Members of Queen's Park Choose OCB Beers!

A while ago I was discussing the state of the Ontario Craft Brewers with a friend who mentioned that something was in the works with members of Queen's Park and OCB beers, and today I received a press release with the following information.

For the sake of being lazy I will include the full release. Enjoy.

Queen's Park Casts Votes for the Official Craft Beers of the Legislative Assembly TORONTO

The votes are in as MPPs at Queen's Park settle on the best Ontario Craft
Beers. Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, Steve Peters, hosted fellow MPPs and staff Tuesday as they cast their vote at the first ever Ontario Craft Beer Tasting at Queen's Park. "At the Legislative Assembly of Ontario we are extremely proud of the fantastic local products that our great Province provides," says Peters.

"Making the Legislative Assembly of Ontario a showcase of Ontario products is an initiative of mine as Speaker. The Ontario Craft Brewers are a great example of our Province's ability to create quality, world-class products right here in our backyard."

The tasting saw 46 beers brought to Queen's Park with over 100 ballots cast in six different categories. As well, Peters was proud to announce Neustadt Scottish Pale Ale as his choice for the Speakers' Selection winner. These seven winning beers will be the official craft beers of the Legislative Assembly.

"Seeing the Ontario Legislature take an interest in the Ontario Craft Brewers is a sign of how far the Ontario craft brewing industry has come in recent years," says John Hay, President of the Ontario Craft Brewers. "Our province's brewing history began back in the 1800's but really saw a large resurgence in 1985 with brewers like J.R. Brickman and others. Most recently we've seen an acceleration of this growth thanks to government support, new consumer interest and the hard work of the 29 Ontario Craft Brewers."

Since 2003 capital investment in the Ontario Craft Brewers has been over $40 million. This strong support has been central to the development of craft brewing in Ontario. "We are also proud of our impact on the province's economy," continues Hay. "In fact in the next decade we expect the craft breweries to have close to a $400 million economic impact on the provincial economy in both a direct and indirect way."

Category winners and the official craft beers of the Legislative Assembly are:

Speaker's Selection: Neustadt Brewery - Neustadt Scottish Pale Ale

Golden Lagers & Pilsners: Great Lakes Brewery - Golden Horseshoe

Refreshing Ales: Robert Simpson Brewing Company - Anti-Gravity Light

Amber Lagers, Ales & Honey Beers: Old Credit Brewery - Amber Ale

Malty Dark Lager or Ale: Brick Brewing Company - Waterloo Dark

Bold Flavoured Ale, Stout or Porter: Scotch Irish Brewery - Sgt. Major IPA

Wheat Beer: Mill Street Brewery - Belgian Wit

The Ontario Craft Brewers are a group of 29 small brewers that are dedicated to making great tasting beer in Ontario. The 29 members of the Ontario Craft Brewers brew their beers locally in communities throughout Ontario - from the Ottawa Valley to Windsor and Niagara to Muskoka. The Ontario Craft Brewers employ over 450 people in Ontario, accounting for over20 per cent of the overall brewing employment in the province. For more information about the Ontario Craft Brewers visit http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com/.

Denison's: Our Favourite Weissbier

This won't be headline grabbing news to the regular readers of The Bar Towel tm, but I thought I'd expand on the recent announcement posted on on that site by Denison's owner/founding brewer Michael Hancock.

Back on May 19th, Hancock posted a message on Bar Towel regarding his recent move to the Cool Brewing Company to have Denison’s beers brewed there, as opposed to following Ken Woods and Black Oak to their new digs in Etobicoke. Hancock has had his signature Weissbier and Dunkel brewed under licence at the Black Oak brewery for the last couple of years after moving there from the Mill Street brewery, but when Woods and company decided it was time to re-locate the Black Oak brewery closer to the city (Toronto) Hancock decided it was his time to re-locate himself. Not that anything happened between the two. On the contrary. These two guys are great friends and Woods has previously mentioned how Hancock has served as a role model while he was learning the ropes of running a brewery. Woods actually served at Denison's Brew Pub on Victoria street back in the day.

Hancock's decision to move his brewing operation to the Cool brewery was simply based on space and hence, the ability to grow freely. Cool has lots of it, providing Hancock with the opportunity to brew more Weissbier in order to keep up with increasing consumer demand, and to brew Dunkel year round.

