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The '''Molson Brewery''' is a Canadian-based brewery and beer company based in [[Montreal]] and formedwas established in 1786 by the [[Molson family]]. In 2005, Molson merged with the [[Adolph Coors Company]] to become [[Molson Coors]].<ref>{{cite web |date = July 22, 2004 |url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/molson-announces-6b-us-merger-deal-with-coors-1.517665 |title = Molson announces $6B US merger deal with Coors |publisher = CBC |access-date = October 10, 2020}}</ref>
 
Molson Coors maintains some of its Canadian operations at the site of Molson's first [[brewery]] located on the [[Saint Lawrence River]] in Montreal.
 
==History==
[[File:Advertisement for Molson's Ale.jpg|thumb|1924 advertisement; "Fifty six years ago when Sir [[John A. Macdonald]] was first premier of the Dominion of Canada/ in 1867, MOLSON'S ALE was then 81 years old!"]]▼
{{Tone|section|date=March 2020}}
▲[[File:Advertisement for Molson's Ale.jpg|thumb|1924 advertisement; "Fifty six years ago when Sir [[John A. Macdonald]] was first premier of the Dominion of Canada/ in 1867, MOLSON'S ALE was then 81 years old!"]]
 
Founded in Montreal in 1786, the [[Molson Brewery]] is [[Listone of Oldest[[Beer Breweriesin ofthe CanadaUnited States#Beginnings|the oldest brewerybreweries in North America]] and continues to produce [[beer]] on the site of the original brewery site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/About%20Us/Heritage%20In%20Beer.aspx |title=Beer Brewing &#124; Drinking Beer |publisher=Molson Coors |access-date=2012-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602165303/http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/About%20Us/Heritage%20In%20Beer.aspx |archive-date=2012-06-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2008/05/123_24196.html |title=Centennial Firms Dry up in Korea |work=[[Korea Times]] |date=2008-05-14 |access-date=2012-03-28 |first=Kim |last=Jae-kyoung}}</ref>
 
[[File:Brasserie.jpg|thumb|Molson Brewery, c. 1885]]
 
On May 2, 1782, at[[John theMolson]], age of 18, left [[John MolsonEngland]] left England for [[Canada]], landing in [[Montreal]] on June 26. Shortly after his arrival, he began working at the [[Thomas Loyd brewery]]. HeIn went1784, onMolson tosued purchaseThomas itLoyd infor anrepayment auctionof ina 1784debt. The Notend longresult afterwas Loyd admitting to the crime, and all of his arrivalbrewery inbuildings Montrealbeing input 1782up for auction. Around this time, Molson sensed the market potential for beer in the then[[British Colony|British colony]]. Prices for [[wine]], [[rum]], and port were rising and an influx of English and Irish immigrants were particularly partial to beer. WhenIn heJanuary came of legal age1785, Molson used the money inherited from his parents to acquire awhat smallhad brewerybeen housedthe inThomas aLoyd wooden buildingbrewery on the shores of the [[St Lawrence River|St Lawrence]], just outside the fortifications of the burgeoning City of Montreal.<ref>{{CitationCite neededweb |title=Biography – MOLSON, JOHN (1763-1836) – Volume VII (1836-1850) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/molson_john_1763_1836_7E.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.biographi.ca}}</ref>
 
In June 1785, he temporarily closed his business to cross the [[Atlantic inOcean|Atlantic]] search offor modern equipment and ingredients. Upon his return, he offered the seeds free of charge to neighbouringneighboring Montreal farmers, who agreed to grow them to satisfy the brewery's need for [[malt]].<ref name="martin">{{cite journal|last1=Martin|first1=Joseph E.|title=Titans|journal=Canada's History|date=2017|volume=97|issue=5|pages=47–53|issn=1920-9894}}</ref> In 1786, just six weeks after taking the helm, 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.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
 
