Amsterdam Brewing Company
Amsterdam Brewing Company is a Toronto-based Canadian brewery and brewpub operator founded in 1986.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Amsterdam Brewing Company is a Toronto, Ontario brewery whose roots date to September 1986, when Dutch founder Roel Bramer opened The Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub in a former tire-retreading plant on John Street in Toronto's emerging Entertainment District. The business developed through a series of brewpub and production-site changes, eventually becoming a dedicated microbrewery known as The Amsterdam Brewing Company. A second brewpub, The Rotterdam, opened on King Street West in 1988 with greater brewing capacity. In 1993, the original John Street location closed and the operations were consolidated at The Rotterdam under the Amsterdam Brewing Company name. The company later relocated to Bathurst Street near Fort York and expanded its production and distribution activities. Amsterdam broadened its Ontario brewing presence in 2003 by purchasing Kawartha Lakes Brewing of Peterborough. That transaction brought brands including KLB Raspberry Wheat, KLB IPA, KLB Nut Brown, and KLB Cream Ale into the company's portfolio. Amsterdam subsequently experienced further growth and moved on November 1, 2012, to a larger brewery at 45 Esandar Drive in Toronto, east of the Leaside Village retail area. The company also expanded through hospitality partnerships. In May 2013, it partnered with the family-run Urban Dining Group, headed by Todd Sherman, to establish the Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay West on Toronto's waterfront. In October 2017, Amsterdam and Urban Dining Group opened the Amsterdam Barrel House in Leaside, close to the main brewery, adding another brewpub venue. On July 15, 2022, Denmark-based Royal Unibrew announced an agreement to acquire Amsterdam Brewing Company for CA$44 million. The transaction included the brewery and two brewpub restaurants and formed part of Royal Unibrew's effort to expand its presence in the Americas. The acquisition was completed on September 15, 2022. Amsterdam therefore operates within Royal Unibrew's wider international beverage group while retaining its identity as a Toronto brewery brand. Its documented portfolio includes lagers, pale ales, India pale ales, nut brown ale, and other craft-beer offerings, with brewing and brewpub hospitality remaining central to its business model.
History
Amsterdam Brewing Company began in September 1986 as The Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub. Dutchman Roel Bramer established the business in a former tire-retreading plant on John Street in Toronto's then-developing Entertainment District. Its original model combined beer production with a public-facing brewpub, reflecting the growth of small-scale brewing and specialty beer culture in Toronto. In 1988, the company opened a second brewpub on King Street West under the name The Rotterdam. This site had greater brewing capacity and became the operational center after the original John Street venue closed in 1993. At that point, the business adopted the Amsterdam Brewing Company name and concentrated on a microbrewery-oriented model. The brewery later moved to Bathurst Street near Fort York as its production and commercial operations developed. A significant portfolio expansion occurred in 2003, when Amsterdam Brewing purchased Kawartha Lakes Brewing of Peterborough, Ontario. The acquired operation was associated with KLB Raspberry Wheat, KLB IPA, KLB Nut Brown, and KLB Cream Ale. The transaction extended Amsterdam's presence beyond Toronto and added established Ontario beer offerings to its activities. On November 1, 2012, Amsterdam moved to a larger facility at 45 Esandar Drive, directly east of the Leaside Village retail area. The relocation was intended to provide capacity for growth in the Amsterdam brand. The company continued to combine production with hospitality: in May 2013 it partnered with Urban Dining Group, a family-run hospitality company headed by Todd Sherman, to establish the Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay West on Toronto's waterfront. In October 2017, the partners opened the Amsterdam Barrel House in Leaside, near the main brewery. The company changed ownership in 2022. On July 15, Denmark-based Royal Unibrew agreed to acquire Amsterdam Brewing Company for CA$44 million. The deal covered the brewery and two brewpub restaurants and was presented as a way for Royal Unibrew to strengthen its position in the Americas. Completion took place on September 15, 2022. The documented corporate history thus moves from an independent Toronto brewpub founded in the 1980s, through local production expansion and hospitality partnerships, to ownership by a larger international brewing group.
- 2022
Royal Unibrew acquisition closes
[1]Royal Unibrew completes its purchase of Amsterdam Brewing Company and its brewery and two brewpub restaurants.
- 2017
Amsterdam Barrel House opens
[1]Amsterdam and Urban Dining Group open a Leaside brewpub near the main brewery.
- 2013
Amsterdam Brewhouse partnership begins
[1]Amsterdam partners with Urban Dining Group to operate the Amsterdam Brewhouse on Toronto's waterfront.
