The Molson Brewery is a Canadian based brewery company based in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
which was established in 1786 by the
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was founded by John Molson, who immigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England. They are considered to be one of Canada's most prominent business families with a combined net w ...
. In 2005, Molson merged with the
Adolph Coors Company to become
Molson Coors
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 ...
.
Molson Coors maintains some of its Canadian operations at the site of Molson's first brewery located on the
Saint Lawrence River
The St. Lawrence River (french: Fleuve Saint-Laurent, ) is a large river in the middle latitudes of North America. Its headwaters begin flowing from Lake Ontario in a (roughly) northeasterly direction, into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connectin ...
in Montreal.
History
![Advertisement for Molson's Ale](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Advertisement_for_Molson%27s_Ale.jpg)
Founded in Montreal in 1786, the Molson Brewery is
the oldest brewery in North America and continues to produce beer on the site of the original brewery.
![Brasserie](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Brasserie.jpg)
On May 2, 1782, at the age of 18,
John Molson
John Molson (December 28, 1763 – January 11, 1836) was an English-born brewer and entrepreneur in colonial Quebec, which during his lifetime became Lower Canada. In addition to founding Molson Brewery, he built the first steamship and the fir ...
left England for Canada, landing in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
on June 26. Shortly after his arrival, he began working at the Thomas Loyd brewery. He went on to purchase it in an auction in 1784. Not long after his arrival in Montreal in 1782, Molson sensed the market potential for beer in the then British colony. Prices for wine, rum and port were rising and an influx of English and Irish immigrants were particularly partial to beer. When he came of legal age, Molson used the money inherited from his parents to acquire a small brewery housed in a wooden building on the shores of the
St Lawrence
Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...
, just outside the fortifications of the burgeoning City of Montreal.
In 1785, he temporarily closed his business to cross the Atlantic in search of modern equipment and ingredients. Upon his return, he offered the seeds free of charge to neighbouring Montreal farmers, who agreed to grow them to satisfy the brewery's need for malt.
Molson delivered his first brew, an
ale, in 1786 only six weeks after taking the helm. Priced at five cents a bottle, his brew sold well.
Molson took advantage of the many business opportunities available at the time. He quickly diversified his investments, opened a lumber yard, and began issuing loans to local Montreal merchants. In 1816, the family enterprise began to take shape when founder John Molson entered into an association with his three sons,
John, Jr.,
Thomas
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the A ...
and
William
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
.
Although brewing proved to be Molson's most sustainable field of endeavor, other activities were added throughout the company's lengthy history. Molson was the first company to own and operate a fleet of steamboats,
which were used to transport people and goods between Quebec and Ontario. John Molson and his sons also founded the
Molson Bank
The Molson Bank (sometimes labeled Molsons Bank) was a Canadian bank founded in Montreal, Quebec, by brothers William (1793–1875) and John Molson, Jr. (1787–1860), the sons of brewery magnate John Molson.
History
In 1850, it was constitut ...
, which later merged with the
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal (BMO; french: Banque de Montréal, link=no) is a Canadian multinational investment bank and financial services company.
The bank was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1817 as Montreal Bank; while its head office remains in ...
.
In 1816, John Molson formed a partnership with his three sons – John, Thomas and William. It was Thomas who would eventually follow in his father's footsteps by continuing the Molson brewing tradition and upholding the high standards of quality. In 1903, inspired by the popularity of imported beers, Thomas’ grandson
Herbert Molson
Colonel Herbert Molson (May 29, 1875 – March 21, 1938) was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was a former owner of Molson Brewery and a member of the Molson family.
Life and career
He was born on May 29, 1875, the s ...
and brew master John Hyde created
Molson Export
Molson Export beer is a Canadian ale brewed by Molson at a strength of 5% alcohol by volume. It was first brewed in 1903 and is the oldest Molson beer brand still in production.
Label
In 1955, the boat on the label was chosen to replace the pre ...
, an authentic
ale brewed in the classic style, developed by John Molson.
