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.

Some Posts Coming Tonight

It was definitely a long weekend and I have a lot to post about, but it won't be until later today that I'll get around to it. You'd think with the crappy weather we had over the weekend that I would have done some writing, but alas, I spent my some time at Volo yesterday supping on some Granite Best Bitter Special.

So stay tuned for posts on Grand River Brewing and their new pilsner(delicious), the Beer and Cocktail show, the Huether Hotel (Lion Restaurant and Brewpub), the OCB's new contest and more.

Long Weekend Approaching

What does this mean for me?

Today I'm going to be working the Robert Simpson booth at the Beer and Cocktail show and then heading over to the TAPS:Canada's Beer Magazine who will also be in attendance distributing magazines, selling subscriptions and talking to prospective writers. Drop by and say hi. Tell me your a reader of the blog and I'll have something nice for you.

Tomorrow (even though it is supposed to rain) looks like I'll be headed west down the 401 to visit some breweries (Grand River, F&M and Brick), eat some lunch at the Huether Hotel (Lion Restaurant and brewpub) and visit the Woolwich Arms in Guelph.

There is something about the May long weekend that calls for lobster (which was a staple in Halifax), so lobster I will have. Matched perfectly with a nice beer of course. Maybe a Garrison Weizenbock or a Beau's Lug Tread Lagered Ale.

I'll even try to get something posted by Tuesday. So, have a great weekend and remember, don't drink and drive.

Cheers,
Troy

Were You Feeling Orange Last Night?

Were you? Were you feeling Orange last night? I sure was as Great Lakes, Toronto's oldest operating craft brewery threw a bash at Victory Cafe to launch their 2008 summer seasonal - Orange Peel Ale.

I got there a bit early to check out the pub (I am ashamed to mention that I'd never been there before last night). Everything that Nicholas Pashley wrote in his profile about the Victory is true, it is a fabulous pub. It just happened to be a beautiful day here in Toronto and the spacious patio was full of happy drinkers. That suited me just fine as I would rather sit at the bar and chat with the bartender. After downing a freshly tapped pint of Granite's Best Bitter Special and a burger, I headed upstairs with the lads from Great Lakes to help set up for what was to be a great night.

When John Bowden (marketing,sales,promotions) asked me if I wanted to lend a hand with decorations I happily agreed and was put to work putting up posters and tying balloons. It wasn't hard or anything, but seeing all that beer was giving me a terrible thirst for some vitamin 'C'. The upstairs room was nicely put together by the Great Lakes team with orange everywhere. Orange table clothes, fake oranges, orange balloons, posters and orange streamers. I threw some TAPS magazine around for guests and by 6:15 the party was on its way.

Guests were greeted at the door with a sample of the Orange Peel Ale and were provided two complimentary tickets for two pints at the bar (only Great Lakes products). Fingers food were brought out and the chicken wings dosed in Orange Peel sauce were a big hit. Music was also provided as two local bands took turns sharing the stage.

The event was well attended and including many faces from local LCBO's, some members for the Ontario Craft Brewers Association, other pub and restaurant owners/operators and some regular faces from other beer events. Everyone was having a good time in support on one of Ontario's most recognized beer producers.

***The Orange Peel Ale is now available for purchase in select LCBO's (although it's not on their website database yet) and on tap at various pubs and fine beer restaurants. Being the long weekend and all, you better get yours fast before it sells out.

Check Those Empties Before Returning Them

A fun way to start the day.

In the their May newsletter, Toronto's Steam Whistle Brewing Company provided a list of interesting items they found when cleaning their green bottles for re-fill. The items would either be found in the bottles themselves, or in the unique suitcase packaging.

I can remember going into the back warehouse of the Beer Store in my hometown and seeing some of the stuff those guys pulled out of cases. The most memorable being a female pleasuring device. The look on the guy's face was priceless and I'll never forget it.

