I think I've tried every beer there is out there. When it comes to an everyday drinker, the priorities are pretty simple...taste great and don't cost an arm and a leg. When I lived back in Cape Breton it was Ten Penny, Moosehead or Oland's. James Ready stuck with me for a while, partly because of the name, party because of the taste. I was never an Alexander Keith's fan, it always came across as bitter due to the hop content.
When I moved to Ontario, I had quite a variety to pick from. Norther Breweries was a fave for many years, and when I was making my own brews they were one of that last holdouts for non-screwcap bottles and I still have a collection of NB bottles in my shed, should I fill a new carboy for fun. Another long standing regular was Molson Stock, which few people bought by I liked it becuase it was just that little bit different. Sleeman's was another, a bit pricey but they sure brew a good beer.
When the really cheap lowest-legal cost beers started competing, I picked up a few Lakeport Pilsner for fun...not a bad beer and cheap as it got. Not the type you would give to company but okay for drinking regularly. Then, one day, Lakeport came up with this:
It was love at first taste.
I found a beer that met everything I wanted. It was cheap, tasted great, and I didn't mind serving it out should friends come by. I even got a good chunk of the neighborhood hooked and soon everyone had a yellow honeycomb style case in their basements.
The story behind Lakeport is quite the success story. Lakeport had been around a while, competing with the multitude of other local brewers for a share of whatever market was left over by the big 3 of Molson, Labatt and Carling. Interbrew was busy buying up markets and accumulating into their vast empire. Sleeman's made a huge splash and managed to save the very wonder Upper Canada Brewery with their marketing power, and allowed UC to do their own thing even under the Sleeman umbrella.
Meanwhile, a young and aggressive Teresa Cascioli was hired by Lakeport's new owners became it's CEO. Under Ms. Cascioli's guidance and targetting the buck-a-beer campaign and a quality brew, Lakeport went from near bankruptcy to a legitimate threat to the Ontario market share of drinkers, so much so that Labatt and others had to start promoting clear knockoffs of Lakeport's products, particularly it's Honey Lager, in response. Lakeport grew to hold an incredible 11% of the Ontario beer market, which is an astounding number when you consider the players.
Cascioli held as 20% share long after buying out the owners, and then taking Lakeport public. Things changed in 2008 when Cascioli talked shareholders into accepting a 201 million dollar offer by Labatt for Lakeport's products and holdings. Ms. Cascioli sold out to a cool 43 million (and, honestly, it's hard not to blame her) and walked away from the brewery she took into the mainstream. I knew it was just a matter of time. As long as the beer came out of the Burlington Street plant, with the same formula and the same taste, I was okay even if the price made a modest jump or two.
Then came the big news. Labatt will seal the doors on Lakeport's Hamilton plant on tax day, April 30th, 2010 and move 'production' to London. I have a sneaking suspicion that with the move of the brewer, there will be a change in the beer itself, to London mass-produced standards and suppliers dictated by Labatt and parent Anhauser Busch. Shortly after the last remaining stock leaves the chilled shelves of The Beer Store, my beer will suddenly change, likely to a repackaged version of the Labatt Honey product that was created to compete with Lakeport's wonderful lager.
I thought I had my beer. Maybe it won't change, but my lovely find will now have a bitter aftertaste even if it doesn't and I won't be content with that.
All I can do is salute the 143 fine people that helped supply me with a lot of tasty calories over these last few years. Come April 30, I will take on my last case of Lakeport honey. When it is gone, my search will start anew.
So long Lakeport, it was wonderful knowing you.
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