The
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was founded by John Molson, who immigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England. They are considered to be one of Canada's most prominent business families with a combined net w ...
were pioneers in steamships and hospitality, assisted with the
Montreal General Hospital
The Montreal General Hospital (MGH) (french: Hôpital Général de Montréal) is a hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada established in the years 1818-1820. The hospital received its charter in 1823. It is currently part of the McGill University ...
, were patrons of
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...
and the arts, and until 1925, were involved in banking through
Molson Bank
The Molson Bank (sometimes labeled Molsons Bank) was a Canadian bank founded in Montreal, Quebec, by brothers William (1793–1875) and John Molson, Jr. (1787–1860), the sons of brewery magnate John Molson.
History
In 1850, it was constitut ...
which merged with the
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal (BMO; french: Banque de Montréal, link=no) is a Canadian multinational investment bank and financial services company.
The bank was founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1817 as Montreal Bank; while its head office remains in ...
.
![A](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/A._Beaudry_magasin_with_Molson_ad.jpg)
Molson Brewery expanded the breadth of its corporate activities throughout the 20th century. In 1945, the family decided to transform the company into a public, limited liability enterprise. It then became possible to acquire an ownership in the company without being a member of the Molson family. This made it possible for the company to expand into
lager
Lager () is beer which has been brewed and conditioned at low temperature. Lagers can be pale, amber, or dark. Pale lager is the most widely consumed and commercially available style of beer. The term "lager" comes from the German for "storag ...
and inaugurate a new brewery in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
(near the
Canadian National Exhibition
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Canadian Labour Day ...
) in 1955.
The Crown and Anchor brand of beer dates from this time.
Two years later in 1957, the family (not the firm) acquired the
Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum (french: Le Forum de Montréal) is a historic building located facing Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by '' Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the ...
and the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
. The company continued to develop and, in 1958, acquired six breweries, which included five establishments in Western Canada, giving Molson a nationwide presence. In 1989, the company consolidated market share in Quebec through a merger with
Carling O'Keefe
Carling O'Keefe was a brewing company in Canada that is now part of Molson Coors. The company's origins can be traced to Canadian Breweries, which bought the Carling Brewery in 1930 and the O'Keefe Brewery in 1934. Canadian Breweries purchased ...
(acquiring Carling's Toronto brewery in Etobicoke). As a result, Molson became the largest brewery in Canada and the fifth largest in the world.
![Molson Edmonton](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Molson_Edmonton.JPG)
Molson was once the owner of home improvement chains
Beaver Lumber
Beaver Lumber (Castor Bricoleur in Quebec) was a Canadian building supply chain owned by Molson. It was once Canada's fourth largest building supply chain with 138 stores. In 2000 it was purchased by Home Hardware, a cooperative of over 1000 in ...
and
Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse
Aikenhead's Hardware was a chain of Canadian hardware stores located in Greater Toronto, Southern Ontario and northern Ontario. The original store was founded in Toronto in 1830 as "Ridout's Hardware Store" by Joseph Ridout and was located on the ...
. In February 1994, Molson sold a 75% interest in Aikenhead's to
Home Depot
The Home Depot, Inc., is an American multinational corporation, multinational home improvement retail corporation that sells tools, construction products, appliances, and services, including fuel and transportation rentals. Home Depot is the l ...
Inc for $150 million with the option to buy the rest in 1999; in the event, they agreed on a price of $262 million. In 1997, Molson sold for CAD$147 million their interest in
Reno-Depot to
Castorama
Castorama () is a French retailer of DIY and home improvement tools and supplies, headquartered in Templemars, France, and is part of the British group Kingfisher plc, which has 101 stores in France and 90 in Poland. The company became a subsidia ...
. In 1999 they sold Beaver Lumber to
Home Hardware
Home Hardware Stores Ltd. is a privately held Canadian home improvement, construction materials, and furniture retailer. Co-founded in 1964 by Walter Hachborn and headquartered in St. Jacobs, Ontario, the chain is co-operatively owned by ove ...
.
In 2005, Molson merged with US-based
Coors to form
Molson Coors Brewing Company
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 t ...
. This was followed in 2007 by the opening of a new brewery in
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
. Sixth generation family member
Eric Molson
Eric Herbert Molson (born September 16, 1937) is a Canadian billionaire businessman. He is the former Chairman of Molson Coors and former Chancellor of Concordia University. He is a member of the Molson family.
