Canada’s brewing tradition began in 1668 with La Brasserie du Roy in Québec City, established by Jean Talon, the colony’s Intendant. This brewery, created to reduce reliance on imported alcohol, produced up to 4,000 barrels annually, some of which were exported to the Caribbean and Europe. Although the brewery ceased operations after Talon’s return to France in 1672, its establishment marked the beginning of Canada’s brewing history. Another key milestone was the founding of the Molson Brewery in Montreal in 1786 by John Molson. As North America’s oldest brewery still in operation, Molson helped lay the foundation for Canada’s enduring beer culture.

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Fast forward to the 1980s, when the modern craft beer movement began to take root with the founding of Horseshoe Bay Brewing in Vancouver in 1982 then Vancouver's Granville Island Brewery  and Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub in Victoria in 1984. These pioneering ventures sparked a nationwide interest in microbrewing. Today, Canada boasts over 1,200 craft breweries, celebrated for their innovation and quality. Canadian craft beers have earned international acclaim on the world beer stage and hundreds are recognized annually at the Canadian Craft Brewers Association's Canada Beer Cup, the only national award ceremony put on by the actual Canadian craft brewing industry and for the brewing industry.