Canadian brewing companies

Question

This piglix contains articles or sub-piglix about Canadian brewing companies

Answer 1

Columbia Brewery

Columbia Brewery

The Columbia Brewery, located in Creston, British Columbia, was once a part of the Fort Steele Brewery which opened in 1898 by Fritz Sick who went on to establish breweries in twelve towns with his son Emil in Canada and the United States. The Forte Steele Brewing Company was earlier known as the Kaiser and Sick Brewery. A reproduction of this brewery has been re-constructed at the entrance of the Fort Steele Heritage town, located ten minutes north of nearby Cranbrook.

In 1901 the Fort Steele brewery relocated to Fernie where it later became known as the Fernie/Fort Steele brewery. This was one of four breweries operating in the Kootenay area at this time. The other active breweries were Cranbrook, Nelson, and Trail.

In the late 1950s, these breweries were combined under one name — Interior Breweries — and were later combined yet again to a central location of Creston. Creston became the ideal location because of its excellent water source and was in the heart of the geographical market at this time.

In 1959–60 Interior Breweries began producing their beer in the newly built brewery in Creston. Interior Breweries soon felt a name change would better reflect their broadening distribution of quality beers. In 1972, Interior Breweries became known as the Columbia Brewing Company and launched provincial distribution of its beer.

In 1974, Columbia Brewing Company was purchased by the Labatt Brewing Company, a larger company with plans on expanding the Columbia market. The Columbia Brewing Company was renamed in 1993 to Columbia Brewery. Labatt was then bought by the Belgium brewing company, Interbrew, which then merged with the Brazilian Brewing Company, Companhia de Bebidas das Américas, or Ambev, to form InBev. InBev purchased Anhauser Busch in 2008, to dominate as the world's largest beer producer, now known as AB-InBev.

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Answer 2

Cool Beer Brewing Company

The Cool Beer Brewing Company is a microbrewery in the southern end of Etobicoke, Ontario, in an area known as Mimico just off of the Gardiner Express Way, one of the major highways that cuts through the city of Toronto.

Cool Brewery was founded in 1997 by Bobby Crecouzos. His vision for the brewery was to brew "only the highest quality beer, made with the best ingredients, using absolutely no preservatives, additives or chemicals." The brewery started off in Brampton, Ontario, as just a small microbrewery serving one type of beer. After the brewery introduced its hemp based brand of beer in 2003, it outgrew its Brampton location, and in 2005, moved to its current location in Etobicoke to help maintain growth and meet demand.

The Cool brewery offers three types of beer. The first type of beer is named after the brewery and it is the beer it started off brewing in 1997, Cool beer, which is a North American Blonde lager. In 2003 they released Millennium Buzz Hemp Beer, which was the first beer in Canada that is hemp-based. More recently, in 2009 the brewery released its third beer, Stonewall Light. This was the first light beer produced by the brewery, and is identical to Cool Beer, but with less carbs and calories.

The brewery started by offering only bottles and full-sized kegs. In 2013, they added 355 mL slim cans as well as being the first brewery to offer a 3.1 L mini keg to their packaging options.

Cool Brewery’s beers have won awards at both the provincial and national level. The awards for each beer are listed below.

The brewery offers a variety of other services on site. There is a store located inside where you can purchase freshly brewed beer. A home delivery and co-packing service, which lets people brew their own beer at the brewery, are also offered as well as a dining room upstairs where parties and other functions may be held.

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Answer 3

Creemore Springs

Creemore Springs

Creemore Springs is a brewery in Creemore, Ontario, Canada, which first opened in 1987. It was founded by John Wiggins and initially brewed mainstream lagers, expanding later into a premium lager and lager brewed with darker malts, brewed with fire under the kettle. In 2005, it was acquired by Molson, a subsidiary of the seventh largest brewery corporation in the world, Molson Coors Brewing Company.

The brewery is known for not using preservatives during the brew process, or pasteurizing afterwards. Because of this, they recommend perpetual refrigeration. The brewery states that it only uses four ingredients in its brewing process - malted barley, hops, water, and yeast. These are the four ingredients allowed to be in beer according to the Bavarian Purity Law, which all Creemore Springs beers follow. The brewery uses water exclusively from an artesian well on in its brewing process. The water comes from the Creemore Spring located on one of the founder's property. It is trucked from the source to the brewery daily in 10,000 L truckloads; each truckload contains enough water to brew one batch. They brew in small batches in order to create the highest quality of beer possible.