Here are the top 10 items found in returned in Steam Whistle beer cases this year:

Fridge Magnets - knocked off the fridge when grabbing a brew?
Lighters - glad they made it in the beer box
Small plastic toys
Keys - hope that didn't cause any trouble!
Pens
Buttons - of the souvenir, political and religious variety
Crumpled up love letters - these midnight specials are more popular than you'd think!
Crumpled up photographs - perhaps these were accompanying the letters
A $20 bill
A Lee Valley pocket knife - catalogue value $75

C'est What Announces Date for Spring Festival of Small Breweries

C'est What, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, will be holding their annual Spring Beer Festival on Friday May 23 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. If this event is anything like their Fall festival it will be a great time with excellent Ontario craft beer. Judging by the the list below, it appears C'est What will be offering samples of Alberta's Big Rock and some Unibroue beers from Quebec.

Samples will be $1 a piece. Below is the list of confirmed beers with many others to be added. I will update the list as it becomes available.

Amsterdam- Pomegranate Wheat
Barley Days- Summer Breeze Light Ale
Big Rock- MacNally's (bottle)
Church Key- Honey & Water Meade , Cranberry Wheat
Durham- Belgian Wit
Grand River- Pilsner
Heritage- Maple Bush Lager
King- Pils Bock
Neustadt- Scottish Ale Cask
Nickel Brook- Cuvee
Sleeman- Ephemere Pomme, all of the new Unibroue bottles
Wellington- SPA Cask

Excellent Column in Toronto Star

Last month at the Southern Tier beer dinner I ran into Josh Rubin from the Toronto Star who is the beer reporter for the 'What's Brewing' column in the food section. He mentioned that he had taken a trip down to the Southern Tier brewery in Lakewood, NY for a tour and to prepare an article on US craft beer, and today the Star ran a nice spread.

The article, titled "Is American Beer Any Good?" discusses the increasingly positive reputation American brewers are getting from beer drinkers around the world. Years ago the Germans, Belgians and the English, would have all been considered the top quality beer producers in the world. They're still up there, but the resurgence in the craft brewing movement in America that started in the early 80's has stripped the aforementioned countries of the title of the best in the world.

When I am out with a group or entertaining friends at the house and we get into a discussion about beer, many people have no idea about the quality of American craft beers. To be fair though, many aren't aware of what's going on in the Ontario craft brewing scene either. People really think that because it says 4% on the bottle of Bud (in the US) that American beers are lighter, weaker and less flavourful that their Canadian counterparts. It will be fun watching their reactions when they try these beers.

Rubin also shares some secrets about some U.S. beers that will be making their way into the LCBO to join others in the fall and winter seasonal releases.

"He also brews a bottle-conditioned Belgian ale, which will be on sale at the LCBO some time in the next year. Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout, a rich, strong imperial stout, will be part of the LCBO's seasonal program this winter."

By he, Rubin is referring to Brooklyn brewmaster and outspoken beer and food expert Garrett Oliver. Excellent news.

Also, throughout the column Rubin mentions different local suppliers and local beer bars where individuals can purchase these terrific beers, putting a nice home town touch to the story.

The LCBO is doing there part by getting these world renowned beers into the hands of Ontario drinkers and even though there will only be a handful, it's a good start with good things to come.

Great column.
Great news.
And now I'm sitting here at work craving a hoppy Imperial.

Alberta to Restrict Happy Hour Times

I wish that Ontario had a happy hour that we could discuss, but no, sadly the Ontario government abolished that long ago. I remember sitting in the Old Triangle Irish Pub in Halifax (when I lived there) at 4pm on a Tuesday and drinking 12oz glasses of beer for $2. Glory days.

News today from the Canadian Press is stating that the province of Alberta will be imposing minimum drink prices and will be putting restrictions on happy hour times to curtail excessive drinking. The Solicitor General, Fred Lindsay, says the changes that will be announced fairly quickly are designed "to keep people in a more sober state so they react in a more reasonable manner." I guess this guy would ban driving if he witnessed the Toronto highways at rush hour too!

I'm telling you, pretty soon these tea drinking government officials will have set a limit on the booze we purchase, consume, and the penalities imposed for breaking such laws will be unimaginable. I am all for responsible drinking, that's why I get discouraged reading something like this; new restrictions based on the actions on a handful of rowdy young people (and I'm still in my early 20's). Kids will be kids, take away the happy hour and increase prices and watch what will happen - more binge drinking at the home before venturing out for the night. It's kinda like the handgun situation here in Toronto. Will banning handguns within Toronto city limits actually decrease the amount of gun violence? I think not. Will restricting happy hour times and raising prices decrease excessive drinking? Maybe in public, but certainly not in the home.

