Thunder Bays äldsta och största craftbryggeri, Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, lägger ner i slutet av mars efter 14 års verksamhet. Stängningen, som annonserades via sociala medier, kommer mitt i stigande aluminiumkostnader och minskad ölkonsumtion, trots bryggeriets nationella erkännande, samhällsengagemang och roll som lokal samlingspunkt.
Sleeping Giant Brewing Company, som etablerades 2012 på Macdonell Street i Thunder Bay, Ontario, annonserade sin nedläggning med ikraftträdande vid slutet av mars efter 14 år. Som stadens äldsta och största craftbryggeri fick det provinsiellt och nationellt erkännande, inklusive guldmedalj i Ontario Brewing Awards 2016 för American Pale Ale och brons i Canadian Brewing Awards 2018 för American Style Amber/Red Ale. År 2016 fotograferades tidigare premiärminister Justin Trudeau i bryggeriets Northern Logger-t-shirt. Bryggeriet blev välkänt för öl som Northern Logger, Skull Rock och 360 Ale. The announcement via social media expressed deep gratitude: “We are deeply grateful to our amazing staff, our loyal customers, and the craft beer community across Northwestern Ontario and beyond.” Co-founder Kyle Mulligan stated, “This place began with beer, but it became a gathering place. We’ve watched friendships form here, milestones celebrated and a craft beer culture really take shape in this city.” As a farewell, the brewery is producing a final beer named “Good to the Last Drop.” Mulligan added, “Thunder Bay has always been fiercely local, and that's what made this possible. That’s what we’ll always carry with us.” Beyond brewing, Sleeping Giant served as a community hub, hosting events from weddings to fundraisers and business functions. It sponsored initiatives like “Craft Cares” and the Staal Foundation, and supported the 2SLGBTQ+ community through partnerships with Rainbow Collective, including the annual “love equals love” raspberry sour beer. It was among the first local businesses to complete Rainbow Collective’s gender and sexual diversity training. Jason Veltri, Rainbow Collective’s co-founder, noted, “That partnership was really the beginning of this long, fruitful relationship over the past five years... We saw Sleeping Giant as a true community partner... doing the work to ensure a safe and welcoming community facility for all.” Hilary Hoogsteen of the Canadian Craft Brewers Association highlighted its impact: “They create jobs in their local communities, they contribute to small communities like Thunder Bay as community hubs.” She added that craft beer growth continues despite industry challenges. The closure marks the end of a significant chapter for Thunder Bay's craft beer scene.