There was an interesting rant in today’s Canada Free Press by a Dr. W. Gifford Jones who was incensed about a Canadian brewer who was told he could not inform his customers about any health claims about his beer whatsoever under Canadian law. Dr. Jones used that incident as a jumping off place to question the hypocrisy in this aspect of Canadian society, which undoubtedly parallels that of the U.S., at least with respect to this issue.
Sapporo to Buy Canadian Sleeman
Sleeman Breweries, of course, has had a for sale sign around it since May so this announcement came as no surprise. Only who had an element of surprise to it. Late Friday, the Japanese company Sapporo announced it has offered $17.50 a share in cash, which works out to $400 million (though some reports say $300 million), for the purchase of Sleeman Breweries.
If the sale is approved and completed, the three largest Canadian breweries will be owned by foreign companies. Molson Coors in number one and number two, Labatt’s, is owned by the Belgian company InBev. Sleeman is currently in the number three spot.
John Sleeman, CEO of Sleeman Breweries, holding a bottle of Trois Pistoles from Unibroue, the best brewery in Sleeman’s portfolio.
Canadian Cans a Hit in Hamilton
Not being a Canuck, I wasn’t too familiar with the Ontario-based Lakeport Brewing, whose full name is the scary-sounding Lakeport Brewing Income Fund. Based on what I’ve read today and from looking at their website, they appear to be a regional brewery that makes primarily industrial light lagers, in other words not a craft brewery. But what I found interesting is that they added canned beer to their portfolio this spring and, according to several stories today in the Canadian press, apparently it’s exceeding their wildest expectations. There are articles in today’s Toronto Star and the Hamilton Spectator. Three of their styles were made available in 355 ml cans — Pilsner, Honey Lager and Lakeport Light.
Canadian Craft Beer Mirroring U.S. Market
According to an article in today’s Toronto Star, craft beer in Ontario is mirroring what’s going on in the U.S. After sales of macro beers have slowed and declined, craft beer sales have risen to take up the slack. Thirty Ontario craft brewers now account for 5% of total beer sales in the province, which represents $100 million and a 17% increase in jobs. That’s an increase of 100 basis points over last year when craft beer in Ontario was at 4% of the total, which is a huge increase in one year.