According to Wikipedia, Canada Day celebrates the day of the formation of Canada on 1st July, 1867. The Canucks get pretty serious about it, and celebrate with fireworks and the like. The expats mark it as well – and I certainly remember functions in Beijing for Canada Day.
The 4 Pines brewery in Manly doesn’t need too much of an excuse to brew a special beer. To celebrate Canada Day, 4 Pines launched a Canadian Red Ale. Ferg (a fellow NW Fairlight resident) and I tried a pint and found it to be spectacular. Very hoppy and bitter in a most pleasant way. As I type this an hour later, the bitterness lingers well. The colour is like redwood and has a mild cloudiness. There is nothing to criticise about this drop. If you get the chance, get oot to the Pines, and have a pint – hey.
I’ve had a quick look at whether Red Ale is particularly Canadian – and it doesn’t appear so. Labatts, Moosehead and Molson are all fairly standard lagers – but Quebec produces a few darker hued ales in a Belgian style like Fin Du Monde (which will halve your sperm count – to quote another BotF contributor). It doesn’t really matter, because 4 Pines Canadian Red Ale is just that good.
Happy birthday Canada – I’m envious of your flag.
back of the ferry 
[…] warm and fuzzy about all things red and white, 4 Pines has developed a Canadian Red Ale. I had this last year as well, and I’m glad to advise that Andrew the Brewer has kept the recipe consistent. It was […]
[…] the brewer (who is apparently of Canadian heritage) has changed the recipe markedly. Whereas the 2010 and 2011 Canadian Ales was quite red in hue, this year’s version was as dark as a dark ale […]
[…] In 2010 this correspondent attended his first Canada Day celebration at the 4 Pines in Manly. They’ve […]