Lakeport Brewing Company
Lakeport Brewing Company was a Hamilton, Ontario brewery that became a leading Canadian discount-beer producer before its brewery was closed and its brand transferred to Labatt.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Lakeport Brewing Company was a brewery and beer brand based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1992 by William (Bill) Sharpe, it initially pursued a premium-beer strategy and introduced several higher-priced brands. The company also accepted contract-brewing work for other beverage and retail labels, including President’s Choice. Its original positioning proved difficult to sustain, and by 1999 the business had entered bankruptcy protection. A major turnaround followed the acquisition of the brewery by AlphaCorp Holdings Ltd. Teresa Cascioli was brought in to manage the company and later became its chief executive. Under her direction, Lakeport expanded contract manufacturing and reorganized its operations around a lower-cost model. The company moved away from competing primarily as a premium brewer and instead developed a highly visible discount proposition aimed at consumers seeking inexpensive packaged beer. In 2002, Lakeport introduced a 24-beer-for-$24 retail offer in Ontario, then the lowest legal price available for a 24-pack in the province. The approach became central to the company’s identity and marketing. Rather than presenting the product only as an anonymous low-price label, Lakeport attached its corporate name to the value proposition and promoted the brewery itself. Advertising used a grassroots style, including an appearance by Teresa Cascioli alongside a Teamsters Local 938 shop steward who represented brewery employees. The message emphasized an affordable, acceptable-quality product made by a local workforce. The strategy produced a substantial improvement in market position. Lakeport’s Ontario share rose from less than 2 percent in 2003 to approximately 11 percent in 2006, and its beers became some of the province’s best-selling products. By 2006, Lakeport was described as Canada’s largest discount brewer. The company was incorporated on April 27, 2005, when Cascioli became chief executive; although she had bought out other investors, her ownership was subsequently reduced to about 20 percent. On February 1, 2007, Labatt, then owned by InBev, offered approximately C$201.4 million to acquire Lakeport. Cascioli, as the largest shareholder, and Lakeport’s board supported the transaction, which was approved by shareholders. The acquisition moved Lakeport into Labatt’s Canadian operating portfolio while preserving the beer label. The Hamilton production facility was not retained indefinitely. On March 30, 2010, Labatt announced that the brewery would close on April 30, ending local production and eliminating the jobs of all 143 brewery employees. Lakeport beer production was transferred to Labatt’s London, Ontario brewery. Teamsters Local 938 responded by urging Hamilton consumers to boycott Labatt products. Offers to acquire the Hamilton site and equipment were made, including one from Minhas Creek Brewing Company, but InBev rejected the proposals and removed the brewing equipment and infrastructure. The former Hamilton brewery building later gained a new use. In May 2014, the Hamilton Port Authority leased the gutted facility to Collective Arts Brewing and Nickel Brook Brewing. Collective Arts subsequently bought Nickel Brook’s interest and became the sole brand produced at the site. The Lakeport label continued under AB InBev ownership, with production in Ontario carried out through Labatt rather than at the original Hamilton plant. Thus, Lakeport’s corporate brewery ceased operating as an independent production business, while the consumer beer brand survived within a multinational brewing group.
History
Lakeport Brewing Company began operations in 1992 when William (Bill) Sharpe established a brewery in a historic building on Hamilton’s port lands. The property was owned by the Hamilton Port Authority. Lakeport initially attempted to compete in the premium-beer segment, creating and launching multiple premium brands. It also supplemented its own portfolio by brewing products under contract for other companies and retail labels, including President’s Choice. The premium strategy did not generate sufficient sales. In 1999, Lakeport entered bankruptcy protection. AlphaCorp Holdings Ltd. subsequently acquired the brewery and hired Teresa Cascioli to manage it. Cascioli pursued a restructuring based on contract manufacturing, operational changes, and a more focused value proposition. The company increasingly emphasized inexpensive beer rather than attempting to win primarily through premium positioning. Lakeport’s most important commercial decision came in 2002, when it introduced a 24-pack for $24 in Ontario. At the time, the offer represented the lowest legal retail price for a 24-pack in the province. The company made price the core of its marketing while also identifying itself openly as the producer. This contrasted with the common practice of building beer marketing around individual labels, celebrities, or lifestyle imagery. Lakeport instead used a grassroots corporate campaign featuring Cascioli and a Teamsters Local 938 shop steward. The advertisements connected low pricing with a claim of producing a reasonable product through a local workforce. The value strategy materially improved the company’s position. Lakeport held roughly 1 percent of the Ontario market in 2002 and less than 2 percent in 2003. By 2006, its share had reached approximately 11 percent. Its beers ranked among Ontario’s ten best-selling beers, and Lakeport was described as the largest discount brewer in Canada. Cascioli had bought out other investors and obtained full ownership at one stage, but when Lakeport was incorporated on April 27, 2005, she became CEO while retaining only about 20 percent ownership. The company’s independence ended in 2007. On February 1, Labatt Brewery, owned by InBev, made a C$201.4 million offer for Lakeport. Cascioli was the largest shareholder and stood to receive more than C$40 million according to the reported transaction details. She and the board recommended the sale, and shareholders approved it. Lakeport therefore became part of Labatt’s Canadian brewing system, while the Lakeport beer label continued in the Ontario market. In 2010, the new ownership decided to end brewing at Hamilton. Labatt announced on March 30 that the site would close four weeks later, on April 30. The closure affected all 143 brewery employees. Production of Lakeport beer moved to Labatt’s London brewery. The transfer prompted opposition from Teamsters Local 938, which called for a consumer boycott of Labatt products. Several parties expressed interest in purchasing the Hamilton property and equipment, including Calgary-based Minhas Creek Brewing Company. InBev declined the proposals and removed the brewing equipment and infrastructure, leaving the building without its original production capability. The building later became part of Hamilton’s craft-brewing redevelopment. In May 2014, the Hamilton Port Authority leased it to Collective Arts Brewing and Nickel Brook Brewing. Collective Arts later purchased Nickel Brook’s share and became the sole brand operating at the facility. Although the original brewery was closed and the independent company no longer operated as before, AB InBev continued selling beer under the Lakeport name in Ontario, with manufacturing handled through Labatt.