End rant.

TAPS: Canada's Beer Magazine - Spring Issue

The new issue of TAPS: Canada's Beer Magazine will be hitting the shelves of select Chapters/Indigo stores nationwide this week. Since the first issue of TAPS was launched back in January the TAPS team has been working hard putting together a magazine that we can be proud of and one that will be well received by beer drinkers.

There are some new faces in this issue as Stephan Beaumont, Craig Pinhey, Connie Proteau, Martin Sayer and Kristina Santone have all joined the team with insightful articles on our favourite beverage.

Here's what you can expect to see in the Spring Issue:

Burtch on Beer - I prepared a question and answer article with the LCBO Category manager of beer - Leanne Rhee. We discussed the future plans the LCBO has for their beer section and discussed what Rhee's role entails.

Beer Styles 101 - Greg Clow (beerbeatsbites, Tasteto) prepared an article on dunkels and schwarzbier that left my mouth watering. He gives readers a clear understanding of these two types of dark lagers and offers up a number of suggestions from breweries coast to coast.

My Point of View - Stephan Beaumont tells you to get out there and explore beers diverse qualities. He delivers this message in his editorial piece, encouraging learning about beer and having fun doing it. Beaumont is a world recognized beer writer whose writing will bring a large degree of creditability to the magazine.

East Coast Brew News - Craig Pinhey, another new addition to the team discusses Inbev's (Labatt) decision to launch a new beer in Alexander Keith's Traditional Lager. It is an interesting article that should have beer fans paying close attention to its development nationwide.

Ask the Brewmaster - Seasoned veteran Bill White discusses hops in great detail on the back drop of some fabulous photographs of the green beauties. He also keeps readers posted on the "Order of the Hop" festival in Poperinge, Belgium. White also talks about beer and food pairings in the "perfect pair" section of the magazine.

Where in the World - Owner/publisher Rob Engman likes to travel and travel he did to Bruges, Belgium. He provides readers with a behind the scenes glimpse into the rich beer culture in Bruges, generating envy among all beer lovers.

Kristina Santone fills us in on some "green" breweries, Mirella Amato provides an insight into Le Chaval Blanc in Quebec and maple beers in Ontario, Connie Proteau invites readers into Crannog Ales in British Columbia's interior to learn about their organic operations, Bill Perrie talks about where he spent St.Paddy's day and the Bull and Barrel pub in Barrie,ON, and Martin Sayer makes his introduction with a great read on the history behind pub names. There is also an interview with Teri Fahrendorf, a female brewer known for brewing in many breweries during a 5 month beer safari.

There you have it, a beer magazine filled with loads of useful and interesting information for both male and female beer drinkers. So grab a copy, pop a top and sit back with your feet up and enjoy our hard work.

For a list of locations were to obtain a copy click here.

Cheers!

What's New at Volo

I ran into Caffe Volo owner Ralph Morana and his lovely wife Ina last night, at the Weihenstephan beer launch at the Bier Markt, and he mentioned he would be adding some new beers to his line-up.

Durham Brewing Co. has provided Volo with a cask conditioned version of their new seasonal Witbier. The beer will be tapped tonight. I am really looking forward to trying this.

Also, a keg of Grand River Brewing Co's Hannenberg Pils-Munich Helles will be ready for consumption tonight. Again, looking forward to this one. Grand River produces some beauties.

Enjoy!

2008: Ontario Brewing Award Winners

Below is a list of the 2008 Ontario Brewing Award winners that were announced last evening during an intimate gathering at The Bier Markt. More on that later.

