[SpongeG]

i don't drink much wine or spirits or beer if i have to lately it's been cider if i have to choose

A drink that's making Canadians quit beer

By Michelle Mcquigge, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Take off, Bob and Doug: new national figures suggest Canada's beery reputation as the home of the hoser may be slowly withering on the vine.


Wine accounted for 29 per cent of the dollar value of alcoholic beverages sold in Canada last year, up 11 per cent from where it stood in 1993 and a whopping 92 per cent from 1976 levels, Statistics Canada figures released Tuesday suggest.

Red and rose wines are particularly popular, accounting for 64 per cent of all national wine sales, StatsCan reported.


Beer still remains Canada's beverage of choice, claiming 46 per cent of the country's booze market, but the numbers show its popularity having sagged over the past 16 years.

The shifting national tastes are in part the result of Canada's ever-broadening tastes, said Chris Layton, a spokesman for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.


People began taking more notice of red wine about 15 years ago as rumours of perceived health benefits emerged, he said, and it has only continued to grow in popularity.

"People tend to graduate in many instances from white wines to red wines, largely because they may be looking for more complexity or ... a fuller flavour," Layton said.


"Our customer base is much more knowledgeable about beverage options than they were even five years ago."

Regardless of what Canadians are buying, however, they're buying more of it, spending more on all types of liquor in 2009 than they did the year before, the figures show.


For the fiscal year ended Mar. 31, 2009, beer and liquor stores and agencies sold $19.4 billion worth of alcoholic beverages, up 3.3 per cent from the year before. Wine sales totalled $5.7 billion, beer $8.8 billion and spirits $4.9 billion.

Statistics Canada attributes the dollar growth to an increase in sales of imported spirits and beer compared with domestic products, and a one per cent average increase in the cost of alcoholic beverages.


In litres of absolute alcohol - pure alcohol, free of water - the agency says the volume of sales of alcoholic beverages increased 1.6 per cent to 226.4 million litres.

But while beer by far remained the most popular alcoholic beverage in terms of both volume and dollar value, StatsCan says its market share declined.


In 1993, beer peaked at 53 per cent of dollar sales and wine accounted for 18; by 2009, the market share of beer had declined to 46 per cent, while wine had captured 29.

Beer stores and agencies sold 2.3 billion litres of beer in 2009, a 0.9 per cent increase from the previous year. Per-capita beer sales have dropped 28 per cent from their peak of 115.2 litres in 1976 to 83.5 litres in 2009.


The growth in sales volume of imported beer continued to outpace that of domestic products. The volume of imported beer sold increased 7.8 per cent in 2009, while domestic beer sales stayed the same.

By volume, imported beer has more than doubled its market share in the last decade. In 2009, imported beer had captured 13 per cent of the beer market in Canada, up from six per cent in 1999.

Layton said the numbers reflect a growing demand for quality and consumers who are becoming more adventurous in their beer choices.

"You will see people moving from larger-selling brands to the premium-style brands," he said. "What we've seen, interestingly enough, is not only increased sales of imported beers but also in craft beers."

That may also be partially driven by demographics, he added.

Baby boomers with money to spend are more willing to invest their spare dollars in exotic beers and wines that may have been beyond their means in their younger days, Layton said.

The agency says the net income recorded by liquor authorities, combined with other alcohol-related revenue such as liquor licences and permits, reached $5.4 billion in 2009, up 3.6 per cent.

Saskatchewan, Nunavut and Nova Scotia reported the largest increases.

...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100420/national/statscan_booze

[Dmajackson]

^You'll never see wine over take beer in the Maritimes. The Keith's, Moosehead's and Oland's have a huge segment of the retail market.

The only wine-maker I can think of with influence here is Pete Luckett.

[MolsonExport]

most of the beer sold in canada is nothing but bottled horse-piss. Witness the horrid "Big Ten" list at the "Beer Stoar" in Ontario (that place of the overpriced "premium" beers, lousy hours, cardboard posters of crappy beers, conveyor belts, and dimwitted employees).

For God's sake the top selling beers in Canada are:
1. Buttweiser
2. Coors fucking light.

