Big Rock Brewery
A Calgary-based Canadian craft brewery producing beers, ciders, seasonal releases, and specialty wild ales.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Big Rock Brewery is a Canadian craft brewery based in Calgary, Alberta. Founded by lawyer and entrepreneur Ed McNally in 1984, the company emerged from McNally's dissatisfaction with the limited beer selection then available in Calgary. His work representing Alberta barley growers exposed him to the malting potential of the province's two-row barley and to the advantages of locally available Rocky Mountain water. Those agricultural and geographic resources helped shape the idea of a brewery rooted in Western Canada. The name Big Rock refers to the Okotoks Erratic, a large glacial boulder south of Calgary. The brewery began production with German brewmaster Bernd Pieper, formerly associated with Heineken International. Its early growth was accelerated by a major labour disruption at Molson and Labatt breweries in Alberta during the summer of 1986. With competitors temporarily unable to supply the market, Big Rock became one of the few readily available beer producers in the province and expanded production rapidly. The company subsequently developed a broad portfolio spanning traditional ales, wheat beers, lagers, India pale ales, seasonal products, and ciders. Big Rock's best-known long-running offerings have included Traditional Ale, Grasshopper, Czech Style Pilsner, Rhine Stone Cowboy, Honey Brown Lager, and Warthog. The brewery has also operated a cider portfolio under the Rock Creek name, with products based on apple, peach, pear, and other fruit profiles. In addition to its own brands, Big Rock has produced contract and private-label beers for restaurant groups, hotels, heritage attractions, grocery businesses, and regional retailers. Brewing leadership has changed over time. Pieper was succeeded by Larry Kerwin, who became brewmaster in 2003 after joining the brewery as a brewer in 1994. Paul Gautreau, an early employee who had worked across marketing and operations, later became brewmaster. Ignacio Rodriguez held the role from 2022 to 2025 after experience with several Canadian brewing businesses. Founder Ed McNally eventually withdrew from daily management but retained the honorary title of chairman emeritus until his death in 2014. The company expanded beyond Calgary through the opening of an Urban Brewery in Vancouver in 2015 and a partnership with Oliver & Bonacini to establish Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery in Toronto in 2017. Both locations later closed as the company concentrated its operations and brand activity around Calgary. In 2018, Big Rock acquired selected brewing assets, inventory, and branded beer and cider interests connected with Fireweed Brewing Corporation, including Tree Brewing, Dukes Cider, and Shaftebury-related brands. Big Rock has also pursued specialty brewing. Its Coolship program was designed to reproduce the open-fermentation environment used for Belgian lambic-style beers. The program included a dedicated brewing area and a 2,000-litre coolship, leading to limited releases such as Kriek and Framboise aged in wine barrels with fruit. Marketing has included live music, local food, consumer-created advertising, and fundraising for Calgary arts organizations. The brewery remains associated primarily with Canadian craft beer, regional hospitality, and a portfolio that combines established core brands with experimental and seasonal releases.
History
Big Rock Brewery was established in Calgary in 1984 by Ed McNally, a lawyer and entrepreneur who believed the city's beer market offered too few distinctive local choices. McNally's legal work for Alberta barley growers gave him insight into the province's two-row barley, which was suitable for malting, as well as the potential value of locally sourced water from the Rocky Mountain region. At the time, much Alberta barley was directed toward animal feed rather than brewing. McNally's decision to build a brewery therefore connected an agricultural resource with a regional consumer proposition. The name Big Rock was taken from the Okotoks Erratic, a prominent glacial boulder near Okotoks, Alberta. German brewer Bernd Pieper, who had worked for Heineken International, became the brewery's first brewmaster. Big Rock's early commercial breakthrough came in 1986, when workers at Alberta breweries operated by Molson and Labatt went on strike. The disruption left Big Rock unusually well placed to supply beer to Alberta consumers. Demand rose quickly, helping the young brewery increase output and establish itself as a significant independent producer. The brewery built its identity around ales and lagers made in a range of traditional styles. Traditional Ale became a core brown ale, while Grasshopper offered a filtered wheat-beer profile. Czech Style Pilsner, Rhine Stone Cowboy, Honey Brown Lager, Scottish Heavy Ale, and other products broadened the portfolio. Big Rock also introduced experimental and seasonal beers, including the Coolship program, which used a purpose-built 2,000-litre vessel and isolated brewing