The now shuttered historic Edmonton Molson Plant

I somehow missed it last week – I guess my invitation got lost in the mail – but the Molson brothers hit Edmonton and Calgary for luncheon events celebrating the Molson family’s 225 years in brewing (thanks to Canadian Beer News for highlighting the story). Apparently Andrew spoke at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Edmonton while Geoff hit Calgary.

Where do I start with this one? I could mention that neither brother has much to do with brewing. Sure, they sit on the Molson-Coors Board of Directors, but since the 2005 merger with the American giant the Molson family influence on the company has been minimal. I have to ask whether either of them has ever wielded a mash paddle for the job it was intended (as opposed to photo ops)? Maybe they have (I don’t have them on speed-dial), but I would be surprised if they spent any real time bent over a boil kettle or scooping out spent grains.

I could mention that (according to sources in attendance at the Edmonton event) the speech was more about marketing spin and bragging about acquisitions of new properties than it was about beer. Molson-Coors may be a beer company, but its primary purpose is to buy up other breweries in China and elsewhere in the developing world.

But what I really want to highlight is the gall of Mr.’s Molson to come to town to crow about 225 years of brewing a short four years after they shuttered the Edmonton brewery – a brewery, which I need add that had been in continual operation since 1904 (first as Sick’s Brewing, and then Molson). Am I alone in being insulted on behalf of Edmonton brewery workers and beer drinkers at the unmitigated arrogance of that boast? The Edmonton plant was productive. It was efficient. It was profitable. Yet they closed it anyway. It was yet another victim of a business answering the siren wail of shareholders for higher short-term profits, even if it means the destruction of tradition, stable business practices and costumer good will.

For the record, they closed Calgary’s plant in 1994. It actually had a longer history than Edmonton, first opening in 1892 as Calgary Brewing and Malting. Both the Edmonton and Calgary brewery sites are designated as historic properties and so have not been demolished. However, both have sat vacant since their respective closures (in the case of Calgary that means 17 years).

Here is my beef. The Molson boys want to the public to know how proud they are of their history and family tradition of brewing quality beer for Canadians. But over the past 25 years the track record of the company they once owned and still bears their name has been one of razing the very history they proclaim to uphold. Your are not brewers, you operate as a multi-national behemoth for whom Canada is a mere speck, AND you come to my backyard, which you shamelessly dumped a few years ago, and want ME to celebrate your brewing heritage.

Not this beer guy. When you start being honest with the public is when you will get some kudos from me. Not a moment sooner.