Beer brewing in North America is believed to have begun around 1608 - 1620 The early French settlements in what is now the Province of Quebec may have been first followed by the Pilgrims who arrived on the May Flower. Other historians say that columbus observed the native indians making beer from corn and black-birch sap in 1492. Perhaps the bigger question is the quality of these beers. There was no doubt imported beer from England was superior.

In 1632 the American West Indies Company built a brewery on Brewers Street in New Amsterdam.

D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. a regional brewery located in Pottsville, PA. is recognized as “America's Oldest Brewery” founded in 1829 by David G.Yuengling.

The Pabst Brewing Company has been around since 1844, although some of our beers have been proudly brewed since 1775. German immigrant Jacob Best and his four sons decided to apply their homeland's renown for brewcraft by setting up shop on Chestnut Hill in Milwaukee. Quality beer was made, the locals were impressed, word spread and by the mid-1850s.

Their future son-in law Captain Frederick Pabst bought half-interest of the brewing company in 1864, when the entire operation was turning out just 5,000 barrels. In 1873 Pabst was now president and the company doubled its production

Anheuser-Busch started in 1852 in St St. Louis by George Schneider under the name Bavarian Brewery . In 1860 Eberhard Anheuser purchased the winery naming it E. Anheuser & Co . Adolphus Busch married Eberhard Anheuser´s daughter, Lilly in 1861. Budweiser was introduced in 1876.three years later the name was changed to Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association.

1896 Michelob introduced

Sales continued to grow as regional breweries are established. In 1964
Ten million barrels in annual production is reached.

St. Louis brewery declared National Historic Landmark

In 1855 , Frederick Miller purchased a small brewery called the Plank Road Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for $2,300 Frederick Miller became one of the early pioneers of bottling beer. The company Frederick Miller founded officially became renamed "Miller Brewing Company" in May of 1933 after the repeal of prohibition.

Sales topped one million barrels for the first time in 1949 and triple by 1952

In Canada the first commercial brewery was built by Jean Talon in Quebec City , in the year 1668 . It was called La Brasserie du Roy , or the King's Brewery. By 1675 it had closed. The building served as a military prison afterwards.

Many of today's well-known Canadian breweries were established in the 18th and 19th centuries:
• 1786, John Molson established his first brewery in Montreal
• 1829, Alexander Keith opened his first brewery in Nova Scotia
• 1830, Thomas Carling opened a brewery in London, Ont.
• 1847, John Labatt opened a brewery in London, Ont.

The very first patent to be issued by the Canadian government on July 6, 1842 was to one G. Riley for "an improved method of brewing ale, beer, porter, and other malt liquors

 

Molsons Brewery was founded in 1786 making it North America's oldest brewing company, and Canada 's second oldest company after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St. Lawrence River in Montreal where the Molson family continues to maintain its headquarters today

The "Accommodation", Canada's first steamboat, makes its maiden voyage on November Built by John Molson, this entirely Canadian-made vessel was the first of his 22 steamboat fleet.

Brewery reaches 100,000 gallon production milestone. in 1846

In 1886 Brewery celebrates its 100th anniversary and a 175-fold increase in beer volume since founding year. Beer sold in 1886 generates approximately the same profit as that sold in first year, after deduction of taxes (26 cents to the gallon).

1907 Brewery reaches production milestone of 1,000,000 gallons in one year.

Molson Canadian is introduced in 1959

Labatt Brewing Company Ltd .founded by John Kinder Labatt in 1847 in London, Ontario . In 1995 it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew, now known as InBev . When ordering customers just say "give me a Blue "

In 1847 Labatt purchased London's Simcoe Street brewery in partnership with Samuel Eccles . He Became the sole proprietor in 1853 and renamed the brewery

In March 1950, Labatt introduced its Fiftieth Anniversary Ale commemorating a half-century of business under the leadership of John S. and Hugh Labatt. This first “light” ale, affectionately called “Annie” and later “50,” quickly gained a dedicated following and eventually became Canada's best-selling brand.

A year later, Labatt launched its Pilsener Lager, setting the trend for lager beers in Canada. When it was introduced in Manitoba, the beer was nicknamed “Blue” for the colour of its label and the company's support of Winnipeg's Canadian Football League (CFL) franchise, the Blue Bombers. The nickname stuck and in 1979, Blue claimed top spot in the Canadian beer market, a position it's held ever since.

In 1840 Thomas Carling began a small brewing operation in London, Ontario selling beer to soldiers at the local military camp. When he died, his sons William and John took over, naming it the W & J Carling Brewing Co. John Carling became a prominent figure in Canadian business and politics and was later knighted in 1893. Sir John Carlling died in 1911 and the company has changed hands numerous times since.

Caroling O'Keefe Breweries was bought by Elders IXL of Australia in 1987 and later merged with Molson to form Molson Breweries Canada in 1989.

Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company

In 1933 Carlings enterd the American beer market introducing Carling Black Label The beer was introduced to the British market were it was a huge sucess

Carling , formerly known as Carling Black Label , is the best selling beer in the United Kingdom

In 1979 Carling-National was bought out by the Heileman Brewing Co. of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Carling and the Black Label brand are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company . In the US, the Black Label brand is owned by the Pabst Brewing Company .