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Monday, 11 May 2009

Beer in 1890's Canada

I'm straying a bit off-theme today. I usually limit myself to Europe. If I didn't, things would get just too crazy. But I couldn't resist these analyses of beer on sale in Canada.

Why were these analyses made? To check for adulteration. The book covers a variety of other products such as milk and butter. The beer came out very well. Only one of the 76 samples showed signs of adulteration. The other foods had a much poorer showing.

Anyway, here are the numbers.

Bottled beers analysed in Canada in the 1890's
Year Brewer country Beer Style OG FG ABV App. Atten-uation
1897 A. Keith & Son, Nova Scotia Brewery Canada Keith's Ale Ale 1052 1005 6.12 90.33%
1897 A. Keith & Son, Nova Scotia Brewery Canada XXX Porter Porter 1062 1009.1 6.97 85.39%
1897 Beauport Brewery, P.Q. Canada Beer Lager? 1061 1008 6.95 86.89%
1897 Blackwood Bros., Winnipeg Canada Porter Porter 1065 1010.4 7.15 84.00%
1897 Blackwood Bros., Winnipeg Canada Ale Ale 1061 1008.4 6.89 86.23%
1897 Boswell Bros., Quebec Canada Porter Porter 1059 1010.6 6.34 82.06%
1897 Boswell Bros., Quebec Canada Ale Ale 1056 1006.2 6.51 88.91%
1897 Carling, London, Ontario Canada Pale Bitter Ale Pale Ale 1053 1010.5 5.59 80.34%
1897 Copland Brewing Co., Toronto Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1060 1012.4 6.18 79.26%
1897 Copland Brewing Co., Toronto Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1059 1007 6.78 88.07%
1897 Copland Brewing Co., Toronto Canada Extra Stout Stout 1060 1006 7.12 90.03%
1897 Cosgrave & Co., Toronto Canada Porter Porter 1054 1010.1 5.74 81.33%
1897 Coté & Lanyot, Quebec Canada Pale Ale Pale Ale 1060 1008.5 6.77 85.88%
1897 Dawes & Co., Lachine, P.Q. Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1057 1002.1 7.27 96.34%
1897 Dawes & Co., Lachine, P.Q. Canada Pale Bitter Ale Pale Ale 1045 1014.5 3.95 67.78%
1897 Dawes & Co., Lachine, P.Q. Canada Best Stout Stout 1062 1013.3 6.33 78.48%
1897 Devlin & Steel, Stratford Canada Pale Ale Pale Ale 1058 1017.6 5.17 69.39%
1897 E.L. Dewry, Winnipeg Canada Lager Beer Lager 1043 1010.8 4.11 74.59%
1897 E.L. Dewry, Winnipeg Canada Porter Porter 1066 1014.2 6.79 78.55%
1897 Eaton Bros., Owen Sound Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1055 1006 6.47 89.17%
1897 Eaton Bros., Owen Sound Canada XXX Porter Porter 1049 1011.8 4.89 76.11%
1897 Ecker Canada Lager Beer Lager 1048 1012.9 4.50 72.90%
1897 Geo Sleeman, Guelph, Ont. Canada Lager Beer Lager 1049 1015.3 4.35 68.71%
1897 Geo Sleeman, Guelph, Ont. Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1052 1006.8 5.88 86.87%
1897 Geo Sleeman, Guelph, Ont. Canada Lager Beer Lager 1044 1014.3 3.84 67.50%
1897 Geo Sleeman, Guelph, Ont. Canada Sparkling Ale Ale 1053 1010.9 5.45 79.32%
1897 Grant Lottridge Brewing Co., Hamilton, Ontario Canada Dublin Stout XX Porter Stout 1057 1006.9 6.56 87.89%
1897 H.A. Ekers, Montreal Canada Lager Beer Lager 1042 1014.7 3.50 64.83%
1897 H.F. Brading, Ottawa Canada Brown Stout Stout 1066 1010.1 7.38 84.79%
1897 Halifax Brewing Co. Ltd. Canada Light Ale Ale 1058 1002.5 7.28 95.67%
1897 Halifax Brewing Co. Ltd. Canada Lager Beer Lager 1048 1008.6 5.17 82.19%
1897 Halifax Brewing Co. Ltd. Canada XX Porter Porter 1064 1010.3 7.03 83.91%
1897 J. McCarthy, Sons & Co., Prescott, Ontario Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1061 1009.5 6.78 84.50%