Molson took advantage of the many business opportunities available at the time. He quickly diversified his [[Investment|investments]], opened a [[lumber yard]], and began issuing [[Loan|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 Molson Jr.|John, Jr.]], [[Thomas Molson|Thomas]] and [[William Molson|William]].<ref>{{CitationCite web |last=Dubuc |first=Alfred |date=28 April 2023 |title=Biography – MOLSON, THOMAS – Volume IX (1861-1870) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/molson_thomas_9E.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=dictionary of Canadian neededBiography}}</ref>
 
Although brewing proved to be Molson's most sustainable field of endeavorendeavour, other activities were added throughout the company's lengthy history. Molson was the first company to own and operate a fleet of [[Steamboat|steamboats]],<ref name="martin" /> which were used to transport people and goods between [[Quebec]] and [[Ontario]]. John Molson and his sons also founded the [[Molson Bank]], which later merged with the [[Bank of Montreal]].
 
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 beer|imported beers]], Thomas’ grandson [[Herbert Molson]] and brew masterbrewmaster John Hyde created [[Molson Export]], an authentic [[ale]] brewed in the classic style, developed by John Molson.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}
 
The [[Molson family]] were pioneers in steamships and hospitality, assisted with the [[Montreal General Hospital]], were patrons of [[McGill University]] and the arts, and until 1925, were involved in banking through [[Molson Bank]] which merged with the [[Bank of Montreal]].<ref>{{CitationCite needednews |date=1924-10-31 |title=BANK OF MONTREAL ABSORBS MOLSON'S; Merger Makes Institution the Third Largest Bank in North America. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1924/10/31/archives/bank-of-montreal-absorbs-molsons-merger-makes-institution-the-third.html |access-date=2023-04-28 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
[[File:A. Beaudry magasin with Molson ad.jpg|thumb|left|Store in Montreal with advertising for Molson Brewery, 1910]]
[[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[[Limited liability|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]] and inaugurate a new brewery in [[Toronto]] (near the [[Canadian National Exhibition]]) in 1955.<ref name="Denison 1955 371">{{harvnbcite book |last1=Denison |first1=Merrill |title=The Barley and the Stream: The Molson Story |date=1955 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |place=Toronto |ppage=371}}</ref> The Crown and Anchor brand of beer dates from this time.<ref name="Denison 1955 371"/> Two years later in 1957, the family (not the firm) acquired the [[Montreal Forum]] and the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. 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]] (acquiring Carling's Toronto brewery in Etobicoke). As a result, Molson became the largest brewery in Canada and the fifth largest in the world.
[[File:Molson Edmonton.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Molson Brewery in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada]]
 
Molson was once the owner of home improvement chains [[Beaver Lumber]] and [[Aikenhead's Home Improvement Warehouse]]. In February 1994, Molson sold a 75% interest in Aikenhead's to [[Home Depot]] Inc for $150 million with the option to buy the rest in 1999;<ref>
{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/09/business/company-news-home-depot-buys-chain-in-canada.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FHome%20Depot%20Inc.|title=COMPANY NEWS; Home Depot Buys Chain In Canada|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=9 Feb 1994}}</ref> in the event, they agreed on a price of $262 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=COMPANY NEWS; HOME DEPOT TO BUY MOLSON'S 25% STAKE IN CHAIN |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/30/business/company-news-home-depot-to-buy-molson-s-25-stake-in-chain.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FHome%20Depot%20Inc. |work=The New York Times |date=April 30, 1998}}</ref> In 1997, Molson sold for CAD$147 million their interest in [[Reno-Depot]] to [[Castorama]].<ref>{{cite news |title=CASTORAMA TO BUY RENO-DEPOT AFTER HOME DEPOT PASSES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/11/business/castorama-to-buy-reno-depot-after-home-depot-passes.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FHome%20Depot%20Inc. |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=March 11, 1997}}</ref> In 1999 they sold Beaver Lumber to [[Home Hardware]].<ref>{{citationCite news needed|title=COMPANY NEWS; HOME HARDWARE STORES TO TAKE OVER BEAVER LUMBER |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/21/business/company-news-home-hardware-stores-to-take-over-beaver-lumber.html |access-date=January2023-03-13 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
In 2005, Molson merged with US-based [[Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] to form [[Molson Coors Brewing Company]]. This was followed in 2007 by the opening of a new brewery in [[Moncton, New Brunswick]]. Sixth -generation family member [[Eric Molson]] retired in 2009; however, his sons [[Andrew Molson|Andrew]] and [[Geoff Molson]] continue to be active in company affairs as members of the corporate [[Board of directors|Board of Directors]].<ref>Molson internal publications</ref>
 
