The Beer Baroness

Manjit
Minhas

Calgary entrepreneur, investor and keynote speaker. She co-founded one of North America's largest independent breweries — and as a Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, she's backed dozens of founders since 2015.

Book a keynote → Her story

A Dragon since 2015 · 30+ investments backed

Manjit Minhas — official Dragons' Den portrait

Manjit Minhas · CBC's Dragons' Den

Mountain Crest ·Boxer Lager ·Lazy Mutt Ale ·Huber Bock ·Rhinelander ·Dragon's Tears ·Polo Club Gin ·Titanium Vodka ·Alamo Gold Tequila ·Blarney's Irish Cream · Mountain Crest ·Boxer Lager ·Lazy Mutt Ale ·Huber Bock ·Rhinelander ·Dragon's Tears ·Polo Club Gin ·Titanium Vodka ·Alamo Gold Tequila ·Blarney's Irish Cream ·

From petroleum engineer to the Beer Baroness.

A Calgary engineer by training, Manjit co-founded her first beverage company in 1999 with her brother Ravinder on a $10,000 investment — and built it into one of North America's largest independently owned breweries, with 90+ brands sold across every Canadian province, 47 US states and 16 countries.

In 2006 the siblings bought the historic Joseph Huber Brewery (founded 1845, one of the oldest in the United States), renamed it Minhas Craft Brewery, and became some of the youngest brewery owners in the world. In 2012 she opened Minhas Micro Brewery in Calgary, adding a distillery, kitchen and taproom.

Today she's a Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den, a sought-after keynote speaker, and one of the most recognizable investors in Canada.

Board & governance roles

EnbridgeATB FinancialCalgary Airport AuthorityCouncil of the Alberta Order of Excellence

Manjit Minhas at Minhas Breweries & Distillery

Inside the empire — Minhas Breweries, Distillery & Winery

The Story

Two kids from Calgary. One $10,000 bet.

In 1999, Manjit and her brother Ravinder pooled $10,000 and started selling their own beer — no brewery, no investors. By 2006 they'd bought a 160-year-old brewery outright. They built it together, and still run it side by side.

Manjit and Ravinder Minhas as children in Calgary

Then

Manjit & Ravinder — Calgary, growing up

Now

The Beer Baroness & Dragon

1999

The $10,000 start

Manjit & Ravinder launch their first beer brand on a shoestring in Calgary.

2006

They buy a piece of history

Acquire the Joseph Huber Brewery (founded 1845) — renaming it Minhas Craft Brewery and becoming some of the youngest brewery owners in the world.

2012

Home base in Calgary

Open Minhas Micro Brewery, later adding a distillery, kitchen and taproom.

2015

Into the Den

CBC names Manjit a Dragon; she goes on to back 31 companies.

2020

On the mic

The Manjit Minhas Podcast launches and hits the Top 10 on day one.

2024

On the world stage

Named a UN Global Citizen Laureate for advancing gender equality.

Keynotes from three decades of building.

Manjit speaks worldwide on what it actually takes to build something that lasts — drawn from her own years as a founder, investor and director.

On stage

Entrepreneurship & growthBuilding a global business from scratch — and scaling it without losing the plot.
Leadership & innovationLeading teams and companies through change, risk and reinvention.
Sales, pitching & marketingHow to pitch, position and sell — from someone who hears pitches for a living.
Women in leadershipGender equality and the path for the next generation of women founders.
Lessons from the DenWhat a decade as a Dragon reveals about people and businesses.
Venture capital & investingHow great investors weigh opportunity, founders and risk.

Enquire about a speaking date →

"I'm in."

A Dragon since 2015 · 31 businesses backed.

On Canada's most-watched business series, Manjit has invested in 31 companies — across food & beverage, consumer products, retail and beyond — becoming one of the show's most recognizable investors. "It's amazing seeing new entrepreneurs every year coming out of some pretty remarkable hardships."

Pitching on the show? On-air pitches go through CBC's official Dragons' Den audition process — not personal channels. Manjit and her team can't review or fund pitches submitted here.

Watch

The origin of a Dragon.

The real story, in her own words — how a $10,000 idea between two siblings became a global beverage business and a seat in the Den.

Press play.

Built responsibly, on purpose.

Long before it was expected, Manjit put values into the operation — from what goes on the can to what stays out of the landfill.

Warning labels, voluntarily

Among the first brewers in Canada to add responsibility and health warnings to its cans — before any rule required it.

85%

Less packaging

A robotic-assembled 48-can pack cut packaging material by ~85% and eliminated plastic hi-cone rings — saving millions of pounds from landfills.

Gluten-free, for everyone

A sorghum-based gluten-free beer brought to market at everyday pricing, plus water-, energy- and chemical-light production.

Recognition.

2024
UN Global Citizen Laureate
For her commitment to advancing gender equality.
2023
King Charles III Coronation Medal
Plus the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
2022
Honorary Lt. Colonel — Queen's Own Rifles
Canadian Armed Forces appointment.
2011
Chatelaine Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year
One of Canada's leading women in business.
—
EY Entrepreneur of the Year — Finalist
Plus PROFIT "Top Growth Entrepreneur."
—
Top 40 Under 40 · Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs
Repeated national recognition for growth.
—
Global TV Woman of Vision · Famous 5 Leader Award
For leadership and impact.
—
India Abroad "Power List"
International recognition as a leading entrepreneur.

Giving back, at scale.

$60M+raised as co-chair of a United Way campaign — one part of a long record of community leadership focused on women, children and gender equality.

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United Way — campaign co-chair ($60M+ raised)
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YWCA & Telus Future Friendly Foundation
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TransCanada Trail & West Island College
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A girls' engineering school in India
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Sikh Association of Culture & Heritage

In her own voice.

A Wealth of Women's Stories

Celebrating the journeys, wins and lessons of women building and leading.

The Manjit Minhas Podcast

Launched in 2020 and a Top-10 chart hit on debut — candid interviews with leaders like Jim Pattison and the CEOs of WestJet and FedEx Canada.

Talk to Zanzi, the office's voice.

Manjit's office runs an AI voice concierge, available around the clock. Tap the orb, speak naturally, and Zanzi answers back — capturing the right details so the team can follow up.

Speak — a real back-and-forth, no forms or menus.
Anytime — 24/7, so nothing slips through.
Routed — speaking, media, partnerships or charity, straight to the right person.

Tap to talk · Zanzi opens in the corner

Start the conversation.

For keynote speaking, media & press, partnerships or charitable enquiries, share the details and Manjit's team will follow up. Prefer to talk now? Zanzi is in the chat, 24/7.

Instagram — @manjit.minhas LinkedIn — manjitminhas Facebook — manjitminhasdragon

Manjit
Minhas

From petroleum engineer to the Beer Baroness.