Nova Scotia has its Keith’s. New Brunswick has its Moosehead. Newfoundland, naturally, has too many beers to pick just one favourite.

If you ever make it here for a visit, you have to try all of these at least once. In succession.

1. Black Horse

Critics like to call this “Pony Piss.” It’s dark and settles in your stomach like a rock, but will get you drunk quicker in comparison to other Newfoundland beers. When I lived with a Molson rep, I often drank Black Horse…because it was free. It’s the kinda beer that makes you wake up at 5 p.m. the next afternoon and reassess your life.

2. India

Molson’s India is by far my favourite beer. You can get it at just about every corner store, and its Newfoundland dog on the label is like a beacon of happiness for true Newfs, all glowing and filled with promises from inside the cooler. Also, there’s nothing better to yell than, “GET DAT IN-DI-YA!” when you’re cracking open a cold one.

3. Blue Star
Blue Star kinda sucks, but they sell it at the corner store just a minute from my house, and it has the Newfoundland flag on its label, so it wins.

4. Jockey Club
I’m typically a Molson fan, but sometimes I like to live dangerously. Jockey Club is in the Black Horse category of pass-out-in-a-ditch-puking-on-a-streetlight inebriation, but it tastes better. This makes Jockey Club a villain…the bubbly kind.

5. Quidi Vidi Everything

Quidi Vidi Brewery is the only independently owned brewery in St. John’s (as far as I know…not sure what people are brewing in their basements). I try to buy it whenever possible, but it’s rarely sold at my sketchy convenience store/brothel.

Such a glorious table setting.

Their beers include:

I’m also told Dominion Ale is apparently only brewed in Newfoundland, but since I don’t know what it tastes like, we’ll pretend it doesn’t exist.

Now I’m thirsty. Cheers!

**I’m actually ashamed of myself for not including two more local breweries, Yellowbelly and Storm. I’ve never tried Storm, but Yellowbelly has a delicious line of beers, my favourite being the Wexford Wheat. They’re located inside a restaurant on Water Street and they have tiny burgers. Thanks to drt for pointing out the ones I missed!