Beery Weekend In Toronto - Drink Up

This weekend may be a good primer for the upcoming Ontario Craft Brewer OCB Beer Week, which is taking place in June (19-26), as there is a lot on the go this weekend here in Toronto. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we can all get out and enjoy some wonderful beer and some sunshine.

Friday May 27th
Wvrst - 609 King Street West
Well, it's not really an event, but Toronto's newest beer friendly restaurant opened last night and by all accounts things went well. So, what better way to kick off the weekend than a trip to this new spot that specializes in Sausages (20 different varieties). Wvrst is designed to look and feel like a German beer hall and is offering a number of solid beers from local Ontario brewers like Denison's, Black Oak, King, Church Key, Kensington and more. You'll also find beers from Germany, Belgium and other Canadian provinces like Quebec (Dieu du Ciel in bottles). Click here to view the menu


Saturday May 28th

Great Lakes Annual Spring Charity BBQ - 12:00 to 6:00 PM
Location: Great Lakes Brewing Company 
It's that time of year when we all fire up our BBQ's after the long cold winter months, which means it's also time for the Great Lakes Brewery annual Spring Charity BBQ! I've had the pleasure of attending a number of the BBQ's in the past and they're always a great time. As always, there will be Beer, BBQ, live music and a kids fun zone with games and prizes.

The beer line-up you ask? I've been told that there will be a cask of Lackey's Caskey available, along with kegs of My Bitter Wife, Devil's Pale Ale, Crazy Canuck Pale Ale, Orange Peel Ale and Green Tea Ale. A great time of year to try a number of Great Lakes core brands alongside some of their seasonals.

George Kash will once again by the MC for the day, which is always a good time (he drinks a beer upside down in a headstand position). Proceeds from this years BBQ will be donated to the Franklin Horner Community Centre. The Centre is located in Etobicoke and provides a meeting space for community groups along with programs for families with children under six, youth, seniors/older adults and newcomer groups.
30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd., Etobicoke

Amsterdam Brewery Heading To The Beach
Location: Castro’s Lounge - 4:00 to 7:00 PM

Amsterdam Brewery and Castro's Lounge, a popular beer bar in the Beaches (I still say Beaches...), are teaming up to offer residents of Toronto's east-end a late afternoon/early evening special tasting, which will feature a number of seasonal Amsterdam products.

The beers included in the social tasting include Amsterdam's one-off collaboration brew, Pink Ribbon Mild (proceeds to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation), as well as Boneshaker IPA, Boneshaker IPA Double Dry-Hopped, Tempest Imperial Stout and Oak-Aged CJM Brown Royale. Select beers will be served both on tap and cask. There is no admission fee for this tasting, just pay as you go.
2116 Queen Street East


Sunday May 29th
The Brewery Market
Location: Wychwood Barns - 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Brought to Toronto by Cass Enright, the founder of Bar Towel.com, FreeOurBeer.org, Golden Tap Awards and co-founder of Toronto Beer Week, The Brewery Market is a one of a kind event that will be launching this weekend and will be running on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer.

Each Sunday will feature a different Ontario brewery (see list here) who will be at the Wychwood Barns Farmers Market pouring samples of their product. The Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery from Barrie, ON will be the first participating brewery and they'll be serving Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale, Amber Ale and Antigravity Light Ale on draught and samples of Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale and Smashbomb Atomic IPA will be poured from bottles. Denison's Brewing Co. will be up next on June 5th. Partial proceeds to The Stop Community Food Centre, co-presenter of the Brewery Market.

From The Brewery Market's website:
The goal of The Brewery Market is to give you the chance to try out the best beers available in Ontario in a comfortable and relaxed setting. Each week a different craft brewery will be featured, with a number of different beers available. 11 breweries in total will be featured in The Brewery Market’s summer 2011 series. Come back each week for a profile of the upcoming brewery.
Barn #4, 601 Christie Street


Muskoka Mad Tom Launch Party
Location: Marben - 6:00 PM
As mentioned here two weeks ago, Muskoka Cottage Brewery is set to release their newest offering, Mad Tom IPA, and they'll be hosting a launch party on Sunday evening at Toronto Marben's restaurant during their very popular monthly pig roast. For only $25 a person, individuals will be treated to ALL you can eat pig and pints of the new IPA. Muskoka's events page on Facebook mentions that tickets are selling fast, so call ahead and make a reservation today!
488 Wellington West