Steamworks: Seizing Opportunities in New Markets

Canadian brewery Steamworks chose Petainer to help it take advantage of emerging craft beer markets. Founded by lawyer Eli Gershkovitch in 1995 when he opened the Steamworks Brew Pub in Vancouver, Steamworks has gone from strength to strength.

In 2013, the most significant expansion for the brewery came with the opening of a full-scale brewery in November. The 40,000-hectolitre capacity of the brewery dwarfs the brew pub's 2,000-hectolitre output.
Eli recognised very early on that there was an interest and curiosity in the Steamworks brand, not just in the domestic market, but in the US and beyond. International growth was always an ambition and now Steamworks is now selling products in 14 US states, as well as overseas in Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

Moving from operating a brew pub to a global business, Steamworks has had to tackle a new set of marketing, packaging and logistics challenges. This included exploring alternatives to traditional steel kegs which were too costly to use for exporting the beer. In 2014, Steamworks chose Petainer's innovative one-way PET kegs because they offer a much more practical, lower cost, yet high-quality alternative. They also provide a range of valve options which are suitable for the different export markets Steamworks is focusing on, from Europe to Asia.

Steamworks uses both the 20L & 30L kegs with the integrated non-auto-pressure release valve (NPR) with depressurizing tool, with D Type valve & A Type Valve. Petainer's local market presence through Petainer Canada also means that technical expertise and good service is readily available.

Over the next five to ten years, Eli will continue to look at new opportunities to grow the business and build the brand, taking the Steamworks beers to new markets where they can be enjoyed.