Agassiz Brewing facts for kids
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| Industry | Alcoholic beverage |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Beer |
The Agassiz Brewing Company was a Canadian company that made beer. It was started in 1998 by Gary De Pape, who was a brewmaster (a person who makes beer) at another company called Fort Garry Brewing.
Agassiz Brewing was located in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The company was named after a huge ancient lake called Lake Agassiz, which once covered a big part of Manitoba. Agassiz beer was sold in several Canadian provinces, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia. The company stopped operating in 2010.
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The Story of Agassiz Brewing
Agassiz Brewing Company began its journey in Winnipeg in late 1998. It officially opened its doors on March 17, 1999. At that time, Agassiz was one of three smaller breweries, sometimes called "microbreweries," that started in Manitoba. The others were Fort Garry and Two Rivers Brewing. These companies aimed to make and bottle their own local beers for people in Winnipeg and Manitoba.
Early Successes and Popular Beers
Agassiz Brewing had a very good first year. Their main product was a type of beer called Catfish Cream Ale. They also released a light-colored beer called Premium Pilsner.
Later, Agassiz made history by releasing Canada's first packaged German Hefeweizen, which they called Harvest Haze Hefeweizen. This beer became very popular almost instantly. By the end of its first year, Agassiz also launched a special edition Bock Beer. This unique beer was made with orange peel and honey from Manitoba. It was so popular that all the limited-edition packs sold out in just a few hours!
Expanding to New Markets
Gary De Pape, the founder, was the first brewer from Manitoba to sell his beer in the United States. He signed a deal to distribute Agassiz beer in North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Minnesota.
However, after some changes in the company's direction, Gary De Pape decided to leave. When he left, the deal with the US distributor ended. Soon after, sales of Agassiz beers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan dropped. The company found it hard to cover its daily costs because it wasn't selling enough beer, even though it had the ability to make a lot (600,000 litres).
Changes and New Beginnings
After facing financial difficulties, Agassiz Brewing closed its Winnipeg operations on January 31, 2002. The company sold its equipment and went through a process similar to bankruptcy.
It then reappeared as a different kind of company called New Manitoba Brewing Ltd. This new company focused on selling and distributing Agassiz brands. The actual brewing and packaging of the beer were done by another company, Northern Breweries, located in Sudbury, Ontario.
Later, New Manitoba made an agreement with Fort Garry, their former rival. Starting in October 2004, Fort Garry helped New Manitoba by storing, distributing, and marketing the Agassiz brands.
The End of the Journey
This partnership with Fort Garry ended in January 2010. Fort Garry said they were too busy making their own beers and didn't have space in their tanks for Agassiz's last popular beer, Catfish Cream Ale.
Joe Constant, one of the partners at New Manitoba, mentioned that they tried to find other small breweries to make Catfish Cream Ale, but they were not successful. This marked the end of Agassiz Brewing Company.
Former Brands
Here are some of the beers that Agassiz Brewing Company used to make:
- Catfish Cream Ale (5% alcohol)
- Bison Blonde Lager (4.8%), a light-colored beer
- Dark Lager, a darker beer
- Winnipeg Kolsch (only available on tap)
- Harvest Haze Hefeweizen
