In 1865 , Susannah Oland moved from England to Nova Scotia , Canada . With her husband John and nine other employees , Susannah opened The Army and Navy Brewery in 1867 , a name that came after their most appreciative customers . After John Oland 's untimely death in 1870 , the brewery changed its name to S. Oland , Sons and Co . Over the next eight years , the brewery faced two fires , but recovered after each . In 1886 , Susannah Oland died , and the company went to her two sons , Conrad and George . With the approach of the 20th century , the company changed its name to the Maritime Brewing & Malting Co . It faced hard times once again when the Halifax Explosion of 1917 killed Conrad Oland and destroyed the brewery . A year later , George Oland and his sons moved to Halifax and bought another brewery . In 1928 , George bought a second , larger brewery in the city of Saint John , New Brunswick , site of the present day facility
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
Moosehead Breweries