18 Popular Canadian Beers You Can’t Miss in 2023

Canada has quite the brewing heritage. Beer was brought to Canada by European settlers in the 1600s. Their brewing culture has survived prohibition (yes, they also had alcohol prohibition) and harsh winters to become what it is today.

But have you ever wondered what are the most popular Canadian Beers? We did too, and we found 18 awesome beers.

Let’s take a trip to the Great White North, shall we? Put on your snow hats (the ones with flaps) and your snow shoes as we cross the border to Canada. Counting down to the most popular beer, below are 18 popular Canadian beers.

18. 606 India Pale Ale by Paddock Wood Brewing Co.

  • Style: English IPA
  • Alcohol Content: 5.4% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Caramel, Citrus

606 India Pale Ale by Paddock Wood Brewing Co.

606 India Pale Ale is an amber-colored beer with a clear profile. It pours to form a thick white head with decent retention. While it is an English IPA, it’s not nearly as hoppy as the American IPAs you find in a craft brewery.

But it’s super drinkable. It’s like the beer plays your tongue a symphony of citrus over a caramel bassline. Delish!

 

17. Old Style Pilsner by Molson Coors Canada

  • Style: German Pilsner
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Bread, Citrus, Skunk

Old Style Pilsner by Molson Coors Canada

If you grew up in the Great White North, you probably understand the cultural significance of Old Style Pilsner. I mean, the beer was everywhere. Your dad drank it, and your granddad too. And if you were old enough, you drank it too.

 Not many Canadian beers have such a devout following. I guess that’s what you get for consistently delivering high-quality beer for cheap.

 

16. St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout by McAuslan Brewing

  • Style: Oatmeal Stout
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Coffee, Chocolate

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout by McAuslan Brewing

For an Oatmeal Stout, St-Ambroise is quite drinkable. It has a silky-smooth texture and medium mouthfeel. This black beer pours to form a tan head with impressive retention. It’s an award winner too. In 1994, St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout won one platinum medal at the World Beer Cup.

 

15. Alexander Keith’s Red Amber Ale by Alexander Keith

  • Style: American Amber/Red Ale
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Caramel

Alexander Keith's Red Amber Ale by Alexander Keith

Our next entrant hails from Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a red-colored amber ale with a minimal head and poorer retention. It has a sweet caramel smell and a similar taste. Alexander Keith’s Red Amber Ale is super drinkable with a light body and a refreshing taste.

 

14. Lakeport Honey Lager by Lakeport Brewing Company

  • Style: American Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Corn, Honey

Lakeport Honey Lager by Lakeport Brewing Company

What should you expect from a brewery called Lakeport? Well, a lager called Lakeport Honey. And as the name suggests, the beer has prominent honey notes over a base of corn and malt.

Overall, Lakeport Lager is a decent beer. It’s not one to divide opinions or start any riots. Its flavor is mild, and its body is light. Grab yourself one for the summer.

 

13. Traditional Ale by Big Rock Brewery

  • Style: English Brown Ale
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Caramel, Toast

Traditional Ale by Big Rock Brewery

When you look at a bottle of Traditional Ale, one thing stands out; its remarkable beer label. The label design is similar to what you would expect on a wine bottle.

Enough about the label; what does the beer taste like? Traditional ale is a malt-centered brown ale. It has a strong malty character with creamy, caramel, and nutty characteristics.

 

12. 1516 Bavarian Lager by Okanagan Spring Brewing

  • Style: Helles
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Malt

1516 Bavarian Lager by Okanagan Spring Brewing

Ever wondered what British Columbia tastes like? 1516 Bavarian Lager will give you a hint. This straw-colored lager is a malt-centric beer. It is grainy with noticeable hints of corn. Beer bitterness is almost non-existent, making the beer super drinkable and refreshing.

 

11. Molson Canadian 67 by Molson Coor Canada

  • Style: Light Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 3% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Corn

Molson Canadian 67 by Molson Coor Canada

If you’re a health-conscious beer lover, you’ll surely love this entrant. The number 67 in its name comes from the number of calories it contains per 12 oz serving. Its taste is quite bland, with hints of corn syrup. Overall, super drinkable beer, perfect for light drinking.

 

10. English Bay Pale Ale by Granville Island Brewery

  • Style: English Pale Ale
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Caramel, Earthy Hops, Skunk

English Bay Pale Ale by Granville Island Brewery

On to the top 10! English Bay Pale Ale is a copper-colored ale with a clear body and a butter-yellow head. It has a very malty aroma with pronounced caramel notes. The sweet caramel character also persists in the beer’s taste. Overall, the English Bay Pale Ale is a decent beer.