[SteelTown]

I way prefer a bottle of bubbly than beer. Give me a bottle of wine or tequila and I'll be a happy camper.

[Distill3d]

Give me a bottle of fine Bourbon to beer or wine any day.

[JayM]

most of the beer sold in canada is nothing but bottled horse-piss. Witness the horrid "Big Ten" list at the "Beer Stoar" in Ontario (that place of the overpriced "premium" beers, lousy hours, cardboard posters of crappy beers, conveyor belts, and dimwitted employees).

For God's sake the top selling beers in Canada are:
1. Buttweiser
2. Coors fucking light.

ewwww

[Ayreonaut]

Rose wine - No thanks. :yuck:

I don't mind Shiraz, but I'll gladly take a Chimay over wine any day.

[isaidso]

For God's sake the top selling beers in Canada are:
1. Buttweiser
2. Coors fucking light.

US beers are #1 and #2 in Canada? :whatthefuck: :doh:

[Nathan]

US beers are #1 and #2 in Canada? :whatthefuck: :doh:

US companies bought out the big Canadian Brewers anyway.. so even if "Canadian" were at the top of the list... would it really be a Canadian beer? Same goes for Labatt and Sleeman as well now.

[Spoolmak]

what about kokanee?

[EastVanMark]

what about kokanee?

Its owned by Labatts

[Echoes]

I hope this thread turns into a discussion of our favourite beers. I'm getting thirsty.

Hoegaarden, anyone? :cheers:

[Vaillant]

i don't drink beer anymore wine is better :tup:

[Gerrard]

For us calorie conscious types, wine is the way to go! I rarely drink beer anymore, unless I'm at a bar (not wine bar). Even then I prefer girlie citrus-y cocktails.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I drink wine on occasion, but a cold beer is my preferred choice. Something a little on the darker side. And ugh to the Bud and Coors light on top of the beer sales charts. Just atrocious.

I'll second a Hoegaarden. Although a little pricey so not the usual beer is a Big Rock Traditional. Right now though, there's some Kilkenny in the fridge. I do love the Irish Creams.

[harls]

? I didn't think you could get Big Rock in Newfoundland?

I enjoy a nice merlot now and then, but I'm more of a beer man.. dark stouts are my favourite.

[MolsonExport]

Typical beermanship for me includes the following brands:

Smithwicks
Guinness
Grolsch
Stella Artois
Becks
Staropramen
Old Speckled Hen
Boddingtons
Harp
Kilkenny
Pilsner Urquel
Newcastle Brown
Bass
Wartsteiner

[duper]

US companies bought out the big Canadian Brewers anyway.. so even if "Canadian" were at the top of the list... would it really be a Canadian beer? Same goes for Labatt and Sleeman as well now.

Molson Coors was a merger, not a buyout. It's still based in Montreal and Denver.


Canada has some fabulous local wineries.
In Ontario, people often think of Niagara Region as being the wine region of the province, but Prince Edward Country (2 hours east of Toronto) produces some nice wines as well.

http://www.sandbankswinery.com/
http://www.sandbankswinery.com/Kato%20NEW%20images/baco-noir-reserve.jpg

[HomeInMyShoes]

? I didn't think you could get Big Rock in Newfoundland?

I enjoy a nice merlot now and then, but I'm more of a beer man.. dark stouts are my favourite.

We can thankfully. Oddly enough Keith's Red disappeared from shelves over the last couple of months. The Quidi Vidi Brewing company down by The Gut makes some fine choices. The Honey Brown and 1892 options are quite decent.

For wines, I like Malbec's, Merlots, some Shiraz, the occasional Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon if it's going into what's for dinner.

[Distill3d]

Well, I tend to shy away from the major brewers in Canada anyways. Molson tends to taste like crap. I used to drink Labbatt Blue, but it started tasting funny. I'll reach for a Kokanee now and again, but not often.

I like the medium players in the game like Alex Keith's, Moosehead, and Big Rock. I especially love the new smaller more local breweries like Granville Island Brewery, Storm Brewing, or Russel Brewing Company. If I'm going to drink beer, its usually going to be something more local. Though, I will point out that not enough respect goes to the cheaper beers as well. I mean, okay, I'm not suggesting Lucky Lager or Alberta Genuine Draft, but some beers like Old Milwaukee aren't all that bad when you're in a bind. I'd rather them to Molson Canadian or Budwiser.

