Beer bottle collector organizes first Canadian brewery advertising convention in North Bay

A North Bay man with a passion for collecting beer bottles and other beer memorabilia is planning on sharing his love of all things booze with beer advertising enthusiasts this week.

Tony Matheson of North Bay, Ont., has a passion for collecting beer bottles and other beer memorabilia. More than 5,000 unopened bottles of beer line Tony Matheson’s basement walls in North Bay forming the largest full beer bottle collection in Canada. August 28, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Tony Matheson is organizing the first Collectors of Canadian Brewery Advertising Convention to take place in North Bay.

These conventions have taken place since 1978 as a toast to all things beer but stopped a few years ago during the pandemic. This will be the first time the convention will be put on by an individual.

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Matheson is a retired Royal Canadian Air Force mission crew commander and when you step into his basement, you enter into his world of beer bottles of all shapes and sizes from every brand, era and generation – more than 5,000 bottles line the walls.

All of the bottles are unopened making it Canada’s largest full beer bottle collection.

Tony Matheson of North Bay, Ont., has a passion for collecting beer bottles and other beer memorabilia. More than 5,000 unopened bottles of beer line Tony Matheson’s basement walls in North Bay forming the largest full beer bottle collection in Canada. August 28, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

“I started with a stubby of Labatt’s Blue and a stubby of Old Vienna,” said Matheson.

He is no ‘half pint’ when it comes to collecting beer bottles, he told CTV News that he started in 1978 when he turned 18, the legal drinking age at the time.

“Collecting in general, of any kind of thing, seems to be phasing out with the internet, etc.” said Matheson.

“There are so many different people's hobbies. Like with beer, you've got beer caps, or they call them crowns, labels, openers. It's just nonstop and then you get into the advertising piece.”

The oldest bottle in Matheson’s collection is an 80-year-old Molson Export from the mid-1930s.

He estimates that he has approximately 5,200 Canadian beer bottles in total.

Tony Matheson of North Bay, Ont., has a passion for collecting beer bottles and other beer memorabilia. More than 5,000 unopened bottles of beer line Tony Matheson’s basement walls in North Bay forming the largest full beer bottle collection in Canada. August 28, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

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Matheson will be sharing his ‘taste for brew’ with other like-minded beer advertising collectors next month.

About 50 like-minded collectors from across Ontario, Canada and the U.S. are coming to North Bay for the Collectors of Canadian Brewery Advertising Convention – with one coaster collector making the trek from Denmark.

“He had about 50,000-60,000,” said Matheson.

“Now I’ve heard he’s up to 300,000 and these coasters are just unbelievable.”

With the help of Tourism North Bay, Matheson has scheduled some sightseeing events around the city, there will be a cruise on the Chief Commanda II, a visit up to 22 Wing/CFB North Bay and its RCAF Air Defence Museum along with stops at local breweries and distilleries.

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The convention runs from Sept. 4 – 8.

Matheson has also arranged for a public buy/sell/trade show at Gateway City Brewery Company on Sept. 7.

He said he will have his eyes peeled on a few bottles he’s looking out for to round out his collection during the convention.

“I’m always on the lookout,” he said, with a laugh.

Tony Matheson of North Bay, Ont., has a passion for collecting beer bottles and other beer memorabilia. More than 5,000 unopened bottles of beer line his basement walls to form the largest full beer bottle collection in Canada. August 28, 2024. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)

More information on the convention can be found here.