Canada: Big Rock sale of Kamloops Brewery

Big Rock Brewery Income Trust announced on June 6 is seeking potential buyers for its Whistler Brewery operations in Kamloops, British Columbia. The Brewery is an established craft brewer, its main brands include - Black Bear Ale, Whistler Creme Ale, Whistler Premium Lager, Whistler Black Tusk, Bowen Special Bitter and private label beers for three major restaurant chains. It also produces Joe Stiff's Spiked Root Beer and Joe Stiff's Whipped Orange, which are vodka based beverages, Rock Creek cider and Whistler and Bowen Island products. The Kamloops Brewery currently produces approximately 8,500 hectoliters (HL) of beer per year.

The Kamloops Brewery occupies a 23,830 square foot brewery built in 1997 on three acres in Kamloops, B.C. Its current annual production capacity is 20,000 HL. The Kamloops Brewery bottling line, installed in 1998, can maintain a speed of 5,000 bottles per hour. In 2003, the square footage of the Kamloops Brewery was increased from 10,300 to 23,830 through the addition of a warehouse. Concurrent with the disposition is the installation of a brewhouse which will increase the operational capacity of the brewery to 100,000 HL. All beers are naturally aged, use no chemicals or preservatives and are microfiltered rather than pasteurized. The beers are batch brewed and fermented in fully enclosed stainless steel tanks.

Big Rock is an unincorporated open-ended limited purpose trust established under the laws of the Province of Alberta. Big Rock is a regional producer and marketer of premium quality beers, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Big Rock's products are available in draught, bottles and cans. The Company also produces or distributes cider and cooler products. Big Rock products are marketed in seven provinces and two territories in Canada.

Big Rock has retained Lightyear Capital Inc. to advise the company on strategic alternatives and assist in the auction process. Requests for information about the Kamloops Brewery should be directed to the representative below.

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