Canadian Macro Lagers

That was some serious false advertising. Much like Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale. Many a visitor are fooled by that sad, under hopped golden ale!

 

Oh, yeah - I do recall seeing that. I guess when I read "Moosehead Ale" I'll always think of the circa 70s Canadian label in the stubby bottle friends brought back from the Maritime Provinces.

Those were Quebec lagers, IIRC? At least Laurentide was? The only lager I recall "self-importing" had a buffalo on the label but can't recall the name but it was a "Big 3" brand from western Canada. (Pause for research).
Oh, yeah - CALGARY STAMPEDE BRAND. Probably no better than any other macro lager of the period, but, c'mon, what a cool label. A Molson product - no idea why it was being sold in Ontario at some point?

Yeah, certainly not a "Stock Ale" at all (but, then, Boston Beer Co. ruined that beer style's definition in the following decades) but the hoppiest Canadian ale I'd ever run across at the time. I just could never find it often. I recall reading on this or another beer forum that it, like some US ales (Rainier and Ballantine) was sort of shifted into the "Malt Liquor" customer base/marketing segment...

 

Laurentide was an ale that may have became a lager at some point. I remember it as an ale. It was a slightly fruitier version of Export to my taste memory. This guy has blog post about the beer. A lot of what he writes about is from memory, but often accurate.

https://www.beeretseq.com/laurentide-lager-and-ale/

The Dow I drank was a Molson product near the end of its life. It was an Ale. Their Kingsbeer was a popular lager during the Carling-O’Keefe years, I believe, but a little before my time.

I’m sure you know the Dow story; “The beer that would kill you!” The same blogger has a history.

http://www.beeretseq.com/dow-ale-a-great-beer-name-with-a-sad-ending/

I didn’t know that Calgary was ever sold here. Interesting.

 

Wow! Cervoise is one I haven’t thought about in forever. It was just before my time. I have vague memories of the TV ads. That is one I’d like to travel back in time to try.

This made me think of another interesting Quebec Labatt product that I’m sure has been long dead as well, Carnaval. It was a Winter Ale I only ever had half a bottle of. The German dad of a friend down the street from me would drink Lowenbrau all year and then switch to Carnaval for a couple months in the winter when it was available. I remember we stole a bottle from the garage fridge and split it as teenagers. I remember it being far more flavourful that the sips of Labatt Blue and Molson Golden I’d have at home with my dad and grandfather.

 

Thinking about some of the stuff that disappeared before my time, there are two regional ones I’ve long wished I had a chance to try: Molson Frontier Stout which was a Manitoba product, and Molson Porter, an Ontario product. I did try Labatt Velvet Cream Porter and Champlain Porter which were available in Quebec into the very early 90s. The former two may have been the same as Champlain Porter with different marketing for different provinces. I have no idea.

 

Yeah, I remember scoring all 3 of the Canadian Macro Porters at one time or another (Champlain was originally from Carling-O'Keefe). We still have a few porters left in the northeast (Stegmaier, Narragansett, Yuengling) but they sure weren't coming from the US's big breweries as they were in Canada. IIRC a one or more of them were pretty sweet.

 

Yes. Champlain Porter was actually originally a product of a Champlain Brewery in Quebec City. It was purchased by National in 1948. I think E. P. Taylor bought National in the early 50s. I was a little young for it when it was a Carling-O’Keefe beer. I don’t know how good your French is, but the pictures in this are worth a look on their own.

http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/hrcorpreports/pdfs/6/637808.pdf

Here is a link to all of their corporate reports held on the McGill archives. Some are in English. they are in a list on the right.

http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/hr...php?company=M&fullname=National+Breweries+Ltd.

Actually, The list doesn’t seem to show when I link.

I remember liking Labatt Velvet Cream best and, given I was about 16 when I had it, I’m guessing it was one of the sweeter ones.

 

The thread’s discussion between Jesskidden and Coronaeus has me thinking of old family get togethers where the Grandpa’s would be reminiscing (“I remember when Hershey bars were a nickel”).

I am really enjoying this. Keep up the good work!

Cheers!

 

they have pretty much have molson pilsner almost everywhere Canada. not bad when when it's cold.

 

Is this the beer you are referring to?


Wow! I have never seen or heard about this beer before.

Cheers!

 

This was a regional brand, originally brewed by Sick’s (terrible name for a beer company) in Alberta. It was, and likely still is, a top seller in the prairie provinces. Molson bought them up at some point. About six or seven years ago when interprovincial restrictions were eased, it became available in Ontario and Quebec. I’ve seen old bottles where they used the same art but called the beer Frontier Pilsner.

I’ve never had it myself.

 

Which is likely why @LocalBeerGuy posted about it.

Are you tempted now!

Cheers!

 

Shoot. I'm pretty sure that I had the Calgary when I lived in California in the mid/late 70s.

 

Indeed!

Ive only ever seen by the case of 24 here. I can’t remember the last time I bought a case of 24. That said, I haven’t really looked into it.

https://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/old-style-pilsner/

Looks like I was wrong. Singles available! When I am back to my normal routine, I’ll grab one!!

 

I woefully and sadly have to agree with this statement, because I can't visit the place enough. Quebec not only has amazing breweries, they have TONES of them and there seems to be a beer drinking culture down there more like Europe. That's what I experienced last time I was there. Breweries are also EVERYWHERE it seemed I wish I could have tried them all!

 

Always thought it was clever when their US division, Sick's Seattle Brewing & Malting Co., used this logo for their beer:


There other big brand, originally licensed from the San Francisco brewery of the same name, was Rainier. After the SF brewery closed, they bought it outright and eventually the name of the company became Sick's Rainier Brewing Co. and then just Rainier Brewing Co.

 

Sweet!

Please post your thoughts on that beer.

Maybe the Canadian Macro Lagers thread will never die!?!

Cheers!

P.S. The Ultimate post will be the one where Shanex posts that he found a Canadian Macro Lager that he loves!

 

I get it. Sicks=6. Lol!. What Rainier Ale did I drink in the 70s?

 

it took me a lot longer than I’m willing to admit to get that. I agree with @jesskidden . Great way to market an unfortunate family name.

 

It’s still in Canada. We used to get it on the US side in Western New York up until about 4 years ago. My father heads across the border every month to the duty free to stock up.