Big Rock Brewery

What Big Rock Brewery does

Big Rock Brewery is an independent Canadian craft brewer founded in 1985 by Ed McNally in Calgary, Alberta, and publicly traded on the TSX (BR) and OTCMKTS (BRBMF). The company produces premium all-natural craft beers using traditional brewing methods with water, yeast, hops, and malt, deliberately avoiding adjuncts like corn or rice. Its portfolio spans core beers (Traditional Ale, Grasshopper, Unwinder, Bright Side, Wrangler, Honey Brown Lager), a non-alcoholic line (Pacer Golden Ale and Pacer Hazy Pale Ale), seasonal offerings (Rugged Rose, Fuzzy Cowboy), the Rock Creek Cider series, and White Peaks hard steeped tea. The company emphasizes regional ingredient sourcing, including Three Hills Alberta honey for Honey Brown Lager, and operates brewing and packaging facilities with capacity exceeding 1.6 million hectolitres. Distribution covers Western Canada (Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) and Ontario, plus on-site taproom and eatery operations at the Calgary brewery and a brewpub partnership (Liberty Commons) in Toronto with Oliver & Bonacini.

Big Rock generates revenue through multiple streams: own-brand wholesale product sales to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores (the primary driver); contract manufacturing and co-packing services for other beverage brands (a rapidly growing segment with volumes more than doubling in 2020); private label production; direct-to-consumer keg rentals (58L and 30L sizes with refundable deposits); and on-site food and beverage services at the Calgary eatery and Liberty Commons brewpub. FY2025 net revenue reached $49.1 million CAD on 311,594 hectoliters of sales volume, with Adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million. The company sells through an inside sales team managing wholesale accounts across Western Canada, supported by marketing initiatives including a Beer Finder tool, the Barn Burner Concert Series, Calgary Folk Festival sponsorship, and Beer School educational events.

In January 2025, Big Rock completed a $8.4 million private placement and debt settlement with VN Capital Management as part of a recapitalization to address prior financial difficulties and the maturity of its Second Lien Facility. The company has historically pursued M&A and partnerships to expand its brand portfolio, including the 2018 acquisition of Fireweed Brewing assets ($940,000) and the 2017 Oliver & Bonacini joint venture, while divesting non-core assets such as the Etobicoke brewery in 2021 ($2.1 million). Most recently, Big Rock acquired QuikFlex in July 2024 for an undisclosed amount. David Kinder serves as President and CEO, with William Woods as CFO, leading a team of 51-100 employees.

Name

Big Rock Brewery

Legal name

Big Rock Brewery Limited Partnership

Website

https://bigrockbeer.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Big Rock Brewery is a Calgary-based independent Canadian craft brewer founded in 1985, producing all-natural beers, ciders, hard teas, and non-alcoholic options distributed across Western Canada and Ontario via wholesale, retail, and on-site taproom channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Brewery operations
• Contract brewing services
• Private label beer
• Beer wholesale distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Own Brand Product Sales: Sales of Big Rock branded craft beers, ciders, and seasonal offerings through wholesale channels including liquor stores, bars, and restaurants. Primary revenue driver.
2. Contract Manufacturing (Co-packing): Contract manufacturing services producing beverages for other brands. Described as rapidly growing business with doubled volumes in 2020. Includes licensed brands.
3. Keg Rentals: Direct keg rental program to consumers for events. Two sizes available: 58L and 30L with deposit requirements. Pickup at Calgary brewery with 24-48 hour advance ordering.
4. Private Label Products: Custom-crafted private label products for other companies, contributing to revenue diversification.
5. On-site Food & Beverage (Liberty Commons): Restaurant and event venue at Calgary brewery offering food, beer, cider. Private event bookings available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Big Rock Brewery is a Canadian craft brewer that produces, packages, and sells its own branded craft beers through retail stores, brewpubs, provincial liquor boards, and on-premise channels. In addition to its branded portfolio, it offers contract brewing and private-label manufacturing services for business customers, leveraging its brewing and packaging capacity to produce beer for third-party brands.

