Beau’s Brewing Co. faced some challenges during the pandemic and although it will still hold a space in eastern Ontario, the company has been purchased by Toronto-based Steam Whistle Brewing.

Steve Beauchesne and his father Tim co-founded Beau’s in 2006 along with its soon-to-follow award-winning “Lug Tread Lagered Ale.”

Earlier this week 129 shareholders — a mixture of original investors and employees who, five years ago, gained the power to invest in the brewery where they worked — voted to accept an offer for share purchase. The details of the offer are confidential.

“The pandemic dramatically impacted the business, erasing about half of the brewery’s revenue “overnight,” said Beauchesne. “Rather than just struggling through and trying to find a way to survive, this will allow us to survive.”

The deal will allow Beau’s to continue to brew beer at its main location in Vankleek Hill, Ont., but the new ownership will likely bring some changes.

“We’re still trying to figure out exactly what we’re going to do,” Beauchesne admitted.

Steve will continue to play an active role in eastern Ontario operations after the deal goes through, but it allows his father to retire at age 71.

The father and son duo endorsed the takeover by Steam Whistle, respecting the common interest and use of organic and natural ingredients in the brewing process.

“I’ve enjoyed collaboratively competing with them over the past 15 to 16 years or so,” said Beauchesne.

In November, the two companies announced an alliance to sell and distribute their pooled portfolios in Ontario.

The purchase did not surprise brewing industry expert and co-author of The World Atlas of Beer, Stephen Beaumont. The pandemic had “focused beer drinkers’ energies” in support of brews from the smallest, hyper-local craft breweries.

“Probably at one time they would have ranked as among Canada’s most innovative breweries,” said Beaumont.

But he also said Beau’s slowness to get on board the “can craze” and to capitalize on the surging popularity of India Pale Ale beers “caught them on the back foot.”

He also said because Beau’s brewery was not located close to Canada’s largest beer markets in southern Ontario, a company with national aspirations was at a disadvantage.

The sale of Beau’s to Steam Whistle likely wouldn’t turn off dedicated drinkers of its beer, he said, or see them accuse Beau’s of “selling out.”

“I think, increasingly, craft beer drinkers are becoming immune to these takeovers,” he said. 

Photo courtesy of Beau’s Brewery