BC Business
Molson brewery on Burrard Street in Vancouver
Molson Coors is moving its B.C. brewery to Chilliwack. In November 2015, the company sold its iconic Vancouver brewery, the largest in Western Canada, to developer Concord Pacific. On Thursday, Molson Coors announced that after months of discussions with municipalities throughout the province, it has chosen a 36-acre site on Kerr Avenue in Chilliwack near both the Trans-Canada Highway and the U.S. border, with room for potential expansion.
“Our brewers are delighted with the quality of water in Chilliwack, a key ingredient to producing our great beers and ciders,” said Molson Coors Canada president and CEO Stewart Glendinning in a release. “Brewing in British Columbia is an integral part of our North American supply chain. We look forward to continuing to grow our operations with the new Fraser Valley Brewery in Chilliwack.”
Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz commented, “The new Molson Coors Canada brewery will be one of the largest private sector projects to come to Chilliwack and will encourage further economic development and job opportunities in our community.”
The oldest brewery in Canada, Molson launched in Montreal in 1786 and has been brewing in B.C. since purchasing the Sick’s Capilano Brewery in 1958. Molson merged with Coors in 2005. In 2009 Molson Coors bought Granville Island Brewing.
Brewing operations will continue at the Burrard Street facility in Vancouver until the new Chilliwack brewery is built and operational in late 2018 or early 2019.