Creemore Springs
A Bavarian Purity Law brewery from Creemore, Ontario.
Canmenwalker · CC BY 4.0
Creemore Springs is a brewery in Creemore, Ontario, Canada, that first opened in 1987. It was founded by John Wiggins and is known for its flagship premium amber lager, brewed with specialty malts and fire-brewed in a copper kettle. The brewery follows the Bavarian Purity Law, using only malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, and does not use preservatives or pasteurization, requiring perpetual refrigeration.
Quick Facts
- Hq Location
- Creemore, Ontario Canada
- Owner
- Molson Coors Beverage Company
- Founded
- 1987
- Industry
- Alcoholic beverage
- Products
- Beer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Creemore Springs was founded in 1987 by John Wiggins, with its flagship brew being a premium amber lager. The beer is fire-brewed in a copper kettle and uses water exclusively from an artesian well on the founder's property, trucked daily in 10,000 L loads. The brewery adheres to the Bavarian Purity Law, using only malted barley, hops, water, and yeast, and avoids preservatives and pasteurization, necessitating constant refrigeration. In 2005, it was acquired by Molson, a subsidiary of Molson Coors Brewing Company. The brewery was the second in Ontario to offer its product in cans. In March 2016, it opened Batch, a 2,500-square-foot gastrobrewery making six small-batch beers on site. In 2009, an expansion plan to triple capacity to 150,000 hL per year generated debate, and the company lost its status as a member of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association. Its ownership by a multi-national, expansion into Quebec, and production volume have led to questions about its categorization as a craft brewery. In 2019, a new logo and package design drew criticism, including from founder John Wiggins.
Reader's Guide
Creemore Springs occupies a notable position in Canadian brewing as an early adopter of the Bavarian Purity Law in Ontario and as a brewery that maintained small-batch, preservative-free production even after acquisition by a multinational corporation. Its flagship premium lager, an American amber with affinities to a Czech pilsener, became widely recognized. The brewery's insistence on using water from a single artesian well, trucked daily, and its fire-brewing in copper kettles, set it apart from larger industrial operations. However, its acquisition by Molson in 2005 and subsequent expansion plans—including a controversial 2009 proposal to triple capacity—blurred its craft identity. The loss of Ontario Craft Brewers Association membership and the introduction of a divisive new logo in 2019 further marked its evolution. Despite these shifts, Creemore Springs continues to operate with a 130,000 hL capacity and over 100 employees, producing a range of beers including lagers, IPAs, and seasonal ales. Its legacy lies in balancing traditional brewing methods with the scale and distribution of a major corporate owner, making it a case study in the changing definition of craft beer in Canada.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Creemore Springs?
Creemore Springs is a craft brewery located in the small town of Creemore, Ontario, Canada, where John Wiggins opened the doors in 1987. It has been producing beer in that same community for over three and a half decades.
What makes Creemore Springs's brewing process different?
The brewery follows the Bavarian Purity Law, limiting ingredients to malted barley, hops, water, and yeast with no added preservatives. Their flagship lager is fire-brewed in a copper kettle, and because the finished beer is never pasteurized, it requires constant refrigeration.
What is Creemore Springs's flagship beer?
Their signature product is a premium amber lager built around specialty malts. It is brewed over open flame in a copper kettle, giving it a character that sets it apart from standard industrial lagers.
How large is the Creemore Springs operation?
The brewery employs more than 100 people and can produce approximately 130,000 hectolitres of beer each year. That makes it a sizeable craft operation for a single-location brewery in a small Ontario town.
Why is Creemore Springs notable in the Canadian beer scene?
Founded in 1987, it predates much of Canada's modern craft-beer wave and has maintained a strict purity-law philosophy throughout. Its refusal to pasteurize or add preservatives, combined with traditional fire-brewing, gives it a distinctive identity among Canadian producers.
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