Their flagship premium lager is an American amber with affinities to a Czech pilsener.

They were the second Ontario brewer – after Hockley Valley – to offer their product for sale in cans.

In March 2016, Creemore Springsopened Batch, a 2,500-square-foot 'gastrobrewery' (serving beer and food); this location is making six small batch beers on site.

In 2009, Creemore Springs applied for planning permission to expand their plant by 60% to triple their brewing capacity to 150,000 hL per year. The location of such a large industrial plant in downtown Creemore generated debate. Subsequently, the company is no longer a member of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association. Considering that aspect, and the ownership by a multi-national, and the expansion into Quebec [marketing but not brewing in that province, since 2013], and the volume of beer produced, Creemore Springs may no longer be categorized as a craft brewery. Karen Gaudino, director of marketing offers her perspective: "The term craft doesn’t come in to the equation. People want to envelop us and categorise us. The market is being driven by back to basics and people want simplicity, authenticity and provenance. It’s what people want, and what we want. And that’s what we will continue to do. We have grown and we can’t and won’t hide from that. That’s not who we are. But we haven’t changed."

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Answer 4

Fort Garry Brewing Company

Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd

The Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd brews beer in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The company was bought by the Hoeschen family in 1930, and operated by them until it was sold to Molson in 1960, and incorporated as "Molson's Fort Garry Brewery Ltd". In 1990, Molson merged with Carling-Okeefe and closed the Fort Garry facility. In 1994, Richard D. Hoeschen resurrected the company. At the time, Fort Garry Brewing was the only micro-brewery in Manitoba, and the beer was originally intended only to be available in kegs. Before opening the doors, Hoeschen hired Gary De Pape as Brewmaster and the two developed the Company's flagship brand Fort Garry Dark. Richard D. Hoeschen died on September 16, 2002.

In 2003, Fort Garry Brewing amalgamated with Winnipeg's Two Rivers Brewing Company (established in the 1990s), keeping the Fort Garry name, but adding some of Two Rivers’ brands to its product line.

On October 15, 2004, Fort Garry Brewing signed an agreement with its former Manitoba rival, New Manitoba Brewing, to warehouse, distribute and market the Agassiz Brewing brand, Catfish Cream Ale. In 2010, Fort Garry Brewing ceased production of the product.

Since 2005, Fort Garry Beer is sold in Manitoba and Alberta. As of November 2015, the current brewmaster at Fort Garry is Dan Geddes.

In 2007, Fort Garry began to brew and bottle Nubru Blend, the first gluten-free beer in Manitoba, for FarmPure Beverages of Regina, Saskatchewan.

On October 22, 2007, Fort Garry Brewing Company amalgamated with Russell Brewing Company as wholly owned subsidiaries of Russell Breweries Inc, of Surrey, British Columbia, in a deal worth $4 million in cash and stock.

In 2008, 2009, and 2010, the brewery produced a custom brew for Winnipeg's Folklorama festival, called "Folklorama Beer".

In 2012, Fort Garry Brewing Company partnered with the Winnipeg Goldeyes to produce a pilsner called "Angry Fish" to promote the team's new secondary logo.

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Answer 5

Granville Island Brewing

Granville Island Brewing Company

The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) was a brewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1984 and calls itself "Canada’s first microbrewery". In 1989, it was sold to the wine conglomerate Andrew Peller Ltd. In 2009 it was bought by Creemore Springs, a subsidiary of Molson Coors, which in 2016, became the third largest beer corporation in the world. Of brewers with locations in British Columbia, Granville is the seventh largest based on sales to the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.

Granville Island Brewing was founded in 1984 by Mitch Taylor. Long-time brewmaster Vern Lambourne joined Granville Island Brewing in 2002. Between 1984 and 2005 five new beers were released. In August 2005, Andrew Peller Wines purchased Granville Island Brewing from Taylor and in 2006 renovated the original facilities beneath the Granville Bridge and expanded into new, larger facilities located in Kelowna. In 2009 Molson Coors Canada purchased Granville Island Brewing through its subsidiary, Creemore Springs Brewing, from Andrew Peller Wines.

