Canada | George Sleeman | United States | Nunavut

There are several well-known Canadian brands from major breweries that you can find in almost any supermarket, but the real news from Canada is the influx of craft-brewed ales.
Funny how your nearest neighbor can remain a mystery. Take Canada, for instance. Most people who live in the United States probably know more about France than they do about Canada. Did you know, for example, that there's now a Canadian territory called Nunavut? (Nunavut was formerly the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories but became independent in 1999.) And quick, what's the Canadian national animal? No, it's not the moose; it's the beaver.

The border between Canada and the continental United States extends for 3,987 rugged miles, 1,788 of them on land and 2,199 on water. A good 1,350 miles of the land border runs through heavy forest. This makes it relatively easy for beavers to claim dual citizenship but not always so easy for beer trucks to get through. Yet beer is one Canadian product that those of us south of the thaw line may know best.

With their still highly polished French and English heritage, the Canadians appreciate good beer when they taste it. Now they're starting to share the best of their brews with "those funny Americans" south of the 49th parallel. Check out these three prime examples.
SLEEMAN PREMIUM LAGER ($7 per six pack)SLEEMAN PREMIUM LAGER ($7 per six-pack)SLEEMAN PREMIUM LAGER ($7 per six-pack)
Ontario-based Sleeman Brewery dates back to 1834, when John H. Sleeman established himself as a brewer and maltster in the township of Guelph, about an hour from Toronto. The original Sleeman Brewery was forced to shut down in 1933 when George Sleeman and his brothers were caught smuggling beer across the border into Prohibition-era Detroit. They should have waited: Prohibition was repealed later that year.