Steelback Brewery

Infobox Brewery
name = Steelback Brewery
caption =
location = Tiverton, Ontario, Canada
owner =
opened = 2004
production =
active_beers = brewbox_beer|name=Premium Draught|style=Draught brewbox_beer|name=Premium Lager|style=Lager brewbox_beer|name=Honey Brown|style=Honey Lager brewbox_beer|name=Dark|style=Dark Lager brewbox_beer|name=Steelback Light|style=Light Beer
seasonal_beers =
other_beers =

Steelback Brewery is a Canadian based and owned brewery, located in Tiverton, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Huron.

History

Launched in 2004 by flamboyant owner Frank D'Angelo, the company's promotional strategy has included extensive sponsorship of sporting events and venues, including purchasing naming rights to the Sauble Speedway in Sauble Beach, several community arenas in Toronto, the Grand Prix of Toronto and sponsorship of a Formula One racing team, as well as the Toronto Argonauts.

In 2006, the company purchased the naming rights to the Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, the new home of the Ontario Hockey League Sault Greyhounds for $1.35 million over 10 years. The company has also explored reviving the defunct Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League, under the new name Ottawa Steelback. [ [http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/sports/story.html?id=3ac007ef-4e70-4d3b-bba5-9d8fc7445cce&k=12455 Ottawa Citizen] ] Some media outlets speculated that the bid to resurrect the Ottawa Renegades was nothing more than a publicity stunt [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2006/04/28/cfl_renegades060428.html CBC News] ] , and the offer was subsequently declined by CFL. [ [http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061217.wsptpens17/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20061217.wsptpens17 Globe Sports] ]

On June 9, 2007, company president Frank D'Angelo was arrested and charged with sexual assault, following allegations from a 21-year-old woman. The matter is still before the courts. [ [http://www.thestar.com/News/article/227363 Toronto Star] ] His arrest occurred the same week he launched a $2 million libel suit against Ottawa blogger Neate Sager, who had questioned his attempt to bring another CFL team to Ottawa. [ [http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20070702_107045_107045 MacLeans] ] The suit was dropped one month later, after Sager published a clarification on his blog.

On November 2, 2007, it was reported that D'Angelo had sold his majority stake in Steelback Brewery as well as D'Angelo Brands. D'Angelo will remain on board as chairman of the company as well as maintain a minority interest in the business. Jonathon Sherman, the son of Apotex founder Barry Sherman, who had provided significant financial assistance to D’Angelo in the past, is taking over. [ [http://www.mississauganews.com/article/8145 Mississauga News] ] [ [http://www.thestar.com/columnists/article/272882 Toronto Star] ] Later in the month, the insolvent company was granted court protection from its creditors. [ [http://www.thestar.com/article/277975 Toronto Star] ]

Steelback re-launched in May 2008 with a new management team, with Jonathon Sherman as the new owner and CEO and Ian MacDonald as president. As part of the re-launch, Steelback has hired Fantail Communications to handle public relations and Rossi Piedimonte Design, an advertising agency based in Burlington Ontario. The five beers include: Steelback Premium Lager, Steelback Tiverton Honey Brown, Steelback Premium Draught, Steelback Tiverton Dark, and Steelback Light.

AwardsAnchors|Awards

2007 Ontario Brewing Awards

* HONEY BEER CATEGORY– GOLD MEDAL – Steelback Tiverton Bear Honey Brown
* DARK LAGER CATEGORY– GOLD MEDAL – Steelback Tiverton Bear Dark Lager
* LAGER CATEGORY – SILVER MEDAL – Steelback Red
* LAGER CATEGORY– BRONZE MEDAL – Steelback Silver

2007 Canadian Brewing Awards

* NORTH AMERICAN STYLE DARK LAGER CATEGORY– GOLD – Steelback Dark Lager
* HONEY/MAPLE LAGER OR ALE CATEGORY– SILVER – Steelback Honey Brown
* LIGHT (Calorie Reduced) LAGER CATEGORY – BRONZE – Steelback Light

2008 Ontario Brewing Awards

* DARK LAGER CATEGORY– GOLD MEDAL – Steelback Tiverton Bear Dark Lager

References

External links

* [http://www.steelbackbrewery.com/ Official website]