Beer

June 18, 2008 @ 09:46

This morning I was listening to Toronto’s best talk show host, who’s filling in on the am 640 morning show this week, and it was very interesting.

Mike Stafford referred to an article in the National Post today entitled “Taking stock in fossil brands.”

Adam McDowell writes about discovering “Molson Stock Ale” back in the mid-90’s when he was 16 years old. He fell in love with it, but now he’s somewhat annoyed that its only available in certain Beer Stores and very few bars.

This inspired a conversation on the Stafford Show about other brands that have come and gone over the past few decades, and for a fella like me, in his 50’s, it brought back a lot of memories.

The first beer memory I have goes back to the early 60’s when my dad would actually have beer delivered to the house. They did that back then.

A Brewers Retail truck would pull up in front of the house and drop off a case of Red Cap. And I distinctly remember this, because my dad often told me, in the early 60’s, 24 Red Cap cost $3.50.

Can you imagine that?

My dad eventually changed his brand from Red Cap to Molson Golden, and he drank that well into the 80’s until he finally gave up the suds for red Wine.

Along the way he would enjoy the odd case of 6.5 Brador, because that’s what I’d buy him on Father's Day or his birthday.

As a young punk first discovering beer, it was tough for me. I never liked Molson Golden, so “borrowing” the odd beer from my dad was a struggle.

My first beer of choice was Molson Export, but I’d say roughly half of my buddies drank Labatt 50. We dabbled with Labatt Pilsner when it first became “Blue” and tried the other novelty beers as they came along like Oktoberfest and Heidleberg.

In my early twenty’s when I first started working at CFNY the beer of choice was Carlsberg Light. It was brewed by Carling O’Keefe back then, and they were a huge sponsor of the radio station.

After Carling O’Keefe was bought out by Molson, somehow Carlsberg Light ended up as a Labatt product and something changed. It lost its taste appeal and I moved on, getting sucked into the introduction of American beers into the market.

Budweiser and Miller Genuine Draft.

Eventually I gravitated to Molson Canadian which absolutely blows me away now, because I can’t stand Canadian. The first sip always tastes like plastic to me.

After that, it was on to Coors Light but eventually I lost my taste for it as well because I discovered Bud Lite.

Bud Lite. Cool and crisp with no initial shock or aftertaste. A refreshing beer that I continue to drink until this day.

I’ve been called a “beer suck” for drinking this beer. It’s been referred to as a women’s beer by a few of my buddies. But I don’t care. I like it. I don’t like to be challenged by a beer like my good friend Dan Duran.

He often shows up with beers that are dark and thick and bitter, and they have weird names like “Evil Bat Ale” or “Liquefied Vulture Crap Lager.”

Needless to say, Dan doesn’t have to share his beer that often.

I’ve tried other stuff like Alexander Keith’s, the Rickard line, Stella and the Sleeman stuff, but none of it satisfies me like a Bud Lite.

And no, it doesn’t make me want to sit down to pee.

Category: Stuff

132 Responses to "Beer"

Steve
June 18, 2008 / 10:24

Not sure if you've tried them, but what are your thoughts on the Lakeport line of beers? To me they're pretty decent and the price is good.

Paul
June 18, 2008 / 11:10

Moosehead... 'nough said.

Nigel Trousershrapnel
June 18, 2008 / 11:13

To me all major domestic beers taste the same. For a mere three dollar more per 24, you can buy any number of imported beers that actually have some character. Tuborg, Grolsch and Sol are three that I would recommend. Call me a beer snob, but a case of Lucky Lager just doesn't do it for me. Mind you if I was an eighteen year old out for a long weekend, any domestic beer would do just fine.
And as for you not wanting to sit to pee Freddie, we all know that Doll makes you sit seeing as your aim ain't what it used to be.

Stafford
June 18, 2008 / 12:26

Great memories Freddie...remember the first U-Know Awards brought to you by Carlsberg before the ketchup people took over?

I think it was Andrew Cash from some Queen St. W. band refused their award like Marlon Brando at the Oscars, because Carlsberg was owned, in part, by Rothmans which operated in South Africa.

I remember hearing David Marsden question why anybody in this country would ever want to recognize anybody for excellence.

Stuff hasn't changed much, eh?

