This is the second installment in a new blog series that will allow you to get to know some of Great Lakes Brewery (GLB) partners, the people we love to work with, from suppliers to collaborators to licensees.
Over the next few months, we’ll be introducing you to some of the businesses that help us get #FreshGLB into your hands. And what better way to grab a hold of that beer than in a GLB branded glass?
That brings us to Brand Concepts, headquartered a short distance away from the brewery in nearby Mississauga, the supplier of all of GLB’s branded glassware, beer growlers and beer pitchers. I chatted with Frank Vecchiarelli, GLB’s point man at Brand Concepts, and he told me that his relationship with the brewery goes right back to the beginning:
“I started selling glassware to the Craft Beer industry in 2009 and GLB was my first customer. Peter (Bulut, Owner & President) gave me my first order and I’ll always be grateful. It was especially gratifying to present GLB with the 2014 Brewery of the Year award at the Canadian Brewing Awards (CBAs). It’s customers like GLB that make going to work fun.”
We’ve always believed in sourcing our supplies locally, whenever possible, and Brand Concepts has brought their exceptional customer service to local breweries since 2003 when they recognized a need for a glassware supplier that understood the heightened standards of craft brewers, and one that could fulfill both large and small orders for breweries of all sizes.
For beer, the importance of glassware can’t be overstated. The explosive growth of local craft beer in the last decade has made people realize how the right glass can enhance the quality and enjoyment of the beer. But there is no perfect glass – the right glassware depends on the style of beer and changes based on the particular nuances favoured with each brewery.
“The beer industry, more than any other beverage segment, really cares about glassware and how the shape of a glass affects the flavour of the beer poured into it,” said Frank.
That’s why branded glassware is so important. It’s our seal of approval that the beer we make is going to taste, out of this glass, the way we want it to taste.
Since 2009, Frank, Giulio (owner), and the rest of the Brand Concepts team, have gone above and beyond in providing us with great customer service, loyalty, and above all else, the perfect glassware that fits our needs.
I asked Frank about his favourite glass and his answer was, coincidentally, the same as my own:
“I’d have to say the Willi (first image), your core pint glass. I love that glass. It pairs well with a variety of beer styles, and GLB does many different styles throughout the year. What I’ve really enjoyed is watching the evolution of the GLB branding over the years on our glasses!”
Past GLB Partners:
The Pie Commission
