it had been an old LCBO covered in stucco,” said Jack. “It had been on the market for 11 months. We saw it on a Tuesday, and that Friday it was ours.”
What followed was nine months of renovation that restored the building to its historic glory, exposing original wood beams and other historic touches. Jack even purchased a carriage from the original factory, which is on display at their sister cidery, Two Blokes Cider, located minutes away in Seagrave.
For Jack, the renovations aligned perfectly with his vision. Even better, the whole community got to play a part.
“Usually during renovations, the windows are papered over. We didn’t do that,” says Jack. “We let everyone see what we were up to, and we let people in to give them tours of the renovations.”
The move was unconventional, but it paid off. From the time it opened in June 2014, there was a lineup around the corner—and it hasn’t quieted down since.
While craft breweries are often known for playing with fun and inventive flavour notes, Old Flame Brewery wanted to provide a popular, easy-drinking option that kept people coming through the door.
“We chose to make German lagers, traditional European-style lagers, because it was what people wanted,” says Jack.
Jack and his team have worked to make the space accessible to the community wherever possible. They offer regular promotions and have weekly themed events including trivia on Wednesday nights, open mics on Thursday nights, and live music on the weekends.
Above all, Jack may be proudest of his role as a trendsetter in Durham Region’s vibrant craft brewery scene. With more than a dozen craft breweries now driving traffic to the region, Old Flame is proud to be one of the first, and an inspiration to the other talented brewmasters around Durham.
For his own business, Jack has expanded his footprint throughout Durham Region, and beyond. Along with Two Blokes, he also owns the nearby The Port Cheese Co., and has developed partnerships with other local businesses in an effort to attract visitors.
Old Flame Brewery has now expanded, with the Newmarket location now open in that old firehall that he initially had his eye on, and a new location in Toronto’s Distillery District—bringing a little taste of Port Perry beyond the region’s boundaries. It’s become a family affair, with his wife and several of his children involved in managing the operations at various locations.
The beer list has expanded as well, but they’ve never abandoned their commitment to making fan favourites.
As for the name? “Old Flame is supposed to remind you of an old flame, an old boyfriend or girlfriend, someone you would look back fondly on.” says Jack.
Given Jack’s commitment to history, the name is fitting—but he also has his eye on the future. One thing is clear: no matter where he expands next, Jack Doak will always be a committed champion of the beautiful and historic Port Perry.
“I encourage any young entrepreneur who’s looking to start a business to do so in Port Perry,” he adds. “We’re building a great ecosystem here, and it’s my job to get the word out.”
Visit Old Flame Brewery
Check out the Taproom at Old Flame for yourself. We’d love to hear about what you enjoyed the most. Tag @DurhamTourism in your social posts so we can follow along!