Whitetooth Brewing taps into innovation to brew a bright future
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade—or, in this case, brew beer. This proverb exemplifies Whitetooth Brewing Co.’s can-do spirit. Established in Golden in 2016 by Kent Donaldson and Mark Nagao, the microbrewery is renowned for its Belgian-inspired and West Coast-influenced ales.
For many people in Golden, a visit to the local brewery is a ritual. For Donaldson, it’s a lifestyle-turned-business. And although it’s been a tough time for independent breweries, financing from the Trust in 2024 has helped Whitetooth Brewing grow and has given the owners peace of mind.
“It’s challenging for all craft breweries in Canada right now. You’ve seen consumer purchasing power shrink and supply chain costs escalate,” Donaldson says. “We’ve developed a really good business relationship with the Trust; they understand that we’re trying to make something good happen here in Golden.”
Facing distribution setbacks, the microbrewery recently came up with an in-house solution; it purchased a delivery van and developed a co-op with another brewery to share the load of shipping products throughout the Kootenay/Columbia regions.
“I think the takeaway is to do it yourself rather than depend on outside services,” Donaldson says. “That way you have control over timing and expenditures; it allows you to react to changing business conditions.”
Initial support from the Trust in 2019 allowed them to buy top-notch canning equipment to amp up their craft. In 2021, the business then benefited from the Trust’s business advisory support. Since then, revenue has grown 46 per cent, and today the brewery is thriving with a solid 17-person team.
“We’ve got skilled staff on hand to keep the canning line running smoothly, and we now apply labelling in-house,” he says. “It’s easier to package on our own timelines instead of having to rely on a big company to do it. Plus, it’s more economical.”
A seasoned entrepreneur who is now used to the industry’s ebbs and flows, Donaldson remains focused on growing Whitetooth Brewing into a profitable regional business. He’s looking forward to hosting more beer enthusiasts in the expanded tasting room, which has doubled in size to accommodate 100 people, as well as on the sunny patio during the summer high season.”
