This site is a tribute to a cottage industry that predates Confederation by over two hundred years. A hundred years ago, small craft breweries existed in small and large communities across Canada. These enterprises played an important role in the definition of local culture. The combination of Prohibition and the emergence of big business dealt a crushing blow to micro-breweries across North America.
Prohibition of liquor sales began in earnest in 1906 in Prince Edward Island and spread to every Province with the exception of Quebec by 1916. In 1931, four years after the repeal of Prohibition, Canadian craft breweries were just beginning to recover when businessman E.P.Taylor began to systematically purchase or force the closure of every remaining craft brewery in the country. His business acumen was noticed south of the border and this triggered a similar takevoer of regional craft breweries in the United States. It wasn't until 1982, when British Columbia passed the first legislation allowing micro-breweries and brew-pubs, that a renaissance in craft brewing was even possible. Today, just over 20 years later, there are over 150 small, independent breweries spread across Canada.
This tribute is also a resource. Included in the pages of this site are profiles of small, independent regional breweries from across the country. Guests to the site are encouraged to take the self-guided virtual tour. Start the tour by clicking one of the five colour coded areas on the accompanying map. Alternately, there is a menu of links at the top of the page if you wish to forego the cartographic experience. There is a page titled Resources where you will find reference material and contemporary guides to Canadian beer.
I hope you enjoy the tour! Tell your friends. And remember to support your regional craft breweries.