I ran into Hancock shortly after he posted his message one blurry night at Volo (I hope you made it home in time Michael), where he informed me that the first Weissbier was brewed at Cool over a month before, and so far so good. He stressed the fact that when there is a move of this proportion that is could take a bit to weed out abnormalities caused during the brewing process as the new beer adapts to its new surroundings. He did point out however that when he moved from Mill Street to Black Oak that everything turned out great, and judging by the quietness of the Bar Towel crowd everything seems true to style since moving to Cool.

I also got to hear some plans for Dension's for the future, or should I say goals of Hancock's. But this isn't a cheesy tabloid blog so I'll reserve comment for a later date or when things start to transpire. It was interesting to hear some things that take place behind the beer, things everyday beer drinkers wouldn't otherwise hear about. I was very impressed with Hancock's passion for the craft brewing industry and he is a great man to discuss the brewing industry with, as he has been through it all.

I, along with many other Denison's fans, look forward to seeing his Weissbier at more and more accounts and being able to have a Dunkel year round.

Is Thy Stomach Growing In Size?

Back in April, Alan over at A Good Beer Blog wrote about his weight issues and asked other beer drinkers what they do to watch the ever expanding waist line while still enjoying the drink we call beer.

I remember reading that post and giving it some serious thought as weight issues have always affected me. My weight goes up then I lose some, then it goes back up then I lose it. Up and down since grade 8. While I have never been 'thin' I have usually been in good shape, thanks to rigorous workouts, playing rugby, hockey and fastball. But since moving to the city and recently consuming a lot (a lot) of beer, whether it be at beer dinners, events, at the pub, or with friends, I have started to notice my weight sneak up on me. I still workout, just not as much as I once did.

I don't blame the caloric qualities of the beer for this weight gain. I blame the fact that in the morning, after drinking some strong ales, I can't get out of bed to hit the gym. So here's what I intend to do about it while staying in the loop: a) limit my weekly beer intake, b) get to the gym 4 times a week and, c) limit my consumption at events.

Can I do it? I think so, although last night I was staring at a bottle of Ommegang Strong Belgian Ale and thinking of popping the cork after dinner for a night tippler. I stood strong though and drank some lousy water instead.

So thanks Alan for waking me up!

OCB and Soundwaves: Jazz by the Lake

10 members of the Ontario Craft Brewers Association are teaming with St. Joseph's Hospital to take part in the annual Soundwaves: Jazz by the Lake hospital fundraiser on June 19th.

The event is taking place at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex (Exhibition Place) from 6:30 pm to 11:00 pm and will feature popular jazz musicians including:

Emilie-Claire Barlow
Jim Galloway and his Wee Big Band
Stephanie Welton and The Toronto Jazz Orchestra

There will also be 10 delicious food stations to accompany the participating brewers, which include:

Nickel Brook Beers
Black Oak Brewing Company
Cool Beer Brewing Company
County Durham Brewing Company
Granite Brewery
Great Lakes Brewery
Mill Street Brewery
Old Credit Brewing Co. Ltd.
Wellington Brewery
Cameron's Brewing Company

There will also be some OCB ‘prize packs’ given away at the event (cool SWAG).

What better way to enjoy a warm summer evening than sampling nearly a dozen different Ontario Craft Beers while relaxing to the cool sounds of jazz? As a co-sponsor of this fundraiser for ST. Joseph's Hospital the Ontario Craft Brewers will be joined by local restaurants and wineries for an evening of great jazz for a good cause.

Call or visit us online NOW! Space is limited.
416-530-6157 www.foundation.stjoe.on.ca

Tickets are $250 each with a $100 charitable receipt and money raised goes to the St. Joseph’s Mental Health and Addictions Program, specifically the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program.

Gordon Ramsay Promoting Beer and Food

I have been extremely busy for the last couple of weeks and I'm finding it hard to keep pounding out daily posts. I am working on it though. In the meantime, here is an article I found this during my daily google searches. Fun read and hopefully we'll hear something like this regarding a brewery of our own one day.

AN Edinburgh brewer behind the world's first oak-aged beer is preparing for major growth after winning the backing of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

Dougal Sharp, founder of the Innis & Gunn Brewing Company, was invited by the fiery chef to help him brew a version of the beer at his London home on his TV programme The F Word.

After the brewing process was featured on this week's episode, the beer is currently being allowed to mature for 30 days in whisky barrels that provide its distinctive oak flavour. It is then to be served up with a veal main course on the final episode of the series.

Ramsay is using the Innis & Gunn product to show how well quality beer can be matched with fine cuisine.

The chef already sells the beer in his east London gastro pub The Narrow, and it is understood he is to stock it across his burgeoning pub and restaurant empire.

