gwboriginal16I went to the final of the Brier last night down at the concrete circle I stubbornly still call Northlands Coliseum. While the game was not that great (although Stoughton’s spin-a-rama to concede the game was highly entertaining), I did get the pleasant surprise of not being forced to buy over-priced Molson Canadian in plastic cups for once. That unavoidable beast at all hockey games was bumped for a week because a sponsor of the Brier is Great Western Brewing. Which meant drinking overpriced plastic glasses of Original 16, instead.

And I can say unequivocally that it was exactly the right beer for watching a few ends of curling. It has a soft pilsner malt character, a light fruitiness and a very clean palate. It has enough flavour to keep me interested, but not so much that it distracted me from the curling men throwing rocks and pushing brooms. The price ($8 for a 16-oz pint) was an irritation, but I can’t blame Great Western for that.

stoughton

Mr. Stoughton performing his spin-a-rama, possibly after consuming one too many Original 16. (Photo courtesy of Edmonton Journal)

Now, maybe a big stout or a citrusy IPA might have been just as enjoyable, and that I should chock up my appreciation to the event itself (much like the famous Mexican beach effect – ANY beer tastes good when you are sitting on a hot sandy beach in Mexico). Or maybe my relief at not being forced to drink Canadian upped my pleasure meter.

Possibly. But I think that, somehow, Original 16 is well matched with watching (or even playing) curling. It is honest, straight-forward beer that has more character than the average lager. Sounds a lot like curling. Honest, a bit quirky but quintessentially Canadian. Western Canadian for that matter, for curling is bigger on the prairies than anywhere else, possibly on the planet.

Evidence that there is a time and a place for every beer – as long as it is well-made at any rate.