- 2012
Move to 45 Esandar Drive
[1]Amsterdam relocates to a larger Toronto brewery to support brand growth.
- 2003
Kawartha Lakes Brewing is acquired
[1]Amsterdam purchases the Peterborough-based brewer and adds the KLB beer range to its business.
- 1993
Operations consolidate under the Amsterdam Brewing Company name
[1]The original John Street location closes, and activity is consolidated at The Rotterdam as the company focuses on microbrewing.
- 1988
The Rotterdam brewpub opens
[1]A second location opens on King Street West with greater brewing capacity.
- 1986
The Amsterdam Brasserie and Brewpub opens
[1]Roel Bramer begins the business in a former tire-retreading plant on John Street in Toronto.
Products and positioning
Toronto craft brewery combining packaged beer production with locally oriented brewpub hospitality.
Lager
3 Speed
3 Speed is a lager in Amsterdam Brewing Company's documented beer portfolio. The available reference identifies the product and its broad style, but does not provide a verified launch date, recipe description, alcohol content, packaging format, or current distribution details.
Pale ale
Cruiser
Cruiser is listed as a pale ale associated with Amsterdam Brewing Company. The available source confirms its inclusion in the brewery's beer range but does not establish detailed tasting notes, release history, package formats, or market availability.
Lager
Big Wheel
Big Wheel is a lager listed among Amsterdam Brewing Company's beers. Beyond its product name and broad beer style, the supplied reference does not document its formulation, introduction date, production scale, or whether it is currently distributed in all of the company's markets.
Lager
Blonde
Blonde is identified as a lager in the Amsterdam portfolio. No reliable information in the supplied material confirms its launch year, detailed characteristics, packaging, pricing, or current status beyond its listing as one of the brewery's beers.
India pale ale
BoneShaker
BoneShaker is an India pale ale associated with Amsterdam Brewing Company. The source establishes the style and brand connection but supplies no verified information about the beer's recipe, strength, release chronology, package design, or distribution footprint.
India pale ale
Fracture
Fracture is listed as an India pale ale in Amsterdam Brewing Company's documented range. The available material does not provide sufficient evidence for additional claims about its ingredients, brewing method, launch, seasonal status, or retail availability.
Hybrid lager and IPA
Pale Rider
Pale Rider is described in the reference as combining lager and India pale ale characteristics. It represents a hybrid-style entry in Amsterdam's portfolio, although the available source does not document its production history, technical specifications, packaging, or current distribution.
India pale ale
Space Invader
Space Invader is an India pale ale listed among Amsterdam Brewing Company's beers. The supplied material confirms only the name and general category, leaving its introduction date, recipe, commercial positioning, and current availability unconfirmed.
Nut brown ale
Downtown Brown
Downtown Brown is a nut brown ale in Amsterdam Brewing Company's documented product selection. No further verified details are provided about its formulation, launch, packaging, distribution, or present production status.
Brand decisions
2022
Sale to Royal UnibrewM&ABackground
Royal Unibrew sought to expand its business in the Americas through the purchase of a Toronto brewery with associated brewpub operations.
Action taken
Royal Unibrew agreed on July 15, 2022, to acquire Amsterdam Brewing Company, including the brewery and two brewpub restaurants. The transaction closed on September 15, 2022.
Aftermath
Amsterdam Brewing Company became part of Royal Unibrew's international brewing group.
Acquisition price. CA$44,000,000 (Announced July 15, 2022; completed September 15, 2022)
2013
Partnership for the Amsterdam BrewhouseStrategyBackground
Amsterdam sought to extend its brewpub presence through a partnership with Urban Dining Group.
Action taken
The brewery partnered with the family-run hospitality group to establish the Amsterdam Brewhouse at 245 Queens Quay West on Toronto's waterfront.
Aftermath
The partnership added a prominent waterfront hospitality venue to the Amsterdam business.
2012
Relocation to a larger breweryStrategyBackground
Growth in the Amsterdam brand created a need for greater production capacity.
Action taken
Amsterdam moved on November 1, 2012, to a larger facility at 45 Esandar Drive in Toronto.
Aftermath
The new site provided a larger base for the company's brewing operations and subsequent hospitality expansion.
2003
Acquisition of Kawartha Lakes BrewingM&ABackground
Amsterdam Brewing Company expanded beyond its Toronto base by acquiring Kawartha Lakes Brewing of Peterborough, Ontario.
Action taken
The company purchased the brewer and brought its documented KLB Raspberry Wheat, KLB IPA, KLB Nut Brown, and KLB Cream Ale products into the enlarged business.
Aftermath
The transaction broadened Amsterdam's Ontario brewing and product footprint.
Sources1 sources
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