Great Lakes Brewery

What Great Lakes Brewery does

Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) is a privately held Ontario craft brewery founded in 1987 by Peter Bulut and headquartered at 30 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard in Etobicoke (West Toronto). The company produces and sells over 100 distinct beer styles across core, seasonal, limited-release, and ready-to-drink (RTD) lines, including flagship brands such as Great Lakes Premium Lager, Karma Citra IPA, Octopus Wants to Fight IPA, HazeMama New England IPA, and Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Solstice Stout, alongside newer RTD offerings (POMPELMO, Electric Spritz Seltzer, Delizioso, Lime Squeeze Gin & Soda). Core brewing capability is based on traditional and modern craft techniques, with no proprietary technology or AI/ML systems disclosed.

GLB operates a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer through its Etobicoke brewery retail store, an online shop (greatlakesbeershop.ca), and the GLB Brewpub at 11 Lower Jarvis Street in downtown Toronto (full-service restaurant, 20 taps); and wholesale through Ontario's regulated liquor system (LCBO, Beer Store, grocery) and 50+ licensed bars and restaurants across the province. The company is geographically constrained to Ontario and explicitly states it brews only for Ontario customers. Community programming is a central pillar of the brand strategy, with recurring events such as Brewed For You Fest, GLB Beer Week, Run Club, Cornhole League, Drew's Clues Trivia, Live at Five, Barks + Brews, and Hair of the Dog, supported by the Between Two Fermenters podcast and local sponsorships.

Revenue is generated primarily through unit-priced beer and merchandise sales across DTC and wholesale channels, plus ticketed events (Brewer's Table at $50/person, Brewed For You Fest token-based entry). The company is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, no acquisitions, and no parent/subsidiary structure, and does not publicly disclose revenue. Headcount is reported at 101-250, with leadership including Owner & President Peter Bulut, General Manager Troy Burtch, and Brewing Operations Manager Mike Lackey.

Name

Great Lakes Brewery

Legal name

Great Lakes Brewery

Website

https://greatlakesbeer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Brewery is a privately held Ontario craft brewery founded in 1987, operating two Toronto locations (Etobicoke brewery and downtown Brewpub), producing 100+ beer styles and RTDs for sale across the province via LCBO, grocery, Beer Store, 50+ licensee accounts, and direct-to-consumer channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Brewery retail
• Craft beer distribution
• Brewpub operations
• Ontario craft brewing

Headquarters

HQ city

Etobicoke

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Beer Sales (On-Premise): Sales of draft and packaged beer directly to consumers at the brewery retail store and GLB Brewpub location in Toronto.
2. Online and Retail Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through the online shop and retail store for packaged beer to take home.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of GLB beers through LCBO, grocery stores, Beer Store, and licensed on-sale establishments across Ontario.
4. Events and Experiences: Revenue from ticketed events such as Brewed For You Fest, Brewer's Table dinners, and special event experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Great Lakes Brewery brews and sells over 100 craft beer styles, including year-round lagers, IPAs, stouts, and pale ales, plus seasonal and limited-release barrel-aged beers and ready-to-drink cocktails and seltzers. Beer is sold direct-to-consumer through the Etobicoke brewery retail store, online shop (greatlakesbeershop.ca), and GLB Brewpub restaurant, and distributed wholesale across Ontario through LCBO, grocery stores, Beer Store, and licensed bars and restaurants.

Product overview

Great Lakes Brewery is an Ontario craft brewery producing a diverse portfolio of beer products including year-round core offerings (lagers, IPAs, stouts, pale ales), seasonal releases, limited-edition barrel-aged beers, and ready-to-drink cocktails and seltzers. The company's product lineup spans over 100 distinct beer styles across multiple series including the 7-barrel series, bottle-conditioned releases, seasonal releases, and collaborative brews. Retail operations include the main Etobicoke brewery and taproom, the GLB Brewpub in downtown Toronto, and direct-to-consumer online sales. The company also engages consumers through events programming and the Between Two Fermenters podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Between Two Fermenters: GLB's official podcast covering craft beer industry stories, brewery updates, and interviews with industry professionals. Hosted by Troy Burtch.

