Sapporo closing Sleeman facility in Dartmouth

[zane9]

A multi-national brewer is closing its Sleeman brewery in Dartmouth N.S. A buyer has been sought since March, but no luck.

http://bit.ly/1fMR9vs

Too bad there isn't a bigger demand for contract-brewing in Halifax-Dartmouth. In a larger market I suspect craft brewers would have jumped at the chance to utilize the resource.

[rejtable]

I think the problem was just that the thing was too damned huge. Timing wasn't ideal either as Propeller announced they were moving basically right across the street barely a few months before this went on the market. Not clear if Propeller would have been interested even if the timing had been better.

While I don't live there anymore, it is sad to lose the old building as a brewery. Maritime Brewing (Frosted Frog!!), then Sleemans. Had many a dinner at the old Brewdebakers restaurant on site.

[icemachine]

It's a shame they couldn't find a buyer, but at least they spent 9 months trying, if it was AB-InBev they would likely have torn the sucker down and salted the earth

[Rob Creighton]

I think the problem was just that the thing was too damned huge.

Nicklebrooke bought it so it couldn't be that damn huge

[matt7215]

I think the problem was just that the thing was too damned huge.

Nicklebrooke bought it so it couldn't be that damn huge

can anyone confirm the Nickelbrook did but the Sleeman plant? I cant find any mention of it anywhere but here.

[rejtable]

can anyone confirm the Nickelbrook did but the Sleeman plant? I cant find any mention of it anywhere but here.

Brewnosers forum speculated that they just bought the equipment, not the actual plant.

[icemachine]

Not sure about Nickelbrook's size, but some of the larger Ontario Micro's have to operating with far more than 15 people working in their plants and that was the number of jobs lost at Maclays. I don't see why a company like Nickelbrook who might be looking to expand wouldn't consider operating an East Coast plant that could serve the Atlantic markets.

Alternatively moving the equipment to Ontario if they are at production constraints here could also be a reason

[MatttthewGeorge]

can anyone confirm the Nickelbrook did but the Sleeman plant? I cant find any mention of it anywhere but here.

Brewnosers forum speculated that they just bought the equipment, not the actual plant.

This is what I have heard as well. I've also heard they've bought a large building in Hamilton. All industry rumours at this point.