Meet Joshua Council, co-founder of Halifax’s most unconventional brewing experience, Good Robot Brewing Company.

Founded in 2015, with Angus Campbell and Doug Kehoe, Good Robot was the product of three ‘recovering’ engineers who quit their day job to take a chance on a dream, to create a place where camaraderie could foster. Longing for a sense of community, creativity, and sense of connection, the trio poured themselves into the vision to curate quirky beer experiences, delivering all that, and more.

In their early days, Good Robot became an expert at making beer fun by offering more experimental and eccentric options than were available at the time. Like their Thembot Sour, a tart beer made with guava and blackberry, reflecting the colours of the transgender flag in celebration of and solidarity with the LGBTQIA2S+ community. And, of course, their best-selling beer, Del Diablo, a Mexican lager with a zing of jalapeno and lime—that Josh describes as having “a little bit of quirk, not so over the top that it’s strange and off putting, but just interesting enough”.

They also altered the event scene—hosting niche events like silent reading, in which there’s no talking or phones. And outdoor comedy shows, which at the time was not a common occurrence in the City. Good Robot now hosts regular stand-up comedy shows in the “MouseTrap”, featuring some of Halifax’s most hilarious talent.

Like many businesses, Good Robot was forced to adapt when COVID-19 made its devastating mark on the service industry. Josh and his co-founders found themselves in a unique position, their business was at a size where they needed to either grow or shrink. Through dedication, perseverance, and an incredibly dedicated team behind them, they chose to grow – taking on e-commerce so they could continue to serve their community.

Today, Good Robot Brewing Company is far more than just a quirky hospitality experience. They’ve grown into one of the most popular craft breweries in Nova Scotia, recently taking home “Business of the Year” at the 2024 Halifax Business Awards and “Story-teller of the Year” at the 2024 Food & Beverage Atlantic Conference and Awards. In under ten years, Good Robot has grown from a small taproom on Robie Street to hosting three hospitality venues in the Halifax region, and opening a world-class beverage factory, manufacturing, and co-packing facility. They now work with local beverage companies who are looking to grow and enter the wholesale market, allowing them to export across Canada and beyond.

“We went from a garage brewery making exciting, not always good beer. Now with world class facility, we are making styles that can compete with the domestic players at a local scale.”

As the company continues to expand and reach new markets, it’s not lost on them where they started, and CUA has been there for the entire journey. Before Good Robot became a Nova Scotian household name, the founders struggled to find a lender; that is, until they approached CUA. Josh recalls the interaction fondly, “At a time when no bank would fund us, because hospitality was too volatile of an environment to invest in, CUA was there.”

Josh and his partners took advantage of the Nova Scotia Small Business Guarantee Program, which offers up to $500,000 in financing available to residents of Nova Scotia looking to start or expand their small businesses. Thanks to CUA, three guys with a dream became a local success story of resilience and authenticity, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

And while it hasn’t always been easy, Josh revels over the many milestones and gratifying adventures along the way. His advice to aspiring business owners? “Have 100% confidence in yourself, and your dream. Be prepared to give it your all.”

“Young entrepreneurs sacrifice so much in pursuit of their business, but it’s also an incredibly rich and rewarding experience – and I don’t regret any of the journey, I’m grateful to be where I am.”

Josh also enjoys encouraging any aspiring entrepreneurs, as the past ten years have left him with a wealth of knowledge that he’s eager to share. Visit his website or send him an email to get in touch. Looking to try one of Good Robot’s strange concoctions? You can find their products in all four Atlantic Liquor Corporations with exports across Canada, at their retail locations in Halifax and Elmsdale, and in taprooms across the Maritimes.

For more information on the Nova Scotia Small Business Loan Guarantee Program and other business financing solutions, visit our website or contact one of our knowledgeable Small Business Advisors.

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