Back in 1967, I went to Expo 67 in Montreal. Canada at that time had rather arcane regulations involving sales of beer brewed in one province in another province. However, for Expo, there was a general dispensation so the Canadian brewers could have a pavilion where all beers brewed all across Canada could be sampled.
Somebody told me to make sure I try the "Calgary Stock Ale". It supposedly was the strongest brew in Canada.
I so did. I had two, and my head was spinning.
Six years later, I was in Calgary, and toured the Calgary Stock brewery. I asked about the "Calgary Stock Ale", and they said that it had been discontinued, because beer and ale prices were price fixed based on alcohol content, the highest category being over 6.5%. Calgary Stock Ale, depending on the batch, had an alcohol content of 16 to 20%
and therefore was discontinued, because they could not make a profit on it at the allowed price.
In today's political/legal environment, I suspect anyone brewing something up to 20% would be sued in a lot of DWI/accident cases.
