brand ambassador

server

bartender

packaging operator

senior financial analyst

Steam Whistle Brewing

I worked at Steam Whistle Brewing for 4 years from 2014-2018. I was in the production department packaging the beer. I started off working in bottling and canning for the first 2 years, and then was promoted to a full-time position with benefits in the kegging department. I learned how to drive an electric forklift with top-of-the-line training from the warehouse supervisor. The warehouse was small, so I was able to really hone my forklifting skills in such a busy environment. While I worked at the Roundhouse for my 4 years at Steam Whistle, they now have most of their beer production at their Evans Ave. warehouse in Etobicoke. I can't speak for what the working environment is there. But during my time with Steam Whistle at the Roundhouse, I made some terrific friends and had some of the fondest memories of my lifetime. As a musician, I was able to perform at events like Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival, open mics, and Jays game events. When the Blue Jays made the ALCS two years in a row from 2015-16, that entire area was electric. The community there is incredible. Unlike any other place in the country. The owners of Steam Whistle treated their employees well while I worked there. We would have staff BBQs, and our departments would go on overnight trips while visiting other breweries around Ontario. The community events were endless and their Christmas parties were majestic. I would recommend any young professional to get a job at the Roundhouse and make some amazing friends!

First of all, the product can't be beat and everyday I'm proud to say I'm a part of the Good Beer Folk team at Steam Whistle.  Everyone is encouraged not only to do their own job to the max, but also to help out in any way they can and provide input in many different areas.  It is an open office structure and also an open culture.  I was wary to join a beer company and everything that implies, but the opportunity was a good one and I have found it to be very inclusive and people truly help one another.  It is not at all cliquish in the way I have found other companies to be that are full of young people (advertising, hospitality, etc.)  Everyone works hard but it is fun, fun, FUN!  Lots of evenings there are still people in the office but beers and good conversation are shared.  Although now there are two locations and that caused a lot of colleagues to be split up, this same fun culture is growing at the new location and particularly at beer o'clock when lots of us get together for darts and other games in the tap room.  The only type of person who wouldn't do well here is someone who wants to keep to themselves and just clock in and out at the end of a day.  Steam Whistle is more about an entire lifestyle.

This organization should honestly spark political debate on ethical tip sharing. They will take your tips from the restaurant and distribute them EQUALLY among staff in the taproom on the other side of the building (who are often working less than half the workload), to event staff for frequent little popups they do for events in the city, including satellite bars in the park throughout the summer, to tour guides, and to the kitchen at a rather alarmingly high rate.

If you work here as a server or bartender, you are basically paying more of the staff's wages than the company itself is. You will typically run up around$2k-3k in sales on your own on a shift and be compensated $150-$200 for that in tips, where the industry standard is 50-100% higher than that. On top of that, they have been slowly decreasing the employee discount on food every year, which is now at 30%, so they intend to turn a profit off of you working there even on the food you consume.

If you are an experienced server or bartender, this job is essentially a demotion to serve the interests of multi-millionaires.

I loved my time at Steam Whistle and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others.  The people working there are very passionate about the brand and truly love coming to work.  As a result, the atmosphere is very positive and motivating.   And the energy of being downtown at the Roundhouse is hard to match.

With that said, the company is going through a period of transition.  There have been many necessary changes on the leadership team over the past year with a focus on setting the company up for long term strategic growth. This move to operate in a more sophisticated and performance driven manner is critical however some employees have struggled to adapt to change which has led to further turnover.  The current, and fairly new, management team is outstanding – among best I have worked with in my career.  And lead by a highly driven and strategic CEO, I expect great things from Steam Whistle in the years to come.

You will do well at Steam Whistle and be able to make significant impact if you are hard-working, driven, have a positive collaborative style, and can operate at a strong pace.

This place literally exists to put smiles on faces. Whether you are an employee or a customer, a good time is guaranteed. Good times are the focus at Steam Whistle and they are achieved through efficient teamwork, encouraging & supportive management, and free beer! No matter what you have been hired to do, it is assumed that you know best and therefore receive full control over your work. That being said, Steam Whistles emphasis on team-working ensures that any question can be answered by simply asking. The majority of Steam Whistles workforce are creatives, whether you are an actor, dancer, comedian, or musician, you can be sure that the company will not only accommodate in terms of scheduling, but also encourage other employees to show up and support.

Steam Whistle is a unique company in that it has a proud and strong Canadian history.  Approaching 20 years since it was founded, the company is going through a period of change, becoming more strategic and future looking.  Lead by an excellent new CEO and management team, the company is poised for strong future growth.  And those who are focused on driving strong results, through authenticity and collaboration will do well here.

Employees are very passionate for the industry and love Steam Whistle beer.  On the downside, because the company is smaller, not all processes and systems are to the same degree as a large multi-national.  While this has its downside, it creates an environment where agility and speed are possible.

I loved working at Steam Whistle and found the team highly engaging.  I always felt valued for my contributions and was able to make a difference.

Cross function socialization is very encouraged, they used to have every new hire work a day on the line and a day in the retail store to get to know every employee and encourage respect for every role on the team. Since then the brewery has grown massively but still has touch points that make it feel like a small family business. The CEO is easily accessible and can often be found walking between departments, encouraging feedback on systems, new launches etc. There is a large potential for growth here given their recent acquisitions and a large focus on gender parity in management roles.  

Yes it's COVID but things are constantly changing, not always for the better.  Hard to get a straight answer.  Rollercoaster the past couple years, not just the pandemic but management and board infighting, lots of drama.  Best to keep out of that and just do your job, hope you're not the target of someone's whims or get assigned a new leader yet again.  HR was good resource but overworked like many.  Owner is a dreamer and some are stuck reminiscing about the glory days but what about our future?  Culture is still good, teammates are great so focus on that... and the free beer and events when they return.

working production at the Evans Avenue location in Etobicoke is over glorified factory work. You will either stack cases of beer all day, or load disgusting empties into a conveyor built. Team leads and management DO NO rotate staff out to prevent repetitive stress injuries.

Majority of staff is part time or temporary workers brought in on the daily. There is zero opportunity for promotion of part time workers  the company also heavily promotes alcohol abuse

I have worked in a few companies, and this one by far takes the cake.  You are supported through your successes and mistakes. It's very much a work hard play hard environment. I love going to work every day because of the people that I work with. The culture is fantastic. As I haven't been through the management changed mentioned, it's not as relevant to me. There have been changes, but the management I am under is fantastic. Sometimes, things can feel a little disorganized and hectic, but I think that happens in any fast moving industry.

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Brand ambassador 6 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Server 1 salary reported	$17.60 per hour
Bartender 5 salaries reported	$18.68 per hour
Packaging operator 4 salaries reported	$18.50 per hour
Senior financial analyst 3 salaries reported	$98,333 per year

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