N.L. craft brewers tapping into Canadian patriotic sentiment with new beers
Landwash has released On Guard and Yellowbelly has Elbows Up
In response to repeated threats to Canada's sovereignty and a trade war, Newfoundland and Labrador breweries want you to grab a cold one in solidarity.
On Wednesday Landwash Brewery in Mount Pearl unveiled On Guard, a Canadian pale ale made with only Canadian ingredients, like Quebec hops.
General manager and co-owner Christina Coady said the idea began in January, following U.S. President Donald Trump's repetitive rhetoric of wanting to annex Canada and turn it into the country's 51st state.
"I think right now everyone is feeling scared and frustrated and also just annoyed at what's going on across the border. And everybody just wants to celebrate something nice and beer is nice," Coady told CBC News.
On Guard is a nod to Canadian farmers and manufacturers, she added.
"We wanted to create a beer that could resonate with all of that. And so we made On Guard and it's a nice little beer and you can drink it and just enjoy our country," she said.
On the On Guard label is a painting-style image of a windswept landscape. The packaging was created by Landwash's go-to designer, Perfect Day, said Coady, adding they wanted something inspired by the iconic group of Canadian painters known as the Group of Seven.
As of Wednesday, On Guard is available at Landwash's taproom and will soon be in liquor stores, Marie's convenience stores, Urban Market 1919 and other locations, she said.
Elbows up!
In downtown St. John's, Yellowbelly Brewery co-owner and publican Craig Flynn is individually rolling each label on to individual cans for a new brew called Elbows Up.
"Sovereignty is a very big belief in Canada," said Flynn. "If you want to come after us and try to bring us into the corner, we're going to come back with our elbows up."
Flynn said his wife was recently watching Saturday Night Live, in which Canadian actor and comedian Mike Myers used the expression 'elbows up' — which has become a rallying cry for solidarity across Canada in the face of U.S. aggression. The phrase originated from Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe's signature move.
The label, designed by Jason Miller, features a Canadian hockey player slugging an American player, which Flynn said is a reference to Canada coming back to win the 4 Nations Face-Off final against the U.S. team.
"I think that hockey game really brought the nation together. I think it's a moment of pride that you'd probably have to go back to the '71 series in order to get that same feeling," said Flynn.
Elbows Up isn't made solely with Canadian ingredients, but they do use all Canadian suppliers, he added.
Over email, he told CBC News that the ale is made with Canadian and German malt as well as U.S. hops he gets from his Canadian supplier.
WATCH | The CBC's Elizabeth Whitten stops by the breweries:
The ale has been available on tap at the restaurant for weeks and will delivered to NLC stores by early next week. He said it's proven to be a popular drink already.
"I'm very proud to say we're down to our last two kegs of it," he said.
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