Education
Born in Montreal, Eric M ...
retired in 2009; however, his sons
Andrew
Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in List of countries where English is an official language, English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is freq ...
and
Geoff Molson
Geoffrey Eric Molson (born July 23, 1971), is a Canadian businessman and current president and chief executive officer and co-owner of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Evenko, Bell Centre and L'Équipe Spectra alongside his bro ...
continue to be active in company affairs as members of the corporate Board of Directors.
On October 11, 2016,
SABMiller in the U.S. sold its interests (from the joint venture formed in the United States and Puerto Rico) in
MillerCoors
MillerCoors was a beer brewing company in the United States. MillerCoors was formed in 2008 as a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors to combine their brewing, marketing and sales operations in the United States. The company was acqui ...
to
Molson Coors
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 ...
, who had been its partner in the joint venture, for around US$12 billion. Molson Coors gained full ownership of the Miller brand portfolio outside of the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and retained the rights to all of the brands that were in the MillerCoors portfolio for the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
In 2018, the company brewed and marketed a number of the most popular brands of beer in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
. Domestic labels include
Molson Canadian
Molson Canadian is a brand of 5% abv lager beer (4% in Ireland) brewed by Molson Brewing, the Canadian division of Molson Coors Brewing Company. The beer was introduced in 1959.
Awards
Molson Canadian has won several beer industry awards, inclu ...
,
Molson M,
Molson Export
Molson Export beer is a Canadian ale brewed by Molson at a strength of 5% alcohol by volume. It was first brewed in 1903 and is the oldest Molson beer brand still in production.
Label
In 1955, the boat on the label was chosen to replace the pre ...
, Molson Dry, Molson Exel Dealcoholized beer,
Old Style Pilsner
Old Style Pilsner is brewed by Molson-Coors Canada Inc. Created in the pilsner style, it has been brewed in western Canada since 1926.
Old Style Pilsner was first brewed in 1926 by Fritz Sick at his Sick's Breweries Ltd. in Lethbridge, Albert ...
,
Rickard's
Molson Coors was created by the merger of two of North America's largest breweries: Molson of Canada, and Coors of the United States, on February 9, 2005. Molson Coors acquired full ownership of the Miller brand portfolio from SABMiller in 2016 ...
,
Creemore Springs
Creemore Springs is a brewery in Creemore, Ontario, Canada, which first opened in 1987. It was founded by John Wiggins, and its flagship brew was a premium amber lager brewed with specialty malts, fire brewed in a copper kettle. In 2005, it was ...
and
Granville Island Brewing
The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) was a brewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1984 and calls itself "Canada's first microbrewery". In 1989, it was sold to the wine conglomer ...
. Through partnerships with other major brewers, Molson Coors Canada also offers beer brands, including
Coors Light
Coors Light is a 4.2% (US) ABV light beer brewed in Golden, Colorado; Albany, Georgia; Elkton, Virginia; Fort Worth, Texas; Irwindale, California; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was first produced in 1978 by the Coors Brewing Company. The Ca ...
,
Miller Genuine Draft
The Miller Brewing Company is an American brewery and beer company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller. Molson Coors acquired the full global brand portfolio of Miller Brewing Company in 2016, and operates the M ...
,
Heineken
Heineken Lager Beer ( nl, Heineken Pilsener), or simply Heineken () is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star.
History
On 15 Feb ...
,
Foster's Lager
Foster's Lager is an internationally-distributed brand of lager. It is owned by the international brewing group Asahi Group Holdings, and is brewed under licence in a number of countries, including its biggest market, the UK, where the Europe ...
and
Tiger
The tiger (''Panthera tigris'') is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus '' Panthera''. It is most recognisable for its dark vertical stripes on orange fur with a white underside. An apex predator, it primarily preys on u ...
. Molson employs 3,000 people in Canada and operates five breweries in locations across the country (
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
,
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
,
Moncton
Moncton (; ) is the most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. Situated in the Petitcodiac River Valley, Moncton lies at the geographic centre of the The Maritimes, Maritime Provinces. The ...
and
St. John's), as well as the Creemore micro-brewery in Ontario and
Granville Island Brewing
The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) was a brewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1984 and calls itself "Canada's first microbrewery". In 1989, it was sold to the wine conglomer ...
in British Columbia.
