Canada Day is here!!! And after these last few CRAZY months, we are more excited than ever to set up the BBQ, stock up on our favourite brews, and call our 6 favourite people to celebrate in the sunshine! This year, we’re taking it to a whole new level, because we’ve had a lot of time on our hands… A LOT OF TIME… and we need a good celebration, right!?
Step aside Canada flag hats and maple leaf sunglasses because we’ve put together a pairing guide of classic Canadian dishes with Old Yale beer to take your backyard socially distanced BBQ to the next level. Here’s what Old Yale beers to pair your Canadian dishes with to have the tastiest, raddest most awesome Canada Day BBQ ever:
Timbits - Sasquatch Stout
These sweet little fried dough balls are a Canadian CLASSIC. If you grew up here, seeing one of those little yellow Tim Hortons cartons full of Timbits will have you feeling all kinds of nostalgia. Elevate them with our Sasquatch Stout, voted “Best Beer in Canada” for 2014. This brew is smooth with notes of chocolate, espresso and dark roasted malts, and it tastes HEAVENLY paired with these tiny doughnut holes. Get crazy… maybe even try them dipped in stout!?
Poutine - Off Trail Pale Ale
Poutine is basically THE quintessential Canadian food. It doesn’t come as a surprise that when you take crispy fries, smother them in decadent gravy and then top off with salty cheese curds it is DELICIOUS. But it may come as a surprise that there’s a certain beer that makes this salty snack even better (I know - is that even possible!?). The bitterness of our carefully balanced Off Trail Pale Ale cuts through all the fat of your poutine while the sweetness from the malted barley contrasts with the salt. Making this an absolutely killer combo. Get. In. My. Belly.
Caesar - West Coast IPA
Ahhhh Caesar’s, the sweet sweet Canadian brunch nectar. And you know what makes a Caesar even better? Yes, your choice of pickly, meaty or salty garnish but also...a West Coast IPA! Yep, combine the beloved ingredients of a Caesar with a West Coast IPA and we present to you the world (Chilliwack) famous concoction: a Beerzer! Here’s how to make it:
Wet the rim of your 16oz. Old Yale Glass, coat with celery salt and fill with approx. 12 oz. West Coast IPA (to the bottom of the logo!). Top up with Walter’s Caesar Mix and add Tobasco, Worcestershire and bitters. Garnish as you desire.
Bacon (in a BLT) - Knotty Blonde Ale
We don’t think there’s much we need to say about bacon… it’s absolutely delicious, end of story. Bacon may not have been invented in Canada but us Canadians are VERY passionate about it. So we thought it deserved a spot on this list. Our suggestion: throw some local bacon into a BLT and pair it with our Knotty Blonde Ale. This brew is dry-hopped with Galaxy to provide a subtle tropical fruit flavour with a frothy, creamy head. It’s clean and crisp finish pairs beautifully with a BLT. Trust us.
Nanaimo Bars - Sasquatch Stout
Created in our very own Vancouver Island, this rich tri-layered dessert bar is made of crumb mixture, vanilla-flavoured butter icing, and melted chocolate. YUM. We recommend pairing it with our Sasquatch Stout, YES, this stout was deserving of two spots on this list, It just tastes so damn good with tasty desserts! This brew is smooth with notes of chocolate, espresso and dark roasted malts, and it compliments these sweet, chocolatey bars beautifully.
Ketchup Chips - Ancient Grain Belgian Saison
When your friend shows up to a BBQ with a big ol’ bag of Ketchup Chips in tow half of your friends will be screaming “YASSS” while the other half will be MUCH less pleased. These controversial fluorescent red chips are a Canadian staple. The perfect match for these sweet and sour chips? Our Ancient Grain Belgian Saison! It’s nutty, spicy and grainy flavours build on the Belgian Saison yeast and play surprisingly well with the ketchup seasoning.
Butter Tarts - Moon Dance Mango Wheat
This rich and delectable Canadian dish can be traced back to the late 19th century! They’re a mix of delicate, crumbly crust and a creamy centre made of butter, sugar and egg mixture. Pair it with our Moon Dance Mango Wheat, it’s hand-crafted to have an incredibly smooth texture which allows the vibrant, tropical mango flavour to shine through which provides the perfect contrast against this buttery, flaky tart.
Berry Pie - Gin Fizz Citrus Sour
You really can’t go wrong with a good pie. Make this classic dish Canadian by using Saskatoon berry’s or Wild Blueberries (believe it or not, Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of wild blueberries!) Pair it with our Gin Fizz Citrus Sour for an explosion of flavour, this brew is BURSTING with juicy botanicals. Juniper, Orange Peel and Coriander come together with a bright citrus punch of squeezed lemon, Cascade and Amarillo hops, creating a crisp, light and refreshingly tart experience. The fruity character in this sour is deeeelicious paired with a fruit-forward pie.
Kraft Dinner - Poolside Peach Tea Radler
Of course, this cheesy dish is better known to us Canadians as KD. And yes, we probably prefer it with cut-up hotdogs and a dash of ketchup. This childhood staple is a CLASSIC Canadian dish. And let’s be honest, most of us basically survived on the stuff through college. Contrast this rich and cheesy dish with our refreshing and crisp Poolside Peach Tea Radler! Refreshing and crisp, this brew is a light and easy-drinking Golden Ale with a delicious blend of Stonefruit Tea. And it tastes VERY good with a big bowl of KD.
Head to our online store or pop by the tasting room to pick up your Canada Day brews, or even better - come celebrate and have a pint with us in the newly opened tasting room or our new MASSIVE patio!