1897 J. Ready, Fairville, N.B. Canada Ale Ale 1060 1006.8 6.91 88.57%
1897 J. Ready, Fairville, N.B. Canada Porter Porter 1066 1019.8 6.03 70.09%
1897 J. Ready, Fairville, N.B. Canada Lager Beer Lager 1051 1009.8 5.30 80.59%
1897 J.H.R. Molson Bros., Montreal Canada Lager Beer Lager 1043 1016.3 3.41 61.83%
1897 J.H.R. Molson Bros., Montreal Canada Pale Bitter Ale Pale Ale 1051 1007.4 5.71 85.52%
1897 L. Kuntz, Waterloo, Ontario Canada Lager Beer Lager 1045 1008.8 4.67 80.31%
1897 Labatt, London, Ontario Canada Pale Ale Pale Ale 1056 1016.2 5.19 71.17%
1897 Labatt, London, Ontario Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1050 1014 4.64 71.89%
1897 Labatt, London, Ontario Canada XXX Porter Porter 1065 1014 6.62 78.36%
1897 Labatt, London, Ontario Canada Pale Ale Pale Ale 1051 1008 5.55 84.16%
1897 Labatt, Prescott, Ontario Canada Porter Porter 1053 1006.7 5.99 87.24%
1897 McDonagh & Shea, Winnipeg Canada Lager Beer Lager 1043 1008.7 4.50 79.91%
1897 McDonagh & Shea, Winnipeg Canada Ale Ale 1029 1001 3.68 96.58%
1897 O'Keefe Brewery Co., Toronto Canada Lager Beer Lager 1043 1008.8 4.38 79.29%
1897 Ottawa Brewing & Malting Co. Canada Sparkling Ale Ale 1058 1008 6.53 86.18%
1897 Ottawa Brewing & Malting Co. Canada XXX Porter Porter 1061 1014.6 6.07 76.14%
1897 Proteau & Carignan, Quebec Canada Pale Ale Pale Ale 1052 1009.5 5.57 81.80%
1897 R. Davies, Dominion Brewery, Toronto Canada Export Ale Ale 1059 1005 7.12 91.55%
1897 Reinhardt & Co., Toronto Canada Lager Beer Lager 1053 1012 5.30 77.23%
1897 Reinhardt & Co., Toronto Canada Lager Beer Lager 1050 1014.4 4.56 70.97%
1897 S. Jones, St. John, N.B. Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1056 1007.8 6.36 86.17%
1897 S. Jones, St. John, N.B. Canada Brown Stout Stout 1057 1019 4.85 66.37%
1897 Toronto Brewing & Malting Co. Canada Amber Ale Amber Ale 1058 1004 7.13 93.13%
1897 Toronto Brewing & Malting Co. Canada Extra Stout Stout 1064 1011 6.96 82.87%
1897 W. Dow & Co., Montreal Canada India Pale Ale IPA 1066 1008 7.67 87.95%
1897 W. Dow & Co., Montreal Canada Porter Porter 1074 1014.9 7.71 79.81%
1897 Guinness, Dublin Ireland Guinness's Stout Stout 1072 1013.3 7.66 81.48%
1897 Guinness, Dublin Ireland Stout Stout 1070 1015.8 7.02 77.30%
1897 Guinness, Dublin Ireland Extra Stout Stout 1071 1014.7 7.35 79.27%
1897 Guinness, Dublin Ireland Extra Stout Stout 1067 1014 6.87 78.98%
1897 Guinness, Dublin Ireland Extra Stout Stout 1068 1014.7 6.90 78.22%
1897 Bass & Co., Burton UK Pale Ale Pale Ale 1060 1004.1 7.41 93.21%
1897 Bass & Co., Burton UK Ale Ale 1054 1007.1 6.16 86.90%
1897 Bass & Co., Burton UK Pale Ale Pale Ale 1063 1005.6 7.52 91.08%
1897 Bass & Co., Burton UK Pale Ale Pale Ale 1059 1005.4 7.03 90.83%
1897 Pabst Brewing Co, New York USA Pabst Lager Lager 1053 1013 5.17 75.38%
1897 Pabst, Milwaukee, Wis. USA Lager Beer Lager 1049 1016.1 4.28 67.28%
1897 Pabst, Milwaukee, Wis. USA Lager Beer Lager 1051 1014.3 4.81 72.18%
1897 Pabst, Milwaukee, Wis. USA Lager Beer Lager 1056 1014 5.42 74.87%
1897 Pabst, Milwaukee, Wis. USA Lager Beer Lager 1050 1011.4 4.95 76.97%
1897 Pabst, Milwaukee, Wis. USA Lager Beer Lager 1050 1014.2 4.63 71.54%
1897 Schliz Brewing Co., Milwaukee (says "Achliz" in the original) USA Lager Beer Lager 1048 1016.9 4.02 64.79%
Source:
"Report, returns and statistics of the inland revenues of the Dominion of Canada", By Canada. Dept. of Inland Revenue, 1898, pages 34-49