Operations
![Molson HQ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Molson_HQ.jpg)
Molson Coors Canada is a unit of
Molson Coors
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 ...
with its operational headquarters located in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
(in addition to several breweries across Canada). Molson Coors Canada is part-owner of
The Beer Store
Brewers Retail Inc., doing business as The Beer Store, is a privately-owned chain of retail outlets selling beer and other malt beverages in the province of Ontario, Canada.
Founded in 1927, it was owned at its inception by a consortium of On ...
in Ontario (
Brewers Retail Inc.), operating as a beer distribution and retail chain, which (protected by legislation) has an over 85% market share of the total Ontario industry beer sales. Molson Coors Canada owns 50% of Brewers Distribution Limited in Western Canada. Molson Coors Canada has the marketing and selling rights for
Heineken
Heineken Lager Beer ( nl, Heineken Pilsener), or simply Heineken () is a pale lager beer with 5% alcohol by volume produced by the Dutch brewing company Heineken N.V. Heineken beer is sold in a green bottle with a red star.
History
On 15 Feb ...
in Canada.
On 30 October 2019, the Molson Coors Brewing Company announced it would change its name to
Molson Coors Beverage Company
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 t ...
as a part of a restructuring to take place in 2020. The name change would reflect the companies growing focus on beverages outside of the traditional beer and brewing offerings. Additionally, the company would reorganize its global business units, including Molson Coors Canada, into Molson Coors North America, headquartered in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, and Molson Coors Europe, headquartered in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
.
Molson Coors breweries in Canada are in:
*
Longueuil
Longueuil () is a city in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is the seat of the Montérégie administrative region and the central city of the urban agglomeration of Longueuil. It sits on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River directly ac ...
, Quebec
*
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
– former
Carling O'Keefe
Carling O'Keefe was a brewing company in Canada that is now part of Molson Coors. The company's origins can be traced to Canadian Breweries, which bought the Carling Brewery in 1930 and the O'Keefe Brewery in 1934. Canadian Breweries purchased ...
plant in
Etobicoke
Etobicoke (, ) is an administrative district of, and one of six municipalities amalgamated into, the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the city's west-end, Etobicoke was first settled by Europeans in the 1790s, and the municipalit ...
, which replaced the old Lakeshore plant (demolished and replaced by WaterParkCity development in 2006)
*
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
*
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack ( )( hur, Ts'elxwéyeqw) is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Chilliwack is surrounded by mountains and home to recreational areas such as Cultus Lake and Chilliwack Lake Provincial Parks. There are numerous outdoor ...
- formerly in
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
until 2019
*
Creemore, Ontario
Creemore () is a former village, now part of Clearview Township, located in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It lies approximately north of Toronto, 40 minutes west of Barrie, and 20 minutes south of Collingwood and Georgian Bay. It sits on th ...
–
Creemore Springs
Creemore Springs is a brewery in Creemore, Ontario, Canada, which first opened in 1987. It was founded by John Wiggins, and its flagship brew was a premium amber lager brewed with specialty malts, fire brewed in a copper kettle. In 2005, it was ...
*
Granville Island, British Columbia
Granville may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Granville (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
*Earl Granville, a title in the Peerage of Great Britain and of the UK
*Baron Granville, a title in the Pe ...
–
Granville Island Brewing
The Granville Island Brewing Company (GIB) was a brewery originally based on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1984 and calls itself "Canada's first microbrewery". In 1989, it was sold to the wine conglomer ...
*
Shawinigan, Quebec
Shawinigan () is a city located on the Saint-Maurice River in the Mauricie area in Quebec, Canada. It had a population of 49,349 as of the 2016 Canadian census.
Shawinigan is also a territory equivalent to a regional county municipality (TE) and ...
–
Trou du Diable
The Trou du Diable (translated in English as Devil's Hole) is a cave situated in St-Casimir, in the province of Quebec, Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocea ...
