So you feel like an ice cold bottle of Heineken on a patio. The Colonel can hook that up.

For the first time in its 58-year history in Canada, KFC will offer domestic and international beers this fall, selling those at its two “fast-casual” concept outlets in Toronto.

“It’s a natural fit as we continue to contemporize the brand in Canada,” explained David Vivenes, KFC’s chief marketing officer, in an interview Wednesday.

The chicken chain will offer Molson Canadian, Coors Lite, Coors Banquet and Heineken at its Mexican-inspired KFC Fresh locations, which also sell burritos, rice bowls and spicy wraps.

The first outlet opened last December on Yonge St. just south of Bloor St., while a new store launches Thursday in the popular Stockyards area at St. Clair Ave. W. and Weston Rd., complete with outdoor patio.

“It’s a great atmosphere for people to socialize and hang out. We want people to linger longer,” said Vivenes.

“Beer pairs up really well with our food,” he said of the expanded menu that now includes loaded waffle fries topped with guacamole, pico de gallo and jalapenos, and grilled chicken Wrapmasters.

Analysts say offering suds could give KFC a leg up in the ongoing fast food wars, where traditional outlets have seen market share eroded by the success of the slightly up-market “fast-casual” chains such as Chipotle Mexican Grill, which offers burritos and bowls with fresh ingredients in an open kitchen at a slightly higher price.

“Offering alcohol in fast food establishments is fairly new to Canada — and it’s not as common as one might think in the U.S.,” said Will McKitterick of IBISWorld Inc. in New York.

In recent years, Burger King tested a Whopper Bar offering beer in Miami’s South Beach area, and White Castle tried offering wine at a location in Indiana. The concept hasn’t taken off across the U.S., though, he said.

“I don’t think the Colonel will be rolling over in his grave over it. It’s more symptomatic of the larger trend of trying to compete” in a struggling industry where traffic growth is flat, McKitterick said.

A lot has changed since Colonel Harland Sanders offered his classic southern fried chicken and neon green coleslaw at outlets with the signature revolving bucket. KFC now offers new items including the Double Down sandwich, burritos and the Big Boss sandwich, which is similar to the Big Mac.

Earlier this month, regular KFC outlets in Canada rolled out a so-called Happy Hour menu that is offered from 2 to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, featuring $1.49 snack items including BBQ bacon and pulled pork Roller wraps, mini bowls and a 7Up-based, non-alcoholic mojito with fresh lime and mint.

The moves are indicative of the pressure to evolve and keep customers interested in the fast food business, said Robert Carter, executive director of food service at the NPD Group.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“It’s interesting. I think they’ll be successful with it (offering beer) and that we’ll continue to see this trend in the industry,” noted Carter.

And no, you can’t get the beer in a KFC bucket — particularly since traditional chicken pieces are not served at these stores. The brew will be served by the bottle with a cup to go along with it.

Nicolas Burquier, general manager of KFC Canada, will toast the new Stockyards outlet at its lunchtime opening Thursday with a temporary liquor license for the day, while the chain awaits the official permanent license for both locations in the coming weeks, the company said.