Molson Export - History

History

On May 2, 1782, at the age of 18, John Molson left England for Canada, landing in Montreal on June 26. Shortly after his arrival, he began working at the Thomas Loyd brewery. He went on to purchase it in an auction in 1784.

Forward-thinking and ambitious, John Molson focused on perfecting his beer. In 1785, he temporarily closed his business to cross the Atlantic in search of the modern equipment and quality ingredients that would eventually come to characterize his first brew.

Upon his return to Montreal in 1786, John founded the Molson Brewery on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. Determined to use only top quality ingredients in his beer, he freely distributed the barley seeds he had brought back from overseas to local farmers. His first beer, an Ale, was such a huge success that he quickly brewed three additional varieties, launching the start of a brewing enterprise that would last for generations.

In 1816, John Molson formed a partnership with his three sons – John, Thomas and William. It was Thomas who would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps by continuing the Molson brewing tradition and upholding the high standards of quality. In 1903, inspired by the popularity of imported beers, Herbert Molson, Thomas’ grandson, and brew master John Hyde created Molson Export, an authentic Ale brewed in the classic style developed by John Molson.

The beer was named Molson Export because the brewers deemed it of such high quality that it was good enough to be exported and was even better than the imports that were in high demand at the time. In 1955, the now famous boat on the label was chosen as the quintessential symbol of this beer with an exceptional taste. To this day, it represents John Molson’s journey, his determination and his quest to find the best ingredients.