*
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-pea ...
–
Brasseur de Montréal
Former:
* Molson Brewery, Montreal, Quebec (1786-2022)
* Molson Brewery, Barrie - closed 2000
*
Molson Brewery, Edmonton - closed 2007
*Molson Brewery, Vancouver - closed 2019
*Molson Brewery, Toronto - closed 1999
Brands
Molson brands include ''
Carling Black Label
Carling Black Label is a lager distributed by Carling Brewing Company.
History
Although its original focus was on ale, Carling has brewed lager-style beers since the 1870s. In 1927, as part of a corporate re-branding under new president ...
'' and ''
Molson Canadian
Molson Canadian is a brand of 5% abv lager beer (4% in Ireland) brewed by Molson Brewing, the Canadian division of Molson Coors Brewing Company. The beer was introduced in 1959.
Awards
Molson Canadian has won several beer industry awards, inclu ...
''.
Relationship with NHL
On June 20, 2009, brothers
Geoff Molson
Geoffrey Eric Molson (born July 23, 1971), is a Canadian businessman and current president and chief executive officer and co-owner of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Evenko, Bell Centre and L'Équipe Spectra alongside his bro ...
,
Andrew Molson
Andrew Thomas Molson is a Canadian businessman born in 1967 in Montreal. He is the eldest son of Eric Molson and the brother of Justin Molson and Geoff Molson. He is a member of the Molson family.
Education
Andrew Molson attended secondary sc ...
, and their father Eric Molson announced the purchase of 80.1% of the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
from Colorado businessman
George Gillett. The Canadiens have historically been the
NHL
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...
's most successful hockey team and last won the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...
in
1993. Along with the current majority ownership that the Molson brothers have of the team, the Molson company has owned all or portions of the Montreal Canadiens. In June 2009, the consortium led by the Molson brothers acquired the remaining 19.9% of the team that had been held by the company.
In the second decade of the 21st century, Molson and/or Coors had exclusive rights to sell their beverages at the home arenas of the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
,
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (french: Sénateurs d'Ottawa), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a membe ...
,
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
,
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...
,
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The Avalanche play thei ...
,
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Coyotes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference and currently play at the Mull ...
and
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
. Their beverages could be purchased at other sports venues, such as the home of the
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...
, the
KeyBank Center
KeyBank Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Buffalo, New York. Originally known as Marine Midland Arena, the venue has since been named HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center. Home to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey Leagu ...
, the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...
at the
Wells Fargo Center Wells Fargo Center may refer to:
*Wells Fargo Center (Los Angeles), California
*Wells Fargo Center (Sacramento), California
* Wells Fargo Center (San Francisco), California
* Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, California
* Wells Fargo Cen ...
, the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL) ...
at the
Verizon Center and
Bridgestone Arena
Bridgestone Arena (originally Nashville Arena, and formerly Gaylord Entertainment Center and Sommet Center) is a multi-purpose venue in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Completed in 1996, it is the home of the Nashville Predators of ...
, home of the
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators (commonly referred to as the Preds) are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference, and ha ...
.
Gallery
File:Molson s Brewery probably after the fire of July 1852.jpg, Brewer and businessman John Molson and his wife, at the family brewery and distillery which was razed to the ground in the second phase of the 1852 fire.
File:Molson family brewery after the fire of 1858.jpg, ''Molson family brewery after the fire of 1858.''
