Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Unless otherwise noted in this report, any description of "we", "us" or "our" includes Molson Coors Brewing Company ("MCBC" or the "Company"), principally a holding company, and its subsidiaries. On June 15, 2012, we completed our acquisition (the "Acquisition") of StarBev Holdings S.à r.l. ("StarBev"), which we subsequently renamed Molson Coors Central Europe ("MCCE"), operating in Central Europe (which includes Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovakia). Our other subsidiaries include: Molson Coors Canada ("MCC"), operating in Canada; MillerCoors LLC ("MillerCoors"), which is accounted for by us under the equity method of accounting, operating in the United States ("U.S."); Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited ("MCBC-UK"), operating in the United Kingdom ("U.K.") and the Republic of Ireland; Molson Coors International ("MCI"), operating in various other countries; and our other non-operating subsidiaries as further described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements ("Notes") included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 ("Annual Report") and as amended and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Form 8-K on April 26, 2012. We deconsolidated our joint venture in China, Molson Coors Si'hai ("MC Si'hai"), from our financial statements during the third quarter of 2012, due to a loss of our ability to control the joint venture, see Note 5, "Investments" for further discussion. Unless otherwise indicated, information in this report is presented in U.S. dollars ("USD" or "$"). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Such unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report and have been prepared on a consistent basis with the accounting policies described in Note 1 of the Notes included in our Annual Report. Our accounting policies did not change in the third quarter or first three quarters of 2012. The results of operations for the 13 and 39 weeks ended September 29, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year. We follow a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar. Unless otherwise indicated, the third quarter and first three quarters of 2012 and 2011 refer to the 13 and 39 weeks ended September 29, 2012, and September 24, 2011, respectively. Fiscal year 2012 refers to the 52 weeks ending December 29, 2012, and fiscal year 2011 refers to the 53 weeks ended December 31, 2011. MillerCoors and MCCE follow a monthly reporting calendar. The third quarter and first three quarters of 2012 and 2011 refer to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011, respectively, except for MCCE where the first three quarters of 2012 refer to the period from the Acquisition date of June 15, 2012 through September 30, 2012. During the third quarter of 2012, there was immaterial activity on our allowance for credit losses on our MCBC-UK trade loan portfolios.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Unless otherwise noted in this report, any description of "we", "us" or "our" includes Molson Coors Brewing Company ("MCBC" or the "Company"), principally a holding company, and its subsidiaries. On June 15, 2012, we completed our acquisition (the "Acquisition") of StarBev Holdings S.à r.l. ("StarBev"), which we subsequently renamed Molson Coors Central Europe ("MCCE"), operating in Central Europe (which includes Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovakia). Our other subsidiaries include: Molson Coors Canada ("MCC"), operating in Canada; MillerCoors LLC ("MillerCoors"), which is accounted for by us under the equity method of accounting, operating in the United States ("U.S."); Molson Coors Brewing Company (UK) Limited ("MCBC-UK"), operating in the United Kingdom ("U.K.") and the Republic of Ireland; Molson Coors International ("MCI"), operating in various other countries; and our other non-operating subsidiaries as further described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Audited Consolidated Financial Statements ("Notes") included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 ("Annual Report") and as amended and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Form 8-K on April 26, 2012. We deconsolidated our joint venture in China, Molson Coors Si'hai ("MC Si'hai"), from our financial statements during the third quarter of 2012, due to a loss of our ability to control the joint venture, see Note 5, "Investments" for further discussion.

Unless otherwise indicated, information in this report is presented in U.S. dollars ("USD" or "$").

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Such unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report and have been prepared on a consistent basis with the accounting policies described in Note 1 of the Notes included in our Annual Report. Our accounting policies did not change in the third quarter or first three quarters of 2012. The results of operations for the 13 and 39 weeks ended September 29, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved for the full fiscal year.

We follow a 52/53 week fiscal reporting calendar. Unless otherwise indicated, the third quarter and first three quarters of 2012 and 2011 refer to the 13 and 39 weeks ended September 29, 2012, and September 24, 2011, respectively. Fiscal year 2012 refers to the 52 weeks ending December 29, 2012, and fiscal year 2011 refers to the 53 weeks ended December 31, 2011.

MillerCoors and MCCE follow a monthly reporting calendar. The third quarter and first three quarters of 2012 and 2011 refer to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and September 30, 2011, respectively, except for MCCE where the first three quarters of 2012 refer to the period from the Acquisition date of June 15, 2012 through September 30, 2012.

During the third quarter of 2012, there was immaterial activity on our allowance for credit losses on our MCBC-UK trade loan portfolios.