You've doubtless noticed the interesting combination of beers Canadian brewers were making: Ale, IPA, Porter, Stout and Lager Beer. One beer, an Ale brewed by McDonagh & Shea of Winnipeg, has a shockingly low OG of just under 1030. That's very unusual for this period.

The end of the table does have a few relevant entries: beers from Bass, Guinness and McEwan. I was taken aback to see samples of Guinness below 1070. I thought it was always 1074.

So many Pabst entries was a shock. I hadn't expected it to have been so widely available in Canada so early. Life's full of surprises.

6 comments:

  1. Alan11 May 2009 at 09:29

    Fabulous! Have a slug of maple syrup in honour of your efforts Canuckian. I will have to have a proper look at these tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gary Gillman11 May 2009 at 10:47

    Ron, interesting data. Sleeman Brewing is still making beer in its historical location of Guelph, Ontario. The company ceased operations in the 1930's but recommenced brewing over 20 years ago. It was revived by a descendant of the Sleeman family who inherited a book of the brewing recipes used by the founder in the 1800's. This book really exists, I examined it with Michael Jackson upon the latter's visit to Sleeman Brewery in the early 1990's. Not only that, but the labels of some of the Sleeman beers state the page of the book they are taken from and some of the brewing details. The current IPA and Porter are excellent, flavourful beers. Here are descriptions of each, taken from the company's website:


    "The first in the John Sleeman Presents series, Sleeman Fine Porter is straight from page 68 of the family recipe book. The original Porters were the drink of the working class in 1700’s England where they were seen to be more nutritious. Take a sip of history today and experience this brew just as George Sleeman presented it back in the 1800’s.

    5.5% alcohol by volume

    Tasting Notes
    Fine Porter’s rich, deep mahogany is topped by a rich tan foam. You will appreciate the presence of dark chocolate, coffee and licorice aromas. Fine Porter boasts fully rounded roast malt flavours and its long finish is true to the original style.

    India Pale Ale

    Sleeman India Pale Ale is the second in our John Sleeman Presents series. This ale reaches back all the way to 18th century England, where it was first brewed to export to thirsty English troops during colonial India. The Sleeman family personalized the recipe back in the 1800’s with a brewmaster’s special attention to detail, and now presents it to you one more time for your continued enjoyment.

    5.3% alcohol by volume

    Tasting Notes
    India Pale Ale’s distinctive amber colour is a perfect partner to its bold, spicy hop nose and slightly fruity aroma. This ale is characterized by a malty sweetness at the beginning that finishes up with an authentic IPA hoppy bitterness that’s not too overpowering at the end."

    I know these beers well and the company's notes are accurate.

    Gary

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tim11 May 2009 at 17:44

    Ron, I have found similar reports published in the USA. The 1906 New Hampshire Board of Health report was so good I had to put it in a table. Hopefully I can concentrate and write up a blog post for it. It shows a similar variety in style and strength. I hope you take a look.

    ReplyDelete
  4. me11 March 2010 at 12:05

    http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/beer-documented/Content?oid=1557947

    ReplyDelete
  5. Edward9 March 2012 at 16:02

    Have you ever run across any info about early brewing in Vancouver, British Columbia? There is an area known as Brewery Creek which had breweries in the late 1800's until prohibition. Aside from the names Doering & Marstrand and Red Cross plus a few antique bottles for sale, I haven't been able to find many details. Any idea on what they would have brewed, or where is a good place to start looking for this information?

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ron Pattinson9 March 2012 at 23:15

    Edward, from what I've sen of Canadian brewing, they probably made a mix of British styles and Lager.

    If you want to find out more, good places to look are:

    Archives. There may well me material from local breweries in provincial or city archives.

    Newspaper archives. If you're lucky, they may be available online. I paid 80 quid for a year's access to the British Newspaper Archive.

    ReplyDelete