Schooner Lager

Lore & Background

Schooner Lager was first brewed by sailing enthusiast and brewer Sidney Culverwell Oland in the 1950s. The beer was named after the famous racing and fishing vessel the schooner Bluenose. A replica schooner, Bluenose II, was built by the Oland family in 1963 and used as both a private yacht and a promotion for the beer brand. An illustration of the ship appears on the label and the cap. Sidney Oland donated the schooner to the Province of Nova Scotia in 1971. The Oland family sold their breweries to Labatt in 1971, and Schooner has since been produced under the InBev umbrella. The Oland family is not to be confused with the Saint John, New Brunswick relatives who still own and operate Moosehead Brewery.

Reader's Guide

Once a popular brand of beer in eastern Canada, Schooner Lager had many memorable advertising campaigns that included taglines such as 'The Schooner, the better', 'I'd sooner have a Schooner', and 'Quaff a Schooner Beer'. Although the marketing campaigns have long since ceased, Schooner is still carried by liquor stores across the Maritime provinces. The beer's legacy is tied to the Oland family's maritime heritage and the iconic Bluenose II schooner, which served as a floating advertisement for the brand. The brand remains a regional staple in eastern Canada, produced under the Labatt and InBev corporate structure, and continues to be recognized by its distinctive ship illustration on the label and cap.

Did You Know?

• Schooner Lager was named after the racing and fishing vessel the schooner Bluenose.
• The Oland family built a replica schooner, Bluenose II, in 1963 for use as a private yacht and beer promotion.
• Sidney Oland donated the Bluenose II to the Province of Nova Scotia in 1971.