Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, also known as Beau's Brewing Company or simply Beau's, is a brewery in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, 50 minutes east of Ottawa.[2]
 | |
| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Beer |
| Website | www |
| Footnotes / references [1] | |
It was launched on July 1, 2006,[3] and is known for its "regionally famous" Lug Tread lagered ale,[4] as well as a number of seasonal beers. Beau's beers are available throughout Ontario on tap and at LCBO liquor stores.[5] In February 2015, the brewery has also begun selling its products in Quebec,[6] and across Canada in 2017. By May 2016, the company had 150 full-time employees as a result of a claimed "growth at a compounded rate of 45 per cent year-over-year" since 2006.[7]
History edit
Beau's was started by father and son Tim and Steve Beauchesne.[8] After having informally discussed the idea, they left their previous employment (Tim having run a textile company for 17 years, and Steve having worked for the Ontario government and running Go! Go! Go! Records) and opened Beau's on Canada Day (July 1) 2006.[8]
Beau's has been successful since opening, having sold its entire first batch of 3,000 litres (5,300 pints) to nine Ottawa-area bars and restaurants before the official opening date.[9] Though it originally expected to supply Lug Tread to local LCBOs and Beer Stores in 2006, Lug Tread first appeared in Ottawa LCBOs in early 2008, by which time it had expanded to over 90 establishments in the Ottawa area.[10]
As of July 2009, over 200 Eastern Ontario establishments featured Beau's Lug Tread on tap.[11] "Just about every LCBO in the region" sells Lug Tread. By late 2009, Beau's was supplying a number of bars and LCBOs in the Greater Toronto Area.[12]
On January 13, 2014, it was announced by Beau's that, in March of the same year, its beer would be available for the first time in New York State, marking the first time the company's beer is available internationally.[13][14]
On May 17, 2016, Steve Beauchesne, speaking as chief executive officer of Beau's, announced that the brewery would be owned by its employees in an employee stock ownership plan.[15]
On March 1, 2022, Beau's announced that the brewery would be merged with Steam Whistle Brewing, located in Toronto, Ontario.[16]
Beers edit
Beau's flagship beer is Lug Tread, a Kölsch-style lagered ale that is produced alongside a year-long line up which includes Good Time Session I.P.A., Full Time I.P.A., Wag the Wolf (a White I.P.A.), the Beau's Grapefruit Radler, and Countdown Pale Ale.
The brewery also produces seasonal beers such as Beaver River I.P. Eh? (an India Pale Ale (IPA) with a "citrusy punch"); Festivale (an Altbier-style ale); Farm Table: Märzen (an Oktoberfest-style amber lager); and Bogwater (a "Strong & Spicy Dirty-Brown Ale"). Other limited and one-off beers have been released periodically under the Wild Oats Series, Farm Table Series, Gruit Series, Greener Futures Barrel-Aged Series, and Pro-Am Series.[17]
On November 1, 2013, Beau's released The Tom Green Beer, a milk stout made in collaboration with actor and comedian Tom Green.[18] When Green was a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, he brought the beer on-air and drank it with the host.[13] Beau's has since expanded the Tom Green Series, which now includes the Tom Green Cherry Milk Stout, and Tom Green Summer Stout.
Reception and awards edit
Beau's beers have been very well received, having "earned a reputation for quality and clean taste with beer drinkers who want more than just a cheap buzz,"[10] and Lug Tread having become a "fast favourite."[8]
In its debut year, Lug Tread won "Best Beer of the Fest" at the 2006 Golden Tap Awards.[19] Lug Tread went on to win "Best beer brewed in Ontario (outside of the GTA)" at the 2007 and 2008 Golden Tap Awards,[19] and "Best regularly-produced craft beer brewed in Ontario" and "Best of the Fest" at the 2009 awards.[20] The brewery itself also won "Best microbrewery in Ontario (outside of the GTA)" and "Best micro/craft brewery in Ontario" in 2008 and 2009, respectively.[19][20]
At the 2009 National Organic Brewing Challenge awards, Lug Tread won 2nd place, while seasonal Night•Märzen placed 3rd.[21] Another Beau's seasonal beer, Festivale, won gold medal at the 2009 Mondial de la Bière in Strasbourg.[22]
Bottles edit
Beau's sells their product in 600ml glass bottles available at the LCBO and The Beer Store in Ontario, dépanneurs throughout Quebec, and vendors across Canada. Beau's has expanded its product portfolio to include 355mL and 473mL cans.
Beau's has a partnership with Operation Come Home, an Ottawa youth program.[23] Beer is delivered in Ottawa with assistance from youths working with Operation Come Home. The program provides the youth with job experience and income.[8] As of May 2009, six youths have graduated the program to work in full-time jobs elsewhere.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Our Beers". Beau's All Natural Brewing Company.
- ^ "Local Brewery, Beer and Pub Win Big at Golden Tap Awards" (Press release). Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2009-12-02. [dead link]
- ^ "Eastern Ontario microbrewery set to launch on Canada Day" (Press release). Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. 2006-06-16. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ Van Dusen, Tom (2009-11-03). "Agri-Tour promises great lineup of food and drinks". The Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "On Tap · LCBO". Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "Beau's Brewery ramps up for February 2015 launch into Québec". 4 December 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Beau's Brewery Announces Change of Ownership to its employees". WHATSBREWIN. WHAT'S BREWIN'. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Johnson, Colleen (2009-05-14). "Beau's All-Natural Brewing Company - Family Brewed". Ottawa XPress. Archived from the original on 2009-05-21. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "New Brewery Sells Out of Beer in Two Weeks" (Press release). Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. 2006-06-28. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ a b Eade, Ron (2008-02-28). "Good things brewing at Beau's". The Ottawa Citizen - Omnivore's Ottawa. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ Van Dusen, Tom (2009-07-09). "A Beau market for organic beer". The Ottawa Sun. Archived from the original on 2012-02-22. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "Beau's". Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
- ^ a b Vito Pilieci (13 January 2014). "Ottawa-area microbrewery bringing its beer to the U.S. market". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ "Beau's All Natural Boosts Local Beer Distribution to Include New York State" (Press release). Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada: Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ Serebrin, Jacob (17 May 2016), "Beau's brewery to remain independent by selling ownership to employees", The Globe and Mail, retrieved 24 July 2016
- ^ "Shareholders Vote Yes to a Merger Of Beau's Brewery With Steam Whistle", beaus.ca, 1 March 2022, retrieved 1 March 2022
- ^ "Beers". Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "Beau's "The Tom Green Beer" Milk Stout Now in LCBOs" (Press release). Vankleek Hill, Ontario, Canada: Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ^ a b c "Previous winners of Golden Tap Awards". Golden Tap Awards. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ a b "Golden Tap Awards 2009 Winners Announced". The Bar Towel. 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ "2009 National Organic Brewing Challenge: Winners, Prizes, & Sponsors". Seven Bridges Cooperative. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "1st edition of the Mondial de la Bière of Strasbourg 2009: A promising success" (PDF) (Press release). Mondial de la Bière. 2009-11-16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
- ^ "Bottle Return". Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2009-12-02.