For the last few months I have been hearing rumours from multiple sources that St. Albert’s Hog’s Head Brewing was in trouble. The fact that I heard it from various locations had me taking the matter seriously. However, I don’t trade in rumours (at least not of this kind – feel free to tell me that you heard Scarlett Johansson is coming to town and wants to meet me), so I haven’t said anything, because I hadn’t had it confirmed.
However, there comes a point where the talk becomes inescapable. Too many different people have told me about it, and their stories seem too credible. I believe that Hog’s Head in its current incarnation is done. Whether it rises from the ashes is another question.
For the record, before deciding to write this post I felt I had an obligation to ask the owners of Hog’s Head directly what is going on. They could confirm or deny. Their reply to me offered neither. It was a vague “hold tight” message that didn’t say anything about what is happening.
To be honest, it wasn’t enough.
So, I am reporting today that to the best of my knowledge Hog’s Head Brewing is no longer. I am saddened by this conclusion. I wanted them to succeed, as I wish all prairie craft brewers well. It just seems like they couldn’t get the traction they needed to keep afloat.
In addition to people’s talk, there are a few key facts that lead me to this conclusion, although I will spare you too many details. The brewing staff appear to have all been let go. The head brewer is working elsewhere and no one can tell me if a new brewer has been hired. Recently the Hog’s Head brewhouse was on sale at probrewer.com, as was a bunch of other equipment and supplies, including kegs and their famous beer trailer. The website has become an unrecognizable mess.
Beer is still available, but people have told me it is of questionable age. The tasting room appears to still be operational as well, but I hear it is under new ownership. Neither of those claims have been confirmed.
The silence from Hog’s Head combined with incessant talk from other places convinces me that Hog’s Head is no longer a viable operation. Which, I repeat, makes me sad. It is possible it resurrects itself from the ashes to something new – under the same or different name – for beer is a funny industry that way. But at this point I am prepared to offer a conditional assessment that Hog’s Head has closed. It may open again. It may not. I have no idea.
For now, that is the reality. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
June 28, 2015 at 11:52 AM
I talked with Bruce, brewmaster at Hog’s Head, after the Alberta Small Brewers AGM. He was wearing a Hog’s Head cap but talking about other projects he was involved with. I thought it was odd but didn’t put two and two together. As ever, good beer is not enough to make a successful brewing enterprise.
October 3, 2015 at 5:12 PM
I know a brewery based in Calgary and the United States that has been a successful brewing enterprise while making bad beer. I just don’t understand why Hog’s Head wasn’t successful with the same strategy???
July 18, 2015 at 5:07 PM
I can Verify the Bar is closed, went there today to sample Hogs Head, very dissapointed ,had a left over hogs head pumpkin beer and left …. not good. had remenents of hogs head, but also had Yellowhead Lager on tap, not at all what I was looking for today. Looked dismall
September 30, 2015 at 11:42 PM
Not suprizing worked with owners under several s different company names and always flakey
October 4, 2015 at 8:50 AM
Sherlock Holmes is pouring Colleen’s but told me that it is now a Big Rock brew..he said they bought the rights from Hogs Head.
October 6, 2015 at 10:59 AM
How do we contact owner of hogs head brewing
March 3, 2016 at 5:21 PM
It’s still open:) Food is awesome and the people are great! They don’t have too many of their beers but still… love that it’s still here.
March 3, 2016 at 6:20 PM
There is a pub open in the old Hog’s Head tasting room space, run by a separate company. Not sure how there can still be Hog’s Head beer served there, given they haven’t brewed in months. I haven’t been there recently so can’t be sure what is happening, but I would suggest to you, Melissa, that Hog’s Head is gone and what you are experiencing Hog’s Ghost.
March 20, 2016 at 5:00 PM
I would like to find out how to contact the owners of Hog Head Breweries.