Hopfenstark
Hopfenstark is a Quebec microbrewery (founded 2006, 1–10 employees) that produces 50+ craft beers specializing in oak barrel aging and wild/sour fermentation, selling through its Lavaltrie taproom, 100+ Quebec retailers, Montreal on-premise accounts, and specialty retailers in the US and Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersLavaltrie, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Hopfenstark does
Hopfenstark (legal name Brasserie Hopfenstark) is a privately-held Quebec microbrewery founded in 2006 in L'Assomption and relocated to Lavaltrie in 2016, operating with 1–10 employees. The brewery specializes in craft beer with an emphasis on oak barrel aging and mixed-culture wild/sour fermentation using proprietary house yeasts (lactobacillus, brettanomyces, pediococcus, saison yeast). Its portfolio spans regular, seasonal, and special-release beers across more than 50 SKUs, anchored by the Ho.St in the Shell barrel-aging program introduced in 2021 and featuring aged variants of core beers matured in bourbon, red wine, and white wine oak barrels for up to nine years.
The business operates a hybrid distribution model: direct-to-consumer sales through the Lavaltrie taproom, terrace, and Square-based online pre-order store; retail distribution through 100+ specialty shops and grocery chains (IGA, Metro Plus, Provigo) across seven Quebec regions; on-premise draft service at Montreal bars and restaurants (Station Host, Vices&Versa, Larrys, Poincaré Chinatown); and international specialty retailer presence in the United States and Europe. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from C$5.65–C$6.96 for standard 473ml cans to C$14–C$22 for limited barrel-aged and cellared releases.
The company's go-to-market is anchored by event-driven participation (Shelton Brothers festival, Vermont Brewers Festival, Festival Bière et Saveur de Chambly) and PR through international competitions, where it has earned approximately 20 awards including World Beer Cup (2012, 2022), World Beer Awards (2017, 2018), and multiple Mondial de la Bière medals since 2007. Its core customer segments are craft beer enthusiasts, food-and-beer-pairing consumers, and specialty retail buyers in Quebec, with international craft beer markets as a secondary segment.
Hopfenstark firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hopfenstark
- Legal name
- Brasserie Hopfenstark
- Website
- https://hopfenstark.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Hopfenstark is a Quebec microbrewery (founded 2006, 1–10 employees) that produces 50+ craft beers specializing in oak barrel aging and wild/sour fermentation, selling through its Lavaltrie taproom, 100+ Quebec retailers, Montreal on-premise accounts, and specialty retailers in the US and Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hopfenstark industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)
Keywords
Where Hopfenstark is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lavaltrie
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Hopfenstark business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer (Taproom): On-premise beer and food sales at the taproom and terrace in Lavaltrie, Quebec. Customers can purchase canned beers for takeaway or consume on-site.
- Online Store: E-commerce platform for pre-ordering beers for pickup at the brewery. Products available in cans.
- Retail Distribution: Distribution of canned beers through specialty retailers, grocery stores (IGA, Metro Plus), and specialized beer shops across Quebec regions.
- On-Premise (Beverage Service): Availability of draft and bottled beers at partner bars and restaurants in Montreal and across Quebec.
- Specialty/Barrel-Aged Releases: Limited edition barrel-aged beers sold at premium prices through the taproom and specialty retailers. Includes aged products like Faust Triple (9 years in bourbon barrels) and Maia (9 years in white wine barrels).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Canned beers - Regular session styles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Canned beers - Premium styles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Barrel-aged cellared beers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | On-premise cask and draft service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Food items |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hopfenstark product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hopfenstark is a Quebec microbrewery that crafts and sells a portfolio of 50+ distinct craft beers, organized into regular, seasonal, special batch, and oak barrel-aged lines (the Ho.St in the Shell program). The brewery pioneered sour and barrel-aged beer production in Quebec and Canada since 2007, using proprietary house yeast cultures, mixed fermentation, and oak aging in bourbon, red wine, and white wine barrels. Products are sold via the on-site taproom, online pre-order store, specialty retailers and grocery chains in Quebec, on-premise accounts in Montreal, and international specialty retailers in the U.S. and Europe.
Product overview
Hopfenstark is a Quebec microbrewery established in 2006 in Lavaltrie (formerly L'Assomption), specializing in crafting unique beers inspired by global flavors. The company offers a diverse portfolio organized into several product lines: Regular beers (Ostalgia Blonde, Ostalgia Rousše, Blanche de L'Ermitage, La Framboise, Riwaka Session IPA, Postcolonial IPA, LouLou Porter, End of The Trail, Hooligan Bitter, Krumlov Bohemian Pilsner, Svetly 10°, Helles, Boson de Higgs, Saison Station 55, Saison Station 16, and 7-Sisters series including Maïa, Céléno, Mérope); Seasonal beers (Rauch Helles, Vienna Lager, Baltic Porter Scandinave, Pop Gose the World, Berlin AlexanderPlatz, Kamarad Friedrich, Captain Swing Barleywine, Saison Station 7, 7-Sisters: Alcyone, Faust Triple, Baltic Porter de L'Ancrier, Greg, Yule, Saison Du Repos, Bohème De Paris, 7 Sisters: Taygète, 7 Sisters: Astérope, Stout black Francis); Special batches (Voivod Lost Machine, Svetly Lezak, Hooligan Bitter); and the prestigious Ho.St in the Shell oak barrel aging program featuring barrel-aged variants of their core beers aged in bourbon, red wine, and white wine barrels. The brewery also operates a tasting room with food service and an online boutique for pre-orders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ho.St in the shell: Barrel aging program featuring beers matured in various oak barrel types including bourbon, red wine, and white wine barrels.