 

9. Creemore Springs Premium Lager by Creemore Springs Brewing Limited

  • Style: American Amber/Red Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Malt, Fruit

Creemore Springs Premium Lager by Creemore Springs Brewing Limited

The name “Creemore Springs Premium Lager” is quite a mouthful. But what does the beer taste like? First of all, Creemore Springs is a copper-colored amber ale that pours to form a thick head with decent retention.

The malty taste of the beer is well-balanced and complemented by fruity hop notes. Overal, the beer is refreshing with a crisp profile.

 

8. Kokanee by Columbia Brewery

  • Style: American Adjunct Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Corn, Honey, Grassy hops

Kokanee by Columbia Brewery

Kokanee is a grainy beer with a biscuity aroma. You can also pick faint notes of grassy hops. The taste is grainy too; but well-complimented with notes of honey and grassy hops. It’s a decent beer, and many people like it for the nostalgia.

 

7. Rickard’s Red by Molson Coors Canada

  • Style: American Amber/Red Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5.2% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Caramel, Dark Fruit, Hops

Rickard's Red by Molson Coors Canada

As its name suggests, Rickard’s Red is an amber lager with a reddish hue. As beautiful as it looks, Rickard’s Red is not the beer to knock your socks off. In the same breath, it doesn’t polarize opinions as some craft beers do. It’s just a decent beer for a fair price.

In terms of flavor, you can expect some sweet caramel flavors with hints of dark fruit and earthy hops. However, it has a somewhat watered-down feel.

 

6. Steam Whistle Pilsner by Steam Whistle Pilsner

  • Style: Bohemian/Czech Pilsner
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Dough, Apple

Steam Whistle Pilsner by Steam Whistle Pilsner

So, if you’re looking for a pilsner that hits all the marks, look no further than Steam Whistle Pilsner. This brew’s got it going on – light body, pale hue, malty goodness outta this world.

The beer has a rich, complex malt flavor that practically bursts through every sip, making those hops fade into the background like they aren’t even there.

 

5. Sleeman Original Draught by Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

  • Style: American Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: green Apples, Sweet Corn

Sleeman Original Draught by Sleeman Breweries Ltd

We kick things off our top five with Sleeman Original Draught, a crisp little number that promises pure refreshing joy in liquid form. Appearance-wise, the beer is a rich amber hue with a foamy head that rises high like Mounties on parade day. But it won’t last forever.

Mouthfeel is equally impressive. Sleeman is as smooth as silk with a medium body. Are you trying to cool down; pour yourself a glass of Sleeman Original Draught.

 

4. Moosehead Lager by Moosehead Breweries Ltd.

  • Style: American Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Floral and Grassy Hops, Biscuit

Moosehead Lager by Moosehead Breweries Ltd

What would a trip to Canada be without a moose sighting? For our list, the moose comes in the form of the Moosehead Lager. Judging by its appearance, Moosehead looks like sunshine and smiley face emojis. Its flavor; not so bright. It is a malty lager with faint hop notes.

Aroma-wise, malty flavors reign supreme, giving off biscuity flavors and aromas. Speaking of aromas, Moosehead is quite skunky.

 

3. Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale by Alexander Keith’s

  • Style: American Blonde Ale
  • Alcohol Content: 5%
  • Tasting Notes: Corn, Citrus

Alexander Keith's India Pale Ale by Alexander Keith's

Alexander Keith’s is back, this time with its India Pale Ale brand. While it bears the IPA name, the beer really feels like a lager. It has a light body and a refreshing character. As for taste, you can expect hints of citrus over a background of corn. Overall, it’s a decent beer, great for warm weather.

 

2. Labatt Blue by Labatt Brewing Company

  • Style: American Adjunct Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Corn, Wheat

Labatt Blue by Labatt Brewing Company

Labatt has been around since 1951. It has since become the best-selling Canadian beer export. Labatt Blue started off as Labatt Pilsener before it was renamed to the color of its label. Labatt Blue is a malt-centric beer with a strong wheat and corn character. And like many other beers in this list, its flavor is mild and inoffensive.

 

1. Molson Canadian by Molson Coors Canada

  • Style: American Adjunct Lager
  • Alcohol Content: 5% ABV
  • Tasting Notes: Corn

Molson Canadian by Molson Coors Canada

And the most popular Canadian beer is (drum roll please) Molson Canadian. It has been around since 1876, and it has fought to become the best-selling beer in Canada. However, it faces stiff competition from American Imports like Budweiser and Coors Light.

Molson Canadian is a classic lager with a medium body. Its taste profile is well-balanced, with subtle notes of malt and hops.

 

Did We Miss Any?

The 18 Canadian beers above have stood the test of time to earn their place in the hearts of Canadians. So if you’re wondering what Canada tastes like, just grab any of these beers, and you’ll find your answer.

And there you have it, the most popular Canadian beers. Did we miss any popular Canadian beers? Post your favorite Canadian beer in the comment section below.

18 Popular Canadian Beers You Can't Miss in 2023

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