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Canada's Capital Chapter (31 items)

April 09, 2008
8:19
Free Bud Light NHL Stanley Cup Champions T-Shirts
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Free for a limited time with a purchase of a specially marked 24 case Bud Light. There are 19 different shirts to collect.

www.budlight.ca
March 12, 2008
15:40
Canada's Moosehead is Going South in April
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Moosehead USA said it will begin selling its Moosehead Light in 10 U.S. markets in April.

Moosehead Light will be brewed in Canada and will initially be available in 12 and 24-pack bottles, and 12-pack cans in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Jersey, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Look for a new label appearing on the standard green bottle which features a label a metallic blue color with light gradients.
March 02, 2008
16:45
Wish list for the LCBO
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Pictured are a few beers that would be a dream to have available here in Ontario. These were picked up on a recent trip to New York State.

Our first stop was in Binghamton to pick up a motorcycle (which is really our excuse for shopping for beer). While there, Terry and I discovered "Sam the Beer Man", a beer lover's paradise with hundreds of beers for sale. The owner even had samples for tasting! Are you listening, LCBO??

After an overnight stay in Oneonta, NY, we went on to visit the Cooperstown Brewing Co. and then Ommegang Brewery nearby. Of course, samples were tasted at each!

Once home in Iroquois, I had no one to share them with, so I sat down with these beers over several evenings to taste them solo. :-(

-First came the Ommegeddon, labeled as a "funkhouse ale with Brettanomyces" and 8%. I was wary at first since I am a "hophead" and don't particularly enjoy witt beers. However it turned out to be delicious and went down easily.

-Next was the "un-earthly" IPA from Southern Tier Brewing. The company's website says it is 153 IBU's (!) and appears to have 9 different hops in the brew. It went down so well I didn't even notice that it was 11% alcohol! I wish I had more of this one!

-Then came the Hop Devil IPA from Victory Brewing in Downington, PA. I've had this beer many times in the past and always enjoy it. It is highly hopped and 6.7% alcohol.

-Lastly, I sampled the Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale from Clipper City Brewing in Baltimore, MD. It also is an American IPA and the label states: "Hops, hops and more hops - over 3 lbs per barrel at 3 different times in the process". Believe me, when you snap the crown, you had better be a hophead because the aroma is like letting the genie out of the bottle. Fantastic!

-I've saved the Ruination IPA for last, since I am drinking it now as I write this! This is another IPA I have enjoyed in the past . It is labeled as 100+ IBU's and 7.2% alcohol. It's from Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA. Their story is that it is called Ruination because of it's ruinous effect on your palate. All other food and drink becomes bland after the first sip! I would agree.
I guess you can tell from this that I am a hophead and love the little flower's effect on a brew!
My dream would be to have these beers available at the LCBO or better yet, to have a "Sam the Beer Man" around the corner!

There is also "Beers of the World" in Rochester, NY and the "Finger Lakes Beverage Center" in Ithaca, NY, but those are other stories. :-)

I've listed the breweries' websites below.
Cheers,
-Dick

www.ommegang.com
www.cooperstownbrewing.com
www.southerntierbrewing.com
www.victorybeer.com
www.clippercitybeer.com
www.stonebrew.com
February 28, 2008
15:26
Lakeport Introduces Lakeport Ale
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Value brewer Lakeport has added an Ale to its growling list of beer styles.

"Adding an ale to our family of beers was really inspired by our loyal Lakeport drinkers. They asked us to create a great tasting beer and we are proud to deliver great tasting Lakeport Ale at a fair price," says Tom Rolfe, Lakeport Brand Manager.

Lakeport Ale is now available at The Beer Store and LCBO Agency/Combo stores across Ontario in the 24 bottles for $24 format as well as in both 6-can and 6-bottle packs.

For more information read the full press release.
February 26, 2008
8:37
Neustadt Lager Now Available in Cans
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Neustadt Springs has put that new canning equipment to work and now makes it's Lager available to the masses. This offering has finally received LCBO approval, and the 473 ml cans have started appearing at select LCBO and Beer Store outlets.

