Space Maker Wheat Beer is a celebration of women whose contributions to Canadian beer paved the way for those who would follow after them.

Ellen Bounsall co-founded McAuslan Brewery in Montreal in 1988 with her husband Peter McAuslan. As head brewer, she played a pivotal role in the creation of Canada’s modern craft beer industry. Ellen created some of the country’s first and most iconic craft beers, including St-Ambroise Pale Ale.

At a time when women could not vote or own property, Eliza Kell Labatt was a key advisor and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support the early success of John Kinder Labatt’s namesake brewery, which would go on to make history as one Canada’s most successful companies.

Nancy More got her start in commercial brewing in the 1980s and was appointed Head Brewmaster at Oland Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1985. The first modern female head brewer in North America, her career would take her to leadership positions in commercial breweries across Europe and Canada before co-founding a brewing program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Colombia where she works today.

Ren Navarro has dedicated her career to building a better and more welcoming craft beer industry. An industry veteran, Ren established herself as an advocate and an educator emphasizing often overlooked characters and aspects in the brewing industry while bringing diversity to the forefront of learning. She continues to advocate for a beer industry where everyone is welcome.

Susanah Oland created the namesake beer behind Canada’s oldest independent brewery, Moosehead Brewery. Despite leading operations as head brewer, the business was incorporated in the name of her husband and sons. Upon her husband’s death, partners sold their interest to a manager and Susannah worked for eight years to buy them out. She resumed brewing and running the business until her own death in 1885. 

Margaret Routledge and her husband, Thomas Carling, settled in Southwestern Ontario in the 1820s. Margaret’s reputation for brewing quality beer on their farm led to the Carling family establishing their namesake brewery in London, Ontario by 1843; an iconic Canadian brand still sold today.

Our wheat beer is brewed with oats, malted wheat, and raw wheat. Spiced with coriander and Curaçao orange peel, this beer is both complex and refreshing!