Follow beer writer, Troy Burtch, as he explores the wonderful world of craft beer and the pubs that serve it. Great Canadian Beer is a place to come to catch up on beer news, read tasting notes, check out event listings, and for pub previews and reviews.

PLANNING AN EVENT? GOT A NEWS TIP? INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? SEND A MESSAGE TO troy (at)greatcanadianbeerblog(dot)com

Thursday, May 21, 2009

A Beery Weekend in Toronto

There are a number of events taking place this weekend and unfortunately I'll be out of town and I'll be unable to check them out. However, should you be in the city and looking for something to do, be sure to spend some time supporting your local brewers at the following events.

C'est What Spring Festival of Craft Breweries (Friday May 22)
Tomorrow night (Friday), C'est What will be hosting their 5th annual Spring Festival of Craft Breweries at their Front street location. There is no admission charge and samples will only cost you a dollar each. C'est What always throws a good event, so head down tomorrow between 5pm and 10pm to sample over 30 of Ontario's finest, and to try some new beers brewed just for the occasion.

Amsterdam Big Wheel Amber and Spring Bock
Barley Days Summer Light Ale
Big Rock Pale Ale
Black Oak Oak-Aged Chocolate Cherry Stout (cask)
Brick Waterloo Wheat
Church-Key Stout
Durham Hop Addict (cask)
F&M Maple Red Ale
Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion
Garrison ESB (I'm thinking it's the Propeller ESB)
Grand River Russian Imperial Stout
Granite Peculiar
Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale (cask)
King Unfiltered Pilsner
MacLean's Bitter (cask) and Dark Mild (cask)
McAuslan Vintage Ale and Mystique Cider
Mill Street Peche Belgian Wheat and Black Tea Lemon Ale
Muskoka Hefe Weiss
Neustadt 300 and Texas Tea
Nicklebrook 80 Shilling and Organic Lager
Okanagan 1516
Railway City Ironspike Amber and Blonde
Stratford California Common
Trafalgar Black Creek Dark Ale and Oak Aged Rye
Unibroue Chambly Noire
Wellington Russian Imperial Stout.


Volo - 2nd Round Ontario Cask IPA Challenge (Sat May 23 - Sun May 24)
10 terrific casks moved on after the scores were calculated at the conclusion of round one, which was held back in April to much fanfare. This weekend (both Sat. and Sun.) Volo will be hosting round 2 of the Ontario Cask IPA Challenge and they will be adding a twist - all the beers will be tasted blindly in a head-to-head format, with the winners moving onto the third round to be held sometime in June. The challenge commences when the doors open on Saturday at 12pm

Volo will be serving the 10 beers that advanced plus 3 new IPA's, which will be disclosed the following Monday. Samples will be available in 1/4, 1/2 and full pint servings, and again, there will be no admission fee.

Granite Hopping Mad
Publican House Square Nail
Grand River Plowman's
Durham County Hop Head
Mike Duggan Number 9
Magnotta West Coast
Heritage Sgt. Major
Mill St. IPA
Mill St. Tankhouse
Durham Hop Addict

Great Lakes Annual BBQ (Saturday May 23)
Etobicoke's Great Lakes Brewery will be hosting their 6th annual charity BBQ this Saturday in support of the Gatehouse, a foundation that provides support to abused children. The festivities kick off at 12pm and run until 6pm. There will be live music, complimentary soft drinks, bbq food, and fresh beer, including a fresh cask of their Orange Peel Ale. And speaking of the popular Orange Peel Ale, it is now available in select LCBO's, as well as the Great Lakes retail store.

Brewery Collectibles Show & Sale (Sat. May 23)
If you've been searching for that perfect beer themed mirror for your home bar, you should definitely check out the Brewery Collectibles Show and Sale taking place this Saturday at the Amsterdam Brewery. Collectors will be setting up booths in the loft of the brewery to showcase their vast collection of breweriana. The show will run from 11am to 3pm and there will be fresh Amsterdam products available for purchase. I was able to attend last years show and I was amazed with the collections laid out on the tables. If your into the history of the Canadian Brewing industry, a stop to Amsterdam should be in the cards this weekend.

No comments:

Web Analytics

Winter Ale