A BRIEF HISTORY OF BEER IN CANADA
Brewing in Canada has a long and rich history, dating back to the early 1600s when European settlers first arrived in what is now Canada. Molson, Oland, Keith, Carling, Sleeman and Labatt are all names that Canadian beer drinkers have been familiar with for generations.
THE EARLY DAYS
In the early days, brewing was a domestic art, practiced by people in their own homes for personal enjoyment and special occasions.Canada’s first recorded brewer was Jesuit Brother Ambroise, who began making beer in 1646 after the foundation of New France.
A few years later, the Great Intendant Jean Talon, founded Canada’s first commercial brewery in Québec City, to reduce his colony’s dependence on imported brandy. His brewery, which opened in 1688, was so successful that its brews were sold to the West Indies, making it the first Canadian beer ever exported.
The Talon brewery only operated for five years, but its remains — known as the Talon Vaults — can still be seen in the lower city of old Québec.
MODERN BREWING
Many of today’s breweries have long histories, filled with colourful characters and incredible accomplishments.
By 1786, John Molson established his first brewery in Montréal. Alexander Keith & Son founded their brewery in Nova Scotia in 1829. John H. Sleeman established his first brewery in St. David’s, Ontario in 1836. Thomas Carling opened the doors to his new Brewing & Malting Company in London in 1840. The Labatt family entered the scene in London, Ontario in 1847 and in 1867 both the Oland and Moosehead breweries were established by the Oland family.
By the 1870s, brewing in Canada was firmly established with brewers as far west as Victoria, British Columbia and as far east as Saint John, New Brunswick. Despite occasional economic setbacks, beer sales grew up until the First World War.
With the outbreak of war, beer prices increased due to a “doubling” of the excise duty on malt, and many provinces decided to go “dry” as a war measure. In 1918, the federal cabinet decreed that no intoxicating liquor of any kind could be manufactured or imported until 12 months after peace was restored. Canada’s experiment with prohibition lasted into the 1920s (and as late as 1948 for Prince Edward Island), when consumer demand and common sense reasserted itself. It is safe to say that the prohibition era had a significant impact on the Canadian brewing industry, with many breweries shutting down or switching to producing non-alcoholic beverages.
THE EARLY DAYS
In the early days, brewing was a domestic art, practiced by people in their own homes for personal enjoyment and special occasions.
Canada’s first recorded brewer was Jesuit Brother Ambroise, who began making beer in 1646 after the foundation of New France.
A few years later, the Great Intendant Jean Talon, founded Canada’s first commercial brewery in Québec City, to reduce his colony’s dependence on imported brandy. His brewery, which opened in 1688, was so successful that its brews were sold to the West Indies, making it the first Canadian beer ever exported.
The Talon brewery only operated for five years, but its remains — known as the Talon Vaults — can still be seen in the lower city of old Québec.
THE EARLY DAYS
In the early days, brewing was a domestic art, practiced by people in their own homes for personal enjoyment and special occasions.
Canada’s first recorded brewer was Jesuit Brother Ambroise, who began making beer in 1646 after the foundation of New France.
A few years later, the Great Intendant Jean Talon, founded Canada’s first commercial brewery in Québec City, to reduce his colony’s dependence on imported brandy. His brewery, which opened in 1688, was so successful that its brews were sold to the West Indies, making it the first Canadian beer ever exported.
The Talon brewery only operated for five years, but its remains — known as the Talon Vaults — can still be seen in the lower city of old Québec.
MODERN BREWING
Many of today's breweries have long histories, filled with colourful characters and incredible accomplishments.
By 1786, John Molson established his first brewery in Montréal. Alexander Keith & Son founded their brewery in Nova Scotia in 1829. John H. Sleeman established his first brewery in St. David's, Ontario in 1836. Thomas Carling opened the doors to his new Brewing & Malting Company in London in 1840. The Labatt family entered the scene in London, Ontario in 1847 and in 1867 both the Oland and Moosehead breweries were established by the Oland family.
By the 1870s, brewing in Canada was firmly established with brewers as far west as Victoria, British Columbia and as far east as Saint John, New Brunswick. Despite occasional economic setbacks, beer sales grew up until the First World War.
With the outbreak of war, beer prices increased due to a "doubling" of the excise duty on malt, and many provinces decided to go "dry" as a war measure. In 1918, the federal cabinet decreed that no intoxicating liquor of any kind could be manufactured or imported until 12 months after peace was restored. Canada's experiment with prohibition lasted into the 1920s (and as late as 1948 for Prince Edward Island), when consumer demand and common sense reasserted itself. It is safe to say that the prohibition era had a significant impact on the Canadian brewing industry, with many breweries shutting down or switching to producing non-alcoholic beverages.
AN INDUSTRY IN FULL BLOOM
Prohibition, the Great Depression, and the Second World War hit brewers hard and forced a period of industry consolidation. Regional brewers across the country merged or were acquired by other brewers, resulting in larger companies and a more globally competitive industry.
Beginning in the 1980s new regional breweries emerged in communities across the country, increasing the range of brands and styles of beer available.
Today, Canadian beer drinkers have access to one of the world’s largest selections of beer brands and styles as the brewing industry continues to evolve and innovate. Canadian beer is made in every province and territory of the country generating positive economic, social, and other benefits to communities large and small. 88% of the beer Canadians consume is made right here and our country is home to 1,310 breweries producing a wide range of beers that reflect the country’s cultural and regional diversity and directly employing 21,000 Canadians.
CRAFT BEER REVOLUTION
Craft Beer
Craft brewing has become a significant part of the Canadian beer industry today. The number of microbreweries continue to multiply, especially in high-population provinces like Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. Between 3006-2015, craft brewers recorded more sales as the demand for craft beer grew steadily.
Beer Styles
Canada’s preferred beer styles are pale lagers like ice bears, while the Maritimes and Quebec areas favour larger ales like cream ales. One of Canada’s unique beer styles is spruce beer. Indigenous tribes initially created spruce beer to prevent scurvy in 16th century New France. It is believed that the Hurons and First Nations were the first to brew spruce beer, and they later combined their brewing methods with settlers fermenting practices. Spruce beer is an authentic Canadian beer style and is among North America’s oldest forms of beer.
Brewing Regions
Each Canadian beer brewing region has a style that reflects its people’s origin, history and culture. However, Canadian beer tends to be a softer and more palatable style suited for North American tastes.
