Thunder Bay’s oldest and largest craft brewery will pour its last drink later this month. Sleeping Giant Brewing Company has announced it will be closing down after 14 years at the end of March.
In a press release, the company explained that the decision to shut down comes as the industry faces rapid changes, including rising costs of aluminum and a drop in beer consumption over the past year.
The local brewery started in 2012 and quickly gained recognition both provincially and nationally. In 2016, they won gold in the Ontario Brewing Awards’ American Pale Ale category, along with a bronze at the 2018 Canadian Brewing Awards for their American Style Amber/Red Ale.
In 2016, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was even spotted wearing a Sleeping Giant Brewing Co. Northern Logger t-shirt.
Despite achieving national fame, the company stayed committed to the northwestern Ontario city that supported them from day one, sponsoring charities like “Craft Cares” and the Staal Foundation.
“This place began with beer, but it became a gathering place,” said Kyle Mulligan, one of Sleeping Giant’s co-founders, in the company’s release. “We’ve watched friendships form here, milestones celebrated and a craft beer culture really take shape in this city.”
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Jason Veltri is the co-founder of the Rainbow Collective in Thunder Bay. He says Sleeping Giant was a leader in partnering with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in town. (Submitted by Jason Veltri)
Veltri mentions that Sleeping Giant was among the first businesses locally to participate in Rainbow Collective’s gender and sexual diversity training.
He hopes other local businesses will follow Sleeping Giant’s lead moving forward as allies for Thunder Bay’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
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Pride and love
The brewery has also taken an active role in supporting and raising awareness for Thunder Bay’s 2SLGBTQ+ community by teaming up with the Rainbow Collective to create an annual summer raspberry sour beer called “love equals love.” <p“That partnership was really the beginning of this long, fruitful relationship over the past five years with Rainbow Collective,” said Jason Veltri, Rainbow Collective’s co-founder. “We saw Sleeping Giant as a true community partner with Rainbow Collective that were doing the work to ensure a safe and welcoming community facility for all.”A pioneering legacy
As Thunder Bay’s oldest craft brewery, Sleeping Giant played a key role in what has become an expanding industry across northwestern Ontario. Hilary Hoogsteen from the Canadian Craft Brewers Association noted that they helped bring craft beer flavors into town. “They create jobs within their local communities; they serve as community hubs like Thunder Bay,” Hoogsteen said. Even though they’re closing up shop, Hoogsteen believes there will still be growth within this industry because craft beer isn’t going away anytime soon. LISTEN | Andrea Mulligan: Sleeping Giant Brewing Company Merger: Superior Morning6:06Andrea Mulligan: Sleeping Giant Brewing Company Merger CEO Andrea Mulligan talks about how Sleeping Giant Brewing Company is merging with Newark Brewing Company. The brewery plans to brew one last beer honoring itself and its local fans. It will be named “Good to the Last Drop.” “Thunder Bay has always been fiercely local, and that’s what made this possible,” Mulligan said in their release. “That’s what we’ll always carry with us.”Source link