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]] to [[Molson Coors]], who had been its partner in the joint venture, for around US$12 billion. Molson Coors gained full ownership of the [[Miller Brewing Company|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.<ref name="acq">{{cite web |url= http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/news/molson-coors-completes-acquisition-of-millercoors-and-global-miller-brand-portfolio |title= Molson Coors Completes Acquisition of Full Ownership of MillerCoors and Global Miller Brand Portfolio |date= October 11, 2016 |website= MolsonCoors.com |access-date= January 29, 2017 |quote= Becomes World's Third Largest Brewer by Enterprise Value and Strengthens Position in Highly Attractive U.S. Beer Market |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043334/http://www.molsoncoors.com/en/news/molson-coors-completes-acquisition-of-millercoors-and-global-miller-brand-portfolio |archive-date= February 2, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
 
In 2018, the company brewed and marketed a number of the most popular brands of beer in [[Canada]]. Domestic labels include [[Molson Canadian]], [[Molson M (beer)|Molson M]], [[Molson Export]], Molson Dry, Molson Exel De-AlcoholizedDealcoholized beer, [[Old Style Pilsner]], [[Rickard's]], [[Creemore Springs]], and [[Granville Island Brewing]]. Through partnerships with other major brewers, Molson Coors Canada also offers beer brands, including [[Coors Light]], [[Miller Genuine Draft]], [[Heineken]], [[Foster's Lager]], and [[Tiger (beer)|Tiger]]. Molson employs 3,000 people in Canada and operates five breweries in locations across the country ([[VancouverChilliwack]], [[Toronto]], [[Montreal]], [[Moncton]], and [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]]), as well as the Creemore micro-brewery in Ontario and [[Granville Island Brewing]] in [[British Columbia]].{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}
 
==Operations==
[[File:Molson HQ.jpg|thumb|Former Molson brewery in [[Old Montreal]]]]
[[File:Former Molson Brewery Montreal Main Building.jpg|thumb|Former Molson brewery in Montreal (Main Building)]]
Molson Coors Canada is a unit of [[Molson Coors]] with its operational headquarters located in [[Toronto]] (in addition to several breweries across Canada). Molson Coors Canada is part-owner of [[The Beer Store]] 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 brands|Heineken]] in Canada.▼
[[File:Former Molson Brewery Montreal North-East View.jpg|thumb|Former Molson brewery in Montreal (North-East View)]]
 
▲Molson Coors Canada is a unit of [[Molson Coors]] with its operational headquarters located in [[Toronto]] (in addition to several breweries across Canada). Molson Coors Canada is part-owner of [[The Beer Store]] 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 brands|Heineken]] in Canada.
On 30 October 2019, the Molson Coors Brewing Company announced it would change its name to [[Molson Coors Beverage Company]] as a part of a restructuring to take place in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 30, 2019 |url=https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/molson-coors-ceo-hattersley-revitalization-plan-will-put-us-path-growth |title=Molson Coors CEO Hattersley: Revitalization plan 'will put us on the path to growth' |website=Molson Coors Blog |access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> 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]], and Molson Coors Europe, headquartered in [[Prague]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/investing/molson-coors-name-change-job-cuts-earnings/index.html|title=Molson Coors changes its name and will cut up to 500 jobs|last=Business|first=Paul R. La Monica, CNN|website=CNN|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Margaret |last=Naczek |date=October 30, 2019 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2019/10/30/molson-coors-dropping-millername-as-it-rebrands.html |title=Molson Coors Dropping Miller Name as It Rebrands the Company |website=Milwaukee Business Journal |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref>▼
 
