Phillips Brewing & Malting

What Phillips Brewing & Malting does

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. is a Victoria, BC-based craft beverage producer founded by Matt Phillips in 2000, operating an integrated brewing, malting, and distilling platform. Its portfolio spans year-round craft beers (Blue Buck Ale, Tilt Lager, Tiger Shark, Electric Unicorn, Glitterbomb, Free Ride), seasonal/limited sour series (Dinosour), Imperial IPAs (Gorilla Mode), non-alcoholic beer (iOTA), craft soda (Phillips Soda Works), and Canadian single malt whisky and gin (Sanctuary Whisky / Phillips Fermentorium). The technical backbone includes an in-house Maltworks facility (one of the only craft brewers in Canada malting its own barley, launched 2015), a proprietary Sour Works Barrel Reactor using house-cultured lactobacillus, and sustainability systems for CO2 and steam recapture that delivered a documented 30%+ emissions reduction per 6-pack.

The company monetizes across multiple streams: unit-priced wholesale beer sales through BC Liquor Stores, Ontario LCBO, Alberta liquor stores, and private craft retailers; direct-to-consumer revenue via shop.phillipsbeer.com (Ales by Mail for BC residents, Thursday local delivery for $50+ orders), the on-site taproom and Phillips Beer Shop; spirits and non-alcoholic beverage sales; transaction-fee revenue as sales agent for Superflux Beer Company in BC (since Jan 2025) and for Steam Whistle in BC/Alberta; and professional services revenue from contract brewing for Vancouver Island Brewing. Customer base is split between end consumers (via retail and DTC) and B2B channel partners, with additional event revenue from the Phillips Backyard Music Festival (3,000-person outdoor venue) and a craft beer bar at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre arena (opened Oct 18, 2024). Distribution is concentrated across three Canadian provinces (BC, Alberta, Ontario), and the company announced the acquisition of Lighthouse Beer Brands in January 2026 to expand the portfolio while keeping the legacy brand's production local in Victoria.

Name

Phillips Brewing & Malting

Legal name

Phillips Brewing and Malting Co.

Website

https://phillipsbeer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. is a Victoria, BC-based craft brewery, maltster, and distillery producing beer, whisky, gin, non-alcoholic beverages, and craft soda for Canadian consumers and channel partners across BC, Alberta, and Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Distilleries (31214), Malt Manufacturing (311213)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Alcoholic Beverage Blending, Bottling & Private Label (Non-Distilling) (AFAFAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC), Alcoholic Beverage Contract Manufacturing / Co-packing (Brew, Distill, Bottle, Can) (CRADAIAI), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Malt production
• Craft distilling
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Brewery operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Craft Beer Sales: Manufactures and distributes craft beer across Canada. Products sold through direct sales (e-commerce, taproom), BC Liquor Stores, Alberta liquor stores, Ontario LCBO, and private craft liquor retailers.
2. Spirits Sales: Distills spirits including whisky (Sanctuary Whisky) and gin through the Fermentorium Distilling Co.
3. Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Produces non-alcoholic drinks including iOTA non-alcoholic craft beer and Phillips Soda Works craft soda.
4. Barley Malting Services: One of the only craft brewers in Canada to malt their own barley - supplies malt to other breweries and works with local farmers.
5. Event Revenue: Phillips Backyard Music Festival - 3,000-person outdoor venue. Also operates craft beer bar at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.
6. Sales Agent Services: Acts as official sales agent for Superflux Beer Company in BC, generating commission-based revenue.
7. Brewing Services: Produces beer for other breweries - notably producing beer for Vancouver Island Brewing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. is a Victoria, BC-based craft brewery that manufactures and sells craft beer, craft spirits (whisky and gin via Fermentorium Distilling), non-alcoholic craft beer (iOTA), and craft soda (Phillips Soda Works). The company operates an in-house malting facility (Maltworks), a taproom and beer shop, and the Phillips Backyard music festival venue. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through the taproom and online shop, and wholesale through government liquor retailers (BC Liquor Stores, Ontario LCBO) and private liquor stores across Canada.

