A Family Brewery

Anyone who’s ever tried to name someone or something knows the decision can be fraught with challenges. You want a name that’s unique, and catchy, one that doesn’t have negative connotations or the possibilities of embarrassing nicknames. When you’re trying to name a business you hope will be popular and have longevity, the pressure can be even greater.

When Aly Giammarino and her family were trying to name their Calgary brewery, they found it extremely challenging.  

“We were going over so many really complicated ideas—things that have big stories behind them. One idea my father-in-law had was to call it Rubicon. He thought, ‘well we're going to be crossing the Rubicon, and committing to this unknown future,’” recalls Giammarino. “We were quite honestly arguing a lot about it because we all had strong opinions.” 

The team turned names and concepts over and over. Through the fog of complicated naming possibilities, it suddenly came clear – simplicity was the answer! They wanted to make good beer that people would enjoy during the good times in life, beer they could drink in celebration. That’s when Good Mood Brewery was born. 

Opened in May 2018, Good Mood Brewery Cream Ale, India Pale Ale and Hefeweizen are all available at Calgary Co-op Wine Spirits Beer. 

Good Mood is a family business which, like many businesses, was born out of necessity. 

“It was actually my father-in-law's idea, he had been an engineer working in oil and gas for many years and the industry seemed to be getting more and more volatile, and he was just feeling like it's was time to take matters into his own hands for the family,” Giammarino shares. “The reason they landed on beer was that my mother-in-law couldn’t find anything that she liked in the stores so her husband set out to make a beer that she would love.”

With a background in business and a desire to try something new, the family built the brewery from the ground up. Today, Aly’s mother-in-law is part of the Good Mood tasting crew, sampling new recipes and giving them her seal of approval.

“We have a big commitment to quality; we’re really focused on our production, on quality control and consistency so you can expect every batch to taste the same. We also strive to make beers that are approachable—we're definitely a craft brewery but we're not necessarily making the most creative and experimental styles. Instead we’re striving to create new classics.”