File:Biere_Molson,_Colonel_de_Salaberry.jpg, de Salaberry artwork, beer that your great-grandfather drank
File:Molson's Brewery carriage Montreal 1908.jpg, Chariot à bière de la Brasserie Molson, Montréal, Québec, Canada, vers 1908
File:Brasserie Molson - 1930.jpg, Brasserie Molson, Montréal, 1930: détail de plante bouteillage
File:Senna_and_Prost_on_the_podium,_Montreal_1988_(Cropped).jpg, Molson's sponsored the Grand Prix in Montreal during Senna and Prost's day
Image:Molsondry.jpg, Molson Dry bottles in refrigerator
File:Beer and water, AC877.jpg, Molson Canadian beer can with pretzels on an Air Canada tray table in 2017
File:Molson Canadian Beerbottle.jpg, Bierflasche der Marke "Molson Canadian", August 2013
File:Happy_Canada_Day_-_panoramio.jpg, New-look Molson Canadian beer can superimposed on a Canadian flag, July 1, 2014
File:Bière_Laurentide.JPG, Bouteille de bière Laurentide, brassée par Molson uniquement au Quebec (juillet 2009)
Image:Molson Export Lable Logo.png, Molson Export beer bottle label
File:Molson_export_can.png, Molson Export, aluminum can packaging redesign in 2010
File:Molson_export_bottle.png, Molson Export, bottle packaging redesign in 2010
File:Molson export case24.png, Molson Export, case of 24 bottles, packaging redesign in 2010
File:Molson Canadian Brewing Durdach Bros Distributing.jpg, Molson's agent distribution truck somewhere in America, dated 2010, rear 3/4 view
File:Molson Beer Mickey Beverage Bodies.jpg, Molson's agent distribution truck somewhere in America, dated 2010, rear view
File:Montréal 1815. La brasserie Molson, rue Notre-Dame. (6819732228).jpg, 1815: Le détail de cette carte nous montre les installations de l'industriel John Molson dans le secteur Est de l'ancien faubourg Québec dans le premier quart du XIXè siècle - detail of urban plans
File:Montréal 1846. Domaine Molson et rue Érié. (6926721536).jpg, 1846: Le nom de rue Érié n'est pas mentionné ici mais son tracé est nettement représenté: il bornait au Nord, un domaine aménagé, où la famille Molson avait fait construire une résidence cossue, détruite lors du grand Incendie de 1852. À droite, on voit la prison "Au Pied du Courant" où on pendit les "Patriotes" de 1837 - detail of urban plans
File:Montréal 1879. Brasserie Molson et rue Érié. (6929283612).jpg, 1879: Outre les installations de la Brasserie Molson, un atelier de fabrication de pipe (probablement celle de Robert Bannerman) formaient le paysage urbain du secteur de la rue Érié à cette époque - detail of urban plans
See also
*
Canadian beer
Beer was introduced to Canada by European settlers in the seventeenth century. The first commercial brewery was La Brasseries du Roy started by New France Intendant Jean Talon, in Québec City in 1668. Many commercial brewers thrived until pr ...
*
Labatt
Labatt Brewing Company Limited (french: La Brasserie Labatt Limitée) is a Belgian-owned brewery headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1847, Labatt is the largest brewer in Canada.
In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Int ...
*
List of breweries in Canada
This is an incomplete list (10+ years old) of many of the breweries in Canada. Breweries are not included in this list unless the individual brewery is notable or contains significance to Canadian culture and history.
Breweries in Canada
See a ...
*
Ken Westerfield
Kenneth Ray Westerfield is a pioneering Frisbee disc player.
He is a Hall of Fame inductee in freestyle, ultimate and disc golf, and was also voted top men's player in the 1970-75 Decade Awards. Westerfield produced numerous tournaments, wor ...
, Molson Frisbee Team
*
Molson family
The Molson family of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was founded by John Molson, who immigrated to Canada in 1782 from his home in Lincolnshire, England. They are considered to be one of Canada's most prominent business families with a combined net w ...
*
Molson Coors Beverage Company
The Molson Coors Beverage Company is an American-Canadian multinational drink and brewing company incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law and headquartered in Golden, Colorado and Montreal, Quebec.
Molson Coors was formed in 2005 t ...
Archives
There is a Molson
fonds
In archival science, a fonds is a group of documents that share the same origin and that have occurred naturally as an outgrowth of the daily workings of an agency, individual, or organization. An example of a fonds could be the writings of a poe ...
at
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is th ...
.
Archival reference number is R3088.
References
External links
Official websiteMolson in the Community Blog
{{Hockey Night in Canada
Beer brewing companies based in Quebec
Companies established in 1786
Manufacturing companies based in Montreal
Centre-Sud
Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies
Molson Coors Beverage Company
1786 establishments in the Province of Quebec (1763–1791)
Food and drink companies established in 1786
Food and drink companies based in Montreal
Canadian brands