The success of the Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. is thanks to good timing.
“I think Thunder Bay was just ready,” said co-owner Kerry Berlinquette. “Craft beer is really cool right now. We came in at the right time and with the right products and people are embracing that.”
The local craft brewery, located on Cobalt Crescent, is celebrating its first anniversary Saturday with tours of the facility and, of course, some beer to sample.
Its first year has been a resounding success.
“We had no idea when we started that Thunder Bay would embrace craft beer so wholeheartedly and they have just surprised us,” Berlinquette said.
“We’ve made about 85,000 litres of beers so far and Thunder Bay has drank it all. We think that’s pretty impressive,” she added.
Craft beer has been a growing industry in Ontario. There are 47 microbreweries in the province, up from 40 in 2004, and more than 650 people are directly employed by craft brewers.
Last year, LCBO sales were led by Ontario craft beers in all categories making up almost 45 per cent of sales growth.
Sleeping Giant increased their productivity by 50 per cent over the last couple of months after adding a second fermenter and has also hired two additional full-time employees – a marketing position and another brewer.
Their beer is available on tap at more than 20 local restaurants and bars.
And Berlinquette said they are looking into the possibility of canning their beer, possibly next spring.
“It’s a huge cost. We’re looking at that and hoping for that, but we’ll see how things go come fall,” she said.
“It would give us the ability to be in places where they don’t have draft lines and also to be able to distribute to Northwestern Ontario instead of just being in our community.”
Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. was founded by four friends, who wanted to be able to get fresh beer in the city and decided to start their own company.
Brewer Kyle Mulligan said this first year has been busy, but a great success.
“We’re really happy with how Thunder Bay has got on board with craft beer and different flavoured beer,” he said.
