HIST 4305A: The History of Beer, Brewing and Drinking in Canada, 1670-2025
Winter 2025
Instructor: Professor Matthew J. Bellamy
Introduction
Did you ever wonder about our relationship with beer and how it has changed over time? What does beer drinking tell us about culture and society? What does brewing tell us about politics and the economy? We have been brewing beer in Canada for centuries. If you look closely at a Molson Canadian bottle (“established in 1789”) or a bottle of Labatt Blue (“since 1847”) you will see that these beer companies were founded before Confederation. And yet today our big “national” brewers are owned by huge multinational corporations and we are in the midst of a craft brewing “revolution.” In this class we will take a deep dive into the history of beer and come to terms with how brewing and drinking have defined the world in which we live.
Class Format
Each week we will meet to discuss a clearly defined theme in the history of the Canadian brewing and beer drinking. Such themes will include: the birth of the Canadian brewing industry; brewing and the spirit of Canadian capitalism; the rise of teetotalism and the working-class saloon; the effect of war, depression and economic boom on brewing and beer drinking; prohibition, bootlegging, and the role of the brewers in creating a beer-drinking culture; beer advertising and brand management; the relationship between beer and sport; globalization and the craft-beer revolution.
Assessment
Students will be expected to do the assigned readings and to contribute to the discussion. During the course we will be reading a series of historical works. Students will be asked to discuss the reading material and write their own papers (15-20 pages) on some aspect of the history of Canadian brewing, beer and drinking. The papers should reflect a solid grasp of the existing historiography on that topic and should involve some amount of primary research.
Learning Outcomes
- To understand and explain the evolution of the Canadian brewing industry from its beginning until the craft brewing revolution.
- To analyze and assess historical documents, artifacts, and other primary sources.
- To evaluate historical arguments and historical scholarship.
- To conduct independent research using primary and secondary sources.
- To express in writing the results of historical thinking and research.
I look forward to exploring this exciting topic with you. If any further information is requested, please do not hesitate to contact me at Matthew_Bellamy@Carleton.ca.