Amsterdam Brewery

Amsterdam Brewery is a Toronto, Ontario craft brewery and hospitality business. Its story began in 1986, when a Dutch expatriate founded a brewpub on John Street with the aim of bringing distinctive, flavourful beers to Toronto. The company describes that venue as Toronto’s original craft brewpub and says it introduced patrons to a different kind of beer experience. The founder is not named in the supplied material. The business has since grown beyond its original brewpub. Its brewing operation is located in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood at 45 Esandar Drive. The company says it moved there from its downtown location in 2012; the initial 20,000 square feet of brewing space later grew to 62,500 square feet, with an additional 25,000 square feet at 51 Esandar Drive. The Leaside site includes an on-site retail store, tap room, brewery tours and an event space for private functions. Amsterdam also operates the Amsterdam BrewHouse, which it describes as a waterfront craft brewery, restaurant and retail store in central Toronto. The company’s offerings include packaged beer as well as brewery, restaurant, retail and event experiences. Product examples in its online store include Boneshaker IPA, an unfiltered, naturally carbonated IPA described as hop-forward, and 3 Speed Lager, which the brewery says is aged for 26 days for a smooth finish. The supplied sources do not identify a parent company, owner, named executives or markets beyond the Toronto-focused operations and sales information shown on its site.

Amsterdam Brewery traces its origins to 1986, when a Dutch expatriate established a brewpub on John Street in Toronto. The founding idea, as described by the company, was to bring unique, flavourful beers to the city. The original Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub became a gathering place where Torontonians encountered craft beer, and the company identifies it as Toronto’s original craft brewpub. The available source does not name the founder. The company presents its subsequent development as a combination of brewing experimentation, hospitality and connection to Toronto. It says it has sought to make beers others might not think to brew, while continuing to improve its business and contribute to its community. The source does not provide a dated account of individual beer launches or other early growth milestones. A major operational change came in 2012, when Amsterdam moved its brewing operation from its downtown location to Leaside, at 45 Esandar Drive. The company says the site began with 20,000 square feet of brewing space and later expanded to 62,500 square feet, with a further 25,000 square feet at 51 Esandar Drive. Its current description of the Leaside facility includes brewing, retail, tours, a tap room and an event venue. Amsterdam’s hospitality presence also includes the Amsterdam BrewHouse, which the company describes as a waterfront craft brewery, restaurant and retail store in central Toronto. Its current website presents the business as continuing to serve customers through beer sales, retail locations, hospitality and events. Examples of its packaged beers include Boneshaker IPA and 3 Speed Lager. The supplied sources do not establish ownership changes, leadership appointments, listing status, or a fuller chronology of expansions and product releases.

• 2012

  Brewing operation moves to Leaside

• 1986

  Amsterdam opens its original Toronto brewpub

• Leaside brewing facilities expand

A Toronto-rooted craft beer and hospitality company emphasizing local identity, flavour, brewing innovation and visitor experiences.

• Boneshaker IPA

  An unfiltered, naturally carbonated IPA brewed with substantial hops and more than four malts; the product page describes grapefruit and pine aromas and strong hop flavours.

• 3 Speed Lager

  A lager the brewery says is made with a blend of hops and aged for 26 days for a smooth taste and finish.

1. 1AMSTERDAM Brewing Co.: Fresh. Local. Original.amsterdambeer.com
2. 2Our Storyamsterdambeer.com
3. 3Boneshaker IPA | 568mLamsterdambeer.com
4. 43 Speed Lager | 568mLamsterdambeer.com