Ontario Craft Brewers Conference October 25 & 26   REGISTER NOW

About OCB

Fighting for real, local Ontario craft beer

Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) is a trade association of more than 110 small, independent bricks and mortar brewers dedicated to making great-tasting, high-quality beer across the province.

Who we are

The Ontario Craft Brewers is the voice of craft beer in Ontario, advocating to all three levels of government on issues important to our industry including red tape reduction, lowering beer taxes, and expanding retail opportunities. We are also a community of boundary-pushing producers sharing technical advice and best practices, building connections and collaborations within the industry, and bettering our sector, our communities and our province through a variety of initiatives. We are:

Small

Ontario Craft Brewers are small and many are family-owned. The current maximum size of an Ontario Craft Brewer is 400,000 hectolitres of annual worldwide beer production.

Independent

Ontario Craft Brewers are independently owned and operated and are not controlled by large international beer companies.

Traditional

Ontario Craft Brewers pledge to brew traditional and innovative beers according to the Ontario Craft Brewers’ Brewing Philosophy. The original Philosophy was signed on April 12, 2006 and was updated in July 2019.

Ontario-made

Ontario Craft Brewers must produce at least 51% of their Ontario sales in their Ontario brewery, close to the markets and the communities they serve. The breweries are open to the public, other brewers and beer enthusiasts.

Our vision

The OCB will be the unified voice for the Ontario craft beer industry, where craft beer is sustainably produced, readily available, clearly understood, and consistently chosen.

Our history

Ontario Craft Brewers was founded in 2003, but the history of brewing in Ontario goes back to the early 1800s. View the comprehensive historical timeline compiled by Allan Sneath, Bill White and Jordan St. John.

OCB Timeline

Our people

Brewery members

Our brewery members develop and produce hundreds of different brands and styles of beer using fresh, all natural ingredients in communities throughout Ontario.

Supplier members

Our supplier members are trusted partners of our industry, providing the products and services Ontario brewers count on to produce incredible craft beer and run their small businesses.

OCB President Scott Simmons and Events Manager of great Lakes Brewery sit next to each other in a brewery with a table of beer in between them

Our team

OCB is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of representatives from member breweries, and a small staff of dedicated independents consultants led by President Scott Simmons.

Join the Ontario Craft Brewers

Add your voice to hundreds contributing to a thriving craft beer industry in Ontario.

Membership