Upper Canada Brewing Company
Toronto, Ontario, Canada · Est. 1985
Tally's Take
Why this matters
An early Toronto craft name, acquired by Sleeman in 1998. Being first in a market is no defence against being bought in it.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1985Founded
Upper Canada Brewing Company begins brewing in Toronto, Ontario.
- 1998Acquired
Acquired by Sleeman in 1998.
The Beer Library
Beers
Upper Canada Lager
RetiredPale Lager
One of Ontario's first craft breweries in 1985, and one of the first to go — Sleeman acquired it in 1998. The beer that helped start the province's craft scene did not outlast it.
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How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1985Founded
- 1998Acquired
Acquired by Sleeman in 1998.
Today the chain tops out at Sapporo Holdings.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Upper Canada Brewing Company is controlled by Public company.
Sapporo Holdings Fact Book · Sapporo Holdings · 2025-06
BreweryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Upper Canada Brewing Company
- Who owns Upper Canada Brewing Company?
- Upper Canada Brewing Company is owned by Sapporo Holdings. Upper Canada Brewing Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Is Upper Canada Brewing Company still independent?
- No. Upper Canada Brewing Company is owned by Sapporo Holdings and is no longer independent.
- When was Upper Canada Brewing Company acquired?
- 1998. Acquired by Sleeman in 1998.
- When was Upper Canada Brewing Company founded?
- Upper Canada Brewing Company was founded in 1985 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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