Baird pays off hockey bet with case of cool Ottawa microbrewery beer

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and U.S. Secretary State John Kerry bet a case of beer on the World Women’s Hockey Championship. Baird had a case of Molson Canadian on the line; Kerry had a case of Sam Adams. Well, the U.S. beat Canada earlier this week and while Baird is sending a case of Canadian to Kerry, he’s also sending a case of Beau’s beer to the U.S. embassy staff in Ottawa. Beau’s is a micro-brewery at Vankleek Hill just east of Ottawa and makes great beer. Beau’s even put special labels on the beer Baird gave to the Americans. (above)

Here’s the transcript, courtesy of the U.S. State Department, of the bet-payoff exchange between Baird and Kerry just ahead of a G8 foreign ministers meeting in London, UK:

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: … I accepted the bet from John about the International Ice Hockey Association’s great game between Canada and the United States. While the Canadian women played tremendously well and almost pulled it off, they didn’t quite make it, unfortunately, again with our American friends. So I had – we’ve had two things: One, a case of Molson Canadian, which I will present to you today.

SECRETARY KERRY: Versus a case of Sam Adams from Massachusetts, right?

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: Yes. But you also get a case of Beau’s, a beer that’s brewed in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, a small brewery just outside my constituency. Now, the embassy – the team at the embassy in Ottawa will get that.

SECRETARY KERRY: Okay. (Laughter.)

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: And that’s going to be what – congratulations.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, sir. Very welcome.

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: (Via interpreter) I just gave you a Canadian “gift” because the Canadian women’s hockey team lost. Congratulations to the American women for an extraordinary game.

SECRETARY KERRY: (Via interpreter) Thank you very much! This isn’t a gift though, it’s something I won. (Laughter.) Anyway, thank you very much, and I congratulate everyone who participated in this competition.

We’re very, very happy. I’m delighted that the American team won the game, but I salute our great Canadian friends and an extraordinary group of athletes on both sides. They make for great competition and I appreciate it, and I particularly appreciate a man of his word. (Laughter.)

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: Well, we know that above all, that in North America, we have the best women playing hockey in the world.

SECRETARY KERRY: Now, I want to make sure that everybody in America knows we’re not going to go drink this now. (Laughter.) We’ve got to work. But anyway, thank you, John. Thank you very much.

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: As I prove myself.

SECRETARY KERRY: And I look forward to seeing a game with you up there in —

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: Absolutely.

SECRETARY KERRY: All right.

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: When the Senators beat the Bruins.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you, no. (Laughter.) You don’t learn. (Laughter.)

FOREIGN MINISTER BAIRD: We’re going to get it eventually.

SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you.