Canadian beers

Canadians consume an average of 78 litres of beer per person per year and Canada ranks 25th among beer producers in the world. Sleeman, Molson, Keith, Labatt and Oland are of the popular names among heavy beer drinkers, and this has been the case for generations. But, over the course of a few years, beer sales have been losing market share in Canada, unlike those in Quebec, which have seen a slight increase.

At first, brewing was practiced for personal pleasure. It was also used to bring atmosphere to ceremonies or various special occasions. It was in 1646 that the first brewer named Jesuit Brother Ambroise was recorded in Canada.

The first commercial brewery of canada was born in Quebec a few years later. It was founded by Jean Talon with the aim of freeing his colony from imports. After the inauguration in 1688, the trade was a huge success and Canada was able to make its first export of beer to the Antilles. The Talon brewery closed its doors five years later, but its products remain accessible in the south of Old Quebec.

The story doesn't end there, John Molson created his first brewery in Montreal in 1786.. This building is considered today as the oldest brewery in North America. In 1829, a new brewery founded by Alexander Keith & Son was born in Nova Scotia.

A few years later, in 1836, it was John H. Sleeman's turn to place his imprint in St. David, Ontario. He was then followed by Thomas Carling who created the Brewing Malting Company in London in 1840. It was in 1847 and 1867 that Labatt also makes itself known in London by opening the doors of the Moosehead and Oland breweries.

All of these brewers had their ups and downs with Prohibition, the Great Depression and World War II. Some were forced to sell their breweries to others, which allowed the market to expand. After consumers in other countries tasted Canadian beer, exports skyrocketed.

Regional breweries then began to emerge from the 1980s onwards. They improved the range of brands and the style of existing beers. In 1984, Brick Brewing was established in Waterloo, Ontario by Jim Brickman and has since been considered the leader in modern craft beer production in Canada.

The expansion of this type of beer allowed the Canadian beer styles to evolve. In other words, beer lovers have access to countless types of alcohol to choose from. A 2019 survey showed that there are approximately 1,000 Canadian breweries producing 7,000 brands of beer from the country.

Although consolidated and mature, the market continues to decline due to a sharp increase in competition. The estimate shows that approximately 10 million Canadians drink beer. Breweries produce 22 million hectolitres per year. In 1975, beer consumption was 106.50 L per capita, but it has fallen by 70 L over the years. The market has become even less interesting and is disrupted by covid-19.

On the other hand, Quebec maintains its average beer consumption rate. It has actually increased slightly according to the latest figures recorded. Quebecers are the second largest beer drinkers in Canada with an average volume of 83.3 litres per capita.

Beer sells more in cans than in bottles in Canada. A few years ago, 46 % beers were sold in bottles against 44 % in a can. The last figure recorded revealed a percentage of 62 % for canned beer. As for the bottled version, it went from 28 % at 10 % 4 years ago and sales continue to decline.

The sale of imported beers has decreased in Canada, unlike in Quebec, which has an import rate of 8.2 %The most imported beers come from Belgium, the Netherlands and Mexico. This result comes from a study carried out by the Association des microbrasseries du Québec.

There are different types of Canadian beer and some of them are divided into several subtypes. Experts have done research and they have concluded that The 5 beers mentioned below are the most popular among Canadians. For non-residents of Canada, prepare yourself, because your aperitifs will no longer be the same with this selection of the most famous Canadian beers.

Although Molsons and Budweisers are the best-selling beers in Canada, the opinion poll conducted by the beeradvocate website revealed that the craft-style Stout is the favourite among Canadians. The survey focuses mainly on the quality of the beer as well as consumer satisfaction. Thus, the 2 most popular beers in Canada are all Stouts. The latter are also among the most popular in Montreal.

Tripel is considered the strongest among the different types of beers available. They have an alcohol percentage between 8 and 11. %. In addition, if they are prized by Canadian women, it is because the taste and quality must be promising. Also discover the legendary Fin du Monde, one of the best tripel-style beers in Canada launched by the Unibroue brewery in Quebec.

These are beers presented with several flavors. Often spicy or fruity, Ale beers are recognized and appreciated for their personality. Ale light, American, Wild, Finnish, English, Strong, or others, there is something for everyone and we can say that Canadians are quite fans of this style.

Porter is a little-known type of beer, but it still remains on the list of the most consumed Canadian beers in Canada. Like the tripel, Porter is ideal for people who like strong sensations, because it has a high alcohol percentage. This style of beer can change taste and color depending on the ingredients used.

If you want to try beers made with audacity, discover the IPA style which comes in several flavors including espresso, pineapple, etc. Never seen before! They also exist in non-alcoholic versions. It is for these reasons that this type of beer has earned a place in this ranking of the most popular Canadian beers.