- 2014
Former brewery building enters craft-brewing use
[1]The Hamilton Port Authority leases the former facility to Collective Arts Brewing and Nickel Brook Brewing.
- 2010
Hamilton brewery closes
[1]The Hamilton brewery closes on April 30, and production moves to Labatt’s London, Ontario plant.
- 2007
Acquisition by Labatt
[1]Labatt, owned by InBev, agrees to acquire Lakeport for approximately C$201.4 million.
- 2006
Lakeport becomes Canada’s largest discount brewer
[1]After several years of rapid market-share growth, Lakeport is described as the largest discount brewer in Canada.
- 2005
Lakeport is incorporated
[1]Lakeport is incorporated on April 27, with Teresa Cascioli becoming chief executive.
- 2002
Launch of the 24-for-$24 value strategy
[1]Lakeport introduces a 24-beer-for-$24 offer in Ontario, establishing the low-price positioning that drives its turnaround.
- 1999
Lakeport enters bankruptcy protection
[1]Weak performance from the company’s premium-beer strategy leads Lakeport into bankruptcy protection.
- 1992
Lakeport is founded in Hamilton
[1]William (Bill) Sharpe establishes Lakeport Brewing Company in a historic brewery building on Hamilton’s port lands.
Products and positioning
Affordable, straightforward beer marketed around value, local production heritage, and accessible pricing.
Premium beer · 1992
Lakeport premium beers
The company began by developing and launching multiple premium beer brands. This was Lakeport’s original commercial focus, but the products did not achieve the sales needed to sustain the independent brewery. The premium portfolio was later overshadowed by the company’s lower-priced discount offerings.
Discount beer · 2002
Lakeport discount beer
Lakeport’s discount beers became the central products of its turnaround. They were sold on an accessible-price proposition and marketed under the Lakeport corporate identity. The products helped the company expand its Ontario market share and remain available under AB InBev ownership after production moved from Hamilton to Labatt’s London brewery.
Contract manufacturing
Contract-brewed products
Lakeport used spare capacity and brewing expertise to manufacture beer and other beverage products for outside brands. Contract work, including production associated with President’s Choice, became an important part of the operational restructuring carried out after AlphaCorp’s acquisition.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Grassroots brewery advertising
Ontario, Canada
Television advertising featured Teresa Cascioli and a Teamsters Local 938 shop steward discussing the goal of making an affordable, acceptable-quality product. The campaign emphasized the brewery and its workers rather than relying solely on individual beer-brand imagery.
Outcome. The approach reinforced Lakeport’s local, worker-linked identity during its period of rapid expansion.
- 200224 for 24
Ontario, Canada
Lakeport promoted 24 beers for $24, making price the defining feature of its consumer proposition and positioning the brewery as a value-oriented alternative to mainstream premium brands.
Outcome. The campaign and pricing strategy were followed by major market-share gains, with Lakeport reaching about 11 percent of the Ontario beer market by 2006.
Brand decisions
2010
Closure of the Hamilton brewery and production transferStrategyBackground
After the Labatt acquisition, the owner determined that Lakeport beer production should be consolidated within Labatt’s network.
Action taken
The Hamilton plant was closed and production was transferred to Labatt’s London, Ontario brewery.
Aftermath
All 143 Hamilton brewery employees lost their jobs, the local facility was stripped of brewing equipment, and the Lakeport label continued without its original brewery.
- Minhas Creek Brewing Company — The Calgary-based brewer reportedly expressed interest in acquiring the Hamilton facilities and equipment, but InBev declined the offer.
2007
Sale of Lakeport to LabattM&ABackground
Lakeport had become a significant Ontario discount brewer, while Labatt was part of InBev’s Canadian operations.
Action taken
Lakeport accepted Labatt’s approximately C$201.4 million acquisition offer after the board and major shareholder Teresa Cascioli recommended the transaction.
Aftermath
The Lakeport brand continued under AB InBev ownership, while the independent brewery became part of Labatt’s operating structure.
Acquisition offer value. CAD 201.4 million offer (2007)
2002
Shift from premium brewing to discount pricingStrategyBackground
Lakeport’s initial premium-beer strategy had not generated sufficient sales, and the company had previously entered bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The company adopted a low-price strategy centered on 24 beers for $24 in Ontario and built its marketing around value.
Aftermath
Market share rose from less than 2 percent in 2003 to approximately 11 percent in 2006, making Lakeport a leading discount brewer.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lakeport-brewing-company · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled