Just Back From Canada and I Need Your Help Desperately!!!!
Kevin D. Mills
To Honorable(and not so honorable) Beer Drinking Souls:
I recently completed a trip to the Canadian Rockies(Calgary, Lake Louise,
Jasper, and Banff) with a side trip to Vancouver and fell in love with
Canadian beer. I will admit that one of the reasons that I prefer it to the
American beers I have had is that it has a higher alcohol content. I very
much enjoyed McNally's Extra Ale(7% alcohol content), which is brewed in
Calgary by Big Rock Brewery and is "a pure malt, Irish style ale with a
rich, aromatic flavour." I also enjoyed the Okanagan Springs Pale Ale that
was available in the Vancouver and Victoria pubs/restaurants that I visited.
What I am trying to find is something that is similar that I can purchase
where I live. I live in Orange County California(between LA and San Diego)
and would like to know if there is anything that I can buy and consume at
home that will be close to the quality of the beers I have mentioned. I am
married with children so going to brewpubs to consume draft quantities is
more or less out of the question for me. If you can help me select some
locally available beer/ale that would meet the bill I would be forever
indebted to you.
I have a couple of short annecdotes from my trip that beer drinkers and
married men may appreciate. I noticed a billboard with a large 5 % sign
where the circles of the percent sign were Budwiser caps. The only writing
on the billboard was underneath the 5% sign and it stated: "Canada will
accept no less!" This of course is in reference to the fact that even the
bulk beers in Canada(Labatts, Kokanee, and Canadian(made by Molson)) are all
a minumum of 5% alcohol instead of the beer water that our bulk producers
Bud, Miller and Coors attempt to pass off on us. For some reason I found
this billboard very apropo(sp) and it put a large smile on my face.
The second annecdote is for the married men in the audience. It simply has
to do with the fact that I enjoyed the beer in Canada so much, that I found
it difficult to not have beer with each lunch and dinner(as I was on
vacation). I knew that I would soon be returning to the US and that the
beer I was enjoying would no longer be available(alas). My wonderful wife
found a new hobby to enjoy while we were on vacation. Her new hobby was
counting the number of beers I consumed during each day and constantly
reminding me of this number whenever I would consider ordering another. I'm
sure some of married guys have experienced similar "counseling" from their
more or less non beer drinking wives.
Don Scheidt
kev...@quick.net (Kevin D. Mills) wrote:
>I recently completed a trip to the Canadian Rockies(Calgary, Lake Louise,
>Jasper, and Banff) with a side trip to Vancouver and fell in love with
>Canadian beer. I will admit that one of the reasons that I prefer it to the
>American beers I have had is that it has a higher alcohol content. [...]
>I have a couple of short annecdotes from my trip that beer drinkers and
>married men may appreciate. I noticed a billboard with a large 5 % sign
>where the circles of the percent sign were Budwiser caps. The only writing
>on the billboard was underneath the 5% sign and it stated: "Canada will
>accept no less!" This of course is in reference to the fact that even the
>bulk beers in Canada(Labatts, Kokanee, and Canadian(made by Molson)) are all
>a minumum of 5% alcohol instead of the beer water that our bulk producers
>Bud, Miller and Coors attempt to pass off on us. For some reason I found
>this billboard very apropo(sp) and it put a large smile on my face.
Yet another American falls for inflated numbers due to lack of understanding.
In the USA, beer alcohol percentage is expressed by weight. In Canada (and
lots of other places) that percentage is expressed by *volume*. Typical
American mass-produced lagers range from 3.2% to 4% alcohol by weight; this is
the equivalent of 4% to 5% by volume. Why? Because alcohol is lighter than
water, that's why, and water makes up most of a beer.
So, all those Canadian mass beers advertising their 5% (by volume) are the
same strength as American mass beers at around 4% (by weight). McNally's
7% ABV doesn't sound quite so impressive when expressed as 5.6% ABW.
By the way, Budweiser is produced under license in Canada. Not surprisingly,
it comes in at 5% ABV, 4% ABW. So much for Canadian beers' "higher" alcohol
content, eh?
--
Don Scheidt, dgs...@case.cyberspace.com
also at: dgs...@teleport.com
Browse the Northwest BrewPage
URL: http://www.teleport.com/~dgs1300/index.shtml
Bruce Reistle
Kevin D. Mills wrote:
>
> To Honorable(and not so honorable) Beer Drinking Souls:
>
> Jasper, and Banff) with a side trip to Vancouver and fell in love with
> Canadian beer. I will admit that one of the reasons that I prefer it to the
> much enjoyed McNally's Extra Ale(7% alcohol content), which is brewed in
> Calgary by Big Rock Brewery and is "a pure malt, Irish style ale with a
> rich, aromatic flavour." I also enjoyed the Okanagan Springs Pale Ale that
> was available in the Vancouver and Victoria pubs/restaurants that I visited.
> What I am trying to find is something that is similar that I can purchase
> where I live. I live in Orange County California(between LA and San Diego)
> and would like to know if there is anything that I can buy and consume at
> home that will be close to the quality of the beers I have mentioned. I am
> married with children so going to brewpubs to consume draft quantities is
> more or less out of the question for me. If you can help me select some
> locally available beer/ale that would meet the bill I would be forever
> indebted to you.
>
> married men may appreciate. I noticed a billboard with a large 5 % sign
> where the circles of the percent sign were Budwiser caps. The only writing
> on the billboard was underneath the 5% sign and it stated: "Canada will
> accept no less!" This of course is in reference to the fact that even the
> bulk beers in Canada(Labatts, Kokanee, and Canadian(made by Molson)) are all
> a minumum of 5% alcohol instead of the beer water that our bulk producers
> Bud, Miller and Coors attempt to pass off on us. For some reason I found
> this billboard very apropo(sp) and it put a large smile on my face.
>
> to do with the fact that I enjoyed the beer in Canada so much, that I found
> it difficult to not have beer with each lunch and dinner(as I was on
> vacation). I knew that I would soon be returning to the US and that the
> beer I was enjoying would no longer be available(alas). My wonderful wife
> found a new hobby to enjoy while we were on vacation. Her new hobby was
> counting the number of beers I consumed during each day and constantly
> reminding me of this number whenever I would consider ordering another. I'm
> sure some of married guys have experienced similar "counseling" from their
> more or less non beer drinking wives.
You simply need more experience at drinking beer. If it's alcohol
content you are looking for, the mainstream Canadian beers are only
marginally higher alcohol than their American counterparts. I notice
you didn't mention malt or hop character in your analysis. I wonder
why.
I bought a case of McNally's Extra at State Line Liquors in Elkton,
Maryland last week - $9.99 per case. It was starting to sherry a bit
but still retained its chewy character.
One question: In Canada, you seemed to try some beers off your beaten
path, why don't you do this at home?
Bruce Reistle
Brian Gallagher
> >I recently completed a trip to the Canadian Rockies(Calgary, Lake Louise,
> >Jasper, and Banff) with a side trip to Vancouver and fell in love with
> >Canadian beer. I will admit that one of the reasons that I prefer it to the
> >American beers I have had is that it has a higher alcohol content. [...]
> >I have a couple of short annecdotes from my trip that beer drinkers and
> >married men may appreciate. I noticed a billboard with a large 5 % sign
> >where the circles of the percent sign were Budwiser caps. The only writing
> >on the billboard was underneath the 5% sign and it stated: "Canada will
> >accept no less!" This of course is in reference to the fact that even the
> >bulk beers in Canada(Labatts, Kokanee, and Canadian(made by Molson)) are all
> >a minumum of 5% alcohol instead of the beer water that our bulk producers
> >Bud, Miller and Coors attempt to pass off on us. For some reason I found
> >this billboard very apropo(sp) and it put a large smile on my face.
> Yet another American falls for inflated numbers due to lack of understanding.
> In the USA, beer alcohol percentage is expressed by weight. In Canada (and
> lots of other places) that percentage is expressed by *volume*. Typical
> American mass-produced lagers range from 3.2% to 4% alcohol by weight; this is
> the equivalent of 4% to 5% by volume. Why? Because alcohol is lighter than
> water, that's why, and water makes up most of a beer.
> So, all those Canadian mass beers advertising their 5% (by volume) are the
> same strength as American mass beers at around 4% (by weight). McNally's
> 7% ABV doesn't sound quite so impressive when expressed as 5.6% ABW.
> By the way, Budweiser is produced under license in Canada. Not surprisingly,
> it comes in at 5% ABV, 4% ABW. So much for Canadian beers' "higher" alcohol
> content, eh?
> --
Yeah, so much eh buudy. Why does beer in Canada taste so much better??
Must be because Canada is better.
> Don Scheidt, dgs...@case.cyberspace.com
> also at: dgs...@teleport.com
> Browse the Northwest BrewPage
> URL: http://www.teleport.com/~dgs1300/index.shtml
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Gallagher
Carleton University
Email address: bgal...@chat.carleton.ca
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don Scheidt
bgal...@chat.carleton.ca (Brian Gallagher) wrote:
>Don Scheidt (dgs...@teleport.com) wrote:
>> So, all those Canadian mass beers advertising their 5% (by volume) are the
>> same strength as American mass beers at around 4% (by weight). McNally's
>> 7% ABV doesn't sound quite so impressive when expressed as 5.6% ABW.
>> By the way, Budweiser is produced under license in Canada. Not surprisingly,
>> it comes in at 5% ABV, 4% ABW. So much for Canadian beers' "higher" alcohol
>> content, eh?
>Yeah, so much eh buudy. Why does beer in Canada taste so much better??
>Must be because Canada is better.
Is Carleton the home of a new breed of rocket scientist? The post about
alcohol percentages had nothing to do with flavo(u)r, it had to do with
different ways of expressing strength (volume % vs. weight %).
