Beer Flashcards
(36 cards)
How much of Canadian alcohol sales are beer? What about wine?
Beer makes up 45% of sales while wine accounts for 30%.
Who began the first brewery in Canada? When?
Jean Talon, Count of Orsainville, imported hops to set up the first brewery in “New France” (Canada) in 1688.
When did John Molson begin his beer company? Where?
In Montreal (1786).
When did Alexander Keith begin his beer company? Where?
In Halifax (1820).
When did Jon Sleeman begin his beer company? Where?
In Guelph (1834).
When did Thomas Carling begin his beer company? Where?
In London, Ontario (1840).
When did John Labatt begin his beer company? Where?
In London, Ontario (1847).
When did Susannah Oland begin her beer company? Where?
In Halifax (1867).
When was the Moosehead beer company created? Where?
In St. John (1867).
When did Eugene O’Keefe begin his beer company? Where?
In Toronto (1891).
Of the 8 original Canadian brewing companies, which are still independently Canadian?
Only the Moosehead breweries.
How did Canadian beer tastes shift in the mid 19th century because of Czech and German immigrants?
Historically, Canadians drank ales and stouts. These immigrants popularized lager, which became the beer of choice for working Canadians.
How did Carling respond to the shift in Canadian beer preference from ales and stouts to lagers?
Created a “black label” lager, which had slightly higher alcohol content and was cheaper. This became very popular both in Canada and overseas.
When was the prohibition in BC? How about in PEI for comparison?
In BC, prohibition lasted from 1917-1921, while in PEI alcohol was prohibited from 1901-1948!
How did the prohibition affect Canadian breweries?
Bankrupted breweries who didn’t have enough capital to wait out the prohibition.
What “big three” breweries (aka “triopoly”) arose after the prohibition to control the market?
- Labatt
- Molson
- Carling-O’Keefe
What differentiates “pale” lager, invented in N. America, from traditional lager brewed in Europe?
Pale lager made from N. American 2 row barley, rather than European 6 row barley.
What differentiates 2 row barley from 6 row barley? Which is native to N. America?
2 row barley, native to N. America, has only 2 rows of seeds rather than 6, and has higher levels of proteins and tannins.
How did N. American brewers make their 2 row barley beer palatable?
By adding 30% maize or rice to make sweeter an lighter beer. Otherwise 2 row barley beer is kinda gross.
How did adult tastes change during the prohibition? Why?
Adults began preferring sweeter flavours because the drink of choice became pop in the absence of alcohol.
Who set up the first brewery on Vancouver Island? Where? When?
A 23 year old German immigrant named William Steinberger set up a brewery near Swan Lake in Victoria in 1858.
Why is Victoria a good place to brew beer? What component is it missing?
Victoria has soft water (without many minerals) while also being good for growing hops. Lack of barley cultivation however.
Which 2 Vancouver Island breweries survived the prohibition?
- Victoria-Phoenix brewing company
2. Silver Spring brewery
What did the remaining Vancouver Island breweries do after the prohibition to continue their business in the face of competition with the “triopoly”?
These two breweries merged to form the Lucky brewing company.
