Comedians create online show to support local brewery

They say “laughter is the best remedy” and in times like this, a group of Windsor comedians is putting that to the test. A brewery Craft heads located in downtown Windsor on University and Pelisser has been hosting Brewing for Comedy, which is a weekly open mic comedy night on Tuesdays, run by Rob Kemeny and Paul Montanier for five years.

As recent events of covid-19 have transpired, Craft heads has had to quickly adapt. When the taproom was shutdown their only option was to wait it out or offer retail to-go beer. Following the lead of some breweries in Toronto and Ottawa and dealing with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Craftheads was quickly able to launch an ecommerce platform and offer deliveries right to people’s door with a service they call BRUber. Bryan Datoc, one of two owners of Craftheads explains “We feel like Santa for adults.” According to their website they are a combination of Baskin Robins and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory.

This leaves the comedians with nowhere to perform, so they are changing their platform to an online twice monthly show with the next one airing April 28, 2020. “Brewing for Comedy has been every Tuesday for the last few years and it’s maybe the one thing that helps me know what day of the week it is.” Datoc says.

Mitchell Edgar who has been practicing comedy for two years explains he is participating because “One, I’m trying to find anything I can do to keep busy and keep my creativity going, since I can’t go to work every day like I’m used to. And two, I miss my hanging out with my comedy friends and us trying to make each other laugh… and us making these videos is great way to keep ourselves, and others, entertained”

The idea behind it was to help support and promote the BRUBer. “Craft heads is trying to launch their own brand of delivery service. I cannot say enough good things about Bryan [Datoc] and the staff there who have always been great to us,” explains Kemeny who has been doing stand-up comedy for nine years. “One of the best places I’ve done comedy is Craft heads and Villains.”

The BRUber delivery service will be incorporating more than just beer. They are working as a community with “other friends in the industry who are leaders in their craft and who motivate us to be better every day.” According to Datoc. They will be providing wine and cider from Pelee Island Winery, spirits and hand sanitizer from Wolfhead Distillery, Food kits from Grand Cantina, Armandos and Smashed Apple, coffee from 30mL Coffee Co and rolling papers from Pete’s Pipes.

You can find the show and more information about Craftheads on their Facebook page here.