Mr Sharp, whose father Russell bought the Caledonian Brewery in 1987 and helped make Deuchars IPA a household name, said: "It is great that Gordon has chosen to do something like this and it shows how far beer has come from its beer bellies and sandals image.

"The fact that you can match Innis & Gunn with food is what won out for us with Gordon. The character of the beer makes it suitable and Gordon picked up on that. He's a hell of a nice bloke and he's very passionate about the things he's interested in.

He's very interested in the brewing process and how to do that, and it's been a lot of fun working with him. It's been a real learning experience for me as well."

Innis & Gunn filled 10,000 barrels of beer in 2007 – double its 2006 levels – as its popularity took off in the UK, United States, Canada and Scandinavia.

Celebrity chef and Great British Menu star Mark Hix has already helped introduce the beer to "beer dinners" attended by celebrities and food and drink critics, which has helped to make the name known and grown its reputation for being food-friendly.

The "base" beer is provided by the Belhaven Brewery, then left to mature in William Grant & Sons barrels to produce the oak flavour.

The product, which is only sold in bottles, is already stocked in many of the UK's leading supermarkets, bars and restaurants, and a stockpile has been built up to allow for the growing demand.

Graham Bell, a spokesman for the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said the success of the brand could inspire other small businesses.

He said: "What Innis & Gunn have shown is that brewing is far from dead in Edinburgh.

"They have a quality product that is retailing at twice the price of other beers and people are lapping it up.

"It shows that whatever you're doing, if you are innovative then you can be a big success nationally and internationally."

Beerbistro's Dogfish Head Dinner: May 28, 2008

Wow!

When I walked into Beerbistro Wednesday night, a little premature for the highly anticipated Dogfish Head dinner, I had no idea where I would be sitting. You can imagine my surprise and excitement when I was whisked over to a spot at the head table to sit with Dogfish Head owner Sam Calagione, Philadelphia's Monk's Cafe owner Tom Peters, Esprit agency owner Peter Lopaty, Bar Towel's Cass Enright and fellow TAPS contributor Greg Clow. I had the chance to have a lengthy chat with Calagione before the rest of the crowd arrived and was impressed with his good natured personality and his interest in the Ontario beer market. We talked hockey (he's a big fan), discussed TAPS beer magazine and about Beerbistro. It seemed liked we had meet a dozen times before when actually this was my first encounter with the man. Beer people are like that though....right.

Guests for the $100 ticketed event started arriving shortly after 6pm and bellied up to the bar for bottles of a Dogfish Head brew. Everyone took to their seats just after 6:30pm to prepare for the smorgasbord of amazing food and beer we would receive throughout the night. Open remarks were made by the Beerbistro and an invitation was extended to Calagione to greet all his fans. He had everyone's attention right off the bat when he spoke about his experiences in the craft brewing industry and the trails and tribulations he has gone through. He thanked everyone for coming and was thrilled to learn that some of Ontario's craft brewery representatives were in attendance (boys from Cameron's (DeuS!) and Great Lakes).

After he told the story about getting lost in Philadelphia in 1995 and having to buy a bag of something off some derelicts in the streets just to get directions, the first samples started to arrive at our table. Chateau Jiahu and a lobster roll infused with lobster and caviar, beautiful. Great start. I won't discuss the beer and food pairings, I'll let the menu below speak for itself. Our table got into a discussion about the Ontario beer market after Calagione was presented with a can of Great Lakes Devil's Pale Ale 666. He was so interested in trying it that he had a server bring over a bucket with ice just so he could cool it enough to crack it open. He was excited to hear that some of the Ontario brewers are starting to experiment with their products and was very interested in trying Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale. **By the way Calagione really enjoyed the 666.

Next up was the Black and Blue with soup and a sandwich (again, see menu for description). Again, amazing. In between servings Calagione got up and went table to table introducing himself to everyone, which was great to watch. No pretentiousness, no big ego, just a great person. He didn't have to do that but it's who he is. Over the next two hours more and more food was brought out and it was magnificently paired with Calagione's amazing line-up of extreme beers. We were able to try his 60 min IPA, 90 min IPA, 120 min IPA, World Wide stout, Raison D'Extra & D'Etre, Fort, and the delicious Indian Brown. My favourite dish of the night was the tongue'n cheek craft dinner that consisted of cod tongues, beer braised veal cheeks, macaroni with four year old aged Quebec Cheddar. For the beer of the night....I don't know, to hard to choose just one. The 90 min IPA was/is beautiful and the Indian Brown Ale was great. They were/are all great.

