A getaway featuring geodesic domes, great brews, and food in New Brunswick
by Sandra Phinney
When Tallyia MacMullen and Tim Byrne met years ago while working at Ganong Chocolatier in St. Stephen, N.B., little did they know they would become partners, parents, and entrepreneurs. The couple now owns OG Ales, an off-grid brewery and tap room, and four geodesic domes providing luxury accommodations in Magaguadavic, N.B.
In 2016, Randy and Denise Rowe started OG Ales in Harvey. They were passionate about making good craft beer and having a sustainable operation, producing beer off-grid. They accomplished the goals and decided to retire six years later.
When Tallyia and Tim saw a notice on Facebook that OG Ales was for sale, they knew their life was about to change. Although they had great jobs at Ganong, the twice-daily 80-kilometre commute to and from their fifth-generation homestead in Magaguadavic was a long haul.
They bought the company, and Tim apprenticed with the Rowes to learn the business. Knowing they would relocate the brewery across the road from their homestead, the young couple hammered out plans to bring their vision alive. “We wanted to create a brewery estate,” Tallyia says. “We planned a destination where friends and visitors could meet in a relaxed but special setting, have conversations, and create community.”
They opened the new OG Ales and a stunning tap room in June 2023 and built four luxury geodesic domes along the shore of Magaguadavic Lake.
Photo Credit: JODIE SOLOMON @ESCAPEWITHJODIE
Although Tim has spent hours setting up operations, he loves owning his own business. “Having a vision and not needing other people’s approval to make it happen” tops the list of perks, he says. “And now I can take the kids to hockey and basketball, or swimming on a hot day.”
Their dog, Jib, who is featured on cans of Smooth Sailing Pale Ale, is always there to greet you. “Throw a stick: he’ll be your new best friend,” Tim says.
Recently, Tim converted production from bottles to cans. “We have a 15 to 20-barrel system and produce 25,000 cans every two weeks.” An array of 40 solar panels generates 80 kWh of energy, allowing OG Ales to be net carbon neutral.
In their first year, Tim and Tallyia have built an army of fans, including Christa and Todd Sparks from nearby Lake George. “It’s all about having the best experience,” Christa says, “whether you’re there for one beer, a quiet game of crib, or one of their special events.” Christa was especially touched when the owners hosted a wake when her father-in-law died. “You can tell that making customers happy and supporting our local area is their main priority.”
My husband and I celebrated his 78th birthday in the spacious OG Hightower dome. Although it was October, we enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub on the dome’s deck, mere metres from the lake. Barrie and I have stayed in various yurts, cabins, and geodesic domes over the years, and in our experience, this one tops them all.
Bonus: We were able to select items from a menu designed for OG Dome guests and prepared by Entity 59 Smokehouse. (See sidebar below.) Delicious food was in the fridge when we arrived!
Just down the road
If you can pull yourself away from the taproom and dome, there are fun places to visit in Harvey, only 15 minutes away.
Topping the list is Entity 59 Smokehouse. For lunch one day, Barrie and I had the eye-popping Dinner Date platter: beans, stuffed potato, mac‘n’cheese, coleslaw, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, ribs, Montreal smoked meat, and biscuits. Although stuffed, we also shared a big bread pudding. During lunch, we spoke with the owner, Rohit Pinto, and his right hand, Jessica Lavigne.
Rohit immigrated from India to Canada in 2018, eventually settling in rural New Brunswick. When the former engineer had a chance to buy a small bakery/restaurant in Harvey, he jumped in, changed the name, and decided to specialize in smoked meats.
His love of cooking started when he was six, helping his mother on a small family farm. Now, Rohit’s food is drawing people from far and wide. Jessica had already worked at this location as kitchen manager for six years, and her passion for good food (and skills in the kitchen) was a perfect match.
Entity 59 Smokehouse is in the Upper Village Mall, a small-scale mall on the outskirts of Harvey. This location includes a beauty shop, visitor’s centre, ice cream bar, and a unique crafts shop.
While in Harvey, get a photo of the Big Fiddle — a giant replica of Don Messer’s fiddle. Then, slip into the WWE Smith Country Store and buy a copy of Don Messer — The Man Behind the Music by Johanna Bertin. This story about a local legend makes for great bedtime reading back in your dome.
