Jason Stein – FIL Delivery & Burdock Beers

Ontario’s craft beer scene is changing fast, very fast, and nobody knows that better than Jason Stein. When a large distributor of craft beer announced it was shutting down their beer operation, breweries scrambled to find new ways to get their beer to market. Enter FIL Delivery Inc., the logistics company Jason founded in 2020.

In this episode, host Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewery sits down with Jason to talk about the rise of FIL Delivery, the challenges of scaling from two vans to a fleet of 36 trucks, and how technology is reshaping beer distribution. They also dive into Jason’s other passion project, Burdock Brewery (Co-Founder), a Toronto staple known for its lagers, experimental wine-beer hybrids, thriving live music venue, and laying down roots in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighbourhood.

From turning lemons into lemonade during the pandemic, Jason shares candid insights on entrepreneurship, growth, and staying independent in a rapidly shifting industry. 

• How FIL Delivery scaled from two vans to a province-wide fleet 
• The role of technology in modern beer logistics 
• Burdock Brewery’s origin story and its unique blend of beer, wine, and music 
• How the Kensington Market neighbourhood has accepted Burdock 
• Lessons Jason has learned about growth, risk, and staying focused 

Thank you for tuning into the #BetweenTwoFermenters podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on whichever platform you get your podcasts at and be sure to follow GreatLakesBeer on all social channels. greatlakesbeer.com. Supporting local never tasted soooo good! 

Hosted by Troy Burtch, Between Two Fermenters, a podcast brought to you by Toronto's Great Lakes Brewery where craft beer and conversation collide - straight from the tanks to your ears.