Canada vs United States macros

[Jake]

We all know about our big 3 macros here in the U.S. I live 160 miles south of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario and 200 north of Windsor, Ontario. I have never seen a Canadian micro brew in any store. Only the Canadian macros of Molson Canadian and Labatt Blue. Are these two Canadian macros at the same quality level as our BMC?

[fretlessman71]

I think they're a little bit better, but not by much.

There are Canadian micros out there - here's a list from Beer Advocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beerfly/list?path=%2Fbeerfly%2Flist&sort=name&show=search&name=&city=&s_id=&c_id=CA&zip=&area=&submit=+search+&brewery=Y

[Jake]

I was at a company party this summer and the beer choices were all from kegs and they were: Bud, Bud Light, Miller Light and Labatt Blue. I drank the Labatt, what the heck it was free. The next week I decided to buy a 6er of Molson Canadian to compare the two. I bought also a 6er of Labatt and did a side-by-side taste test. Looking at my notes I wrote that I could not see or taste much difference between them. The Molson was a bit more crisp and smooth, while the Labatt Blue produced a little aftertaste that I did not detect in the Molson. Both were not very exciting, but at the same time nothing really offensive. Very much the same characteristics of many U.S. macros.

My conclusion was I would not be drinking these beer any time soon, but ever in the position were I need to choose between our macros and them I would choose them.

[jlttb]

My very first 'great' beer was a Molson Brador, brought to my dorm on Long Island by some friends back from a trip to Canada--probably around 1983. In those days, going to Canada was the only way to get real good beer--at that time, Coors was exotic!
The Brador had a strength and flavor unlike anything I'd ever tasted up until then. I wish it was still around.
For everyday use, I'll still pick up a 12 pack of Molson Export when it's a good price, or a Labatt's Green more rarely (or a Moosehead more rarely than that). They're good, but happily many beers are around now that surpass them.

[hops99]

I live about 90 minutes south of the Ambassador Bridge (Detroit to Windsor). My wife and I used to rent a cottage up in Leamington Ontario for a week every Summer (back in the mid-90's), and I drank alot of LM (Labatt-Molson). I truly believe there is little, if any, difference between LM and BMC. As a matter of fact, one of my Canadian friends in Kingsville (next to Leamington, in Southern Ontario) swears by regular Budweiser, and thinks it's much better than LM. Go figure.

I did, however, used to think that Kokanee (a Western Canadian brew by Labatt) had a Rolling-Rock-esque dryness to it that was a tad different.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by hops99
One of my Canadian friends in Kingsville (next to Leamington, in Southern Ontario) swears by regular Budweiser, and thinks it's much better than LM. Go figure.
That grass IS always greener on the other side of the fence, isn't it? ;)

[Cloakndagger]

There are some great Canadian micros but as far as the Macros go, I think they are just like our swill. I think that Coors and Molson merged a year or so ago.