Mind you, I'm the same way with wine. I tried this reisling the other day, Oak Creek or something like that, from the Okanagan. Good stuff, and I don't like white wine! I prefer a shiraz or a zinfandel. BC has an amazing selection of wines. I give the province credit for growing an award winning wine industry out of nothing.

I still love hard alcohol the most. As I said, I'd prefer a Bourbon to anything. Yeah, I know, its America's drink, but it just tastes so good! I can't find a good Canadian Whisky that goes as well as a Bourbon. Canadian Club was alright, but like my taste for Labbatt Blue, it went away...

[SHOFEAR]

I'll drink whatever is on special.

[kool maudit]

i like good beer, but beer snobbery is kind of tiresome and '90s. it makes me think of bearded men who corner you at work and tell you about a special club they're part of where you get a six-pack of "craft brew" every month -- "everything from pumpkinseed IPA to berryfart stout!"

give me an hour or two in the sun and i'll destroy a coors light.

[samne]

Ive really turned on to wine the past few years. Probably finish about a bottle a week between the two of us.

Ontario only did whites well for the longest time, but the reds have really developed lately. I'll go to either Niagara or PEC once a year and really try to make an effort to buy local from the LCBO.

Other than that, Australian Shiraz is good value.

Im still a beer drinker though and usually anything on tap is good when Im out.

Love picking up a mix of exotic or wierd import/premium or craft brews from the LCBO.

[240glt]

Although I do enjoy a nice shiraz, Beer is and always will be tops in my books.

Lately I have been drinking Mickeys and TsingTao, usually drink Sleemans at the bar, & Lucky is my summer/ camping beer

[waterloowarrior]

Well, I tend to shy away from the major brewers in Canada anyways. Molson tends to taste like crap. I used to drink Labbatt Blue, but it started tasting funny. I'll reach for a Kokanee now and again, but not often.

I like the medium players in the game like Alex Keith's, Moosehead, and Big Rock. I especially love the new smaller more local breweries like Granville Island Brewery, Storm Brewing, or Russel Brewing Company. If I'm going to drink beer, its usually going to be something more local..

FYI Keith's is owned by Labatt/Anheuser–Busch InBev and Granville Island is owned by Molson-Coors (through Creemore Springs)

[Distill3d]

FYI Keith's is owned by Labatt/Anheuser–Busch InBev and Granville Island is owned by Molson-Coors (through Creemore Springs)

What I meant to say was the major brand names. :yes: :tup: :haha:

..actually I had no idea either was owned by the bigger guys. I thought they were both independent. Doesn't really change my opinion of either though.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^And everything is owned by Philip Morris so you might as well just smoke because they are getting your money anyway. I'm joking, but it's pretty scary how big the tobacco companies really are some days.

[MrOilers]

There is no such thing as "bad" beer. The only "bad" thing is if the temperature of the beer is unsuitable.

And wine sucks. I've tried at least two dozen different kinds, and all I know is that it just tastes sour and gives me heartburn. Thank goodness there will always be beer.

[manny_santos]

Typical beermanship for me includes the following brands:

Smithwicks
Guinness
Grolsch
Stella Artois
Becks
Staropramen
Old Speckled Hen
Boddingtons
Harp
Kilkenny
Pilsner Urquel
Newcastle Brown
Bass
Wartsteiner

I like Guinness. Sadly I have never heard of half of the other beers, but with those kinds of names they've gotta be good.

I personally like (in no particular order):

Rickard's Red
Rickard's White (this one is very easy to get smashed from)
Keith's Ale
Keith's Red
Keith's White
Guiness
Creemore Springs
Sleeman
Corona
Tecate
Sol
Victoria (a Mexican beer I have yet to find in Canada)
Blue
Budweiser
Canadian

I will not drink "light" beer whatsoever. I also won't touch Stella Artois, Lakeport, Laker, or Brava. I'm partial to Foster's and Molson Export. Years ago my father drank OV regularly, and sometimes Labatt 50. My grandfather drank nothing but Carling Black Label.