Calagione took a few minutes to describe the beers and provided some insight into the ingredients he uses to brew with. For example, green raisins are used in the Raison beers, pureed blackberries and blueberries in the Black and Blue and a ton of hops in the 120 min IPA. His speeches were inspiring and sincere, terribly funny and even included a rap (Calagione leads a rap group called The Pain Relievaz). Back at our table we talked in length about beer festivals, the state of the global hop shortage (which won't affect Dogfish until 2010), more hockey (Penguins won, much to the dismay of our Philly friends), beer dinners and life in general. It was near the end of the dinner when Calagione stated that Beerbistro had just thrown one of the best beer dinners for Dogfish Head that he has ever been too, and he has literally been to thousands. He exclaimed that he usually attends 2-3 beer dinners a week and the man's in good shape? I would be 400 pounds. Peter's from Monks, who has worked with Chef Brian Morin and Stephen Beaumont before on beer events, announced that this was the best beer dinner he had ever been too!

After the dinner Calagione took the mic once again and opened the floor to questions. When asked if he has plans to bring more Dogfish Head beers into the province, he stated that if the 60 min does well (which I'm positive it will) then more beers will be discussed. From what I remember (the strong beer was getting to me) Sam mentioning to me after the dinner was that Indian Brown Ale would his choice should another beer be considered for our market. He then made a great comment about the LCBO and the state of Texas. Hilarious. He then made another set of rounds meeting everyone in attendance and taking more time to chat with people who had more questions. He also signed autographs in his new book 'He Said Beer, She Said Wine,' much to the pleasure of his admirers.

When things started to settle down and after the boys from Cameron's headed up to the bar to celebrate with Calagione over a bottle of DeuS, I took 10 mins to interview Calagione on a fair number of rapid fire questions. Look for it in the near future (quite possibly the summer issue of TAPS).

The food was excellent, the beer was/is magnificent, the Beerbistro staff were outstanding and Calagione put on a great show. For people who balked at the $100 price tag for the event - wow, were you ever wrong. If it were to happen again, and Calagione asked Morin if he could come back at least once a year, I would gladly pay more to take part again, even if I wasn't sitting where I was sitting. Class act all the way around!

***People in Pictures:

Pic#1 - Sam Calagione

Pic #2 - Sam Calagione and Tom Peters from Monk's Cafe fame

Pic #3 - Food

Pic #4 - Sam Calagione and Chef Brian Morin

Picture of the Week

Sam Calagione, owner/operator of Dogfish Head Brewery, gets mobbed by the guys last night at Beerbistro's Dogfish Head 9 course beer and food pairing.

Left to Right: Mike Laba (Cameron's), Jason Ellesmere (Cameron's), Sam Calagione, John Bowden (Great Lakes), Jason Britton (Cameron's), Carter, Jon Graham (Cameron's) and Cass Enright (Bar Towel)

It's Gonna Be An Off-Centred Night

Tonight is the night that many us of beer enthusiasts have been waiting for; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery owner Sam Calagione will be at Toronto's Beerbistro for a nine course beer and food pairing to familiarize drinkers with some of his off-centred ales.

Dogfish Head, who originated in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, have created a niche for themselves with their wide array of extreme beers and unique marketing. Calagione, who is also an accomplished author of 3 books, started the brewery in 1995 and it was considered to be the smallest craft brewery in the U.S. at the time. Today his beers are widely regarded by hop heads, judges, beer writers and beer fans in general, and Dogfish Head has gone from the smallest brewery in the U.S. to one of the fastest growing breweries in the nation.

Tonight Calagione will greet his admirers to share in a nine course meal prepared by Chef Brian Morin, owner/operator of Beerbistro. Tickets went on sale May 1st for $100.00 and the last one was sold just under an hour later. Needless to say that this event is highly anticipated.

Here are the planned pairings that were obtained from The Bar Towel.

1st - Chateau Jiatu - mini lobster roll
2nd - Black and Blue - soup and sandwich
3rd - Indian Brown - bacon and eggs
4th - 60 minute - buffalo wings
5th - Raison d’etre - tongue and cheek mac & cheese
6th - 90 minute - bbq ribs
7th - 120 Minute - broccoli and cheese
8th - Raison D’extra - peanut butter and banana
9th - Fort - lollipop

Sounds delicious doesn't it!

Calagione's first book: Adventures in Entrepreneurship - Brewing up a Business, was the first beer book I had really purchased myself and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have actually read it more than once. So, as you have probably already have guessed, I am really looking forward to tonight.

