steveo88

First off, sorry if this is a re-post, I have done a search but to no avail. Basically I am in serious need of Granville Island beer, especially that awesome winter ale, and was wondering if anyone knows if you can get it in the UK? Its a long shot I know but still have a serious taste for all Granville Island and Steamwhistle!

Thanks all in advance, Steve

iaink

Funnily enough in my years posting here, the need has never come up before...



Theres that "canadian" store in covent garden you could try maybe?

MikeUK

As far as I know neither of them have any significant distribution outside of Canada not even to the US..

The only regularly distributed Canadian lagers in the UK was Moosehead, and Sleeman's most others I've seen there were brewed under license in the UK

Oink

Given the fact that it'll probably be impossible to buy commercially. I'd suggest getting some cans of generic bitter, dumping a couple pounds of sugar in and then leaving it outside in the sun for a week. Should taste very similar to GI winter 'ale'.

Novocastrian

Logic, and a knowledge of Vancouver climatology, suggest GI use a different method.

teacher1000

The Canadian store is not very well stocked surprisingly in "Canadian" beer. They do have shitty lager like Molson Canadian and I think they do Sleemans...but I think thats where it ends.
I have yet to find a place that does proper Canadian beer.
sorry

YYZlover

Labatt's used to be brewed in UK through licensing (back in the 80s). When I lived in UK I tried finding any Canadian beer.

Sweden's government controlled liquor stores have a select few items from micro breweries. Nothing like Molson, Mooshead, Labatt's, Keith's or Sleeman's.

Grayling

That's because there is no 'proper' canadian beer

Oink

Not sure but some how they make it taste like rancid skunks piss. Anyway the brewery on GI is closed until April. But as its all owned by Molson/Coors anyway they probably make it in some bumhole town in the middle of nowhere.

MikeUK

The bad news for you is that the rest of the world and the majority of canadians think Candian beer is labatt, Molson and Mooshead

They vote with their dollars..

What would you call proper Canadian beer? as Granville's style is more of a west coast US style, many smaller regionals tend to mimic European or the US west coast styles?.

The Canadain "lager" style is to be quite honest is split between Molson, Labatt, and Mooshead.. like it or not!

Partially discharged

I provided a few bottles of this

http://www.thebeerstore.ca/beers/hoptical-illusion

to a friend of mine visiting from Scotland over the holidays and I am sure he would become a UK rep if it could be sent over.

Other than the odd craft beer, there isn't much in Canada worth drinking from a UK perspective. However, keep in mind that CAMRA approved beers are losing market share in the UK as euro-crap lagers and other swill gains a foothold. I shudder to see those Bud FA cup signs around the premier league grounds.

MikeUK

CAMRA has always been populated by a small minority of small minded individuals that thought they knew better than the Public...

Like it or not, the public has been drifting toward lager ever since Tennants built there lager brewery in Glasgow back in 1885

and as much as CAMRA tried to blame the brewers the public got what it wanted, for what its worth your average brewer would happily make ales, they're cheaper, quicker and easier to make than a lager

Partially discharged

IIRC Scotland has always been more lager friendly than the shires. Recent trips to the UK have made me feel like I am the outcast ordering from one of the shiny hand pumps as the sea of punters order euro-swill, yank crud and mexican piss water.

iaink

I dont see why. You like what you like, they like what they like, why should what they want make you feel anything? why would you care what they order?


Fashions change, how long ago would you have been considered a bit odd for not drinking port after dinner?

I remember when Labatts came to the UK, my university team was fortunate to be sponsored by them... those were the days. Kit and money mind, not beer. That would have been foolish of them in the extreme...

Alan2005

I quite like Alexander Keiths IPA. I don't want to oversell it or anything, but it's the only "local" beer I buy from the off licence.