Other beers from Neustadt available in cans include 10W30 Brown Ale and Scottish Pale Ale.
8:28
Russell Brewing Beer Now Available in Cans
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Russell Brewing of British Columbia has just announced that their beer is now available in cans. This marks the Company's first consumer take-home product after thirteen years of exclusively producing draught beer.

Products include Russell Cream Ale, Russell Pale Ale, Russell Honey Blonde Ale and Russell Extra Special Lager available in 6 x 355ml aluminum can packs.

For a list of private liquor stores carrying Russell beer or for more information, please visit www.russellbeer.com.
8:16
Alexander Keith's Releases New Cans for Atlantic University Sport
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Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and Alexander Keith's have announced an expanded marketing partnership. Beginning in February, special 8-pack cases of Keith's cans will include a selection of AUS collector cans that celebrate and promote Atlantic University Sport and its championships.

Two million collector cans will be distributed across Atlantic Canada over two phases in 2008. The first phase will consist of seven different custom Keith's can designs which will highlight the sports of men's and women's volleyball, hockey and basketball. This set will also include a special AUS collector can. A second set of themed cans highlighting fall AUS sports will be available in September through November.
February 25, 2008
16:16
Carlsberg Launches the Most Expensive Lager in the World
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Vintage No.1 is a new dessert beer from Carlesburg that now takes the No.1 spot as the most expensive beer in the world. At $400 U.S. per bottle, this brew shares hints of prune, caramel, vanilla and oak tree.

And if good beer alone doesn't sound tasty enough to entice you into parting with your cash, the bottle's label is also a collectible incorporating a hand-stenciled original lithographic print by Danish artist Frans Kannik. It looks like there are 4 different labels so the dedicated collector will have to spend some serious cash to get a complete set!

If anyone out there gets their hands on this premium beer, make sure to invite me to the beer tasting!
15:52
LCBO Spring 2008 Seasonal Beer Releases
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The following beers are scheduled to be included in the spring at the LCBO.
These offerings will start trickling into stores sometime in March.
15:36
Labatt Takes Alexander Keith's Stateside
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At the recent Annual Wholesalers Meeting in Buffalo, Labatt USA announced that it will soon take Alexander Keith's, one of Canada's oldest brands, stateside.

Alexander Keith's is one of several specialty beers that Labatt will be pushing in the United States as the brewer hopes to gain a larger market share of the growing craft beer market (CCC: Keith's is craft beer? Says who?). New Labatt labels now indicate that the beer is still brewed in Canada but its U.S. headquarters are in Buffalo.

Alexander Keith's is expected to appear in the U.S. sometime this spring.
12:49
Cameron's Brewing Co. New Coaster Campaign Launches
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A new post by Mike Laba, of Cameron's Brewing Co., on the Ontario Craft Brewers Blog was published to let everyone know about their new Coaster Campaign which officially launched on February 1, 2008.

The new Cameron's coasters (available at pubs and bars serving Cameron's) doubles as a post card inviting patrons to add their mailing address and drop it in the mail. Cameron's will send you one of their new bottle openers. As the coasters arrive at the brewery they will be added to the ‘Great Wall of Coasters’ and those who have mailed back a coaster will earn themselves a discount on swag, a ticket for a Cameron’s event, or other items available at the brewery.

It certainly is a great idea and I'll be taking part in this for sure. I think Cameron's could take this a bit further though. For example, they could include a small stamp or code on the coasters which would tell them what bar or pub the coasters come from. They could also include a couple of other questions on the coaster such as which brand of Cameron's they drink most often or the person's age. This intelligence could help Cameron's with their marketing initiatives.
February 24, 2008
10:01
Perry Mason to Persue Other Projects.
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Perry Mason, founder of Scotch Irish Brewing in Fitzroy Harbour, ON., has left Heritage Brewing to pursue other projects. In 2006, Scotch Irish Brewing had sold its name and beer brands to Heritage. Heritage will continue to brew Scotch Irish's flagship brand, Sgt. Major India Pale Ale.
9:49
Attention Collectors: Rare Find on eBay!
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Well someone thinks so anyway. I was sent this item listing from another reader and thought it would be of interest to you all.

Up for auction on eBay is a stubby from Alexander Keith's which is full and has never been opened. The bottle, and its contents, can be yours for the bargain price of $5,000.00 U.S.