Huether Hotel - Lion Brewery & Restaurant: Waterloo, ON

There are certain moments in your life that can't escape your memory: your first kiss, purchasing your first car, first house, getting married, the birth of your child and many more. I have yet to experience three of the above scenario's but to make up for them I'll tell you about the Huether Hotel in Waterloo, ON, or more notably, The Lion Brewery Restaurant located inside.

You see, I can still vividly recall the first night I stepped foot into the historic building and hopefully I always will. My fiancee was in University at the time at Wilfred Laurier and her and her roommates often frequented the Lion Brewery Restaurant (LBR) to celebrate birthday's. I had the pleasure of joining them on one such occasion and I was immediately hooked. It would seem that every weekend I visited her in Waterloo that we would make our way over to indulge in some pints of their brewed on-site beers or taste the many signature dishes on their menu. Everytime we visited we had good service, the beer were always good and the atmosphere and ambiance never disappointed. This is why I still keep going back. It has taken me too long to keep a post about one of my favourite drinking destinations.

The building that the Huether Hotel and the LBR occupies dates back to 1842 and from 1899 to 1930 was owned and operated by the Kuntz Brewing Company before they merged with E.P. Taylor's Carling conglomerate. During Kuntz' time in the building the hotel had several different proprietors and it was in 1953 that John Peter Aldys and his partner purchased the building and subsequent businesses, thus starting the Aldys legacy in the area. John's son Bernie and his wife Sonia would later go on to manage the hotel and in 1975 they purchased the property off the senior Aldys and they still run the show to this day.

The LBR, named after the Lion Brewery that once occupied the side building adjacent to the hotel in the early 1900's, is located just off the street level and down some rickety, weathered, old wooden steps. Entering the main hallway you'll come across many framed newspaper clippings and accolades that have been compiled over the years and provide customers with some nostalgia regarding the famed monument.

LBR was opened in 1987 after four years of extensive labour, a job that included clearing two caverns (ice rooms from the old breweries??) of several tons of rubble. When the renovations were complete the brewing tanks where installed in one of those caverns and beer was pumped directly to the bar. Because of the increasing popularity of Waterloo's newest brews, the Aldys made a decision to re-locate the tanks to another section of the building and use the caverns for hosting large parties or alternate seating during busy nights.

So, let me get back to my most recent visit. Last Saturday, after we headed west down the 401 to the Grand River Brewing Co, we made a bee-line to the Huether for a late lunch and a sample tray of beers. And there are a fair number to choose from. Lion Lager, Adlys Ale, Huether's Premium Lager, Light Lager, Black & Tan (Lager/English Ale), Speciality Brew (summer one Weiss), Honey Brown Lager, English Ale and Wuerzburger Lager.

We arrived just before 4pm to a near empty place and had our choice of tables. We choose to sit up near the bar and just off the kitchen, which juts out into the eating area. I settled on the sample tray that consisted of the English Ale, Wuerzburger, Black and Tan and the Weissbier. I found the Wuerzburger to be the standout winner while the Weiss was not at its best. The rest were alright, nothing to knock your socks off, but good nonetheless. The paddle is only $3.75, so it wouldn't hurt to have two trays to sample all the beers.

The room is beautiful, simply put. The rustic wood, natural stone flooring and walls, solid wooden and brick supports, all blend together nicely with some modern stainless steel from the kitchen, which creates a cabin in the woods feeling. I find it comforting. As mentioned, the floors are flat natural stone that are moderately raised here and there, reminiscent of a cellar you might find in an old farm house. The west side wall is of solid rock foundation that hasn't been altered in the building's 166 years of existence. Small windows provide some light into what would otherwise be considered a dungeon. Hours can be spend down there and you can emerge into the darkness of the night without even realizing it. The walls are covered with antiques, some from the many breweries that have occupied the building. There is also a large stone fireplace located at the back of the restaurant that comes alive during the winter, and features a beautiful painting of a lion by Sonia Aldys on a shelf above.

The 37 foot straight bar stretches from the main entrance all the way to the kitchen and sports some pretty amazing German style draught towers, all differently coloured. There are 10 bar back stools, one being occupied by a older gentleman who seems concentrated on the book in his hand. The music is barely audible, which I appreciate, and I'm sure our reader friend does too. Admittedly, our server, who doubles as the bartender, claims she's not a big beer person but I'm okay with that as she oozed enthusiasm and seems committed to ensure we have a good time. There are a couple televisions behind the bar on mute showing some sports.

The atmosphere is terrific, it reminds me why I love this place. The food is great (although not to great for celiac's), the beer is good - definitely worth trying and the building is very memorable. I would recommend this place to anyone interested in historic buildings, quality food, handcrafted beers and good times.

