Burdock Brewery Toasts The Last Waltz Anniversary With New Golden Lager
Fifty years after The Band played its famous farewell concert, Burdock Brewery is marking the occasion with a limited-edition beer.
The Toronto brewery has released The Last Waltz Golden Lager in honour of the landmark performance and the Canadian story behind the group.
The anniversary points back to November 25, 1976, when The Band took the stage at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom. The Thanksgiving-night concert was billed as the group’s farewell appearance and featured an impressive group of guest musicians.
Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, The Staple Singers, Dr. John, and Ronnie Hawkins joined Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel, and Garth Hudson during the evening.
From Winterland to the Big Screen
Director Martin Scorsese filmed the performance, which later became the 1978 concert movie The Last Waltz. The film redefined the concert documentary format while preserving the Winterland show for future audiences.
The anniversary carries added meaning in Canada because much of The Band’s early story took shape here. Robertson, Danko, Manuel, and Hudson were Canadian, and the four musicians first played together behind Arkansas-born Ronnie Hawkins on the Canadian music circuit.
The shared history between The Band and Canada gives the Toronto celebration a natural connection.
A Beer Inspired by The Band’s Roots
Burdock’s Bloor Street location already combines three parts of a night out: a brewery, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. This mix of music and gathering became the idea behind the commemorative beer.
The brewery also looked beyond the finished can for inspiration, choosing ingredients connected to the group’s musical journey.
“We wanted this beer to reflect The Band’s roots, so we sourced malt from a small maltster in the Hudson Valley,” says Matthew Park, Founder of Burdock Brewery. “It’s a small but meaningful nod to the region where The Band developed the sound that would influence generations of musicians.”
The Hudson Valley reference ties the Golden Lager to the creative roots behind the music being celebrated.
Release Details
The Last Waltz Golden Lager was brewed specifically for the 50th anniversary and is being offered as a limited-edition release.
- Style: Golden Lager
- Release date: August 30, 2026
- Availability: LCBO
- Format: 473ml can
- Price: $4.35
A Small Tribute to a Lasting Legacy
The original Winterland performance brought The Band and a wide circle of artists for one final concert appearance. Scorsese’s film then helped turn that night into a lasting piece of music culture.
Burdock Brewery’s anniversary release approaches that history from a more local angle. By connecting the beer to The Band’s Canadian beginnings and the Hudson Valley, the brewery gives the milestone a story that reaches beyond the original concert.
For anyone interested in music history, Canadian roots or simply a beer tied to a major cultural moment, The Last Waltz Golden Lager offers a timely way to recognize five decades since that famous night.
Have you heard The Last Waltz or listened to The Band before? Let us know your favourite song or memory in the comments.
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