[cgi.ebay.ca]

So... who's going to open the bidding? Hurry! Auction ends on March 3, 2008.
February 23, 2008
16:58
Coors Light's New Can is Cold Certified
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Coors Light will soon be introducing a new can with temperature technology included for free. This technology will be used to easily identify cans which have reached optimal drinking temperature.

"Our brewing tradition was born high in the Rockies so we brew Coors Light to be the coldest, most refreshing tasting beer you can find," said Denis Ferlatte, Coors Light Senior Brand Manager at Molson. "The Cold Certified Can gives Coors Light drinkers the signal that their beer is ice cold and ready to enjoy."

The Coors Light Cold Certified Can features proprietary temperature-sensitive thermal chromatic ink technology that turns the Coors Light Mountain Icon from white to blue when the beer has been chilled to four degrees Celsius or less. The Cold Certified Cans will be available in 355 mL and 473 mL and available across Canada - just in time for summer.

Read the full press release.
16:41
Is the Blue Fading?
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I came across this interesting article by Marina Strauss at ReportOnBusiness.com trying to answer the question "What happend to Blue?" Labatt Blue was one of Canada's top beer brands and I can't seem to remember the last time I'd seen an ad for it - TV, magazine, billboard, anything! This article provides some possible answers to the question why Blue has dropped from #1 to #4 in Canada.

[www.theglobeandmail.com]
February 22, 2008
18:29
An Oland returns to Moosehead
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Andrew Oland will replace Steven Poirier as Moosehead Breweries Ltd.'s president, the sixth generation of his family to lead the independent brewer. This April, after more than a decade, Oland will take the second-highest post at the largest Canadian-owned brewer.
17:14
Belly up to the bar to drink some 'Bog Water'?
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Beau's All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill, Ontario has released its first seasonal brew labeled "Bog Water". As described on their website, it promises to be strong and dark providing bitterness, a sweet aroma and herbal spicy notes through its use of bog myrtle (or sweet gale) harvested from northern Quebec.

This is available for a limited time and can be purchased at the brewery.

Some other great news from the brewery:
- They have begun to offer beer in 750ml bottles as well as the growler.
- Their beer will soon be available for purchase at selected LCBO stores.
- The Beauchesne family was nominated for personality of the year by CBC radio/tv & le Droit.
Lots going on at this really great brewery.

For more information visit their website.
17:08
Steelback Brewery Making a Comeback?
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New Steelback Brewery president Ian Macdonald is relaunching the Tiverton, Ont., brewery with a whole new look on May 1, 2008. MacDonald plans to relaunch the brewery with five beers, including the Steelback Dark, which won accolades (CC: Does that mean it won an actual award?) at the Canadian Brewing Awards in 2007.

Important note for collectors: New bottles and packaging are also in the works.
February 20, 2008
15:57
Kingston Collectors of Canadian Brewery Advertising Show 2008
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CCBA Convention Kingston - August 6-10, 2008 at the Ambassador Conference Resort.

The 29th annual brewery collectibles convention. Come to Kingston to meet friends, buy, sell and trade brewery advertising treasures.

> Hospitality room daily
> Low cost, minimal structure
> Buy/Sell/Trade on Saturday
> AGM on Friday morning
> Supper at the Kingston Brew Pub on Saturday (Pay as you go)
> Optional activities

Beautiful downtown Kingston facilities provide shopping, pub-crawling, sightseeing, boating, and entertainment of all kinds.

Contact Allen Dodd or Dave Platt at 613-389-0465 or triumphald@yahoo.com
May 27, 2007
11:16
Free Can of Alexander Keith's Red Amber in Keith's IPA 24's
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Alexander Keith's is including a free can of their new Red Amber Ale in cases of their IPA. Get it at the beer store.
4:04
Free Moosehead Red Tall Boy in Cases
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For a limited time only at the Beer Store, cases of Moosehead beer (24's) come with a free 500ml can of their new beer called 'Moosehead Red'.
May 24, 2007
7:26
Ontario Craft Brewers Launches a Blog
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The OCB just launched a blog where the 29 members of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association will be sharing their thoughts, stories, hits, misses and general passion for what they do.

