Canadian Beer Preferences: What's Their Favorite Pint?

Beer is a significant part of Canadian culture, with the country's beer industry playing an important role in Canadian identity. Beer was introduced to Canada by European settlers in the 17th century, and the country's first commercial brewery was built in Montreal, Quebec, in 1650. Today, beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada, and there are numerous styles to choose from, including lager, ale, and ice beer. While there are many Canadian and international beer brands available across the country, the two most prominent companies in the Canadian beer market are Labatt's and Molson, although neither is wholly owned by Canadians. Other popular Canadian beers include Moosehead, Kokanee, and Sleeman.

Popular Canadian beer brands

Canada has a rich history of beer drinking and brewing. The country's first commercial brewery was built and opened in Montreal, Quebec, in 1650, and since then, beer has become an integral part of Canadian culture and identity. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada, and the country boasts a wide variety of styles, colours, flavours, and aromas to choose from.

Top Canadian Beer Brands

• Molson: Molson is one of the most prominent companies in the Canadian beer market, and its beer, Molson Canadian, is the world's best-selling Canadian beer. Molson offers a range of flavours and styles, including the classic Molson Canadian 67 Sublime, Molson Canadian 6.0 Cold Shots, Molson Canadian Lite, and Molson Canadian 67. The oldest of Molson beers is Molson Export, which has been around since 1903.
• Labatt: Labatt is another major player in the Canadian beer industry, with its Labatt Blue being a popular and inexpensive choice, especially among young people. The company also produces other well-known beers such as Labatt 50 and Budweiser.
• Moosehead: Based in New Brunswick, Moosehead is the largest Canadian-owned beer company today. It is also Canada's oldest independent brewery, founded in 1867 and operated by the Oland family. Moosehead offers a variety of ales and lagers.
• Sleeman: Sleeman is a well-known brewery that was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. The company produces a range of beers, including Sleeman's Honey Brown, which is made using recipes from the Sleeman family's cookbook and features a light honey flavour. Sleeman is now owned by Japan's Sapporo Brewery.
• Alexander Keith's: This brewery, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, produces a range of beers, including Alexander Keith's IPA. The India Pale Ale is slowly brewed using premium malted barley and a unique yeast strain, resulting in a gentle bitterness and subtle fragrance.
• Unibroue: Unibroue is a popular Canadian company known for its award-winning beers. One of their most famous beers is La Fin du Monde, a Belgian Tripel and the company's international flagship brand. It is a golden amber beer with a hoppy flavour, malt undertones, and a fruity and spicy character.
• Kokanee: Kokanee is a popular beer manufactured in British Columbia. It is a gold amber lager that contains a combination of four malts and western-grown North American hops, giving it a rich golden hue and medium body.
• Big Rock Brewery: Big Rock Brewery offers a diverse selection of beers, including over a dozen premium beers, several value beers, ciders, and contract brews. Their Traditional Ale offers a caramel malt flavour with a nutty tone in a medium-bodied brown ale.
• Microbreweries: In addition to the major beer brands, Canada has seen a growth in microbreweries, offering truly locally brewed beers. Some popular microbrews include Driftwood Fat Tug IPA, Denison's Weissbier, St Ambroise Pumpkin Ale, Propeller London Style Porter, and Beau's Lug-Tread Lagered Ale.

Whether you're looking for a full-bodied beer or something light and refreshing, these Canadian beer brands offer a diverse range of choices to suit any taste and preference.

Beer drinking culture in Canada

Beer drinking is a significant aspect of Canadian culture. Beer was introduced to Canada by European settlers in the seventeenth century, and it has since become the most popular alcoholic beverage in the country. Beer accounts for over half of all alcohol consumed in Canada, with Canadians drinking almost 70 litres of beer per capita per year. This includes everyone, from children to adults. If we only consider people of legal drinking age, the average Canadian consumes just under 90 litres of beer each year. In some provinces and territories, the annual per capita consumption of beer is as high as 160 litres.

The Canadian beer market is dominated by a few large companies, mainly Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. and Molson Coors Brewing Co., which together control over 80% of the market. These companies own well-known brands such as Budweiser, Coors Light, Molson Canadian, and Labatt Blue. However, there has been a growing trend towards craft breweries, which now make up a small but significant share of the market. Craft brewing appeals to a wider demographic than traditional mass-market beers and offers a variety of styles, from double IPAs to Belgian ales and barley wines.

The preference for certain beers varies across Canada. While Molson Canadian and Labatt Blue are popular across the country, there are also regional favourites. For example, in Quebec and the Maritimes, lager-like ales such as Molson Export and Alexander Keith's are preferred. In Ontario, craft beers like Mill Street Brewery and Muskoka Brewery are gaining popularity. In British Columbia, Phillips and Granville Island are notable microbreweries. Alberta is home to Big Rock Brewery, one of the bigger craft breweries in Canada.

When it comes to beer strength, there is a perception that Canadian beer is stronger than American beer. While this difference may have been more pronounced in the past due to variations in measurement techniques, today, both countries primarily use the alcohol-by-volume (ABV) method. Nonetheless, Canadian craft beers tend to have higher alcohol content than those produced by macro brewers, and some American beers have lower alcohol content due to legal restrictions.

Beer production in Canada

Canada has a long history of beer production, dating back to the 17th century when European settlers first introduced the beverage to the country. Since then, beer has become an integral part of Canadian culture and social events, with local beers being favoured at gatherings and while watching sports or cheering on hockey teams. The country's cold climate was also ideal for brewing beer before refrigeration was introduced.