*The Huether Hotel, LBR, Cafe 1842, and Barley Works are located at 59 King Street North, Waterloo, ON.

Nickel Brook Special Edition Cuvee 07': Strong Spiced Ale

A couple of weeks ago while celebrating Volo's 20th anniversary I had the opportunity to sample Nickel Brook's Special Edition Cuvee 07' on the recommendation by Volo owner Ralph Morana. As I sat on the patio supping my pint and watching some people in the corner share a dress(?), I pondered over the Cuvee 07' and came away with a positive review.

It just so happened that I ran into Nickel Brook's brewmaster Tim Blakeley at the Ontario Brewing Awards gala, held at the Bier Markt, where it won 'People's Choice' Winner for Specialty Beer. We got to talking about his latest creation and I was lucky enough to grab a six pack off him before handing home for the night.

Well, last night I finally got around to sitting down and enjoying another glass of it in the comforts of my apartment. My fiance had a friend over to watch the Grey's Anatomy finale providing me with the opportunity to hide in the corner with my pint glass and notebook.

The beer pours a hazy unfiltered orangey amber colour with a small white fluffy head. It is a very beautiful beer in my nice clean glass, looking very appetizing. The strong sweet aroma sits atop the glass and consists of hints of the Caribbean demerara (a speciality raw cane sugar used to sweeten beverages), notes of honey, small traces of something similar to nutmeg, warming alcohol and vanilla from the oak aging the Cuvee 07' goes through over 6 months. It truly is a winning combination of aroma producing ingredients. One member of Bar Towel stated that it smelled like jujubes and I can agree with that.

There is a lot going on in the taste of this beer too. A sharp sweetness attacks the middle of the tongue from the demerara and the fruity esters of the yeast. With the 6 month oak aging the Cuvee 07' endures, while not used previously for bourbon, there are hints of a brandy quality similar to that of a milder Innis and Gunn. It is a very sweet beer that can best be enjoyed after dinner with a fruity or syrupy dessert or over with the conversation of some close friends.

Nickel Brook and Blakeley have been quietly, but consistently been producing some terrific seasonal beers over the last year and they haven't gone un-noticed. This may very well be their best seasonal to date - in my opinion.

Details for beer geeks(fans/enthusiasts/nerds): Info taken from Blakeley's post on Beer Advocate.

7.75% A.B.V.
17 I.B.U. 15 Lvb.

A rich auburn reserve ale, brewed with five European malts, Caribbean demerara and a special blend of herbs and spices.

Cellared in oak for six months, naturally carbonated, and packaged unfiltered for a complex flavor profile and stability over time. Clarity is achieved through a careful brewing process and extensive aging.

Enjoy it today, or lay it down and savor the changes in character as it continues to mature.

Supplies are limited and are NOT available at L.C.B.O or Brewer's Retail. Mention this ad with your purchase and receive a free 12 oz. Nicklebrook glass.

NICKELBROOK BREWERY & BEER STORE
864 Drury Lane
Burlington, Ontario
(905) 681-2739
www.nickelbrook.com

Lots to do this Weekend

There are a number of events happening this weekend in the Toronto area should you be looking for something to do or looking for something good to drink.

Ces't What's Spring Festival Of Small Breweries
C'est What publican George Milbrandt and staff are at it again, holding another craft breweries beer festival at his eccentric pub. The festival starts at 5pm and runs until 10pm, enough time to get in and sample from anywhere to 30 to 40 regular, new, or special beers. There will be no admission to gain entrance to the event and samples can be purchased for the low price of $1. Click here for more information regarding the confirmed beers to date.

Great Lakes Brewery Annual Charity BBQ
Great Lakes, Toronto's oldest operating craft brewery will be holding their annual charity BBQ at their brewery this Saturday between 12-6pm. There will be live music, good bbq'd food and Great Lakes beers of course. 100% of the proceeds from all beer sales from the retail store will be donated to The Gatehouse, serving those hurt by child abuse. For more information, contact Great Lakes at: 416-255-4510 or send them an email at info@greatlakesbeer.com. As mentioned, the bbq is being held at the brewery.

30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario
M8Z 1L8

Doors Open Toronto
On Saturday and Sunday, historic properties throughout Toronto will open their doors for those interested to learn about Toronto's past and do so for free. The Steam Whistle Brewery is located in Toronto's aesthetically pleasing John St. Roundhouse, a structure that dates back to 1929. As such, Steam Whistle will have their doors open for people interested in tours and curious architecture buffs alike. This is a perfect opportunity for those who have never visited the brewery to get in and taste some lager and see how Steam Whistle has helped preserve a great piece of Toronto history. Doors will be open on Saturday: 10-6pm Last admittance: 5:30pm and Sunday: 10 am to 5 pm Last admittance: 4:30pm.