Why does beer in Canada taste so much better? Better than what? Comparing
MolBatt to BudMillOors is pretty much a wanker's waste of time.
If Canada is better... better than what?
Oh yeah, perhaps I should mention that I'm Canadian ... still hold a
Canada passport. Of course, I also hold a USA passport; funny thing about
being a dual citizen. Helps to open one's mind, you know.
--
Brian Gallagher
> >Don Scheidt (dgs...@teleport.com) wrote:
> >> So, all those Canadian mass beers advertising their 5% (by volume) are the
> >> same strength as American mass beers at around 4% (by weight). McNally's
> >> 7% ABV doesn't sound quite so impressive when expressed as 5.6% ABW.
> >> By the way, Budweiser is produced under license in Canada. Not surprisingly,
> >> it comes in at 5% ABV, 4% ABW. So much for Canadian beers' "higher" alcohol
> >> content, eh?
> >Yeah, so much eh buudy. Why does beer in Canada taste so much better??
> >Must be because Canada is better.
> Is Carleton the home of a new breed of rocket scientist? The post about
> alcohol percentages had nothing to do with flavo(u)r, it had to do with
> different ways of expressing strength (volume % vs. weight %).
(Actually, several rocket scientist have come from here - BTW are you
yanks still stealing rocket scientists from Germany?)
> Why does beer in Canada taste so much better? Better than what? Comparing
> MolBatt to BudMillOors is pretty much a wanker's waste of time.
(I must be a complete wanker then - Molson and Labatts do make some good beer,
but also some bad beer, no offence there just seems to be more crap in the
U.S.
> If Canada is better... better than what?
(Duh - the United states of Wankers!)
> Oh yeah, perhaps I should mention that I'm Canadian ... still hold a
> Canada passport. Of course, I also hold a USA passport; funny thing about
> being a dual citizen. Helps to open one's mind, you know.
> Didn't mean to piss you off dude, I'm just getting sick of bloody
americans acting like they are kings of the world. Oh, and by the
way, my mind is fully open, I have dual citizenship in Canada and the
E.C. (European Community). Also, how can you have a cdn and US passport,
I thought once youi became one of Uncle Sams citizens you forfeited any or
all foreign citizenships >
Don Scheidt, dgs...@case.cyberspace.com > also at: dgs...@teleport.com
> Browse the Northwest BrewPage
> URL: http://www.teleport.com/~dgs1300/index.shtml
Frank Richards
In message <4ulgk3$9...@nadine.teleport.com> - dgs...@teleport.com (Don
Scheidt)Sun, 11 Aug 1996 20:42:06 GMT writes:
:>
:>Why does beer in Canada taste so much better? Better than what? Comparing
:>MolBatt to BudMillOors is pretty much a wanker's waste of time.
I was in Montreal last week, and was actually rather surprised at the
(relative) lack of regional/microbrew. The only one with real presence
seemed to be Uniebrieue(sp). I found one place with Quebec Brewing
products, and one with a New Brunswick line, but MolBatt seemed to have
the place sewn up the way BudMillOors (like those names) did here 15
years ago. I don't think this was just because I was pegged as a
tourist either: The waiters seemed to prefer selling anyone a "Bleue"
rather than a "Fin-du-Monde."
Frank
Bruce Reistle
La Fin du Monde is a world class beer. Regarding taste, it seems to
lie somewhere between Celis White (or Hoegaarden) and a good Triple. It
certainly does not drink its 9% but it feels it.
Bruce
francois desrosiers
Bruce Reistle <bcre...@eos.ncsu.edu> wrote:
>Frank Richards wrote:
>>
>>
>> I was in Montreal last week, and was actually rather surprised at the
>> (relative) lack of regional/microbrew. The only one with real presence
>> seemed to be Uniebrieue(sp). I found one place with Quebec Brewing
>> products, and one with a New Brunswick line, but MolBatt seemed to have
>> the place sewn up the way BudMillOors (like those names) did here 15
>> years ago. I don't think this was just because I was pegged as a
>> tourist either: The waiters seemed to prefer selling anyone a "Bleue"
>> rather than a "Fin-du-Monde."
>>
>> Frank
No... The fact that wou were a tourist has nothing to do with it. The
microbreweries are relatively a new phenomen in Quebec (perhaps 4-5
years) and their products are sometimes difficult to obtain. There has
been some resistance in the beginning from the dealers because of the
expension of the numbers of beers and the lack of space to stock it.
But it is beginning to be available in more space.
You have Unibroue has you have said but also GMT with "La belle geule"
that is my prefered and the "Canon" a beer that is named a "biere de
garde". There is also McAuslin with the "Saint-Ambroise" and perhaps 4
or 5 others microbreweries less known.
Unibroue is also making a beer that must be heated before drinked. But
I will wait at the next winter to test it by a day at -30 celcius . I
dont know if this type of beer exist elsewhere. I had never heard
about a beer drinked hot. perhaps someone has some experience with
this type of beer.
Francois