Lakeport Introduces Lakeport Ale

Value brewer Lakeport has added an Ale to its growling list of beer styles.

"Adding an ale to our family of beers was really inspired by our loyal Lakeport drinkers. They asked us to create a great tasting beer and we are proud to deliver great tasting Lakeport Ale at a fair price," says Tom Rolfe, Lakeport Brand Manager.

Lakeport Ale is now available at The Beer Store and LCBO Agency/Combo stores across Ontario in the 24 bottles for $24 format as well as in both 6-can and 6-bottle packs.

For more information read the full press release.

Neustadt Lager Now Available in Cans

Neustadt Springs has put that new canning equipment to work and now makes it's Lager available to the masses. This offering has finally received LCBO approval, and the 473 ml cans have started appearing at select LCBO and Beer Store outlets.

Other beers from Neustadt available in cans include 10W30 Brown Ale and Scottish Pale Ale.

Russell Brewing Beer Now Available in Cans

Russell Brewing of British Columbia has just announced that their beer is now available in cans. This marks the Company's first consumer take-home product after thirteen years of exclusively producing draught beer.

Products include Russell Cream Ale, Russell Pale Ale, Russell Honey Blonde Ale and Russell Extra Special Lager available in 6 x 355ml aluminum can packs.

For a list of private liquor stores carrying Russell beer or for more information, please visit www.russellbeer.com.

Alexander Keith's Releases New Cans for Atlantic University Sport

Atlantic University Sport (AUS) and Alexander Keith's have announced an expanded marketing partnership. Beginning in February, special 8-pack cases of Keith's cans will include a selection of AUS collector cans that celebrate and promote Atlantic University Sport and its championships.

Two million collector cans will be distributed across Atlantic Canada over two phases in 2008. The first phase will consist of seven different custom Keith's can designs which will highlight the sports of men's and women's volleyball, hockey and basketball. This set will also include a special AUS collector can. A second set of themed cans highlighting fall AUS sports will be available in September through November.

Carlsberg Launches the Most Expensive Lager in the World

Vintage No.1 is a new dessert beer from Carlesburg that now takes the No.1 spot as the most expensive beer in the world. At $400 U.S. per bottle, this brew shares hints of prune, caramel, vanilla and oak tree.

And if good beer alone doesn't sound tasty enough to entice you into parting with your cash, the bottle's label is also a collectible incorporating a hand-stenciled original lithographic print by Danish artist Frans Kannik. It looks like there are 4 different labels so the dedicated collector will have to spend some serious cash to get a complete set!

If anyone out there gets their hands on this premium beer, make sure to invite me to the beer tasting!

LCBO Spring 2008 Seasonal Beer Releases

The following beers are scheduled to be included in the spring at the LCBO.

• Duchy Originals Organic Ale
  
• Orval
  
• Jenlain Bière de Printemps
  
• Rogue Brutal Bitter
  
• Schloss Eggenberg Urbock 23
  
• St. Louis Gueuze
  
• Trafalgar Oak Aged Rye
  
• Weltenberger Kloster Asam Bock
  
• Westmalle Tripel
  

These offerings will start trickling into stores sometime in March.

Labatt Takes Alexander Keith's Stateside

At the recent Annual Wholesalers Meeting in Buffalo, Labatt USA announced that it will soon take Alexander Keith's, one of Canada's oldest brands, stateside.

Alexander Keith's is one of several specialty beers that Labatt will be pushing in the United States as the brewer hopes to gain a larger market share of the growing craft beer market (CCC: Keith's is craft beer? Says who?). New Labatt labels now indicate that the beer is still brewed in Canada but its U.S. headquarters are in Buffalo.

Alexander Keith's is expected to appear in the U.S. sometime this spring.

Cameron's Brewing Co. New Coaster Campaign Launches

A new post by Mike Laba, of Cameron's Brewing Co., on the Ontario Craft Brewers Blog was published to let everyone know about their new Coaster Campaign which officially launched on February 1, 2008.

The new Cameron's coasters (available at pubs and bars serving Cameron's) doubles as a post card inviting patrons to add their mailing address and drop it in the mail. Cameron's will send you one of their new bottle openers. As the coasters arrive at the brewery they will be added to the ‘Great Wall of Coasters’ and those who have mailed back a coaster will earn themselves a discount on swag, a ticket for a Cameron’s event, or other items available at the brewery.

