Best of Kin Social

What Best of Kin Social does

Best of Kin Social operates a single craft brewery and taproom at 1059 14th St SW in Calgary's Sunalta neighbourhood, having opened on September 23, 2022. The business was founded by brothers Ryan Mortson (Head of Business) and Collin Mortson (Head of Brewing, holding a Masters of Brewing and Distilling from Heriot Watt University), alongside close friend Cole Glendinning (Head of F&B), in the years following the passing of their father in November 2014. The company employs approximately 7 people including a Chef de Cuisine, and serves the local Calgary community through walk-in taproom visitation, walk-up service, and reservations for groups of six or more (with private event bookings available for groups of 20+).

The core product portfolio spans flagship beers (Big Hat Hazy IPA, Dad Beer lagered ale), seasonal releases (Summer Crush radler, Sailor's Delight Coffee Kelp Stout brewed in collaboration with Calgary Heritage Roasters, Celebration Sour white wine sour), and taproom-exclusive experimental small batches using mix-fermentation techniques with lactobacillus and Kveik yeast. Brewing is performed on-site using small-batch experimental production combined with traditional brewing methods. The food program emphasizes nostalgic comfort fare, with the majority prepared in-house from locally sourced ingredients supplemented by Good Bread (bakery) and Chuen May Dim Sum.

Revenue derives entirely from direct-to-consumer channels: on-premise draft and packaged beer sales, full food service including a rotating brunch menu and kids' menu (Little Kin), and private event bookings. There is no wholesale distribution, online ordering, or delivery. The business is bootstrapped with no institutional investors or funding rounds disclosed. Marketing is concentrated on Instagram (@bestofkin), an email newsletter, and recurring in-taproom events (Pub Trivia with Peaches, Music Bingo, live music every other Friday, Euchre tournaments). The company has accumulated regional craft credibility through Alberta Beer Awards Judges Selections in 2021 (Dad Beer) and 2023 (Summer Crush), and recognition in Canada's 100 Best Patios.

Name

Best of Kin Social

Legal name

Best of Kin Social

Website

https://bestofkin.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Best of Kin Social is a Calgary-based craft brewery and taproom founded in 2022, serving the local Sunalta community through on-premise draft and packaged beer sales, in-house comfort food, private events, and recurring programming such as trivia and live music.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery & Taproom

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Breweries (31212)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Bars & Pubs (Non-Music) (MPAGAIAC)

Keywords

• Craft brewery services
• Craft beer production
• Taproom dining
• Small batch brewing
• Comfort food service

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: On-site draft and packaged beer sales directly to consumers visiting the taproom. Includes flagship beers (Big Hat Hazy IPA, Dad Beer), seasonal releases, and experimental small batch taproom-only offerings.
2. Food & Menu Sales: On-site food sales including comfort food, brunch menus, and kids' menu (Little Kin). The large majority of food is made in-house. Bread sourced from local Calgary bakery Good Bread; dumplings sourced from Chuen May Dim Sum.
3. Private Event Bookings: Revenue from private event bookings for groups. Reservations accepted for 6+ people; larger groups (20+) can submit event inquiries. Events include birthday parties, community dinners, and corporate gatherings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Best of Kin Social operates a craft brewery and taproom in Calgary, Alberta, brewing and serving its own flagship, seasonal, and experimental small-batch beers alongside an in-house comfort food menu and weekend brunch. Revenue is generated primarily through on-premise draft and packaged beer sales, regular and brunch food service, and private event bookings for groups of six or more.

Product overview

Best of Kin Social is a brewery and taproom offering a portfolio of flagship, seasonal, and experimental beers paired with comfort food dining. The core offerings include flagship beers (Big Hat hazy IPA, Dad Beer lagered ale), seasonal releases (Summer Crush radler, Sailor's Delight coffee stout, Celebration Sour), and taproom-exclusive experimental small batch beers. Food service includes regular and brunch menus featuring comfort food made in-house, with partnerships with local suppliers Good Bread and Chuen May Dim Sum. The venue also hosts regular events including trivia, live music, and private event bookings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Hat: Hazy IPA series flagship beer, 6.5% ABV
• Dad Beer
• Summer Crush
• Sailor's Delight
• Celebration Sour

Products and services

• Big Hat Hazy IPA

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calgary Heritage RoasterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBest of Kin partnered with Calgary Heritage Roasters to create Sailor's Delight, a Coffee Kelp Stout with Sea Salt. Calgary Heritage Roasters provides the cold brew coffee component used in this seasonal fall beer, combining local roaster expertise with Best of Kin's brewing program.
• Good BreadminorOthersLocal Calgary bakery supplying bread for Best of Kin's food menu. One of the few external food suppliers used, with all other food prepared in-house at the taproom.
• Chuen May Dim SumminorOthersCalgary-based dim sum supplier providing dumplings for Best of Kin's menu. Another external food supplier alongside Good Bread, with the rest of the food menu prepared in-house.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Brewsters Brewing Company: Alberta brewpub chain with multiple locations combining full restaurant service and on-site brewed beer. Comparable as a broader Alberta brewpub operator, though at significantly larger scale and with multi-site footprint.

Direct peers

• Tool Shed Brewing Company: Calgary craft brewery with taproom presence and packaged distribution. Comparable on craft brewing, Calgary market, and balance between taproom experience and broader retail availability.
• Village Brewery: Established Calgary craft brewery with an on-site taproom and broader distribution. Comparable on craft brewing category, Calgary market, and taproom event programming, though at larger scale and with broader distribution.
• Cold Garden Beverage Company: Calgary-based small-batch craft brewery with a taproom focused on approachable, experimental beers. Closely comparable to Best of Kin in scale, Calgary geography, small-batch experimental positioning, and taproom-led direct-to-consumer model.
• Dandy Brewing: Calgary-based craft brewery with a taproom and reputation for approachable, well-crafted beers. Comparable to Best of Kin on Calgary geography, craft beer focus, and taproom-led community positioning.
• Cabin Brewing Company: Calgary craft brewery operating a taproom and distributing flagship beers in Alberta. Directly comparable in product category, Calgary geography, and taproom-anchored customer experience.
• Half Hitch Brewing Company: Calgary craft brewery with on-site taproom and packaged retail. Comparable to Best of Kin on craft beer category, Calgary market, and neighbourhood taproom positioning.
• Annex Ale Project: Calgary neighbourhood craft brewery and taproom emphasizing small-batch and experimental releases. Comparable to Best of Kin on geography, small-batch brewing approach, and taproom-as-primary-channel go-to-market.
• Establishment Brewing: Calgary taproom brewery emphasizing a neighbourhood gathering space alongside craft beer. Comparable on Calgary location, taproom-as-gathering-place model, and event-driven community programming.

Regional players

• Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. Western Canadian craft brewery based in Victoria, BC with taproom and broad packaged distribution. Comparable on craft brewing category and taproom experience, but operates in a different regional market from Best of Kin's Calgary base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/bestofkin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/best-of-kin-social

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Best of Kin Social