Product overview

Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. is a craft brewery and distillery offering a diverse portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The core offering consists of year-round craft beers (Blue Buck Ale, Tilt Lager, Tiger Shark Pale Ale, Implosion Pilsner, Cold Snap Kolsch, IPAs, and more), seasonal limited releases (Dinosour sour ales, Solaris fruit wheat ales), and mixed packs (Hop Box, Boxset, Jurassic Pack). Sub-brands include iOTA non-alcoholic craft beer, Gorilla Mode Imperial IPAs, Phillips Soda Works, and Sanctuary Whisky from the Fermentorium distilling division. The company also operates Maltworks (in-house malting), operates tasting room and beer shop services, hosts the Phillips Backyard music festival, and provides online ordering with mail delivery across BC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• iOTA: Non-alcoholic craft beer brand featuring pilsner, pale ale, hazy IPA, cerveza, and seasonal flavors.
• Phillips Soda Works
• Phillips Fermentorium
• Sanctuary Whisky
• Gorilla Mode
• Phillips Backyard

Products and services

• Craft Beer (Year-Round Beers) Core portfolio of year-round craft beers including Blue Buck Ale, Tilt Lager, Tiger Shark Pale Ale, Implosion Pilsner, Cold Snap Kolsch, Electric Unicorn White IPA, Glitterbomb Hazy Pale Ale, Free Ride Hazy IPA, Amnesiac Double IPA, Bottle Rocket Session IPA, Revenge Cold IPA, and SuperPower Hazy Double IPA, available in 355mL cans, 473mL tall cans, 568mL mega cans, 650mL bottles, and various multi-pack and keg formats.
• Seasonal Beers Limited-edition seasonal and one-off releases including the Dinosour sour ale series, Solaris Summer Ale, Solaris Citrus Wheat Ale, Solaris Raspberry Wheat Ale, and specialty one-off releases aimed at craft beer enthusiasts.
• Mixed Packs Curated multi-beer packs including Hop Box Mixed Pack, Boxset Mixed Pack, Playlist Party Pack, Dinosour Jurassic Pack, and Showcase Mixed Pack, each featuring a selection of Phillips beers.
• iOTA Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer Non-alcoholic craft beer line under the iOTA brand, featuring Pilsner, Pale Ale, Hazy IPA, Cerveza, Peach Wheat Ale, and Blackberry Lemon Ale, all at 0.5% ABV.
• Dinosour Series Line of sour ales soured with house-cultured lactobacillus, featuring fruit flavors including Watermelon, Stone Fruit, Blueberry Pomegranate, Dragonfruit Lychee, Tropicolada (pineapple coconut), Pink Lemonade, and Power Cherry Lime.
• Gorilla Mode Imperial IPAs Brand of Imperial IPAs featuring bold flavors and playful branding, including Juice Wizard Juicy IPA at 9.5% ABV.
• Phillips Soda Works House-made sodas and tonics offered as non-alcoholic alternatives under the Phillips Soda Works brand.
• Sanctuary Whisky Canadian Single Malt Whisky produced from locally grown barley malted on site, matured in Bourbon, Red Wine, and Phillips Beer casks. Includes Classic, Signature, Reserve, Red & White, and Fathers Day Bundle editions.
• Phillips Fermentorium Distilling (Gin and Spirits) Distilling division producing craft gin and other distilled spirits, including the Sanctuary Whisky range.
• Phillips Backyard Music Festival 3,000-person outdoor music venue and festival in Victoria, BC, hosting concerts and events during summer months, paired with Phillips beer offerings.
• Taproom and Beer Shop On-site brewery taproom open Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm (family-friendly), paired with the Phillips Beer Shop retail store selling beers, merchandise, and exclusive releases.
• Maltworks (In-House Malting) In-house malting plant launched in 2015, one of the only craft brewers in Canada to malt its own barley, working with local farmers to source grain and produce malt for Phillips' brewing and distilling operations.
• Ales by Mail (Online Store) Online beer ordering and shipping service at shop.phillipsbeer.com available to 19+ BC residents, with local Victoria delivery on Thursdays for orders over $50 and Canada Post shipping province-wide.
• Craft Beer Bar at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre On-site craft beer bar operated by Phillips inside the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre arena in Victoria, serving Phillips beers at events and games.