Brewmaster Vern Lambourne stayed with the company until 2015; he was replaced by Kevin Emms. In spite of the acquisition by Molson Coors, the company was able to retain the original brewery operating on Granville Island, in a top tourist zone. This facility develops and produces the small-batch beers. The primary brewing is done at Molson’s Burrard Street plant.

Recent awards won by the company's products include a Silver medal for Burly Goat Dopplebock at the 2016 Canadian Brewing Awards and a third place in its category for Cypress Honey Lager at the 2016 BC Beer Awards.

Though the larger part of its base of operations moved inland to Kelowna, in the Okanagan Valley, the original brewery continues to manufacture some of the company's products, and offers beer-tasting tours. The original brewhouse is located directly under the Granville Bridge that crosses False Creek into downtown Vancouver. Tours of the small brewery are held daily. In the company's taproom, eight of the company's beers are available on tap, one of which is generally a limited release only available at the brewery.

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Answer 6

Great Lakes Brewery (Toronto)

Great Lakes Brewing Company

Great Lakes Brewery is a craft beer brewery in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2013 and 2014, Great Lakes won the top honour in Canadian brewing, named Canadian Brewery of the Year.

Great Lakes Brewery was started in 1987 in an industrial unit in Brampton by Bruce Cornish and four other silent partners. The group produced two beers, an ale and a lager, using malt extract, a far cry from all grain used by craft breweries throughout North America. The beer was packaged in 1 litre plastic home brew bottles with a focus on the home retailer. After four years of production, Cornish and the silent partners had run out of capital to keep the brewery functioning. A construction magnate in Etobicoke by the name of Peter Bulut Sr. had been introduced to Cornish through respective business deals and plans were underway to sell the brewery to him. Bulut Sr. purchased the business in 1990, made the change from malt extract brewing to all grain, and in the early months of 1991 moved the brewery to its current home at 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd. just off the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), where Cornish continued on as head brewer for a short time.

In 2009, with the health of Peter Bulut Sr. in decline, his children, Peter Bulut Jr. and his sister Anetta Jewell, took on more responsibility of the day-to-day operations. They, along with the brewing team, introduced new brands and marketing initiatives that led to increased sales through the LCBO, bars and restaurants. The brewing team experimented with flavours, gave their beers weird and wacky names, and showcased their creations with monthly Project X nights (no longer taking place). Bulut Sr. died in 2010, leaving the brewery to his family. Bulut Jr. took over the brewery, operating as President and Chief Brewing Officer.

The brewery currently employs approximately 40 people. For three years in a row (2014, 2015, 2016) Great Lakes Brewery has been named the "Best Brewery in Ontario" at the Golden Tap Awards as voted on by the citizens of Ontario.

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Answer 7

Great Western Brewing Company

Great Western Brewing Company

The Great Western Brewing Company is an independent brewery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The company currently produces several varieties of beer, some of which have received international awards for excellence. With an output of 360 bottles and 480 cans per minute, it is one of the larger regional brewers in western Canada.

The brewery's history extends back to 1927, when it was established as the Hub City Brewing Company. In 1930 the plant was renamed the Western Canada Brewing Company, and in 1932 it was changed again to Drewery's Limited. In 1956, the brewery was acquired by O'Keefe Brewing (which would later become Carling O'Keefe) and was operated under that name until 1989, when Carling O'Keefe was itself acquired by Molson. Plans were initiated by Molson to close the brewery.

However, in 1989, a group of sixteen employees and management succeeded in purchasing the brewery from Molson, at which point the Great Western Brewing Company was formed. The brewery has operated independently since that time.

The Great Western Brewing Company produces several varieties of lager. These include:

In addition to its original products, the Great Western Brewing Company is the authorized brewer and distributor of Olympia Beer for the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The Great Western Brewery Company has entered in a number of international beer competitions. Some of the company’s products (Great Western Light, Great Western Pilsner and Great Western Premium) have received a Gold Quality Award at the Monde Selection’s World Quality Selections.

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Answer 8

Half Pints Brewing Company

Half Pints Brewing Company Ltd

Half Pints Brewing Company is a privately owned brewery in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Incorporated in August 2006, it is one of few craft breweries in Manitoba.

The brewery has grown its capacity and floor space, and has expanded its market west into Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. As of 2013 Half Pints has a capacity of 34,000 hectolitres. In 2010, the capacity was 8,000 hectolitres, up from 1,500 hectolitres in 2006 when the brewery initially opened.