Canada's first commercial brewery, La Brasseries du Roy, was established in Quebec City in 1668 by New France Intendant Jean Talon. However, the brewery failed, and the first successful commercial brewery was founded by John Molson in Montreal in 1786, making Molson's the oldest surviving Canadian brewing enterprise. Other notable early brewers include Alexander Keith in Halifax (1820), Thomas Carling in London (1840), and John Kinder Labatt, also in London (1847).

The Canadian beer industry has gone through periods of growth and decline, including the introduction of Prohibition laws in 1918, which led to the closure of many breweries. After Prohibition was abolished, the industry experienced success and evolution, with the integration of new brewing techniques and the growth of craft brewing.

Today, beer production in Canada is dominated by a few large companies, with the top three brewers—Labatt, Molson, and Sleeman—holding a significant market share. However, there has been a recent increase in the number of small, local craft breweries, which have gained popularity among Canadians. In 2015, there were 640 licensed breweries in Canada, and this number continues to grow. The craft brewing segment is experiencing rapid growth in terms of both the number of producers and the volume sold, as it appeals to a wider demographic than traditional mass-market beers.

The most popular style of beer in Canada is the pale lager, and the best-selling brand in 2016 was Budweiser, which is manufactured in the country. Other popular Canadian beers include Molson Canadian, Labatt Blue, and Moosehead Lager. Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada, and it plays a significant role in the country's economy, contributing billions to the GDP and supporting thousands of jobs.

Beer styles in Canada

Beer is a significant part of Canadian culture, with the country's beer industry playing an important role in Canadian identity. Beer was first introduced to Canada by European settlers in the 17th century, and the country's cold climate was considered perfect for brewing beer before refrigeration. Canada's first commercial brewery was built and opened in Montreal, Quebec, in 1650, and since then, beer culture in Canada has evolved and flourished. Today, there are numerous beer styles and brands available in Canada, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences.

One of the most popular beer styles in Canada is the pale lager, also known as the North American Style Lager. This type of beer is typically crisp, refreshing, and easy to drink, making it a favourite among Canadians. Some popular brands in this style include Molson Canadian, Labatt Blue, and Budweiser. These beers are widely consumed and have a strong presence in the Canadian market.

In addition to pale lagers, Canadians also enjoy a variety of other beer styles. Brown ales, porters, and pale ales are commonly found in the country. Craft brewing, or microbrewing, has gained popularity in Canada, with an increasing number of small breweries offering unique and innovative beers. These craft beers often appeal to a wider demographic than traditional mass-market beers, as they experiment with different flavours and brewing techniques.

Canada also has some unique beer styles that have originated within the country. Spruce beer, for example, has a long history in Canada, dating back to the 16th century when it was used to prevent scurvy. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions of spruce beer can be found, and it is considered an authentic Canadian beer style due to its use of local ingredients such as spruce tips and flavourings like brown sugar or maple syrup.

Another Canadian original is ice beer, which is inspired by the German Eisbock style. Ice beer is created by lowering the temperature of a batch of beer until ice crystals form, resulting in a higher alcohol content. Common ice beer brands in Canada include Carling Ice, Molson Keystone Ice, and Labatt Ice.

Cream ale is another popular beer style in Canada, known for its creamy head and unique flavour profile. It is typically brewed as an ale but can also be found as a lager, offering a combination of crispness and complex aromas.

Overall, Canadians have a diverse range of beer styles to choose from, reflecting the country's rich brewing history and its embrace of both traditional and modern brewing techniques. Whether it's a classic pale lager or a unique craft beer, Canadians take pride in their beer culture and enjoy a wide variety of beverages.

Beer sales in Canada

Beer is the most popular alcoholic drink in Canada, and it's considered a culturally important aspect of the stereotypical Canadian's life. The country's beer industry plays an important role in Canadian identity, and beer is a part of many social events and get-togethers.

Sales and Consumption

The volume of beer sold in Canada increased by only 1.7% per year in the decade prior to 2022. Of that, domestic beer accounted for 1.1% of the increase, while imports made up the rest. Beer sales volume has been declining in Canada for years, and Canadians have been drinking less beer every year. Total per capita consumption dropped to 65.1 litres in 2022, representing a 27% decline since 2008.

Market Leaders

The beer market in Canada is led by two large beer manufacturers: Anheuser-Bush InBev and the Molson Coors Brewing Company. Anheuser-Bush InBev controls over 38% of the Canadian beer market and generated sales of 2.45 billion US dollars. The company owns highly popular global beer brands, such as Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. Its closest competitor, Molson Coors, was formed in 2005 by the merger of Molson in Canada and Coors in the US.

Microbreweries and Craft Beer

The production of beer by microbreweries, or "craft brewing", is a fast-growing segment in terms of the number of producers and the volume sold. Craft brewing appeals to a wider demographic than traditional mass-market beers, which primarily target young males. The number of licensed breweries in Canada increased from 310 in 2010 to 640 in 2015, and many of these are small operations.

Packaging

Over 50% of beer in Canada is sold in cans, and most Canadian craft brewers sell the majority of their beer in this format. In 2020, national can sales increased by 12.3%, while bottle sales declined by 15.1%, and keg sales fell by 54.8% due to the closure of restaurants and bars across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frequently asked questions