"An American Success Story"

  

D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. is America's oldest brewery and after a recent trip   to Nashville, TN I feel compelled to write about their particular brand of refreshment. Yuengling is family owned and has been since its first keg was brewed in 1829. Strongly committed to tradition, Yuengling packages a wide variety of popular Ales, Porters and Lagers. Yuengling is brewed in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and their flagship beer, Traditional Lager, can be ordered in Pennsylvania and bordering states by simply ordering a "lager." This is certainly a mark of the breweries popularity but also the loyalty of their beer drinkers. A lot has happened throughout the brewery's 189 year lifespan and if you are curious about all of the fun facts please click here.

Yuengling is not sold in Canada so if you are interested in trying any number of their brews you will have to hop (pun intended) over the border. If you do get a chance to try it, I suggest the Traditional Lager. It's a crisp and classic lager that has truly stood the test of time. There aren't many beer companies that have lasted as long and still retain such a loyal and diverse fan-base. Not only is the Traditional Lager delicious, it is served in an attractive green glass bottle. Their unique packaging sets them apart from other brown bottle distributors, throws back to a simpler time and allows whoever is enjoying their beer a chance to stand out in a crowd.

"Hey bartender! Hey man look a here! A draw one, draw two, draw three, four glasses of beer," Hey Bartender, The Blues Brothers

Fun Fact: In 2011 Yuengling was tied with Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) for the largest American-owned brewery! 

Yuengling Traditional Lager
Class: Lager
Brewer: D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.
Alcohol Content: 4.4%

Light Blue on the Field, Blue Light in our Hearts!

In honour of my very competitive co-ed soccer teams’ advancement to this summer’s playoffs, I would like to take this opportunity to write about a certain beverage that remains close to our hearts, despite its’ current lack of “mainstream” popularity. Our team, Light Blue has chosen, cleverly if I may, Blue Light as our post-game beverage for celebrating wins, grieving losses and complaining about less than favourable calls.

"Big bottle, big mouth, big party, good times,"
The People Under the Stairs

I have written about the history of Labatt’s brewery in my post about 50 (you can check it out here) so I will just stick to the tasting notes about Blue Light. “Created in 1983, this premium, pilsner-style lager has a slightly sweet taste and a fruity, hop aroma. It's fresh, crisp and brewed to the highest quality standards.” http://www.labattus.com/bluelight/. Now, you may be scoffing at that description but Blue Light is actually one of my favourite light beers. It’s easy to drink, affordable and makes the perfect companion to any social gathering.

 

 

While I play on a soccer team with a diverse group of people, we all share a devotion to Blue Light. For us, it stands for teamwork, solidarity, friendship and hard work. To enjoy a Blue Light may seem like something minor, but it means a lot to me. So this post goes out to Light Blue! Cheers to another great season, looking forward to at least a few more with you!

 

Fun Fact: Blue Light’s big brother Labatt’s Blue is the world’s best selling Canadian brew!

 

Blue Light

Class: Lager

Brewer: Labatt

Quality: Premium

Alcohol: 4%

At the Hundredth Meridian

"Me debunk an american myth?

And take my life in my hands?

Where the great plains begin

At the hundredth meridian," The Hip

As Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip) explains, the hundredth meridian is where the great plains begin. At least,that's how Canadian's like to think of the line of longitude. Passing through Nunavut and Manitoba, the hundredth meridian separates Western Canada from Eastern Canada. Mill St. Brewery has added another beer to their repertoire this year that pays tribute to this divide called "100th Meridian".

The organic amber lager features prairie malt, Bravo and Cascade hops and is brewed in the tradtional North American fashion. I tried this beer for the first time at the Brazenhead Pub in Toronto's Liberty Village. While I like hoppy beers, amber varieties don't tend to be my first choice. That being said, Mill St.'s 100th Meridian may be my summer go to. There truly isn't a better way to honour the great prairies than creating a beer made with ingredients that have been grown organically and with love right here in North America. 100th Meridian is a shout out to Canadian and American farmers who have spent their lives tillin', plantin' and harvestin'. And let's face it, if Gord Downie sings about something, it's probably really important. I reccommend trying a 100th Meridian the next time you're relaxing on the back deck, gazing at the rows of Canada Eastern Amber Durum or Canada Prairie Red Spring growing by the acre in your backyard. Or, if you're like me...whenever! Cheers!

100th Meridian
Class: Amber Lager
Brewer: Mill St.
Quality: Craft
Alcohol Content:

50: Say Hello to a New Old Friend



"Well I've tried 'em all and it might sound queer,
but my favourite drug is a nice cold beer,"
 Asylum Street Spankers

Labatt’s brewery was founded in London, Ontario in 1847 by John Kinder Labatt. Now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev (makers of Bud Light, etc.) Labatt’s is Canada’s largest brewer of that sweet golden nectar. Labatt 50 is a beer created with a lot of sentiment. It was first produced in 1950 to represent the 50 year old partnership between Labatt grandsons Hugh and John. Interestingly, 50 was the first light-tasting ale introduced in Canada. Even more interesting, even shocking, is that 50 was Canada’s best selling beer until 1979. 50 dropped in sales due to the increase in popularity of Lagers, which is a trend that seems to be on its’ way out considering the popularity of craft brewed India Pale Ales. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that 50 is making its’ way back into the mainstream, while it may be light, it doesn’t taste like a light beer. It still gives beer lovers that hoppy kick while being refreshing and easy to drink. Regardless, 50 has certainly proved itself as a quality product. Here's an article that I found pretty entertaining and informative about the history of 50.

If you are interested in conspiracy theories and crazy histories I suggest reading about the kidnapping of John Sackville Labatt (one of John Labatt’s nine children). It’s an intriguing story and it will be the perfect complement to that cold bottle of 50. 

 

Fun Fact: For a time, Call the Office in London, ON was the biggest seller of Labatt’s 50.

50
Class: Pale Ale
Brewer: Labatt
Quality: Premium
Alcohol Content: 5%