What you need to know

While beer remains far and away the most popular alcoholic beverage in Canada, the ground is shifting. As competitive pressures mount, brewers need to have their finger on the pulse when it comes to what Canadians are drinking, what’s important to them when selecting the beers or ciders and areas of possible interest. This Report endeavours to provide readers with a snapshot based on consumer feedback to answer these questions, understand where the market is and identify trends that provide a fact-based input to inform go-forward strategies.

Definition

Definition of beer and cider for consumer feedback:

Any beer

  • Lager (eg Molson Canadian, Budweiser)

  • Craft beer – any beer made from a small/local producer (eg Steam Whistle, Great Lakes)

  • Ale/Bitter (eg Alexander Keith's IPA, Sleemans Cream Ale, Rickard's Red)

  • Wheat beer (Hoegaarden, Kronenbourg Blanc)

  • Stout/porter (eg Guinness)

  • Fruit-flavoured beer (eg Poppers Orange, Shock Top)

  • Low-alcohol beer

  • Radler

  • Spirit-flavoured beer (eg Desperados)

  • Malt (eg Colt 45)

  • Non-alcoholic beer

Any cider

  • Apple cider (eg Strongbow, Magners)

  • Cider – non-apple flavoured (eg pear, raspberry)

Definition of beer for market sizing

  • Light/no/low alcohol beer (with an ABV below 4%)

  • Standard beer (with an ABV of 4% - 5.5%)

  • Strong beer (with an ABV of 5.6% - 8.5%)

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