As for wine, I like pretty much any wine there is.

[waterloowarrior]

What I meant to say was the major brand names. :yes: :tup: :haha:

..actually I had no idea either was owned by the bigger guys. I thought they were both independent. Doesn't really change my opinion of either though.

Ownership in the alcohol industry is really interesting with so many brands being owned by relatively few big players... I actually didn't know that Creemore Springs was owned by Molson-Coors until I looked it up. Another one I found about a little while ago was Unibroue being owned by Sleeman (which of course is now owned by Sapporo). For wines, a bigcompany is Constellation Brands which owns Vincor and a lot of the big Ontario/BC brands like Inniskillin and Jackson Triggs. And for some of the biggest alcohol players see the brands owned by these companies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InBev_brands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diageo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernod_Ricard

[Distill3d]

I like Guinness. Sadly I have never heard of half of the other beers, but with those kinds of names they've gotta be good.

I personally like (in no particular order):

Rickard's Red
Rickard's White (this one is very easy to get smashed from)
Keith's Ale
Keith's Red
Keith's White
Guiness
Creemore Springs
Sleeman
Corona
Tecate
Sol
Victoria (a Mexican beer I have yet to find in Canada)
Blue
Budweiser
Canadian

I will not drink "light" beer whatsoever. I also won't touch Stella Artois, Lakeport, Laker, or Brava. I'm partial to Foster's and Molson Export. Years ago my father drank OV regularly, and sometimes Labatt 50. My grandfather drank nothing but Carling Black Label.

As for wine, I like pretty much any wine there is.

I'm sure Molson Export will be okay with you being partial to him, but his wife may care...:haha:

[Smevo]

I'm not overly fond of wine. White wine is ok every now and then, but I have it maybe once or twice a year. I'm more of a beer and whiskey man. Since we're listing them, my beer preferences are (in no particular order):
Keiths (Red or Ale, don't like the White)
Rickards Red
Sleeman
Labatt (if there's no Keiths around)
Kokanee
Heiniken
Pumphouse
Prestige (when I was in Haiti several years back)
Corona (if there's no other option from the rest of the list)
I can't stand Moosehead or its associated beers, Molson will do in a pinch, never Coors or Bud or anything light.

As for whiskey:
Glenfiddich
Glen Breton (when I can get it)
Glen Breton Ice (see above)
Crown Royal if I'm looking to get smashed, but those days seem like another lifetime at this point. :cheers:

[Distill3d]

Ownership in the alcohol industry is really interesting with so many brands being owned by relatively few big players... I actually didn't know that Creemore Springs was owned by Molson-Coors until I looked it up. Another one I found about a little while ago was Unibroue being owned by Sleeman (which of course is now owned by Sapporo). For wines, a bigcompany is Constellation Brands which owns Vincor and a lot of the big Ontario/BC brands like Inniskillin and Jackson Triggs. And for some of the biggest alcohol players see the brands owned by these companies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InBev_brands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diageo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernod_Ricard

See, I wonder if these brands are totally owned by the bigger players or are just partly owned and distributed by them?

[Gerrard]

Rule of thumb for wine drinkers: Once a bottle has been opened IT MUST BE CONSUMED. :-)

[Rumors]

I can only drink beer, I spew with anything else. :rolleyes:

[matt602]

whisky whisky whisky :)

http://www.beveragewarehouse.com/images/products/1880.jpg

I can't stand beer or wine.

[habfanman]

I love all booze! I drink wine with meals, gin/scotch as a chill out, beer at all times, anything whenever. Support your local breweries!! Fuck Labatt/Molson/Sleeman!! (Anheuser Busch Inbev/Coors/Sapporo)

[Denscity]

Kokanee is the local beer here being in the Kootenays and all. Its brewed 1.5 hours away but im sick of drinking it. It gives me a headache. The same brewer also makes Kootenay true ale and it is great. Also give me Granville Island, Russell, Sleemans, most mexican brews, tsingtao.

[SpongeG]

does anyone drink red stripe?

i wanna try it for the bottle - some bars here have it

http://static.open.salon.com/files/redstripebeer1248996183.jpg
http://static.open.salon.com