Canadian beers

It might surprise you to learn that Canada ranks 20th in the world for per capita beer consumption, finishing behind such seemingly puritanical nations as The Netherlands and New Zealand. It’s a statistical fact that flies in the face of our beer-swilling, igloo-dwelling Canadian stereotype.

A closer look in our local beer stores, however, shows that we are a country that values quality over quantity. We’re privy to a veritable cornucopia of brewed delights, any of which are toque and shoulders above the bitter swill those nasty Kiwis drink.

What makes a great Canadian brew? Sure, taste is important, as is availability nationwide, but intangible factors like the beer’s connection to our national identity (or in one case, lack of an identity) and its historical lineage might elevate some beers from great to classic. We ignored the pleas of our loved ones and doctors and set out to find the top 10 Canadian beers.

Number 10

Labatt 50

Breweries only have a finite marketing budget, meaning hard decisions have to be made about which Canadian beers gets promoted and which ones need to rely on taste and word of mouth. This ale from Labatt gets almost zero press, but it has been plodding along since 1950. Stop into any small-town pub or Legion in Northern Ontario and Quebec and chances are half of the grizzled old boys in there will be swilling this crisp, aggressive ale. And if it’s good enough for them, it must be good enough for you, whippersnapper.

Pint to ponder The beer was first brewed to celebrate 50 years of partnership between John and Hugh Labatt. Nowadays, most people either buy it ironically or to ensure no one will steal it from the fridge at parties.

Number 9

Molson Dry

The “dry” brewing process was the hottest thing in beer for a brief time in the early ‘90s. In a move that sounds more like high-end corporate espionage than Canadian beer manufacturing, both Molson and Labatt produced brands using this new fermenting process after “borrowing” it from a Japanese brewery. The end result is a smooth, clean beer that boasts no after taste. While Labatt Extra Dry has faded since its launch, Molson Dry remains one of that venerable old company’s strongest brands.

Pint to ponder
Molson Dry is the official beer of the Association of Party Pros -- seriously.

Number 8

Creston is a pleasant town nestled in British Columbia’s underrated Purcell Mountains, which means its water source is remarkably pristine (as in fresh off the Kokanee Glacier – hence the name). That’s the reason the small Columbia Brewery produces such a wonderful, inexpensive little beer. They’ve been brewing it since 1959 and it still remains BC’s most popular beer and has become one of the best Canadian beers.