space to emulate the open fermentation associated with Belgian lambic production. Small releases such as Kriek and Framboise were aged in wine barrels with cherries or raspberries. Brewery leadership passed from Pieper to Larry Kerwin. Kerwin joined Big Rock as a brewer in 1994 and became brewmaster in 2003 when Pieper retired. After Kerwin's tenure, Paul Gautreau assumed the brewing role. Gautreau had joined Big Rock in 1986 as its fourth employee and had held marketing and operational positions before becoming brewmaster. His formal brewing education included programs at the University of California, Davis, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London. Ignacio Rodriguez later served as brewmaster from 2022 to 2025, following work with Molson Coors, Bridge Brewing Company, and Craft Collective Beerworks. McNally eventually stepped away from daily management while retaining the ceremonial position of chairman emeritus. He died in August 2014. The brewery expanded its physical presence in the following years, opening an Urban Brewery in Vancouver in March 2015. In 2017, it entered a hospitality partnership with Oliver & Bonacini to open Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery in Toronto's Liberty Village. These out-of-province venues ultimately closed in 2024 and 2025, respectively, reflecting a later concentration on the Calgary site. In July 2018, Big Rock completed an amended transaction to acquire selected brewing assets and inventory related to branded beer and cider from Fireweed Brewing Corporation. The interests included brands such as Tree Brewing, Dukes Cider, and Shaftebury. The transaction expanded Big Rock's access to established beverage brands and complemented its existing beer and cider business. Beyond packaged products, Big Rock has brewed beverages for external customers, including restaurants, hotels, heritage attractions, grocery companies, and regional retailers. Its marketing history includes the Big Rock Eddies, an annual Calgary promotional competition that ran from 1993 through 2016 and encouraged participants to create advertisements for the brewery. The event eventually added a post-secondary student category and raised funds for arts organizations including One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts, now Arts Commons. The Barn Burner concert series, launched in Calgary in 2017 and expanded to Toronto in 2018, combined music, food, and beer in a brewery-centered event format.
- 2025
Toronto Liberty Commons location closes
[1]The Liberty Commons venue closes as the company focuses on its Calgary location.
- 2024
Vancouver location closes
[1]Big Rock closes its Vancouver Urban Brewery while concentrating on Calgary.
- 2019
Framboise Coolship release
[1]A limited lambic-style Framboise aged with raspberries follows the earlier Kriek release.
- 2018
Fireweed-related brewing assets acquired
[1]Big Rock completes an amended transaction involving selected Fireweed assets, inventory, and beer and cider brands.
- 2018
Kriek Coolship release
[1]The brewery releases a limited lambic-style Kriek aged in wine barrels with cherries.
- 2017
Toronto hospitality partnership begins
[1]Big Rock and Oliver & Bonacini open Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery in Liberty Village.
- 2015
Vancouver Urban Brewery opens
[1]Big Rock expands its physical footprint with an Urban Brewery in Vancouver.
- 2003
Larry Kerwin becomes brewmaster
[1]Kerwin succeeds retiring brewmaster Bernd Pieper after joining Big Rock as a brewer in 1994.
- 1993
Big Rock Eddies begins
[1]The brewery launches its annual Calgary consumer-created advertising competition, later linked with local arts fundraising.
- 1986
Alberta brewery strike accelerates growth
[1]A strike at Molson and Labatt facilities creates an exceptional supply opportunity for Big Rock in Alberta.
Products and positioning
A Canadian regional craft brewery positioned around traditional brewing, Western Canadian identity, broad style diversity, local hospitality, and selective experimentation with specialty beers and ciders.
Year-round beer
Traditional Ale
A medium-bodied brown ale made in a traditional English style. It is one of Big Rock's foundational beer offerings and represents the brewery's early emphasis on classic ale formats.
Year-round beer
Grasshopper
A medium-full-bodied filtered wheat ale in the Kristall Weizen tradition. Grasshopper has received recognition at Canadian brewing competitions and has been marketed as a refreshing warm-weather beer.
Year-round beer
Czech Style Pilsner
A European-style lager inspired by Czech and related Central European pilsner traditions. The beer has received awards at Canadian and Alberta competitions, including recognition in the European lager category.
Year-round beer
Rhine Stone Cowboy
A lagered ale combining ale production with an extended cold-conditioning approach. The product forms part of Big Rock's core range of accessible, traditional-style beers.
Year-round beer
Warthog
An English-style mild ale with a comparatively restrained profile. It was part of Big Rock's established ale portfolio but is identified as discontinued.