Brad
June 18, 2008 / 12:28

LandShark.

A proven "freddie approved" Florida beer, available as far north as Tops Supermarket Niagara Falls, NY.

Worth the drive for a case or two.

Don't forget the lime.

Max
June 18, 2008 / 13:11

Samuel Adams was my beer of choice until I discovered Mill Street Tankhouse Ale. Full flavoured, but easy to drink as well, and the fact that it's made locally makes it an easy sell to me. On a hot summer day when all you want is a thirst quencher beer that you can gulp down, an ice cold Heineken can't be beat.

Mike from Lowville
June 18, 2008 / 14:12

Hey Fred? We must be on some kind of cosmic plane. I too drank EX when I was young. Moved to Carlsberg Light about when you did. When Labrats got a hold of it, I bailed. Drank Doppel Gold for a while and then moved to the brew your own thing. That turned me in to a bit of a beer snob. I won a few awards as a CAMBA member. Find myself in the same boat as Dan D. now. People I know BYOB a lot now when they come over.

Jason from Sudbury
June 18, 2008 / 14:30

First beer I ever tried was Labatt Wildcat, and that shit is nasty! I was 15, I was at a party and my buddy's older brother gave me one, I dont know how people can drink it. Labatt Extra Dry is almost just as bad, my buddy used to get it all the time, not sure if he did it just to piss me off or cause it was cheep, lol, or maybe both.

Steve
June 18, 2008 / 14:42

Hey Freddie:

You should try Wheat beer, more specifically, you should try:

SCHNEIDER WEISSE

It's available at the LCBO.

Damn good German Wheat beer.

LEW
June 18, 2008 / 15:15

I don't think its the beer that makes you sit, I'm more inclined to believe its the Crocs that have you pulling your Manpri's to the floor.

Nigel Trousershrapnel
June 18, 2008 / 15:29

nicely put LEW

Rick C in Oakville
June 18, 2008 / 19:50

Great show Mike, love this time slot getting all I can while you are on it.

Fifty, then Black Horse when I was teenager, kept your friends from stealing your beer when they ran out, it was an acquired taste.

Lakeport isn't bad for the price, I call it cottage beer for when you want quantity at a reasonable price.

Corky
June 18, 2008 / 21:45

Mill Street's "Stock Ale" is also a really nice beer. Just discovered it last week.

Landshark is also good, as Brad points out.

Alexander Kieth's use to be ok, but, it's for diddlers now thanks to that weird guy.

RickyP
June 18, 2008 / 23:00

What about Colt 45? The horse on the label is lifting his leg for a reason...that stuff is total horse piss!

Jon in Buffalo
June 19, 2008 / 08:05

BUD LITE????

ARE YOU FREAKIN' SERIOUS????

Oh, Freddie, Freddie........of all the wonderful beers you could choose as a Canadian, you pick a cheap American White Trash brand?

(Loving You!)

Brutus
June 19, 2008 / 10:51

Stafford wrote;Andrew Cash from some Queen St. W.

Mike, I'm digging way back into the grey matter now but, I think the band was called L'etranger.

BTW, love your show, anyone who can reference an little known Gil Scott Heron song on the air is allright by me.
(Mandate my ___)

Lester
June 20, 2008 / 09:34

Coors lite is for chicks...

Remeber Black Lable?

We would buy Black Horse and Dow's Kingsbeer (?) in the early 80's from the Labatt's brewery in Waterloo...

John B
June 25, 2008 / 09:42

I'm a bit late weighing in on this beer thing, but you missed one thing Freddie. Back in the day, Molson Stock Ale was known as "Blue" by everybody (probably because of the colour of the label) and that's how you ordered it in the taverns and beer stores. Molson's really missed the boat by not trademarking that name and letting Labatt's take it for the stuff the kids drink now.

Johnnie
July 6, 2008 / 18:36

We were having a conversation at work the other day and were debating an old ad and who it belonged to..can you help?
It went something alomg the lines of.."you need a beer that's got heart, lots and lots and lots of heart...."
2 thoughts were 1. Molson Golden and the other was Molson Lite.

Thanks.

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Kev
October 23, 2008 / 10:08

"Miles and miles and miles of heart
If you want a beer with great taste
There's only one place to start
Molson Lite has got heart"

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