Lethbridge, Alberta, is awash in its own fermented history, a narrative deeply intertwined with the rise and fall of Sick's Breweries Ltd. An exhibition at the Galt Museum currently unfurls this past, showcasing over a century of local brews and their indelible mark on the community's fabric. The exhibition, "A Smile in Every Bottle," delves into how these beverages became cultural touchstones and how the Sick family carved out a brewing empire.
The enduring presence of Sick's legacy is palpable, with one of its famed brands, the 'Old Style Pilsner', still a common sight in pubs today. The Galt Museum's extensive research over the past decade has illuminated "gaps in existing academic treatments of western Canadian brewing," a revelation that has spurred further academic inquiry into Sick's Breweries Ltd.
The story of Sick's Lethbridge Brewery, and its various corporate iterations, spans decades. Originally established as The Alberta Brewery in 1901, it later became Lethbridge Breweries Limited in 1904, then The Lethbridge Brewing & Malting Co., Ltd. in 1920, before ultimately being known as Sicks' The Lethbridge Brewing & Malting Co., Ltd. until its closure in 1965.
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Fritz Sick, a pivotal figure, is credited with launching the Alberta Brewing & Malting Co. in what was essentially a one-man operation, juggling the roles of brewer, maltster, cooper, salesman, and office manager. This venture, after an initial merger with Rainier Brewery, laid the groundwork for what would become the Sick beer empire. Sick's entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond Lethbridge, with investments in breweries in Missoula, Great Falls, and Spokane. His business endeavors profoundly impacted Lethbridge.
The brewery's story continues with Molson's Breweries Limited acquiring the Lethbridge brewery in 1958. Despite the acquisition, Molson's continued to produce local favorites like 'Lethbridge Pilsner' and 'Lethbridge Lager Beer'. The landscape shifted again in 1989 when Molson's merged with Carling O’Keefe Operations, leading to the cessation of operations at the Lethbridge Brewery in 1990.
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The Galt Museum's archives hold a wealth of material documenting this history, including pop bottles with intact labels from Lethbridge Breweries. The exhibition highlights the brewery's significant impact, noting that the Brewery Workers Union was among the earliest labor organizations formed in Lethbridge. Molson's national brands were produced in Lethbridge partly due to their ease of export across provincial lines and their broader recognition compared to local brands.