Steam Whistle is located at:
255 Bremner Blvd,
Toronto, ON. M5V 3M9
Telephone: 416-362-2337

Ontario Craft Brewers and the LCBO

The LCBO is reporting that Ontario craft beers rose 37 per cent over the 2007/08 fiscal year and that beer and ready-to-drink products were up eight per cent to $990 million.

Congratulations to the Ontario Craft Brewers who continue to see increases year after year!!! It would seem that more and more people are realizing the benefits of drinking quality craft beer.

Cameron's Brewing Co - What's New

I received the Spring newsletter from the crew at Cameron's Brewery last week, but I have been lazy getting the news up - until today.

May Cask Night
May's Cask Night has been set - the date will be Thursday May 29th from 6pm - 8pm. This Cask Night will feature professional BBQ master Jason Rees. Jason will be at the brewery all day, smoking, cooking, grilling and sampling. This is a Cask Night you won't want to miss.
To pre-RSVP email promotions@cameronsbrewing.com

Retail Store Now Open on Saturdays!
Our on-site retail store is now open on Saturdays from 12 noon - 5pm. Drop in any Saturday for a FREE brewery tour, an educated tasting of our premium brand line up and a chance to buy the freshest Cameron's product anywhere. Bring some friends - a brewery visit is a great way to spend a Saturday! Definitely check out the website to see Mike do his best model impersonation.

Also, Cameron's will be selling Ontario Craft Beer for $15 on their own or $5 with the purchase of any Cameron's product. While supplies last.

We are located at 1165 Invicta Drive, Oakille, ON

New Places to Enjoy Cameron's
We have picked up some great new accounts in the last month, so you have more places to enjoy a fresh Cameron's. Serving an all-Ontario menu, Il Fornello has added Cameron's Cream Ale to their Oakville and Richmond Hill locations. Located on Main Street in Bolton, Main Street Station offers a great pub menu and now offers Cameron's Cream Ale on tap. Visit Main Street Station for a Pound of wings and a Pint of Cameron's for $9.99.
The Toby Jug in Bolton is a classic British pub and now features Cameron's Auburn Ale on draught.

Recipe: Spicy Bison Burgers | Pair with Auburn Ale
Our man Jason Rees at BBQ Blog provided this killer Spicy Bison Burger recipe which we tried on our new 'keg' BBQ. This is a great recipe to try at home and pairs extremely well with our Auburn Ale. Let us know what you think.

Grand River Brewing: Cambridge, ON

It had been a while since I had gone on a small road trip to visit one of Ontario's many small breweries and the Saturday of the long weekend was the perfect excuse to do so.

My fiance and I jumped in the Jeep and headed west down the 401 to stop into the Grand River Brewery in Cambridge, ON, just south of Waterloo. The weather was dull and grey here in Toronto and I was exhausted after working all day and night at Toronto's Beer and Cocktail show, but I perked up with the thought of fresh beer from an emerging new brewery.

I guess I was dreaming of citrusy hops or the medium body of the mild, but I ended up driving right past our exit and we didn't clue in until we hit the Waterloo cut off. After gathering my bearings and re-grouping, we were in front of the historic building that hosts the brewery in 30 minutes.

We were promptly greeted at the door by owner/president Bob Hanenberg, who by all accounts is a stand up guy who is very proud of his brewery, as he should be. He welcomed us into the retail store and quickly whisked us up to the bar to sample from the excellent line up of Grand River's beers, including the new pilsner.

The Grand River Brewing Co. is just less than a year old with their first anniversary fast approaching this June. The brewery is located in a large building just off the main drag, nestled away on a quiet side street. And it's quite a building. The Galt Knife company occupied the building for over 100 years and much has been left unchanged. Huge windows throughout the building provide natural lighting helping cut down on electricity while creating a warm relaxing environment. The old wood from the defunct factory is still present in some locations but we are saddened to hear that it must be replaced with a 2 hour firewall to appease building inspectors. Bob admitted he would love to keep everything the same, capturing all the history, but unfortunately it doesn't appear it will all happen. He has managed to create a new world brewery with old school flair though.

