The 1960s Beer Scene: The Most Common Beers and Powerful Brands and Companies

The 1960s was a time of great change in the beer scene. In this post, we'll explore the most common beers and powerful brands and companies that dominated the beer market in North America in the 1960s.

The Most Common Beers in the 1960s

In the 1960s, the most common beers in the United States were lagers. These light and refreshing beers were popular with consumers who were looking for a cold and easy-to-drink beverage.

One of the most popular beers in the 1960s was Budweiser. The beer had been around since the late 1800s, but it gained widespread popularity in the 1960s thanks to a highly effective marketing campaign that emphasized the beer's quality and refreshing taste.

Another popular beer in the 1960s was Miller High Life. This beer was marketed as the "Champagne of Beers," and it quickly became a favourite among consumers who wanted a higher-quality beer.

Other common beers in the 1960s included Pabst Blue Ribbon, Schlitz, and Coors.

The Powerful Brands and Companies of the 1960s

In the 1960s, the beer market was dominated by a few powerful brands and companies. These companies had the resources and marketing expertise to promote their products effectively and build brand loyalty among consumers.

One of the most powerful beer companies in the 1960s was Anheuser-Busch. The company was the largest brewer in the United States, and it owned several popular beer brands, including Budweiser, Michelob, and Busch.

Another powerful beer company in the 1960s was Miller Brewing Company. The company was known for its high-quality beers, and it marketed its products as a step up from the more common, mass-produced beers.

Other powerful beer companies in the 1960s included Pabst Brewing Company and Schlitz Brewing Company.

The Rise of Craft Beer in the 1960s

While the 1960s was dominated by mass-produced lagers, the decade also saw the beginning of the craft beer movement. Small, independent breweries began popping up across the country, offering unique and flavourful beers that were made in small batches.

One of the first craft breweries in the United States was Anchor Brewing Company, which was founded in San Francisco in 1965. The brewery was known for its Anchor Steam beer, which was a unique and flavourful brew that quickly gained a following.

The 1960s was a time of change in the United States, and the beer market was no exception. While mass-produced lagers like Budweiser and Miller High Life were the most common beers, the decade also saw the beginning of the craft beer movement. Powerful brands and companies like Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing Company dominated the market, but small, independent breweries began to emerge as well. Today, the craft beer movement is stronger than ever, and it all began in the 1960s.

Canadian Beer Market 1960s

The 1960s saw a significant shift in the Canadian beer market as well, as the dominance of large, industrial breweries began to erode. One factor that contributed to this shift was the rise of a new generation of consumers who were looking for more flavourful and distinctive beers than the mass-produced lagers that had long dominated the market.

In Canada, there were very few craft breweries in the 1960s. At that time, the beer market was dominated by large, mass-producing breweries such as Molson, Labatt, and Carling O'Keefe. These companies produced large quantities of light lagers that were popular with consumers who were looking for a cold and refreshing beverage.

One of the earliest craft breweries in Canada was Horseshoe Bay Brewing, founded in British Columbia in 1962. This small brewery focused on producing high-quality, traditional British-style ales, which quickly gained a following among discerning beer drinkers.

In the years that followed, other small breweries began to emerge across Canada, offering a range of innovative and distinctive beers.

These breweries focused on producing unique, flavourful beers that stood out from the bland, mass-produced lagers that had long dominated the Canadian market. They often used high-quality ingredients and traditional brewing methods and marketed their products as artisanal and locally made.

The craft beer market in Canada began to evolve in the 1960s, as a new generation of consumers began to demand more flavourful and distinctive beers. Small, independent breweries like Horseshoe Bay Brewing were at the forefront of this movement, and paved the way for the thriving craft beer market that exists in Canada today.