| Canadian Beer |
Article Index for Canadian |
Website Links For Canadian |
Information AboutCanadian Beer |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CANADIAN BEER | |
| beer and breweries in canada | |
|
Canada has a rich tradition of ''' Beer brewing''', often intertwined with the country's History . While the Canadian beer industry is massive and plays an important role in Canadian Identity , recent developments have seen a number of big players acquired by or merged with foreign companies, notably its two biggest beer sellers, Molson and Labatt . HISTORY Beer was first introduced to Canada by European founded a brewery in Montreal in 1786 , Alexander Keith in Halifax in 1829 , Thomas Carling in London in 1840 , John Labatt in 1847 , also in London, and Eugene O'Keefe in Toronto. The very first patent to be issued by the Canadian government on July 6, 1842 was to one G. Riley for "an improved method of brewing ale, beer, porter, and other maltliquors." Prohibition in Canada did not last as long as in the U.S. and was largely passé by the mid 1920s (apart from the small province of Prince Edward Island, where it ran from 1901 to 1948 ). Nevertheless, it had a similar effect of leaving very few brewers, and it was only in the late 20th century that there has been a revival and Microbreweries have started. Brewpub s are still illegal in some provinces, however. Bottle Labelling Government regulations require that all beer sold in Canada show the alcohol Concentration on the label. A standard bottle of beer (341 ml total volume and 5%/vol) contains 17.05 ml of alcohol. The rationale for standardizing alcohol content (since loosened and disproved) is that consumers would tend to select only high alcohol beers and the breweries would have a war with ever escalating alcohol content. In the USA they solved this by keeping the alcohol content a mystery to the consumer unless they make an extra effort. The stubby bottle Stubbies are a type of bottle which is shorter and with a slightly larger diameter than the now predominant longneck bottle. Starting in 1962 almost all beer in Canada was sold in Stubbies until the beer companies chose to switch to the American-style longneck bottle between 1982 and 1984 . Proponents of "the stubby" note that its smaller shape (while retaining the same volume) means that it is easier to ship and store, chills faster, and is less likely to break. Waterloo, Ontario's Brick Brewing Company and Phillips Brewing Company of Esquimalt , BC have revived the use of the stubby, though it has yet to catch on with many other breweries. MOLSON AND LABATT The market in Canada for domestic beer is dominated, volumewise, by Labatt and Molson . Both breweries aggressively market their flagship brands ( Labatt Blue and Molson Canadian , respectively) as well as produce niche brands and market American and other imports. Molson and Labatt beers are very popular in American markets on the Canadian border, with the two brands dominating beer sales in cities like Buffalo, NY. MICROBREWERIES produce beers that satisfy the connoisseur's eclectic tastes, like this Cask Ale .]] As with the United States , a flourishing Microbrewery industry has arisen in Canada, satisfying niche tastes and providing localized offerings. Canada's geography and the fact that alcohol sales and production are controlled at the provincial level mean that the products of microbreweries are usually available only in the regions where they are produced. For instance, the beer made by Creemore Springs is available only in southern Ontario . Unfortunately, many provinces have very strict sales and distribution laws, which tend to impede the microbrew market. Provinces such as Alberta and Quebec, which have less repressive laws, see more selection of microbrews and independent breweries. SEE ALSO Notable brewers
Brewpubs
Beer in Canadian culture EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|