Timber Ship Brewing
Timber Ship Brewing sails to success with CBDC Northumberland support
A Miramichi couple has grown a small brewery into a community staple with the help of their local CBDC.
When Andy and Jennifer McFarlane purchased Timber Ship Brewing in 2022, they had one goal – offer a great local product and have slow and steady growth. Four years later, they’ve achieved their goal with hard work and the support of CBDC Northumberland.
“It’s just been nothing but positive,” Andy said of their experience with the CBDC.
The couple purchased the established brewery in the late summer of 2022 from friends who started the business in their home in 2019.
“We were good customers of theirs,” Andy said. “We liked the product, and we liked the idea of a craft brewery with the vision of growing it to the point we’re at today.”
Timber Ship wasn’t the McFarlanes’ first experience with business ownership or with CBDC Northumberland. The couple took out a loan from CBDC when they opened their first Pita Pit location in 2013 in Miramichi.
“That experience was really good, so when we decided to get another business loan, we went straight to the CBDC,” Andy said.
“The CBDC offers opportunities to people with a business vision that traditional banks or lending institutions don’t. They’re willing to sit down, listen, look at the numbers, and give you an opportunity you just wouldn't have with other institutions.”
Armed with the business’ sales history and the equipment inventory, the CBDC approved the loan. Without the guidance of a franchise, the couple relied more heavily on CBDC Northumberland’s business expertise.
They moved the one-barrel brewing system and four fermenters to a vacant basement space at their Miramichi Pita Pit location and purchased two additional fermenters to meet product demand.
“We bought the business with no immediate plans to expand. Our goal was to hopefullyhave the demand to force us into some sort of expansion,” Andy said.
As they started making connections in the community and canned more beer, demand quickly followed.
“Within about six months we had to really seriously consider expanding our equipment,” Andy said.
They put together the business case for expansion and purchased a three-and-a-half barrel system. In 2025, they needed more brew space to maintain sales levels.
They again relied on the CBDC, using the Consultant Advisory Services program to guide key decisions.
“We had consultants helping us build operational plans, make point-of-sales decisions,and develop marketing strategies,” Andy said.
Operating two seasonal locations – the patio outside their brew space and one at Ritchie’s Wharf – the couple knew they needed more space and stability.
In October 2025, Timber Ship moved to a new location on Marina Drive, realizing the McFarlanes’ dream of the cozy, community-focused brewery sooner than expected.
The new space has helped eliminate production bottlenecks while continuing to meet demand from local establishments.
“I think this offers us year-round stability,” Andy said.
Having reached their business goals sooner than expected, the couple plan to enjoy their first summer season in the new space while continuing to focus on production.
“It’s really been a positive experience, and we would encourage anybody that’s thinking about going into business to approach CBDC and see where it takes them,” Andy said.