Steam Whistle Brewing
Encyclopedia
Steam Whistle Brewing is a brewery
in Toronto
, Ontario
. The company produces a premium pilsner lager packaged in distinctive green glass bottles and a non-twist cap. They only use four natural ingredients: spring water from Caledon, Ontario
; hops from Germany
; two-row barley
; and yeast
. In 2004, Steam Whistle Pilsner was voted best beer in Toronto at the Golden Tap Awards
. Steam Whistle has also been voted Best Toronto Microbrewery by the readers of NOW
, Eye Weekly
and XPress
in Ottawa.
The three founders are former employees of Upper Canada Brewing Company
before it was bought by Sleeman's
. The original name for the beer was going to be "Three Fired Guys Brewing Company" since they were all fired from Upper Canada Brewing Company when it was purchased by Sleeman; however, they chose Steam Whistle Brewing to evoke an image of steam rushing from a factory's whistle signaling the end of the work day. Embossed at the bottom of Steam Whistle bottles is "3FG" as an inside joke, referencing "Three Fired Guys".
Steam Whistle beer is sold in Ontario at The Beer Store and the LCBO. Steam Whistle is also available throughout Alberta
and British Columbia
at retailers, bars, and restaurants. Steam Whistle is currently in the process of packaging their beer in cans as a means of further penetrating the western Canadian market.
The brewery occupies Bays 1-14 within a building known as the John Street Roundhouse
. Built in 1929, it was previously the home of a Canadian Pacific Railway
steam locomotive repair facility, and operated as such until May 13, 1988. The John Street Roundhouse
is designated a National Historic Site, and is owned by the City of Toronto
. It is located within walking distance of the Rogers Centre
and the CN Tower
. A similar roundhouse, the CNR Spadina Roundhouse
, was torn down to make way for the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre
).
The brewery also hosts regular tours of its facility, as well as "Steam Whistle Unsigned", a monthly concert
series of local independent bands.
Large stocks of beer are shipped to beer stores by Brewers Retail.
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The company produces a premium pilsner lager packaged in distinctive green glass bottles and a non-twist cap. They only use four natural ingredients: spring water from Caledon, Ontario
Caledon, Ontario
Caledon is a town in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. In terms of land use, Caledon is somewhat urban, though it is primarily rural in nature...
; hops from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
; two-row barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
; and yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
. In 2004, Steam Whistle Pilsner was voted best beer in Toronto at the Golden Tap Awards
Golden Tap Awards
The Golden Tap Awards is an annual beer awards event held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The awards are sponsored and presented by , a website and forum dedicated to the discussion and promotion of Toronto's craft and microbrew beer scene....
. Steam Whistle has also been voted Best Toronto Microbrewery by the readers of NOW
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
, Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
and XPress
Ottawa XPress
The Ottawa XPress, currently spelled press on its cover, is an alternative weekly newspaper in Ottawa, Ontario.The paper was initially launched in April 1993 by Jim Creskey, who also founded The Hill Times. In March 2001, the paper was sold to Voirs president and founder, Pierre Paquet...
in Ottawa.
The three founders are former employees of Upper Canada Brewing Company
Upper Canada Brewing Company
Upper Canada Brewing Company is a brewery that is currently located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Founded by Frank Heaps in Toronto, they started brewing beer in 1984 and grew became one of the largest independent breweries in Canada....
before it was bought by Sleeman's
Sleeman Breweries
Sleeman Brewery Ltd. is a brewery located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. John H. Sleeman originally began brewing beer in 1834. By 1933 the Sleeman brewery had ceased operations when their liquor licence was revoked for bootlegging, specifically, smuggling beer into Detroit, Michigan. The brewery was...
. The original name for the beer was going to be "Three Fired Guys Brewing Company" since they were all fired from Upper Canada Brewing Company when it was purchased by Sleeman; however, they chose Steam Whistle Brewing to evoke an image of steam rushing from a factory's whistle signaling the end of the work day. Embossed at the bottom of Steam Whistle bottles is "3FG" as an inside joke, referencing "Three Fired Guys".
Steam Whistle beer is sold in Ontario at The Beer Store and the LCBO. Steam Whistle is also available throughout Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
at retailers, bars, and restaurants. Steam Whistle is currently in the process of packaging their beer in cans as a means of further penetrating the western Canadian market.
The brewery occupies Bays 1-14 within a building known as the John Street Roundhouse
John Street Roundhouse
John Street Roundhouse is a preserved locomotive roundhouse in Toronto, Ontario. Built for the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1929-31 by Anglin-Norcross to replace the earlier John Street roundhouse built in 1897...
. Built in 1929, it was previously the home of a Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
steam locomotive repair facility, and operated as such until May 13, 1988. The John Street Roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
is designated a National Historic Site, and is owned by the City of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. It is located within walking distance of the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
and the CN Tower
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Standing tall, it was completed in 1976, becoming the world's tallest free-standing structure and world's tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of the Burj...
. A similar roundhouse, the CNR Spadina Roundhouse
CNR Spadina Roundhouse
The CNR Spadina Roundhouse was owned by the Canadian National Railway, built in 1928 . The purpose of Spadina Roundhouse, was to pre-trip inspect, service and repair the motive power of passenger trains, including locomotives and Budd Rail Diesel Cars terminating, or originating at Toronto Union...
, was torn down to make way for the SkyDome (now Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
).
The brewery also hosts regular tours of its facility, as well as "Steam Whistle Unsigned", a monthly concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
series of local independent bands.
Fleet
Steam Whistle maintains a promotions fleet used to market their products.- Steam Machine 1967 Ford Econoline Heavy Duty
- Shakey 1950s ChevroletChevroletChevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
Sedan Delivery - Chuckles 1956 DodgeDodgeDodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Fargo - Grumpy 1957 Chevy Pick-up
- Lumpy 1949 Navistar InternationalNavistar InternationalNavistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...
Stake Truck - Grande Verde 1964 JeepJeepJeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
Wagoneer - Party Bus 1965 Ford Blue Bird
- Betty 1968 Chevy Pick Up
Large stocks of beer are shipped to beer stores by Brewers Retail.