Products and services

• Great Lakes Premium Lager Year-round flagship premium lager at 5% ABV and 17 IBU, available in draft and packaged formats.
• Great Lakes Stout Year-round session stout at 4.3% ABV and 8 IBU.
• Sunnyside Session IPA Session IPA at 3.9% ABV and 25 IBU, featuring citrus, pineapple, and grapefruit notes; seasonal release.
• Octopus Wants to Fight IPA American IPA at 6.2% ABV and 88 IBU, also available in a New England Style variant.
• Karma Citra IPA Classic IPA at 7.0% ABV and 65 IBU, featuring Citra hops.
• HazeMama New England IPA at 7% ABV and 35 IBU.
• POMPELMO Ready-to-drink vodka and grapefruit soda cocktail at 4.8% ABV, inspired by the classic Greyhound cocktail.
• Double Octo Double IPA at 8.0% ABV and 44 IBU; limited release.
• Zwei Ziegen Doppelbock German-style Doppelbock at 6.7% ABV and 22 IBU, an annual seasonal release.
• Great Lakes Imperial Coffee Stout Imperial coffee stout at 8.0% ABV and 55 IBU; limited release.
• Canuck Pale Ale American Pale Ale at 5.2% ABV and 35 IBU, available in both standard and New England Style variants.
• Vienna Lager Vienna Lager at 5% ABV and 15 IBU.
• Great Lakes Light Lager Light lager at 4% ABV and 12 IBU.
• Electric Spritz Seltzer Hibiscus and lime seltzer at 4.8% ABV.
• Delizioso Ready-to-drink limoncello cocktail at 5.0% ABV.
• Lime Squeeze Gin & Soda Gin soda with key lime at 5.0% ABV.
• Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Solstice Stout Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout at 11.5% ABV and 30 IBU; limited release.
• GLB Brewpub Full-service restaurant and taproom at 11 Lower Jarvis Street in downtown Toronto, featuring 20 taps of GLB beer, full kitchen, table service, wine, cocktails, and private event booking.
• Online Beer Shop Direct-to-consumer online retail platform for purchasing GLB beers, merchandise, and event tickets within Ontario.
• Between Two Fermenters Podcast Weekly podcast hosted by Troy Burtch covering craft beer industry stories, brewery updates, and interviews with industry professionals; available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• KIP CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKIP Canada provides complimentary shuttle service from Royal York Station to the brewery during Brewed For You Fest. This partnership supports the festival experience and demonstrates community engagement.
• Town BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest, pouring beers alongside GLB and other Ontario craft breweries.
• Granite Brewery & Tied HouseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Broadhead Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Wellington BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Ernest CiderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating cidery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Silversmith Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Bickford Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Tooth and NailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerParticipating brewery at Brewed For You Fest.
• Fetch + ReleashminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDog rescue organization partner for the Barks + Brews event. Provides adoptable dogs for meet and greet at the brewery event.
• Smoking Section BBQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFood truck partner operating at GLB Etobicoke location, providing barbecue food options for brewery visitors.
• Mimico Mountaineers Junior Lacrosse ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of the Mimico Mountaineers Junior Lacrosse Club for the 2026 season. Community sponsorship in the Southern-Etobicoke neighbourhood.
• Collective Arts BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative brewing partnership resulting in the Home and Home West Coast IPA collaboration. Two breweries, two hop spotlights, brewed at each other's facilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steam Whistle Brewing: Toronto-based craft brewery with a downtown brewpub and broad Ontario wholesale distribution. Competes with GLB directly for GTA on-premise and retail craft occasions and shares a similar Toronto-anchored brand identity.
• Muskoka Brewery: Ontario-based craft brewer with broad LCBO and grocery distribution and a portfolio spanning lagers, IPAs, and seasonal releases. Operates in the same retail and on-premise channels as GLB and is a direct competitor for Ontario craft consumer occasions.
• Wellington Brewery: One of Canada's oldest craft breweries, based in Guelph, Ontario, with a comparable broad portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and specialty beers distributed across the LCBO and on-premise in the same Ontario channels where GLB competes.
• Town Brewery: Ontario craft brewery participating in GLB's Brewed For You Fest. Operates as a regional craft peer competing for the same Ontario LCBO, grocery, and on-premise shelf and tap space.
• Amsterdam Brewing: Toronto-based craft brewery with a brewpub, retail store, and Ontario-wide wholesale distribution across LCBO, grocery, and on-premise. Directly comparable in channel mix, geographic focus, and product breadth to GLB.
• Collective Arts Brewing: Hamilton, Ontario-based craft brewery with a similar multi-channel DTC, wholesale, and limited-edition model. GLB has already executed a collaboration brew (Home and Home West Coast IPA) with Collective Arts, indicating direct competitive and creative overlap in the Ontario craft segment.
• Silversmith Brewing Company: Ontario craft brewery participating in GLB's Brewed For You Fest, distributing through the LCBO and Ontario on-premise accounts. Directly comparable as a regional craft peer in the same province.
• Broadhead Brewing Company: Ontario craft brewery participating in GLB's Brewed For You Fest. Competes for the same Ontario retail and on-premise craft occasions with a comparable portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers.
• Granite Brewery & Tied House: Toronto-based brewpub and craft brewery that participates in GLB's Brewed For You Fest. Comparable Toronto craft brand with on-premise and limited-packaged-beer distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Sleeman Breweries: One of Canada's largest craft and specialty brewers, owned by Sapporo. Competes with GLB across the LCBO, grocery, and national on-premise channels with a much broader craft and import portfolio, providing a clear scale benchmark for the broader craft category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLh4QfR30zzDZa7a_esJ2XgiKxxcZ4YEwY
• Instagraminstagram.com/greatlakesbeer
• Xx.com/greatlakesbeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Great Lakes Brewery