Product overview

Big Rock Brewery is a Canadian craft brewery founded in 1985 by Ed McNally, producing premium all-natural craft beers. The company's product portfolio consists of Core Beers (Traditional Ale, Grasshopper, Unwinder, Bright Side, Wrangler, Honey Brown Lager), a Non-Alcoholic line (Pacer Golden Ale, Pacer Hazy Pale Ale), and Seasonal Beers (Rugged Rose, Fuzzy Cowboy). Additionally, the company produces the Rock Creek Cider series of ciders and White Peaks hard tea beverages. Big Rock also offers keg rental services, on-site dining at their Calgary eatery, and custom-crafted private label products. The company operates brewing facilities in Calgary, Alberta, Vancouver, British Columbia, and previously had operations in Toronto, Ontario.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rock Creek Cider: Series of craft ciders produced by Big Rock Brewery
• White Peaks
• Pacer

Products and services

• Big Rock branded craft beer portfolio Packaged and draft craft beers sold under the Big Rock brand to consumers through retail stores, brewpubs, provincial liquor boards, and on-premise accounts.
• Big Rock retail store / brewpub operations Company-owned retail store and brewpub locations selling Big Rock beer directly to consumers for on- and off-premise consumption.
• Keg rental and draft beer services Rental of kegs and supply of draft Big Rock beer to licensed on-premise accounts such as bars, restaurants, and events.
• Contract brewing services Brewing of beer on behalf of third-party brand owners using Big Rock's production facilities, allowing customers to produce beer without owning a brewery.
• Private-label beer manufacturing Production of beer packaged under customer-owned brands, leveraging Big Rock's brewing and packaging capacity to deliver retailer or distributor private-label products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34.9% increase in sales volumes to 311,594 hl in fiscal 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fireweed Brewing Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2018Binding agreement for Big Rock to acquire certain brewing assets and inventory related to Fireweed branded beer and cider. Includes exclusive license to use Fireweed trademarks and other IP with purchase rights. Big Rock authorized to exclusively manufacture all Fireweed branded products in BC and Alberta. Associated brands include Tree Brewing, Dukes Cider, and Shaftebury.
• Oliver & Bonacini RestaurantscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2017Partnership to open Liberty Commons brewpub at 42 Liberty St., Toronto. O&B provides culinary expertise and restaurant operations while Big Rock provides brewing program. Features eight Big Rock taps with signature beers, seasonal offerings, and rotating experimental brews made on-site.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tree Brewing: BC craft brewery whose brands are now part of Big Rock's portfolio via the Fireweed acquisition. Directly comparable as a Western Canadian craft producer whose brands Big Rock manufactures and distributes under exclusive license.
• Steam Whistle Brewing: Independent Canadian craft brewery based in Toronto producing premium pilsner. Comparable as a similarly-sized independent Canadian craft brewer competing for on-premise taps and retail shelf space across Canadian markets.
• Creemore Springs: Ontario craft brewery now owned by Molson Coors, producing premium craft lagers and ales. Comparable as a heritage Canadian craft brand competing for similar on-premise and retail placements, though now operating under a multinational parent.
• Wellington Brewery: Ontario-based independent craft brewery and one of Canada's pioneering craft producers (founded 1985, same year as Big Rock). Comparable as a similarly-heritage independent Canadian craft brewer with comparable product portfolio and regional distribution focus.
• Collective Arts Brewing: Ontario-based craft brewery known for rotating limited-edition releases and strong brand identity. Comparable as an independent Canadian craft brewer targeting similar consumer demographics with comparable product innovation and brand-led marketing.
• Sleeman Breweries: Canadian craft and specialty brewer owned by Sapporo, producing ales, lagers, and craft offerings distributed nationally. Directly comparable as an independent Canadian craft beer producer at similar scale with comparable product portfolio and distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Molson Coors Canada: Major Canadian brewer and parent of multiple craft brands including Creemore Springs. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating nationally in the Canadian beer market with overlapping craft beer offerings, though at significantly larger scale than Big Rock.
• Labatt Breweries of Canada: One of Canada's largest brewers and subsidiary of AB InBev, producing mainstream and craft beer brands. Comparable as a national incumbent serving similar on-premise and retail channels, though with broader portfolio and scale advantages.

Emerging players

• Nickel Brook Brewing: Ontario-based craft brewery producing a range of craft beers with emphasis on quality and innovation. Comparable as an emerging independent Canadian craft brewer competing for similar consumer occasions and distribution channels.

Regional players

• Phillips Brewing & Malting: BC-based craft brewery operating in Western Canada with comparable product portfolio including core beers, seasonal offerings, and non-alcoholic options. Regionally competitive with Big Rock in British Columbia and adjacent markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BigRockBrewery
• Instagraminstagram.com/bigrockbrewery
• Xx.com/bigrockbrewery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/big-rock-brewery

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Rock Brewery