Muskoka Brewery Marks 30 Years with Comprehensive Packaging Overhaul
BRACEBRIDGE, Ontario – Celebrating three decades of brewing excellence in the heart of Ontario's cottage country, Muskoka Brewery has officially unveiled a completely refreshed packaging design across its core product portfolio. This significant rebranding initiative represents both a milestone anniversary celebration and a strategic evolution for one of Ontario's largest craft breweries, which remains proudly Canadian-owned.
Modern Design Meets Regional Heritage
The brewery is implementing the updated packaging across Ontario, blending contemporary design elements with the brand's classic character and deep regional pride. The initial rollout includes redesigned cans for four flagship beers: Cream Ale, Muskoka Lager, Detour, and Tread Lightly. Additionally, new packaging has been developed for Muskoka Spirits Vodka Soda, expanding the visual refresh across the company's beverage offerings.
"This comprehensive refresh represents our commitment to appearing as strong and confident on retail shelves as our beverages taste in the glass," explained Kristin MacDonald, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Muskoka Brewery. "After thirty successful years, we recognized the importance of evolution – not by following fleeting trends, but by carefully listening to our loyal consumers and honoring what makes Muskoka truly distinctive."
Consumer-Driven Design Process
The packaging transformation resulted from more than twelve months of intensive research, design exploration, and cross-functional collaboration. Extensive consumer insights revealed a powerful emotional connection to Muskoka Brewery's roots, heritage, and distinctive personality, alongside a clear preference for cleaner, more contemporary aesthetics that would improve product navigation and brand recognition in increasingly competitive retail environments.
Developed through close partnership with Blackjet, Muskoka Brewery's strategic creative agency, the refresh represents a highly collaborative process that translated these consumer insights into a modern, proprietary design system. The new packaging places greater visual emphasis on the Muskoka name itself, making products significantly easier to identify as the brewery continues its provincial expansion efforts.
Signature brand colors have been preserved but refined with cleaner lines, bold accent elements, and contemporary detailing designed to resonate with both established fans and new consumers discovering the brand for the first time.
Emphasizing Canadian Heritage
For the first time in the company's history, Muskoka Brewery's packaging prominently features a refreshed Canadian-made designation, including a subtle maple leaf graphic – a small but meaningful design element that underscores the brewery's longstanding commitment to being 100% Canadian-owned and Canadian-produced.
"Choosing Muskoka means supporting a brewery that's authentically local – owned here, brewed here, and deeply connected to this remarkable region," MacDonald emphasized.
Celebrating Regional Identity
The iconic Muskoka chair assumes a more prominent role in the refreshed designs, serving as a powerful symbol of the region, the relaxed lifestyle it represents, and the memorable moments Muskoka beverages enhance – from leisurely dock days and campfire gatherings to cottage weekends and special celebrations.
Paired with elevated illustrations and enhanced regional storytelling elements, the new visual identity reinforces Muskoka Brewery's unique connection to the place it proudly calls home.
"No other brewery has the privilege of calling Muskoka home in quite the same way we do," stated Todd Lewin, President of Muskoka Brewery. "This packaging refresh celebrates that distinction proudly while acknowledging the responsibility we feel toward the dedicated fans who have welcomed our beverages into their cottages, campsites, and cherished traditions for three remarkable decades."
