Fort Garry Brewing
Fort Garry Brewing Company is Manitoba's oldest microbrewery, founded in 1930 and re-established in its current form in 1994. Operating from Winnipeg, it produces classic ales and lagers, a Brewmaster Series of limited releases, Stone Cold value lager, and the Hector's Hard ready-to-drink beverage line, distributing across Manitoba via its own brewery, e-commerce, delivery partners, liquor retailers, and restaurants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1930
- HeadquartersWinnipeg, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Fort Garry Brewing does
Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd is a privately held craft brewery headquartered at 130 Lowson Crescent, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1930 by B.W. Hoeschen and resurrected in its current form in 1994 by Richard Hoeschen, the company operates as Manitoba's oldest microbrewery with 1–10 employees and produces a portfolio of year-round classic ales and lagers (Fort Garry Dark, Fort Garry Rouge, Fort Garry Pale, Angry Fish Pilsner, Middle Province Craft Lager, Legendary Lemon Radler), the Brewmaster Series of limited small-batch craft releases, the value-priced Stone Cold lager, the Hector's Hard ready-to-drink beverage sub-brand at 7% ABV, plus kegs and branded merchandise. Brewing is positioned as a traditional craft operation led by Head Brewer Josh Berscheid (since 2019) using time-honoured methods and quality raw ingredients, with no proprietary technology platform, no public API, and no AI/ML capability disclosed.
The business runs a multi-channel direct-to-consumer and wholesale distribution model confined to the Canadian province of Manitoba. Revenue streams include on-site brewery off-sales (20L and 58L keg sales and pump rentals), the company's own e-commerce storefront (shop.fortgarry.com), third-party delivery partnerships with Skip The Dishes and Door Dash within Winnipeg, and wholesale placement through Liquor Marts (a Manitoba provincial crown corporation), Cold Beer Stores, and on-premise restaurant accounts. Adjacent revenue lines include merchandise (hats at $19.99, gift cards $10–$100) and bespoke sponsorship products such as the Autism Awareness Riders Lager. The customer base is a long tail of individual Manitoba craft beer drinkers alongside named enterprise and venue accounts including the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club, Casinos of Winnipeg (Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station), Winnipeg Folk Festival, Assiniboine Park Zoo, and broader restaurant/hospitality establishments across the province.
Operational scope is single-jurisdiction (Manitoba, Canada) with no disclosed international footprint, no subsidiaries, no parent company, no public listing, and no external funding rounds. Community engagement is concentrated and recurring: cultural event partnerships (Winnipeg Beerfest, Winnipeg Pride Festival, Brew at the Zoo) coexist with structured charitable giving (over $22,000 in disclosed donations to Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg Humane Society, K9 Advocates Manitoba, and St. Amant). The Hector's Hard sub-brand and continued SKU expansion through at least 2025–2026 represent the most active growth vector within an otherwise heritage-anchored, regionally-bounded business.
Fort Garry Brewing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fort Garry Brewing
- Legal name
- Fort Garry Brewing Company
- Website
- https://fortgarry.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1930
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Fort Garry Brewing Company is Manitoba's oldest microbrewery, founded in 1930 and re-established in its current form in 1994. Operating from Winnipeg, it produces classic ales and lagers, a Brewmaster Series of limited releases, Stone Cold value lager, and the Hector's Hard ready-to-drink beverage line, distributing across Manitoba via its own brewery, e-commerce, delivery partners, liquor retailers, and restaurants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fort Garry Brewing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer & Brewery Products
- NAICS
- Breweries (312120)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)
Keywords
Where Fort Garry Brewing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winnipeg
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fort Garry Brewing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Beer Sales: The company sells beer directly to consumers through on-site brewery sales (off-sale), their e-commerce platform (shop.fortgarry.com), and via third-party delivery services including Skip The Dishes and Door Dash.
- Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of beer products through Liquor Marts, Cold Beer Stores, and restaurants throughout Manitoba.
- Keg Rentals: Keg sales and rentals in 20L and 58L sizes, with optional pump rentals for home use.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including hats and gift cards through their online shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Keg sizes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hector's Hard beverages |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fort Garry Brewing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd is a craft brewery based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, producing traditional and modern craft beers alongside ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages under brands such as Fort Garry, Middle Province, and Hector's Hard. The company operates a working brewery that offers tours, sells kegs and packaged beer, and distributes across Manitoba retail and on-premise channels.
Product overview
Fort Garry Brewing Company is Manitoba's oldest microbrewery, established in 1930, operating as a craft beer producer with a multi-product portfolio. The core offering comprises classic year-round beers (Fort Garry Dark, Fort Garry Rouge, Fort Garry Pale, Angry Fish Pilsner, Middle Province Craft Lager, Legendary Lemon Radler) alongside the Brewmaster Series seasonal craft releases. Budget-conscious offerings include Stone Cold lager (launched 2000). The company expanded into Ready-to-Drink beverages with the Hector's Hard sub-brand featuring flavoured malt beverages at 7% ABV in multiple variants. Additional revenue streams include keg rentals, merchandise, and branded apparel. The product line is sold through the company's own brewery, online shop, delivery partners (Skip The Dishes, Door Dash), and provincial liquor retailers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hector's Hard: Refreshment beverage line made with neutral grain alcohol at 7% ABV, featuring flavors including Peach Punch, Iced Tea, Cherry Bomb, Big Blue Raspberry, Margarita, Pink Lemonade, Cranberry, Cream Soda, and Purple Haze.