Quantifiable outcome
- Berlin Alexanderplatz - Only 1 keg sold in Quebec in 2009, prompting export to US market where it achieved significant success
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Hopfenstark
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hopfenstark technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Hopfenstark partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- VoivodminorCollaboration with Quebec progressive rock band Voivod to create the Voivod Last Machine SteinBier - a traditional German beer style where heated rocks are immersed in wort to create caramelized flavors. This marked their second collaboration with the band.
- Shelton Brothers ImportersminorParticipated in Shelton Brothers festival in Buffalo, which connects Hopfenstark with brewers from around the world.
- Vermont Brewers FestivalminorParticipated in the Vermont Brewers Festival in Burlington - an important regional craft beer festival.
- Festival Bière et Saveur de ChamblyminorParticipated in Festival Bière et Saveur de Chambly - regional beer festival in Quebec.
- Station HostminorHopfenstark's bar location in Montreal serving their beers on tap. Located in L'Assomption area, 30km from Montreal.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hopfenstark competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Michigan-based craft brewery specializing in oak-aged, mixed-fermentation, and sour farmhouse ales. Comparable on barrel-aging expertise, sour/wild mixed-fermentation product line, and distribution into US craft specialty channels.
- Le Trou du Diable: Shawinigan, Quebec microbrewery producing a diverse craft portfolio including barrel-aged, sour, and Belgian-inspired styles with a brewpub and broad Quebec distribution. Comparable on craft diversity, Quebec specialty distribution, and award-winning positioning.
- Allagash Brewing Company: Maine-based craft brewery widely recognized for its barrel-aged coolship and wild/sour beer programs (including Coolship Resurgam and James Bean). Comparable on pioneering expertise in mixed-fermentation and oak barrel aging and on US/Canadian craft distribution.
- Russian River Brewing Company: California craft brewery globally renowned for barrel-aged sours (Supplication, Temptation, Consecration) and Pliny the Elder IPAs. Comparable on barrel-aging/sour portfolio depth, scarcity-driven premium pricing, and cult craft brand status that drives retail demand.
- Brasserie Le Castor: Quebec microbrewery focused on hop-forward, farmhouse, and barrel-aged beers with a tasting room and Quebec retail distribution. Comparable on small-scale craft operations, Quebec specialty retail channels, and emphasis on experimental and barrel-aged styles.
- Brasserie Dunham: Quebec microbrewery known for Belgian-inspired, barrel-aged, and experimental craft beers with a taproom in Dunham and broad Quebec distribution. Comparable on Quebec craft barrel-aging expertise, experimental product development, and specialty retail presence.
- Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!: Quebec microbrewery founded in 1998, comparable craft brewing scale and portfolio diversity (saisons, barrel-aged, IPAs, stouts) with strong on-premise and retail presence across Quebec. Directly comparable on craft positioning, product breadth, and Quebec specialty retail distribution.
- Brasserie Lagabière: Quebec microbrewery producing a diverse craft portfolio with a brewpub, taproom, and broad Quebec retail presence. Comparable on Quebec craft positioning, brewpub/taproom model, and specialty retail distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Large US craft incumbent with broad portfolio including barrel-aged, hop-forward, and specialty series (Bigfoot, Otra Vez, Beer Camp). Comparable on craft category presence and barrel-aged programs but at materially larger scale with national US distribution.
Others
- Shelton Brothers Importers: US-based specialty beer importer that distributes Hopfenstark into US accounts and operates the Shelton Brothers festival in Buffalo referenced in Hopfenstark's GTM. Relevant as a channel partner and as a representative importer of European/North American craft specialty beers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hopfenstark social profiles
Digital presenceHopfenstark financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hopfenstark leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hopfenstark funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hopfenstark M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hopfenstark
What does Hopfenstark do?
Hopfenstark is a Quebec microbrewery that crafts and sells a portfolio of 50+ distinct craft beers, organized into regular, seasonal, special batch, and oak barrel-aged lines (the Ho.St in the Shell program). The brewery pioneered sour and barrel-aged beer production in Quebec and Canada since 2007, using proprietary house yeast cultures, mixed fermentation, and oak aging in bourbon, red wine, and white wine barrels. Products are sold via the on-site taproom, online pre-order store, specialty retailers and grocery chains in Quebec, on-premise accounts in Montreal, and international specialty retailers in the U.S. and Europe.
Is Hopfenstark a public or private company?
Hopfenstark is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Hopfenstark founded?
Hopfenstark was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Hopfenstark based?
Hopfenstark is headquartered in Lavaltrie, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Hopfenstark make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer (Taproom) is the primary driver. The others are online Store, retail Distribution, on-Premise (Beverage Service) and specialty/Barrel-Aged Releases.
Who are Hopfenstark's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Le Trou du Diable, Allagash Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing Company, Brasserie Le Castor, Brasserie Dunham, Brasserie Dieu du Ciel! and Brasserie Lagabière. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is listed as a broad incumbent. Shelton Brothers Importers is listed as an others.
Does Hopfenstark have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hopfenstark.
What industry is Hopfenstark in?
Hopfenstark's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAA, Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing, with a secondary code of CRADAIAA, Beer Brewing & Brands. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 2082.