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.

American beers

In 1999 the old G. Heileman Brewing Company's former brewery buildings in La Crosse were bought by a group of investors who founded the City Brewing Company.

In September 2006, the company agreed to purchase the Latrobe Brewery in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.The new City Brewery Latrobe entered into an agreement with Boston Beer Company in April 2007, and began producing that company's Samuel Adams beer that spring.

National distribution is occurring in support of new brands DB Hobbs Lager and DB Hobbs Light, at 4.81% abv and 4.15% abv respectively, which some publications indicate may be relabeled versions of the LaCrosse Lager line.

City Brewery is also the name of another Wisconsin company founded by Johann Braun in 1846 which merged into the Valentin Blatz Brewing Company of Milwaukee.

Purchase of Latrobe Brewery

As Anheuser-Busch moved production of Rolling Rock to New Jersey in 2006, an owner was sought for the original Latrobe Brewing Companyin Pennsylvania. City Brewery completed the purchase and in March 2007, the Latrobe brewery reopened its doors and produced Samuel Adams. The Boston Beer Company signed a deal with the plant's current owners in April 2007, to produce beer in the plant. The Boston Beer Company had pledged $3 to 7 million dollars to upgrade the plant. It is estimated that 200,000 to 250,000 barrels of beer would be produced in the plant during the remainder of 2007.

In late October 2008, City Brewery-Latrobe laid off 70 workers forcing a temporary shutdown, and has not brewed beer at the plant since November.Boston Beer Co. has since moved their operations to an old Pabst brewery they purchased near Allentown, PA.In May 2009,Iron City Brewing signed a deal with City Brewing Co to begin producing beer at the plant, with brewing started in June and bottling/kegging production resumed in July, 2009.

In July 2009 some Southampton brands (Double White, IPA, Altbier, Pumpkin, Imperial Porter) were moved to Latrobe from Lion Brewing.

In addition to Iron City Beer, City Brewing also produces Stoney's and Stoney's Light in Latrobe.

On December 8, 2009 City Brewing Latrobe completed the installation of a can line and started canning in 12 and 16 ounce packages. A 24 ounce can line is expected to be completed in early 2010.