Visit http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/blog to check it out
May 18, 2007
6:46
The Bar Towel Launches Radio
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From their website:

Bar Towel Radio is a new podcast from The Bar Towel. It will feature interviews and discussion about what's happening in the exciting beer scene in Ontario.

Bar Towel Radio is perfect for beer fans who are just getting into beer in Ontario, or for seasoned connoisseurs looking for some new and interesting information.

Subscribe to the podcast by visiting its homepage at [www.bartowel.com].
2:33
Trafalgar Brewing Company Releases Special Labels for Tulip Festival
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Trafalgar Brewing Company has released a set of 4 new labels for this years tulip festival. The new labels come on standard 650ml bottles of their award winning Elora Grand Lager. You can buy these bottles now at the LCBO for $3.95 each.
May 17, 2007
8:12
Lakeport Brewing Introduces Lakeport Red
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Buck-a-beer brewer, Lakeport, has introduced Lakeport Red.

"Our drinkers have been asking us to make Lakeport Red. We listened - now Lakeport Red is be available in 24 bottles and 355ml cans" said George Croft, President and Chief Operating Officer.

"With summer just around the corner, Lakeport is giving Ontario's beer drinkers another opportunity to enjoy the great taste and quality of Lakeport in the popular Red beer category" added Croft.

Excluding deposit, Lakeport Red 24 bottles will sell for $24 and six-pack cans will sell for $7.35.

Both are now available across Ontario at the Beer Store.

Read the full press release.
8:09
Brick Brewing For Sale
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Full article in the Toronto Star.
7:53
Red Cap Issues 6 New Collector Stubbies
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Red Cap helps celebrate the two-four anniversary of McKenzie Brothers' Strange Brew with special limited-edition clear stubby collection. There are 6 different clear stubbies to collect, get 1 in specially marked cases.

Read the full press release.
5:36
True Canadian Taste?
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Recently Molson Canadian has been using the marketing term "True Canadian Taste" to help promote their Molson Canadian variety of beer. Sure, it's unique and memorable but only because it makes no sense whatsoever.

Just what exactly do Canadians taste like? I'm going to go out on a limb and say.. It's not beer. If we did taste like beer, is Molson implying that we're watered-down and boring, just like all the other Mol-batt varieties currently available on Beer Store shelves?

The last time I checked, the word "Canadian" was not a flavour. The term was an adjective used to describe the people coming from the country of Canada. I can only hope that the next time Molson tries to come up with something clever to try and appeal to the people of Canada, it at least makes sense.
May 08, 2007
12:06
The Story of Dragon's/Dragoon's Breath from Kingston Brewing
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Our beer club visits the Kingston Brew Pub every year as part of our mini-convention held in Ganonoque, ON during the last weekend of April or first weekend in May. During our most recent visit we were given "The Story of Dragon's/Dragoon's Breath" and I thought it would be a great addition to the blog.

The Story of Dragon's/Dragoon's Breath

When the Kingston Brewing Company first opened in 1986, our cask conditioned real ale was named "Cobbler's Real Ale". During the Canadian Olympic sailing regatta in Kingston known as C.O.R.K., the Dragon's fleet adopted the Kingston Brewing Company, making it their home away from home. In their honour the "Cobbler's Real Ale" name was changed to Dragon's Breath. Originally, it was planned to change the name back to Cobblers after the regatta. Immediately, the power of the Dragon's Breath name was evident. Sworn, died in the wool, confirmed, main stream beer drinkers suddenly wanted to try the beer with the crazy name. Thus, the original Dragon's Breath real ale was born.

For those who don't know what a real ale is, it is an all natural, non-filtered, naturally carbonated ale, which is drawn through a traditional beer engine directly from the vessel in which it was matured. It is also served at cellaring temperature, which is slightly warmer than mainstream beer. A real als is one of the most unique products in the long line of beers. All of the goodness is left in the glass and not filtered out. Its natural carbonation is light on the tongue and is not 'fizzy' and like a fine cheese or good red wine the slightly warmer temperature allows the full flavours of the ale to shine through. A real ale drinker will often talk lovingly about their pint and study its cascade and head. Most beer drinkers want a consistent product every time they take a drink. A real ale drinker knows his pint will register subtle changes from the beginning of the batch to the end of the batch. Some even argue a noticeable difference from beginning of a pint to the last mouthful drawn from the glass. As you can see, a real ale is not a beginner's beer.