Half Pints is owned by David Rudge. Rudge is also the head brewmaster of the company. As of December 2016, Half Pints Brewing has 15 employees.

Half Pints produces four flagship beers: St James Pale Ale, Bulldog Amber Ale, Little Scrapper IPA and Stir Stick Stout. The brewery also produces seasonal beers. In 2011, Half Pints introduced "Queer Beer", a brew for Winnipeg's Pride Festival. Proceeds from the beer are donated to Pride Winnipeg. The beer was brought back for a second season in 2012.

Half Pints's Humulus Ludicrous, an extremely hoppy double IPA, with a published bitterness rating of 100 IBU

Bulldog Amber Ale

The company's products review well in Beer Advocate, and have appeared in RateBeer's Best Beers of Canada list since 2008, with the Humulus Ludicrous scoring gold in each year.

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Answer 9

Hogsback Brewing Company

Hogsback Brewing Company is an Ottawa based microbrewery which first began brewing in the Spring of 2010. There flagship beer is Hogsback Vintage Lager, a European-inspired lager with flavour derived from combining three malt types (2-Row, Munich and Vienna), unique Saaz hops and German lager yeast.

The four owners of Hogsback Brewing Company live in Ottawa and developed the recipe for the Vintage Lager with an Ottawa brewer. The distribution facility is in the Ottawa area, allowing the company to focus on the Ottawa market. Currently HogsBack Vintage Lager is brewed through Cool Brew, an Ontario microbrewery. This approach was chosen to allow the company more time and consideration for the planning and the construction of a brewery in Ottawa.

The company's name comes from the Hogsback Falls in Ottawa, a section of the Rideau River where a ridge of limestone crests the river, giving the appearance of the backbone of a hog. It also pays tribute to Philemon Wright, who founded the first permanent settlement in the National Capital Region and also the first brewery in the Ottawa Valley.

Hogsback Brewing Company was featured on the entrepreneurial television program, Dragon's Den.

A case of Hogsback beer and its subsequent logo and tshirt were featured several times as a product placement in Attack of the action, horror schlock film Jurassic Shark(2012) AKA Jurassic Shark (2012).

Hogsback has been presented with several awards, including a GOLD award, a People’s Choice award and the Newcomer of the Year award at the 2012 Ontario Brewing Awards.

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Answer 10

Kichesippi Beer Co.

Kichesippi Beer Co. is a brewery in Ottawa, Ontario.

The company produces two year round beers, a premium pale ale called Natural Blonde, and a dark ale called Kichesippi 1855. The company also brews seasonal and one-off batch brews, including the Wuchak IPA series, Heller High Water helles lager and Logger Pennsylvania porter.

Kichesippi Beer Co. began selling its Natural Blonde in kegs to restaurants and bars in the Ottawa area in April 2010. April 29, 2010 was the first keg delivery to a restaurant.

Natural Blonde is made using three different malts and distinct hops. The result is a blonde beer with 26 IBUs and 4.9% alcohol. The beer has been brewed to be food friendly with a medium bitterness at the end.

On April 15, 2011, Kichesippi launched a dark ale called 1855, named after the year in which Ottawa was incorporated as a city. In honour of the launch, Jim Watson, Mayor of the City of Ottawa, poured the first official pint and proclaimed the day as "Kichesippi Beer Day in Ottawa".

1855 continues the Kichesippi Beer Co. mandate of offering food friendly beer. It is refreshing in its own right, with dark malt and earthy aromas.

In December 2010, Kichesippi Beer Co. purchased the majority stake of Heritage Brewing. In January 2011, Kichesippi Beer Co. purchased the trademarks and brands of Scotch-Irish Brewing.

As of February 2011 Kichesippi Beer Co. sells Growlers (64 fluid ounces) of Natural Blonde, and latterly 1855, at the brewery itself. The bottles are filled at the time of purchase. 50 cents from each growler purchase is donated to Juvenile Diabetes research.

6 packs of Natural Blonde are sold at Ottawa area LCBOs.

Kichesippi Beer Co. hosts tours of its facility on Saturdays at 2 pm. The brewery is located at 866 Campbell Ave, Ottawa.

Kichesippi is a word meaning “Great River”. The Ottawa River was originally known as the Kichesippi.

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