Ontarians looking to enjoy a brew this Family Day weekend without breaking the bank may be happy to learn that Loblaw has launched its own brand of beer under its well-known No Name label, and it鈥檚 as cheap as you鈥檇 expect.
At least for this weekend, anyway.
In a press release on Tuesday, Loblaw Co. announced its new Ontario-brewed 鈥淐anadian-style lager鈥� will be available in 6-pack cases at select LCBO stores beginning Friday. The beer will be packaged in the No Name brand鈥檚 distinctive yellow and black look.
鈥淭he new no name beer will stand out with its recognizable yellow label, and one word: Beer. It's a beacon for customers looking for a great taste at an unbeatable price,鈥� Ian Gordon, the senior vice president of No Name, said in the release.
Although the beer will regularly retail for $10.45 for a 6-pack, a case will only cost $6.60 (including deposit) from Friday to Sunday, to celebrate the first long weekend of the year in Ontario.
The promotion will be part of Ontario Doug Ford鈥檚 鈥渂uck-a-beer鈥� program, which lowered the minimum price for a bottle or can of beer from $1.25 to $1 when it took effect in the province in August.
Loblaw said there will be future promotions for No Name beer on several weekends throughout the year.
The company said it had 鈥渞ecord-breaking sales鈥� and 鈥渋ncredible consumer feedback鈥� when it piloted the 鈥渂uck-a-beer鈥� program in Ontario last fall with its President Choice beer at the Beer Store.
鈥淚t was an easy decision to bring the no name brand to this category at this price,鈥� Gordon said.
Following the announcement, the reaction online was decidedly mixed, with some expressing skepticism about the beer鈥檚 taste given its price tag.
According to the LCBO website, No Name beer pairs well with pizza, creamy pasta, burgers and steaks and 鈥渄elivers a crisp finish that makes it easy to drink with no aftertaste.鈥� The website also contains information about which select stores are carrying the 鈥渃haracteristically Canadian-style lager鈥� and how many cases are in stock.
鈥淚 don't think you could pay me to drink a beer that costs this little to make,鈥� .
Others mused on the brand鈥檚 unusual name.
鈥淣o name cereal I might tolerate but No name beer is sacrilege,鈥� .
鈥淣o Name? No thanks鈥︹�� .
鈥淣O NAME BEER IS LAUNCHING. Have no idea what the beer will taste like but the box design alone is iconic,鈥� .
鈥淥n family day long weekend, you鈥檒l be able to get no name beer for $1 a bottle. That鈥檚 right, it鈥檒l come in a yellow box that just says 鈥渂eer鈥� on it...what a time we live in,鈥� .