Year-round beer
Honey Brown Lager
A medium-brown lager built around a malt-forward profile and honey-associated flavour positioning. It represents the brewery's broader range of darker and fuller-bodied lagers.
Year-round beer
Citradelic
A single-hop American IPA emphasizing hop character within Big Rock's otherwise diverse core portfolio. It gives the range a more contemporary craft-beer expression.
Year-round beer
Scottish Heavy Ale
A malt-focused ale inspired by Scottish heavy ale traditions. Its emphasis on malt flavour complements Big Rock's brown ales, milds, and other traditional styles.
Cider
Rock Creek Apple Cider
A dry cider made with Okanagan apples and sold under the Rock Creek cider range. It extends Big Rock's offering beyond malt-based beverages into regional fruit cider.
Cider
Rock Creek Peach Cider
A dry fruit cider combining the Rock Creek base with peach flavour. It forms part of Big Rock's flavoured cider assortment.
Cider
Rock Creek Pear Cider
A dry pear cider in the Rock Creek portfolio, providing a fruit-led alternative to the brewery's beer products.
Coolship wild ale · 2018
Kriek
A limited lambic-style beer made through Big Rock's Coolship program and aged in wine barrels with cherries. The release demonstrated the brewery's interest in traditional Belgian-inspired wild fermentation.
Coolship wild ale · 2019
Framboise
A limited lambic-style beer from the Coolship program, aged in wine barrels with raspberries. It followed the brewery's cherry-based Kriek release.
Seasonal beer · 2018
Midnight Rhapsody Dark Ale
A dark ale released as a fall seasonal in 2018. Its darker presentation complements Big Rock's traditional brown and malt-forward beer offerings.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Big Rock Barn Burner Toronto
Toronto · Ontario
Big Rock extended its brewery-centered music and food event to Toronto, with indie-folk group Mt. Joy among the performers.
Outcome. The event broadened Big Rock's cultural marketing beyond Western Canada.
- 2017Big Rock Barn Burner
Calgary
A brewery parking-lot concert combining live music, craft beer, and local food. The Calgary edition featured acts including The Sheepdogs, Sam Roberts Band, and The Dead South.
Outcome. The concert format was expanded to Toronto in 2018.
- 1993Big Rock Eddies
Calgary · Alberta
A promotional competition invited beer drinkers to create advertisements for Big Rock. The event later included a student category and supported Calgary arts beneficiaries.
Outcome. The annual event ran through 2016 and helped raise funds or attention for organizations including One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre, the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts.
Brand decisions
2024
Concentrate operations on CalgaryStrategyBackground
Big Rock reassessed its out-of-province physical locations.
Action taken
The Vancouver Urban Brewery was closed, with the company focusing more heavily on its Calgary base.
Aftermath
The decision reduced the brewery's physical operating footprint outside Alberta.
2018
Acquire selected Fireweed brewing interestsM&ABackground
The transaction provided access to selected brewing assets, inventory, and branded beer and cider interests associated with Fireweed Brewing Corporation.
Action taken
Big Rock completed an amended transaction involving brands including Tree Brewing, Dukes Cider, and Shaftebury-related products.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Big Rock's brand and product platform beyond its original Calgary portfolio.
2018
Develop the Coolship specialty-beer programProduct launchBackground
Big Rock pursued Belgian-inspired wild ale production using open-fermentation techniques.
Action taken
The brewery built a dedicated area with a 2,000-litre Coolship and released limited Kriek and later Framboise beers.
Aftermath
The program added a highly limited, experimental dimension to the brewery's mainstream beer and cider portfolio.
2017
Enter a Toronto restaurant partnershipStrategyBackground
Big Rock pursued a combined brewery, restaurant, and hospitality concept in Toronto.
Action taken
The company partnered with Oliver & Bonacini to open Liberty Commons at Big Rock Brewery.
Aftermath
The venue closed in 2025.
2015
Expand through an Urban Brewery in VancouverStrategyBackground
Big Rock sought a physical presence outside Calgary and opened an Urban Brewery in Vancouver.
Action taken
The company launched a Vancouver brewing and hospitality location.
Aftermath
The location later closed in 2024 as Big Rock concentrated on Calgary.
Recent events
Big Rock Brewery announces 2019 financial results[3]
Reported:
Big Rock Brewery announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 30, 2019, reporting a net loss of $2.9 million for the year.
Sources3 sources
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