11 Canadian Craft Beers to Patriotically Crush This Long Weekend
This Canada Day, we’re willing to wager a great many of you will be partaking in the age-old ritual of drinking copious amounts of beer. Which is all well and good, but just do us a favour: make sure you’re sipping on quality suds, and none of that buck-a-beer dreck. As you know, craft beer is an exploding market, and the Great White North is right at the centre of it. We’ve got top-shelf breweries out the wazoo — ones we’re sure even “I am Canadian” Joe would endorse today, were he still a going concern. So, do this nation proud and crush some proper homegrown cold ones this long weekend.
Canuck Pale Ale
What better to ring in Canada’s b-day than with a nice, refreshing pale ale named after the great people that call this country home? Coming from Great Lakes Brewery in Toronto, this ale contains notes of grapefruit, mango, and pine, which makes for a refreshing way to ring in the long weekend, no matter what part of the country you’re from, eh?
greatlakesbeer.com
Bobcaygeon Dockside Ale
Nothing says Canada like sitting on the dock, drinking beer and listening to the Hip. Named after and brewed in the same town as the famous Hip banger “Bobcaygeon,” this brewery knows exactly what we’re talking about. Try their Dockside ale — with its deep mahogany colour and tan head, this malty beer is perfect for crushing dockside while watching fireworks over the lake.
bobcaygeonbrewing.ca
Dieu De Ciel! Rosée D’Hibiscus
If it’s got a French name it must be classy, right? Named after the flowers used in the brewing process, this light, slightly acidic beer has a beautiful red colour to it. Hailing from Montreal, this thirst-quenching brew is ideal for those sweltering summer days.
dieuduciel.com
Boneshaker IPA
Do you need your bones shaken this summer? Then this is the beer for you. Coming straight outta Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto, this strong IPA is perfect for people who wanna party over the long weekend. Its bitter, hoppy flavour is sure to wet your whistle.
amsterdambeer.com
Driftwood Fat Tug IPA
Coming from Driftwood Brewery in Victoria, B.C., this IPA is perfect for any beer lover. With notes of melon, passionfruit, and mango, this brew is as refreshing as the ocean near where it is brewed. You’ll feel like a piece of driftwood as you lay in the sun with the beer in your hand.
driftwoodbeer.com
Bellwoods Barn Owl
An ode to the great Canadian barn owl (okay, so barn owls can be found in every continent on Earth, but still…), this wild ale was barrel-aged and double dry-hopped, giving it a distinctly well-rounded character. It boasts flavours of pineapple, peach skin, and plum, with a nice balance between dank dry-hop and pleasant acidity. Owl drink to that!
bellwoodsbrewery.myshopify.com
Half Pints Little Scrapper IPA
This toasted, malty IPA from Half Pints Brewery in Winnipeg is a refreshing way to celebrate Canada’s big day and put you in a scrappy mood. The malt flavour mixed with a hint of grapefruit has a perfect balance that any hophead could adore. You’ll be asking for more than a half pint when you’re done drinking this one! (Sorry.)
halfpintsbrewing.com
Dieu De Ciel! Solstice D’été Aux Framboises
Another beer from Dieu Du Ciel! in Quebec, this is perfect for anyone who is a fan of strawberries. And honestly, who isn’t in the summer? (Well, I guess people who are allergic to strawberries.) This German sour wheat beer goes through a long fermentation process that compliments the fruity flavour of the beer perfectly.
dieuduciel.com
Nickel Brook Old Kentucky Bastard
If there one thing that Kentucky is known for, its bourbon. Inspired by the state’s favourite whiskey, this beer from Ontario has been aged in bourbon barrels with vanilla and oak to give it a rich, smooth chocolate flavour. You’ll be ready to sit in the shade and take in the derby in no time!
nickelbrook.com
Big Spruce Cereal Killer Oatmeal Stout
A creatively named stout from Big Spruce Brewing in Nova Scotia, this beer does the east coast proud. Rich, dry, and boasting (as the name suggests) an oatmeal flavour, this one’s for those who like their brews dark. It’s also surprisingly easy to drink, so you’ll have no problem killing a few of these over the weekend.
Moosehead Cracked Canoe
Now before you beer snobs come at me, let it be known that this is far from just any low-calorie brew. Beer-flavoured water this is not! Cracked Canoe has an exceptionally crisp finish and much more flavour than the other diet suds out there. The master brewers over at Moosehead have created a light beer that tastes like a full-bodied lager, and with only 90 calories per bottle, you can keep that cottage bod in shape this summer. That’s a net win in our books.