The large ceiling is exposed with large post and beam rafters throughout the entire site. I don't know what it is but I love exposed ceilings (as readers of this blog may have picked up from other posts). Hanenberg has also managed to keep some relics around for decorations like an old press, cart and wagon and other foundry items. The exterior is a sight to behold as well. Old writing bearing the Galt Knife name still adorns the brick exterior and looks historic in its own right. The event and entertaining room is large and bright, offering plenty of room should the brewery host parties. It is a beautiful building and perfect for a brewery.

As mentioned, Hanenberg took us up to the bar to knock back a couple. We are the only souls in the large empty brewery which provides us with the time for an intimate chat. There are some big plans for Grand River and should they come to fruition, drinkers of fine craft beers will rejoice.

Speaking of good beer, I finally had the perfect chance to try the pilsner, the newest addition to the long line-up of Grand River's beers. Citrusy hops were clearly evident as I held the glass up to my nose, along with a touch of lightly toasted malt. The aroma was excellent and much more prominent than many other Ontario based German style pilsners I've tried.

I got more citrus in the taste, along with a yeast lighter but similar to a German wheat as well as some spicy notes from the two styles of Hallertrau hops (Hallertauer Mittelfrüh, Hallertauer Hersbrucker - known for their aroma). It has a nice light to medium body with a ton of things happening inside the glass to compliment its nice light golden straw colour. After the drive, all the talking and the sight seeing, the pilsner hit the spot bang on. The pilsner, named Hannenberg Pilsner weighs in at 4.5% and features only 13 IBU's.

It started to pick up in the retail store with individuals and groups coming into pick up growlers and sample the ales and lagers, so we said our goodbyes to Hanenberg, picked up a growler of my own and headed to Waterloo to drink and dine at the historic Lion Brewery Restaurant in the Huether Hotel.


*************
Keep your eyes and ears open for news on Grand River's next seasonal brewed by brewmaster Rob Creighton. Hanenberg states that a Raspberry Wheat should be available sometime this summer.

My thoughts: Toronto Beer and Cocktail Show

I didn't hear one positive thing about last years Beer and Cocktail show so I had no idea what to expect for this years event. TAPS: Canada's Beer Magazine had a booth, selling subscriptions, holding contests and looking after the Robert Simpson booth (which was a last minute commitment). The show was being held at the Downsview Park Conference centre, which is in the middle of nowhere and dangerous for drivers planning on having a couple of drinks.

Some of us from the TAPS media team showed up just before 3pm to ensure everything was set up and ready to go. We walked in through the front doors and were astonished to see the set up for the cocktail section. It was full of crazy lights, loud music and scantily clad, barely of age females (and the show hadn't even started). Then we walked through to the beer section, which was located in the back of the establishment and into barren lands.

There was a polka band playing at a high volume, which was irritable due to the echoing off the walls of the empty room. Robert Simpson, Nickelbrook, Rickards, Mill Street, Steelback, McAuslan, Cool, and Innis and Gunn were all in attendance and I made sure to make friends with them right away. Innis and Gunn is always a fall back beer as you can usually find it at most LCBO's and it was a great way to start the long night ahead.

As mentioned, TAPS was looking after the Robert Simpson booth for the weekend and Friday night it was my turn. They had the Anti-Gravity ale on tap and many people were having it for the first time - some liked it a lot, others did not. With Michael Duggan now brewing at RS I noticed a difference in the Confederation Ale when tasted blind, but I am not a big fan of the light, but it serves a different tongue than mine.

I found myself drinking some Steelback Dark (snickers aside, it is not a bad beer) as the two booths were side by side. I had a good conversation with Jonathan Sherman, the young owner of the newly re-structed Steelback brewery about the direction he is steering the brewery in and he seems sincere and passionate about his goals. They have scaled back their line-up to just five beers (Light, Draught, Dark, Lager, Honey) and once back up and running efficiently they may try some seasonals.

I made my way over to Nickelbrook's trailer to have one of their delicious Green Apple Pilsner ice cream floats. You should try it. It was by far and away better than eating the pan fried $5 hamburgers kept warm in a slow cooker. Ugh! And I did make it over to the cocktail side to sample a cucumber Caesar, but the girl didn't know how to make one and it cost 3 damn tokens for a sip. Another reason to love beer.

I did get to witness an older man dressed in leather cover-alls chug two pints while doing a headstand and using no hands. I know what my new years resolution will be for 2009.

So, if I wasn't working at the event or drinking for free, there is no way I would go back to this event. I don't like to bash things, that's not who I am, but this event needs some work. I guess in a different light it is good to get the new 'drinkers' exposed to the beers there and provides a better chance for the beer reps to talk face to face with prospective buyers.