LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2023

FROM MICRO TO MACRO

Waterloo Craft Lager LCBO 142745, 473 mL, $3.25 Cameron’s Captain’s Log Lager LCBO 243741, 473 mL, $3.00 Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner LCBO 547646, 6 pk, $16.25 It’s hard to remember the time when “craft beer” wasn’t all that prevalent or even well-understood. Propelled by passionate home brewers in search of flavour above all else, the craft brewing industry went from a vaguely anti-establishment fringe movement to mainstream popularity over the past few decades. The Americans may have led the way, but Canada caught up fast, and today we enjoy craft beers from every province, in every style, with Ontario pioneers like Waterloo, Steam Whistle and Cameron’s as popular as ever.

Lighten Up Coors Light LCBO 906560, 6 pk, $14.50 Brands like Coors and Miller nailed the light beer category in the 1970s. Now the easy-drinking style is popular again with those looking for low carb choices. A growing appetite for culinary diversity means these beers make even more sense today, with refreshing, moderately bitter, dry styles that don’t overpower the palate and are great with Mexican and many other cuisines.

LIKE THEM APPLES County Apple Cider LCBO 470898, 500 mL, $6.05 Ironwood Hard Cider LCBO 405241, 473 mL, $3.50

Cider made a comeback in the early 2000s. A rush of small, independent cider produc ers revitalized French and other European heritage apple varieties, along with local fruit that’s also ideal for cider production and perfectly suited to Ontario’s climate. Pioneers like County Cider (established in 1995, and on LCBO shelves in 1997) paved the way for producers like Ironwood, and a generation of cidermakers today exploring flavours spiked with other fruits, berries and botanicals.

68 FOOD & DRINK AUTUMN 2023