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Canadian BeerCanada has a rich tradition of beer brewing, often intertwined with the country's history. While the Canadian beer industry is massive and plays an important role in Canadian identity, recent developments have seen a number of big players acquired by or merged with foreign companies, notably its two biggest beer sellers, Labatt and Molson. History Beer was first introduced to Canada by European settlers in the 17th century. The first commercial brewery was built by Jean Talon in Quebec City, in the year 1668. Over a century later a number of commercial brewers thrived, including some that became the staple of the Canadian industry: John Molson founded a brewery in Montreal in 1786, Alexander Keith in Halifax in 1829, Thomas Carling in London in 1840, John Labatt in 1847, also in London, and Eugene O'Keefe in Toronto. The very first patent to be issued by the Canadian government on July 6, 1842 was to one G. Riley for "an improved method of brewing ale, beer, porter, and other maltliquors." The stubby bottle This type of bottle is shorter and has a slightly larger diameter than the now predominant longneck bottle. Starting in 1962 almost all beer in Canada was sold in these bottles until the beer companies chose to switch to the American-style longneck bottle between 1982 and 1984. Proponents of "the stubby" note that its smaller shape (while retaining the same volume) means that it is easier to ship and store, chills faster, and is less likely to break. Molson and Labatt The market in Canada for domestic beer is dominated by these two breweries. Both aggressively market their flagship brands (Molson Canadian and Labatt Blue) as well as producing several niche brands and bottling and marketing American and other imports. Microbreweries As with the United States, a flourishing microbrewery industry has arisen in Canada, satisfying niche tastes and providing localized offerings. Canada's geography and the fact that alcohol sales and production are controlled at the provincial level mean that the products of microbreweries are usually available only in the regions where they are produced. For instance the beer made by Creemore Springs is available only in southern Ontario. Beer in Canadian culture See also Notable brewers External links
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