Canadian beers

Canadians consume an average of 78 liters of beer per person per year and Canada ranks 25th among brewers in the world. Sleeman, Molson, Keith, Labatt and Oland have been popular names with heavy beer drinkers for generations. But, over the course of a few years, the sale of beer lost market share in Canada, unlike that in Quebec, which experienced a slight increase.

In the beginning, brewing was practiced for the purpose of personal pleasure. It was also used to bring atmosphere during ceremonies or different special occasions. It was in 1646 that the first brewer named after the Jesuit brother Ambroise was registered in Canada.

Canada's first commercial brewery opened 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 had a huge success and Canada was able to make its first export of beer to the West Indies. The Talon brewery closed its doors five years later, but its products remain accessible in the south of Old Quebec.

The story does not end there, John Molson created his first brewery in Montreal in 1786. This construction 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 make his mark 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 made a name for itself 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 have been forced to sell their brews to others, allowing the market to expand. After consumers in other countries tasted Canadian beer, the export skyrocketed.

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

The expansion of this type of beer has allowed styles of canadian beers to evolve. In other words, beer lovers have access to countless types of alcohol to choose from. A survey conducted in 2019 showed that there are approximately 1,000 Canadian breweries that produce 7,000 brands of domestic beer.

Although consolidated and mature, the market continues to decline due to a sharp increase in competition. The estimate shows that about 10 million Canadians drink beer. The production of the breweries is 22 million hectoliters per year. In 1975, beer consumption was 106.50 L per capita, but it has dropped by 70 L over the years. The market has become all the more less interesting and is disrupted by covid-19.

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

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

The sale of imported beers has decreased in Canada unlike Quebec which has an import rate of 8.2 %. The most imported beers come mainly 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 fall into several subtypes. Experts have done research and concluded that the 5 beers listed below are the most popular among Canadians. For non-residents of Canada, get ready, because your aperitifs will no longer be the same with this selection of the most famous Canadian beers.

Although Molsons and Budweisers are the top-selling beers in Canada, beeradvocate's opinion poll found that craft-style Stout is the Canadian favourite. The survey focuses primarily on beer quality and consumer satisfaction. Thus, the 2 most popular beers in Canada are all Stouts. These are also among the most popular in Montreal.

The tripel is referred to as the strongest among the different types of beer available. They have an alcohol percentage between 8 and 11 %. Moreover, 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 Canada's best tripel-style beers 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. Light ale, 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 genre of beer, but it still remains in the list of the most consumed Canadian beers in Canada. Like the tripel, the Porter is ideal for people who like strong sensations, because it has a high percentage of alcohol. This style of beer can change in taste and color depending on the ingredients used.

If you want a taste of boldly crafted beers, check out the IPA style which comes in several flavors including espresso, pineapple, and more. Never seen before! They are also available in an alcohol-free version. It is for these reasons that this type of beer has earned a place in this ranking of the most popular Canadian beers.