Quantifiable outcome

• World Beer Cup Gold Medal (2024) - Dinosour Stone Fruit Sour in North American Sour category
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Whistle Buoy Brewing Co.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2025Collaboration on Saturday Morning Cartoons – Frutlupz Hazy IPA, a nostalgic beer inspired by memories of enjoying cereal during Saturday morning cartoons.
• Phillips Brewing to Purchase Lighthouse Beer BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2025After 27 years, Lighthouse Brewing is closing its brewery but its iconic beers will live on. Phillips will take over brewing, packaging and stewardship of the Lighthouse portfolio, keeping the legacy local in Victoria.
• Superflux Beer CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 December 2024Phillips became official sales agent for Superflux Beer Company in BC starting January 2, 2025. Collaboration allows both breweries to navigate rising industry costs while maintaining independence and helps Superflux reach beer lovers across BC more effectively.
• Vancouver Island BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2024Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. produces beer for Vancouver Island Brewing, keeping production local in Victoria.
• Steam Whistle BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2021Strategic collaboration where Phillips and Steam Whistle represent each other's products in their respective markets. Phillips sells Steam Whistle products (Pilsner, Pale Ale, Session Light Lager, Lemon Shandy, Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) in BC and Alberta. Steam Whistle sells Phillips products (Electric Unicorn, Tiger Shark, Blue Buck, Glitterbomb) in Ontario. No change in ownership for either partner.
• Project ForestminorOthers · 22 April 20212021 Alberta Benefit Brew winner - Project Forest's mission is to create a community of businesses for 'rewilding' Canadian landscapes. Phillips pledged $10,000 in proceeds. Project involves planting 110,160 seedlings at Golden Ranches Conservation Area.
• Mountain Road Forest Campaign / Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT)minorOthers · 25 March 20212021 BC Benefit Brew winner - Mountain Road Forest is a conservation campaign to protect a 20-hectare urban forest property on Vancouver Island. Phillips pledged $10,000 in proceeds from Benefit Brew Citrus Lager sales.
• ReFUSEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ReFUSE to design Phillips' in-house recycling program, complete with compost, to minimize waste.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Steam Whistle Brewing: Toronto-based craft brewer of comparable vintage and size to Phillips; explicitly partnered for cross-provincial sales representation in Ontario/BC/Alberta, making it the closest comparable by business model, scale, and strategy.
• Vancouver Island Brewing: Fellow Victoria, BC craft brewery of similar scale; Phillips now contract-brews its beer, demonstrating direct operational overlap in product, geography, and target customer.
• Russell Brewing Company: BC-based craft brewer of similar scale with comparable multi-style portfolio and wholesale distribution through BC Liquor Stores and Alberta private retailers.
• Superflux Beer Company: BC craft brewer; Phillips became its official BC sales agent in Jan 2025, reflecting directly comparable product, customer base, and distribution channels.
• Tofino Brewing Company: BC craft brewer with comparable product mix (ales, lagers, seasonal releases) targeting similar craft enthusiasts and BC/Alberta retail and tap accounts.
• Parallel 49 Brewing Company: BC craft brewery with broad year-round and seasonal lineup, comparable craft enthusiast positioning, and distribution reach across Western Canada similar to Phillips.
• Driftwood Brewery: Victoria-based craft brewery competing for the same local taproom, festival, and BC Liquor Store shelf access as Phillips, with comparable portfolio breadth across IPAs and seasonal releases.
• Hoyne Brewing Co. Victoria craft brewery with overlapping year-round and seasonal craft lineup and similar distribution across BC private liquor stores and select government channels.

Broad incumbents

• Molson Coors Beverage Company: Dominant national brewer whose owned craft brands and macro portfolios compete for the same finite BC/Alberta/Ontario shelf space, tap handles, and consumer occasions that Phillips targets.
• Labatt Breweries of Canada: Major Canadian brewer with national government-channel distribution muscle and an expanding craft portfolio, competing with Phillips for retail listings and on-premise accounts across Canada.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillips-brewing-company
• Instagraminstagram.com/sanctuarywhisky
• Xx.com/phillipsbeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/phillipsbeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Phillips Brewing & Malting