Brewing beer on Burlington Street

Hamilton has had numerous brewers going back to the 19th century. But after the Second World War, Andrew Peller stepped forward to dominate the local trade.

He opened his Peller Brewing Company on Burlington Street at Ferguson in May 1947. By 1952, the firm produced 150,000 barrels of beer per year.

The plant built by Peller would go through numerous peaks and valleys over the coming decades with different brewers coming and going.

Timeline

1954: Peller sells the operation to Brading Breweries Ltd., which amalgamated with Carling Breweries of Toronto. Peller moves into the wine industry.

1960: The Hamilton plant is closed and used as a warehouse for 12 years.

1972: Henninger of Germany moves in.

1981: Amstel takes over.

1992: Lakeport begins brewing various brands.

2007: Lakeport is sold to Labatt.

2010: Labatt closes the plant.

2015: Collective Arts craft brewery opens.