Fort Garry Brewing’s Celebration Pack Celebrates Manitoba while Supporting Manitoba’s Largest Hospital
A match made in Manitoba, the HSC Foundation was thrilled to learn that Manitoba’s oldest microbrewery, Fort Garry Brewing, is donating $3 from the sale of every Manitoba 150 Celebration Pack to our COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund.
“We are excited about this pack. We’re excited about Manitoba 150, but we know that these are uncertain times for many Manitobans. This is still a time to celebrate our great province, but also to celebrate the support we see in the community every day,” says Scott Shupeniuk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Fort Garry Brewing.
The HSC Foundation talked (at a safe distance) with Shupeniuk about their limited-edition Celebration Pack and why they chose to support the HSC Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund.
“This is still a time to celebrate our great province, but also to celebrate the support we see in the community every day,” says Scott Shupeniuk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Fort Garry Brewing.
“This is still a time to celebrate our great province, but also to celebrate the support we see in the community every day,” says Scott Shupeniuk, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing at Fort Garry Brewing.HSC Foundation: Why did you choose to support the HSC Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund?
Scott Shupeniuk: The Celebration Pack’s intent was to help cultivate pride and help Manitobans celebrate our province’s 150th anniversary as beer, in our opinion, is a key component of any celebration! However, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, Manitobans sure won’t be celebrating the way they intended when we planned this launch, and it didn’t feel right launching a “Celebration Pack” with so much on Manitobans’ minds during these turbulent times. I heard about the HSC COVID-19 Crisis Respond Fund on the radio and knew that it was something we wanted to be a part of.
HSCF: What type of beer is featured in this 12-pack?
SS: There are three Clearwater Lagers—a refreshing and easy-drinking lager made with water from Clearwater Lake just outside of The Pas—the clearest freshwater lake in Canada; three Frontier Pilsners—a recraft of our original 1932 Frontier Pilsner on what is Fort Garry Brewing’s 90th anniversary of making great beer for Manitoba beer drinkers; three Portage & Main IPAs—this “West Coast Style IPA” is named after the most infamous intersection in Winnipeg and the windiest corner in the country; and three Wheat City Ales—our tribute to Westman, farmers across the province, and the city of Brandon. This beer is refreshing and light, with citrus flavours and floral hop notes.
HSCF: Why were those specific beers chosen for the Celebration Pack?
SS: We wanted to have brands in this pack that had their own unique connection to Manitoba, and at the same time would offer variety in beer styles and taste profiles that beer drinkers would enjoy.
HSCF: Why would you encourage others to support this fund?
SS: What frontline health care workers are doing during these uncertain times is truly heroic, and they need our support. Purchasing a Celebration Pack is an easy way to directly support frontline health care workers at Manitoba’s largest hospital.
HSCF: Finish the sentence…
Once it is safe to do so, I can’t wait to have a beer at…
SS:… my neighbourhood pub with friends.
Get your Celebration Pack at participating hotel beer vendors and Liquor Marts; it is also available through delivery at thebottledrive.com and liquormarts.ca!
By Natasha Havrilenko
Update (September 2020): Endless gratitude goes out to Fort Garry Brewing Company for their donation of $15,000 to our COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund.
“The generosity of Fort Garry Brewing Company is a prime example of how the local community has stepped up to help with the fight against COVID-19, and we are truly grateful,” says Jonathon Lyon, President and CEO of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation.