Our Story

What sets Sleeman apart is our time-honoured commitment to the quality of every beer we produce. At the heart of this philosophy is a respect for our consumer's intelligence, palate and overall experience. It's a difference you'll appreciate.

A premium beer contains quality ingredients, brewmaster's skill, and consistency. At Sleeman, we add another: dedication.

With a lineage that extends over five generations you can imagine we take particular pride in our heritage. In fact, when it comes to beer tradition, you can say that grandfather George A. Sleeman wrote the book on it - literally. Sleeman Cream Ale came directly from his recipe book, as have the formulas for several other styles. We may have added a few pages in our time, but in spirit and in flavour, every drop of beer we brew can proudly be traced to the roots of Sleeman family brewing.

The Sleeman family has been brewing in Canada since 1834, the year John H. Sleeman, an ambitious young brewer from Cornwall, England arrived in Ontario. In 1851 he started the first Sleeman brewery to be located in Guelph, Ontario, brewing small, 100 barrel batches using local well water prized for its purity and "hardness."

By the turn of the century, the clear glass bottle that would become a Sleeman hallmark was in use, and the popularity of Sleeman products had spread from Ontario to Montreal and Quebec City. By this time, John's grandson George had started a second Guelph brewery. The flagship product of these two breweries was Canada's first cream ale.

Years later, during Prohibition, George's son, George A. Sleeman and his brothers were caught smuggling beer into Detroit. Forced to sell the brewery to pay the taxes on their contraband brew, the original Sleeman Brewing & Malting Company ceased operations in 1933.

In 1988, John Sleeman, great-great grandson of the first Sleeman Brewmaster, revived the family business, locating its new facility just a few miles from the site of the original Guelph brewery. Pure spring water from Guelph's celebrated deep wells again provided the first ingredient. Rare, small batch brewing vessels, similar in size to those once used by John H. himself, were imported from Europe.

In 1988, Sleeman Cream Ale went on sale in Ontario for the first time in over half a century. Brewed according to the recipe found on page 64 of George Sleeman's personal notebook, and sold in distinctive clear glass bottles reminiscent of those used by earlier Sleeman brewers, the refreshing ale soon earned a loyal following among the growing circle of premium beer fans.

Today, Sleeman beer, which also includes Clear, Honey Brown Lager, Amber, Silver Creek Lager, Original Draught, Light and Original Dark, are once more the preferred choice of discerning premium beer drinkers in Canada.