It certainly is a great idea and I'll be taking part in this for sure. I think Cameron's could take this a bit further though. For example, they could include a small stamp or code on the coasters which would tell them what bar or pub the coasters come from. They could also include a couple of other questions on the coaster such as which brand of Cameron's they drink most often or the person's age. This intelligence could help Cameron's with their marketing initiatives.

Perry Mason of Scotch Irish / Heritage Brewing to Persue Other Projects.

Perry Mason, founder of Scotch Irish Brewing in Fitzroy Harbour, ON., has left Heritage Brewing to pursue other projects. In 2006, Scotch Irish Brewing had sold its name and beer brands to Heritage. Heritage will continue to brew Scotch Irish's flagship brand, Sgt. Major India Pale Ale.

Attention Collectors: Rare Alexander Keith's Beer Find on eBay!

Well someone thinks so anyway. I was sent this item listing from another reader and thought it would be of interest to you all.

Up for auction on eBay is a stubby from Alexander Keith's which is full and has never been opened. The bottle, and its contents, can be yours for the bargain price of $5,000.00 U.S.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150218732433

So... who's going to open the bidding? Hurry! Auction ends on March 3, 2008.

Coors Light's New Can is Cold Certified

Coors Light will soon be introducing a new can with temperature technology included for free. This technology will be used to easily identify cans which have reached optimal drinking temperature.

"Our brewing tradition was born high in the Rockies so we brew Coors Light to be the coldest, most refreshing tasting beer you can find," said Denis Ferlatte, Coors Light Senior Brand Manager at Molson. "The Cold Certified Can gives Coors Light drinkers the signal that their beer is ice cold and ready to enjoy."

The Coors Light Cold Certified Can features proprietary temperature-sensitive thermal chromatic ink technology that turns the Coors Light Mountain Icon from white to blue when the beer has been chilled to four degrees Celsius or less. The Cold Certified Cans will be available in 355 mL and 473 mL and available across Canada - just in time for summer.

Read the full press release.

Is the Blue Fading?

I came across this interesting article by Marina Strauss at ReportOnBusiness.com trying to answer the question "What happend to Blue?" Labatt Blue was one of Canada's top beer brands and I can't seem to remember the last time I'd seen an ad for it - TV, magazine, billboard, anything! This article provides some possible answers to the question why Blue has dropped from #1 to #4 in Canada.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080221.RBLUE21/TPStory/Business

An Oland returns to Moosehead

Andrew Oland will replace Steven Poirier as Moosehead Breweries Ltd.'s president, the sixth generation of his family to lead the independent brewer. This April, after more than a decade, Oland will take the second-highest post at the largest Canadian-owned brewer.

Belly up to the bar to drink some 'Bog Water'?

Beau's All Natural Brewing in Vankleek Hill, Ontario has released its first seasonal brew labeled "Bog Water". As described on their website, it promises to be strong and dark providing bitterness, a sweet aroma and herbal spicy notes through its use of bog myrtle (or sweet gale) harvested from northern Quebec.

This is available for a limited time and can be purchased at the brewery.

Some other great news from the brewery:

• They have begun to offer beer in 750ml bottles as well as the growler.
  
• Their beer will soon be available for purchase at selected LCBO stores.
• The Beauchesne family was nominated for personality of the year by CBC radio/tv & le Droit.

Lots going on at this really great brewery.

For more information visit their website.

Steelback Brewery Making a Comeback?

New Steelback Brewery president Ian Macdonald is relaunching the Tiverton, Ont., brewery with a whole new look on May 1, 2008. MacDonald plans to relaunch the brewery with five beers, including the Steelback Dark, which won accolades (CC: Does that mean it won an actual award?) at the Canadian Brewing Awards in 2007.

Important note for collectors: New bottles and packaging are also in the works.

Kingston Collectors of Canadian Brewery Advertising Show 2008

CCBA Convention Kingston - August 6-10, 2008 at the Ambassador Conference Resort.

The 29th annual brewery collectibles convention. Come to Kingston to meet friends, buy, sell and trade brewery advertising treasures.

> Hospitality room daily
> Low cost, minimal structure
> Buy/Sell/Trade on Saturday
> AGM on Friday morning
> Supper at the Kingston Brew Pub on Saturday (Pay as you go)
> Optional activities

Beautiful downtown Kingston facilities provide shopping, pub-crawling, sightseeing, boating, and entertainment of all kinds.

Contact Allen Dodd or Dave Platt at 613-389-0465 or triumphald@yahoo.com