Beer is a beverage as old as time. It is believed that is was first prepared around 9500 BC but became more popular around 3000 BC, when it was spread around Europe by Germanic and Celtic tribes. In Canada beer arrived in the 17th century. Although beer was very popular, very few breweries managed to survive the time of prohibition in Canada. However the late years of the 20th century were influential for the revival of this old beverage’s popularity. Nowadays beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada and various Canadian beer companies have gained an international reputation.
Canadians, like the rest of the world, are infatuated with beer and over the years they have produced quality beer and build prosperous breweries. The success of several Canadian breweries has been noticed by international players who hurried to acquire or merge with the Canadian companies. Nowadays the largest Canadian beer company only controls 5,5 % of the market. However beer is a beverage that brings people together so there is no point in debating who owns the brewery as long as the beverage is good.
There are some specific Canadian styles of enjoying beer such as ice beer. The fact that beer is mostly water makes it easy to freeze. When the water starts to freeze a layer of ice appears on the beer’s surface. By skimming that layer one can obtain a beer with a larger concentration of alcohol. Another popular type of beer in Canada is cream ale. Although this type of ale was produced in the United States it was the Canadians that truly appreciated and stayed loyal to it.
The most popular beer brand in Canada is Labbat, which is one of the oldest and most influential beer brands in Canada. Although this land was purchased by a Belgian company it still remains one of the most important Canadian beer legacies. Another beer company with a long Canadian tradition is Molson. This beer company was initially Canadian but by merging with the US company, Coors, it became the 5th larger brewer in the world. Both Molson Canadian, Molson Dry and Molson Export are extremely appreciated in Canada. The list of popular Canadian beer brands also includes : Moosehead, Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale, Sleeman’s Honey Brown Lager, La Fin du Monde, Kokanee. Although the Canadian brewing industry has had its ups and down it is quite obvious that it can pass the test of time. Furthermore various craft beer producers are quite successful even without being aggressively advertized, proving that Canadians will always find pleasure in producing their own beer.
