While craft beer brewers are taking the industry by storm, picking up a case of a New England IPA or fruity session lager can cost Ontario drinkers a pretty penny. At Ontario Beer Review, we understand that sometimes you just want a decent beer, without breaking the bank. Whether you are going down to the beach, drinking in your backyard with your friends, or having a cold one after work, you want something both economical and enjoyable. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of the cheapest (and still drinkable) beers available in Ontario. Pro Tip: Buying larger pack sizes almost always results in the cheapest per beer price. If they are not available, the Beer Store will combine smaller packs and honour the discount price. Additionally, in Ontario, bottles are usually cheaper than cans, per unit.
Laker Lager - 48 Bottles for $66 ($1.37 bottle)
The old mainstay, Laker made its name as Ontario’s go to cheap beer. Famously, they advertised with the slogan, “Make er' a Laker, It's a buck a beer!”. While the modern market prevents a buck a beer, its still a great bargain. Even better, this beer is brewed in Kitchener, Ontario by independent brewer Waterloo Brewing (formerly the Brick Brewing Company). They are Ontario’s largest independently owner brewer, and the provinces first modern craft brewer. Plus it comes with a bonus tall can!
Best deals: 48 bottles for $66 ($1.37/bottle). Tall boys are $2 each. It is $37.95 for 24, so instead of buying two 24s separately, you save $10 by buying 48.
2. Cool Beer (Lager) - 4 bottles for $6 ($1.50/bottle)
A must buy for cheap beers! Not only does it boast a stellar price, but it is the tastiest beer on this list. Cool is a crisp, refreshing blonde lager. It's made with only 100% natural ingredients and cold-filtered, with no preservatives or additives. First hitting the market in 1997, Cool won the provincial gold medal for lagers in 2010, and the national silver medal in 2005 and 2013. A truly local beer, Cool is a microbrewery in the Etobicoke neighbourhood of Toronto.
Best deals: 4 for $6 which makes it best for smaller increments and the cheapest small order available. There is no discount for larger orders, but it is still cheaper than an average value 24 at $36.
3. Laker Ice- 48 for $66
Laker Lager’s more potent cousin, Laker Ice has a very similar flavour to Laker, but with a higher alcohol content. In a rare move for ice beers, Laker Ice is priced the same as the standard lager. Similarly, you can pick up other Laker varieties such as Laker Light, and Laker Red for the same price. But few, if any, beers in Ontario give you the same alcohol to price ratio as Laker Ice. If you want to maximize your bang for your buck, this is the beer for you. Plus, it comes with a bonus tall can.
Best deals: 48 bottles for $66 ($1.37/bottle). Tall boys are $2 each. It is $37.95 for 24, so instead of buying two 24s separately, you save $10 by buying 48.
4. Carling Lager (28 bottles for $37.95, $1.35/bottle)
Another Canadian classic, Carling was founded in 1940 in London, Ontario, although it is now owned by Molson Coors. Interestingly, Carling was the United Kingdom’s most popular beer in the 1980s, and still remains a favourite. Not to be outdone, Carling is one of Ontario’s top ten best selling beers.
Best deal: 28 bottles for 37.95, same price as for 24, for 30 bottles it is $46.50, so almost ten dollars more for 2 more bottles, $1.35 per bottle, $2 tall boys
Honourable mention: while not available in the 28 pack of bottles, Carling Ice is also $2 per tall can!
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