An Ontario craft brewery that has been serving locally made beer for years says it is winding down its operations and could close its doors after Labour Day if a buyer isn’t found.

Stonehooker Brewing Co., located on Lakeshore Road East in Mississauga, announced Friday that the brewery, its physical location and brewing equipment are now up for sale.

“We’re here for a good time, not a long time,” the brewery said in announcing the news.

Stonehooker said it is “retiring from the hospitality business,” but stressed that the brand itself is expected to live on and that its beer will remain available for the foreseeable future.

The brewery’s official final day of service is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 7.

That date, however, could change if a new owner takes over the business.

“The space and the brewery are for sale,” Stonehooker said. “New owners will determine the future state of the brewery.”

The company said it will not host events after Sept. 7 unless ownership changes.

For now, customers can still visit the brewery and purchase Stonehooker beer through its retail operation. The brewery says its beer will also continue to be available through convenience and grocery stores, the LCBO, The Beer Store, pubs and restaurants.

Stonehooker currently produces a range of craft beers, including beers such as Broad Reach, Sou’wester and Light House Lager. Its lineup has included a variety of ales and lagers, with styles ranging from IPAs and stouts to hefeweizens, porters and lagers.

The brewery opened to the public in 2019 after a lengthy development process. When Stonehooker first began preparing to open, it was touted as only the second brewery in Mississauga, joining Old Credit Brewing.

The brewery was founded by Ross Noel, who remains its owner, and was built around Mississauga’s waterfront history.

The name Stonehooker comes from an industry that once operated along the north shore of Lake Ontario. Stonehookers were schooners that sailed into shallow waters and used hooks to collect stone from the lakebed, hauling it aboard before taking it to Toronto for use in buildings, roads and sidewalks.

Port Credit was one of the communities where the stonehooking industry flourished, making the name particularly appropriate for a brewery located nearby.

Stonehooker embraced that history in its branding and taproom, which was designed around a nautical theme and marketed as a place where customers could enjoy a pint after a hard day’s work.

The brewery has also become a destination for live music, food, community gatherings and outdoor events. Its website currently lists a summer lineup that includes tribute bands, live music, open mic nights and other events.

The announcement has prompted a mixed reaction from craft beer enthusiasts online.

A discussion about the closure on Reddit’s Toronto craft beer forum included some customers expressing disappointment at the loss of another local brewery, while others were more critical of their experiences at Stonehooker. One commenter said the brewery’s location and patio had considerable potential and hoped someone would take over the space.

Stonehooker’s own message leaves open the possibility that the brewery may not disappear entirely.

“The opportunity is here for new ownership, to grow the business again and keep the brewery space alive for all to enjoy,” the company said.

For now, the clock is ticking toward Sept. 7.

Unless a buyer steps in, that will be the final day customers can raise a pint at Stonehooker’s Mississauga taproom.


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