▲On 30 October 2019, the Molson Coors Brewing Company announced it would change its name to [[Molson Coors Beverage Company]] as a part of a restructuring to take place in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 30, 2019 |url=https://www.molsoncoorsblog.com/molson-coors-ceo-hattersley-revitalization-plan-will-put-us-path-growth |title=Molson Coors CEO Hattersley: Revitalization plan 'will put us on the path to growth' |website=Molson Coors Blog |access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref> The name change would reflect the companiescompany's 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]], and Molson Coors Europe, headquartered in [[Prague]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/30/investing/molson-coors-name-change-job-cuts-earnings/index.html|title=Molson Coors changes its name and will cut up to 500 jobs|last=BusinessLa Monica|first=Paul R. La Monica, CNN|website=CNN|date=October 30, 2019|access-date=2019-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Margaret |last=Naczek |date=October 30, 2019 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2019/10/30/molson-coors-dropping-millername-as-it-rebrands.html |title=Molson Coors Dropping Miller Name as It Rebrands the Company |website=Milwaukee Business Journal |access-date=February 2, 2020}}</ref>
 
Molson Coors breweries in Canada are in:
* Montreal[[Longueuil]], Quebec
*[[Longueuil]], Quebec
* [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]] – former [[Carling O'Keefe]] plant in [[Etobicoke]], which replaced the old Lakeshore plant (demolished and replaced by WaterParkCity development in 2006)
* [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador]]
* [[Chilliwack|Chilliwack, British Columbia]] - formerly in [[Vancouver|Vancouver, British Columbia]] until 2019
* [[Creemore, Ontario]] – [[Creemore Springs]]
* [[Granville Island|Granville Island, British Columbia]] – [[Granville Island Brewing]]
* [[Shawinigan, Quebec]] – [[Trou du Diable]]
* [[Montreal, Quebec]] – [[Brasseur de Montréal]]
 
Former:
* Molson Brewery, BarrieMontreal, -Quebec closed 2000(1786–2022)
*[[ Molson Brewery, Edmonton]]Barrie -– closed 2007in 2000
*[[Molson Brewery, VancouverEdmonton]] -– closed 2019in 2007
*Molson Brewery, TorontoVancouver -– closed 1999in 2019
*Molson Brewery, Toronto – closed in 1999
 
==Brands==
{{main|List of Molson Coors brands|}}
Molson brands include ''[[Carling Black Label]]'', [[Molson Export]] and ''[[Molson Canadian]]''.
 
==Relationship with NHL==
On June 20, 2009, brothers [[Geoff Molson]], and [[Andrew Molson]], and their father Eric Molson announced the purchase of 80.1% of the [[Montreal Canadiens]] from Colorado businessman [[George N. Gillett Jr.|George Gillett]]. The Canadiens have historically been the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]'s most successful hockey team and last won the [[Stanley Cup]] in [[1993 Stanley Cup Finals|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]], [[Ottawa Senators]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], [[Edmonton Oilers]], [[Colorado Avalanche]], [[Arizona Coyotes]], and [[Detroit Red Wings]]. Their beverages could be purchased at other sports venues, such as the home of the [[Buffalo Sabres]], the [[KeyBank Center]], the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] at the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]], the [[Washington Capitals]] at the [[Capital One Arena|Verizon Center]], and [[Bridgestone Arena]], home of the [[Nashville Predators]].
 
==Gallery==
Line 105 ⟶ 110:
<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.
<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:molson7734.JPG|Molson Billboard, Edmonton 2006 -->
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
Line 117 ⟶ 121:
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
File:Former Molson Brewery Montreal.jpg|Former Molson brewery in Montreal
</gallery>
 
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