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A prestigious Chicago brewing school—the oldest in America—is moving to Montreal, citing changes in US legislation, and the move is attracting local attention.
“Everyone in the industry probably knows about the Siebel Institute,” said Julien Savoy, head brewer at Brasserie Boswell in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood.
“This is one of the few schools in North America that offers brewing classes.”
The Siebel Institute of Technology, in operation since 1868, will move into a building on St. Catherine Street East in January. The school did not respond to requests for an interview but said in a statement on social media that the move was strategic.
The statement said that “recent regulatory changes in the United States have made it much more difficult for international students, who make up the majority of the school's student body, to attend classes in person.”
John Hannafan, CEO of the Siebel Institute, said the move allows the school to maintain the quality of its education while making it more accessible to international students.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration decided to cut academic research, cut visas for international students, especially from China, and increased taxes on elite schools.
In May, Trump said top US universities were the cradle of anti-American movements and stripped Harvard University of its ability to admit foreign students, which was later blocked by a federal judge.
Craft beer is growing in popularity in Quebec
Antoine Chagnon, CEO of Lallemand Inc., has owned the Siebel Institute since 2000 and plans to open a baking academy next to the brewing school.
Some in Chicago say the move is a loss for the local beer scene. Among them is Liz Garibay of the Beer Culture Center, a Chicago museum and research center that studies the social, historical and cultural impact of beer.
“It’s definitely a little heartbreaking for a number of reasons,” she said. “But it’s also a business, and if you don’t have students, you don’t have anything.”
Quebec's craft beer industry has grown in recent years, fueling the rural economy where a quarter of the more than 200 registered breweries have set up shop.
The Quebec Brasserie Association estimates that beer accounts for 0.4 per cent of the province's GDP, generating $3 billion in annual economic benefits.
Mapping the province
Marie-Eve Miran, head of the association, told CBC News that the arrival of the Siebel Institute will help develop Quebec's beer scene.
Inflation and tight budgets have led to a decline in craft beer sales, but she said the school's opening could bring new experiences to Quebec brewers.
“With this knowledge, Montreal and Quebec will be put on the map,” she said. “We have a very positive reputation in the craft beer industry.”
The Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago has been in operation since 1868. It will move to premises on St Catherine Street East in January 2026.
As for Savoy, he hopes the school will bring more technical knowledge to the province since brewing requires precision, he said.
Quebec is starting to gain recognition not only in Canada but around the world for its beer, and that will help boost its image, he said.
“It shows recognition in the industry,” he said. “I think most brewers in Quebec are in a great position. We have great brewers.”