This, over the years, created quite a dilemma. Servers would actually have to talk people out of a full pint because they indicated their favourite beer was some mainstream swill but they loved the name Dragon's Breath. But as stated before, a real ale is not a beginner's beer!

This fact, combined with K.B.C. owners' frustration with the Brewers Retail monopoly and antiquated regulations in the province of Ontario, let us to develop a pale ale recipe to be bottled and sold in Kingston only as a "once off" in an attempt to garner a little press for Ontario's oldest brew pub. Alan Pugsley, a world renowned brewer who had aided K.B.C. in the early years, was engaged, and with the owners, profiled an extremely hoppy pale ale for the Kingston market.

Originally packaged in a long (6 by 6) 12 pack in a very standard red box with black markings and with a unique red cap with a black dragon, Dragon's Breath Pale Ale was launched in the beer stores of Kingston. Because of laws governing brew pubs in Ontario, it was necessary to brew under contract to then Hart Breweries of Carleton Place. The product was sold under their micro-brewery license.

During this period, mainstream brewers were engaged in a bottle and brand war. They were adding new bottles, labels and brands to the Ontario market at the same time as the micro-brewery industry was demanding equal billing in the monopoly of the Brewers Retail stores. Brewers Retail, in an attempt to curb the onslaught of brands from micros, increased their listing prices for non-members. Overnight, entry fees into beer stores rose from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. However, those who already listed could expand their distribution for as little as fifty dollars per new beer store.

Dragon's Breath Pale Ale, originally thought of as a "once-off" suddenly had the interest of several breweries who wanted to expand their product selection at the grandfathered pricing. Hart Breweries, which had brewed the product, soon took over the sales and marketing of Dragon's Breath Pale Ale, which was available between Toronto and Ottawa in the bottle and by the keg for about the next 10 years, until Hart Breweries' insolvency. During Hart's tenure, the product got a new look with standard industry bottles and a new bilingual label.

After being on the market for three or four years, it was decided to launch a 750ml bottle into specific liquor stores within the province. Beer, to be sold in a liquor store, required a 6 pack format or a "distinctive bottle", thus the 750ml bottle. Dragon's Breath's launch in the province's liquor stores was greeted with great reverence by its followers. It also proved to be the awakening of a sleeping dragon far larger than that of small town Kingston.

Desnoes and Geddes, a company from Kingston Jamaica owned by Ireland's brewing giant Guinness, also had a beer listed in the L.C.B.O., a stout by the name of Dragons Stout.

Although the product and the logo were not even remotely similar, a trademark infringement was launched against the use of Dragon's Breath Pale Ale. For the next ten years, an on-again off-again legal battle was waged. As the Kingston Brewing Company had used the name prior to the Desnoes and Geddes date of trade mark in Canada, our lawyers argued "first usage" and that there was no confusion in the marketplace.

With the demise of Hart Breweries, there was little chance of another brewery being interested in bottling Dragon's Breath, because the grand-fathered clause for the beer store died with the insolvency of Hart Breweries. Soon after,Desnoes and Geddes and the Kingston Brewing Company agreed that K.B.C. would use "Dragon's Breath" only in Kingston to promote our restaurant and brewery.

Today, in order to maintain the high standard of pale ale our customers have enjoyed and because our little brewery just isn't beg enough, we have contracted McAuslan's Brewery of Montreal to brew our pale ale. The real ale is still called Dragon's Breath and is brewed on the premises. The pale ale name has been changed to Dragoon's Breath as a way of honouring the many military dragoons that have been such a courageous part of Canadian military history.

Many locals still refer to the pale ale by its old name, but whatever you call it, you will be drinking one of the world's finest pale ales.

Just like David and Goliath, it's a happy ending!
February 28, 2007
4:37
Beer Launching Fridge
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Check out this handy piece if engineering!
February 15, 2007
2:34
Why men have sheds.
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Why men have sheds.