John Sleeman

Chief Executive Officer - Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

In 1984, 51 years after they had closed their doors, and exactly 150 years after John H. Sleeman's arrival in Canada, John W. Sleeman, his great, great grandson, was given George's original brewery recipe book. John W. seems to have had no doubts about what he was going to do with the family recipe book. Especially since the fresh spring water from Guelph's deep wells was still running pure and waiting for John to turn it into something better.


In 1985 John W. Sleeman re-incorporated the Sleeman Brewing and Malting Company Limited and by August of 1988 Sleeman Cream Ale was once again flowing, using the very same recipes and techniques that his great, great grandfather had devised and his great grandfather had recorded for him. John even purchased special small batch brewing vessels from Europe, in order to simulate, as closely as possible, the equipment used by his ancestors. It isn't surprising that this tried and true, premium ale, re-introduced to the public a short 14 years ago, quickly re-established itself with the beer loving public.

When you pop the cap on a bottle of Cream Ale, you will find the number 64 stamped on the inside. It signifies page 64 of his great grandfather, George's leather bound, recipe book for Sleeman's Cream Ale.

Within three years (1991) Sleeman's had captured 1% of the Ontario beer market and Sleeman Cream Ale had won the Gold medal at the International Monde Selection in Belgium, while their Silver Creek Lager won the prestigious Grand Gold medal at the same event.

The Sleeman Original Dark went on to win the Grand Gold in Belgium in 1994 and Sleeman Premium Light took the Grand Gold the following year.

The magnitude of Sleeman's product growth, recognition and success, in such a short period of time, is unprecedented. It also speaks volumes about the quality of their products and the success that a well managed company can achieve, when they remain true to their roots and focused on their core business.

When I finally managed to snag a case of Cream Ale for myself, a few years after it's inaugural release, it was considered liquid gold, the yuppy beer of choice and the only beer to serve or to order when you were trying to impress someone. The nice thing about Sleeman's Cream Ale, is that its appeal was not and is not all based on marketing hype. It really is a good smooth tasting, livelier, cream ale.

As for the present day John W. Sleeman, he has stayed true to his heritage, closely following the recipes handed down to him, as well as, the processes that make them special.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Sleeman Breweries Ltd. operates in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The company has been brewing beer since August 17, 1988, but the history of Sleeman beer goes back to 1834 when John H. Sleeman established himself as a brewer and malter, but the company ceased operations by 1933.

In 2006, Sapporo Breweries of Japan announced they would be acquiring No. 3 Canadian brewer Sleeman in a $400-million all-cash deal. The company's current products are based on the family's original recipes.