Products and services
- Fort Garry Dark
- Fort Garry Rouge
- Fort Garry Pale
- Angry Fish Pilsner
- Middle Province Craft Lager
- Brewmaster Series
- Stone Cold
- Legendary Lemon Radler
- Social Pack
- Kegs
- Hector's Hard Beverages
- Merchandise
- Brewery Tours
Quantifiable outcome
- $15,000 raised for Health Sciences Centre COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Fort Garry Brewing
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Fort Garry Brewing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Fort Garry Brewing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball ClubcoreFort Garry Brewing serves as the beer vendor for the Winnipeg Goldeyes Baseball Club, featuring their Angry Fish Pilsner at Blue Cross Park. The partnership connects the brewery with Winnipeg sports culture and community events.
- Casinos of WinnipegcoreOfficial craft beer partner at the Casinos of Winnipeg, operating Club Regent and McPhillips Street Station. The partnership provides premium beer offerings at two major entertainment venues.
- Winnipeg Folk FestivalcoreHector's Hard Iced Tea is a proud partner of the annual Winnipeg Folk Festival, taking place July 11th-14th. The partnership aligns the brand with cultural events and live music audiences.
- Health Sciences CentreminorCommunity support including COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund donation of $15,000 and participation in Savour Gala events in 2022 and 2023.
- Winnipeg Humane SocietyminorDonated $2 from every sale of specially-marked 8-packs of Fort Garry Dark and Fort Garry Pale, raising $3,000 for the organization.
- K9 Advocates ManitobaminorSocial Pack donation program where $2 from every pack sold went to K9 Advocates Manitoba, raising $3,000 to address dog overpopulation, abuse and neglect.
- St. AmantminorCreated Autism Awareness Riders Lager with $0.50 per can donated, raffle prize donations, and post-ride event hosting, raising $1,200 for autism awareness.
- Winnipeg Pride FestivalminorCultural event partnership celebrating diversity and community inclusion in Winnipeg.
- Skip The DishescoreThird-party delivery partner providing local delivery service for Fort Garry Brewing products in the Winnipeg area.
- Door DashcoreThird-party delivery partner providing local delivery service for Fort Garry Brewing products in the Winnipeg area.
- Local UniversitiesminorEnduring strategic partnerships with local educational institutions in Manitoba.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Fort Garry Brewing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Moosehead Breweries: Canada's largest independently owned brewery with multi-province distribution; relevant incumbent peer for understanding how regional and craft beer compete within the same Canadian retail and on-premise channels.
- Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Larger Canadian craft brewery on Vancouver Island with a comparable portfolio of core, seasonal, and budget offerings; relevant peer for the broader Canadian craft beer competitive set rather than direct Manitoba overlap.
- Molson Coors Beverage Company: Global brewer with significant Canadian operations including macro and craft-adjacent brands; provides a reference point for competitive dynamics, pricing pressure, and distribution leverage in the Canadian beer market.
- Parallel 49 Brewing Company: BC-based craft brewery with an extensive year-round and seasonal lineup plus RTD-adjacent products; competes for similar craft and emerging-style consumer occasions across Western Canada.
- Steam Whistle Brewing: Established Canadian craft brewer with a focused portfolio and provincial distribution; useful comparable for evaluating brand-led craft distribution economics in Canada.
- Labatt Breweries of Canada: Major Canadian brewer (part of AB InBev) with broad distribution and macro plus craft-adjacent brands; relevant as the dominant competitor for shelf space and on-premise handles across Canada.
Direct peers
- Half Pints Brewing Company: Winnipeg-based craft brewery operating at a comparable local scale; competes for the same Manitoba taps, Liquor Mart shelf space, and consumer base, and is a former employer of Fort Garry's current Head Brewer.
- Lake of the Woods Brewing Company: Independent Canadian craft brewery producing ales, lagers, and seasonal releases for a regional market; comparable in scale and product mix to Fort Garry's classic plus seasonal craft portfolio.
- Nonsuch Brewing Co. Winnipeg microbrewery focused on craft beer and small-batch releases; directly competes for the same craft consumer, tap handles, and Liquor Mart listings within Manitoba.
- One Great City Brewing Company: Winnipeg craft brewery producing a range of ales and lagers; competes directly with Fort Garry in the local on-premise and retail market, and has historically shared brewing talent with Fort Garry.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fort Garry Brewing social profiles
Digital presenceFort Garry Brewing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fort Garry Brewing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Fort Garry Brewing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fort Garry Brewing 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 Fort Garry Brewing
What does Fort Garry Brewing do?
Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd is a craft brewery based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, producing traditional and modern craft beers alongside ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages under brands such as Fort Garry, Middle Province, and Hector's Hard. The company operates a working brewery that offers tours, sells kegs and packaged beer, and distributes across Manitoba retail and on-premise channels.
Is Fort Garry Brewing a public or private company?
Fort Garry Brewing is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Fort Garry Brewing founded?
Fort Garry Brewing was founded in 1930. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Fort Garry Brewing based?
Fort Garry Brewing is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Fort Garry Brewing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale Distribution, keg Rentals and merchandise.
Who are Fort Garry Brewing's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Moosehead Breweries, Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., Molson Coors Beverage Company, Parallel 49 Brewing Company, Steam Whistle Brewing and Labatt Breweries of Canada. Direct peers are Half Pints Brewing Company, Lake of the Woods Brewing Company, Nonsuch Brewing Co. and One Great City Brewing Company.
Does Fort Garry Brewing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fort Garry Brewing.
What industry is Fort Garry Brewing in?
Fort Garry Brewing's product category is Craft Beer & Brewery Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAC, Microbreweries & Craft Breweries, with a secondary code of AFAFAAAA, Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing. Its NAICS code is 312120 and its SIC code is 2082.