NORTH AMERICAN LIGHT LAGER
GOLD – Robert Simpson Brewing Company for Antigravity Light
SILVER – Brick Brewing Company Limited for Formosa Springs Light
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Nickel Brook for Nickel Brook Pilsner

PILSNER
GOLD – Brick Brewing Company Limited for J.R. Brickman Pilsner
SILVER – Old Credit Brewing for Pale Pilsner
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Mill Street Brewery for Pilsner

DARK LAGER
GOLD - Steelback Brewery for Steelback Tiverton Dark Lager
SILVER - Brick Brewing Company Limited for Waterloo Dark
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Great Lakes Brewery for Black Jack

AMBER ALE
GOLD – Cameron’s Brewing Company for Cameron’s Auburn Ale
SILVER – Old Credit Brewing for Amber Ale
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Nickel Brook for Nickel Brook Ale

BITTER
GOLD – Wellington Brewery for Wellington Arkell Best Bitter
SILVER – Granite Brewery for Best Bitter Special
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Granite Brewery for Best Bitter

SPECIALTY
GOLD – Great Lakes Brewery for Winter Ale
SILVER – Wellington Brewery for Wellington Iron Duke Strong Ale
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Nickel Brook for Nickel Brook Cuvee

FRUIT BEER
GOLD – Mill Street Brewery for Frambozen
SILVER – Nickel Brook for Nickel Brook Green Apple
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Great Lakes Brewery for Orange Peel Ale

WHEAT BEER
GOLD – Mill Street Brewery for Belgian Wit

NORTH AMERICAN LAGER
GOLD – Great Lakes Brewery for Golden Horseshoe
SILVER – Niagara’s Best Beer for Niagara’s Best Lager
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Brick Brewing Company Limited for Laker Lager

CREAM ALE
GOLD - Cameron’s Brewing Company for Cameron's Cream Ale
SILVER - The Robert Simpson Brewing Company for Robert Simpson Confederation Ale
PEOPLE’S CHOICE - Nickel Brook for Nickel Brook Draught

AMBER LAGER
GOLD – Cool Beer Brewing Company for Millenium Buzz
SILVER – Great Lakes Brewery for Red Leaf
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Brick Brewing Company Limited for J.R. Brickman Amber

PALE ALE
GOLD - Mill Street Brewery for Tankhouse Ale
SILVER - Mill Street Brewery for IPA
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Wellington Brewery for Wellington Special Pale Ale

HONEY BEER
GOLD - Brick Brewing Company Limited for J.R. Brickman Honey Red
SILVER - Old Credit Brewing Company for Holiday Honey

DARK ALE
GOLD - Hockley Valley Brewing Company for Dark Traditional English Ale
SILVER – Mill Street Brewery for Scotch Ale
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Great Lakes Brewery for Devil’s Pale Ale

PORTER/STOUT
GOLD – Hockley Valley Brewing Company for Traditional Irish Stout
SILVER - Mill Street Brewery for Coffee Porter
PEOPLE’S CHOICE – Granite Brewery for Keefe’s Irish Stout

Beau's Bog Water Dirty Brown Ale

Before the introduction of hops, brewers used all sorts of herbs, spices, leaves and weeds to create unique and flavourful beers. The May issue of All About Beer magazine features an interesting article, by nationally recognized beer writer Randy Mosher, on these different ingredients.

Which brings us to Beau's All Natural Brewing Co's latest creation: Bog Water Dirty Brown Ale, a flavour packed brew that features Bog Myrtle picked from the wilds of northern Quebec by an Algonquin native instead of the more traditional hops.

I received a couple of bottles off co-founder Steve Beauchesne back in early March, the day after it was bottled, and it came from the back of Steve's van in an alley beside Beerbistro. A bunch of us stood around passing a bottle back and forth, good times. After giving some away to friends and drinking the Lug Tread Lagered Ale (flagship beer) I almost forgot I still had this one in the closet.

Last night I decided to pop the top of the beautiful German style ceramic bottle and try this unique Ontario produced beer. A loud pop from the swing top informed me that the brew was still in excellent condition and the aroma jumped from the bottle.

The beer pours a "dirty brown" (hence the name) with reddish tones peering through. At first, a nice, big fluffy mocha coloured head appears only to dissipate as my sips progressed into gulps.

Fruity esters, herbal notes (guessing from the myrtle), a strong sweety malty beer with a musty cardboardy smell. Now, I know that doesn't sound appealing to some, but aroma of this nature provides a promise of a tasty brew in the pint glass. Which was excellent in my opinion.

Bog Myrtle - aka sweet gale, is known for its spiciness and features some piney/resiny aromatics similar to that of hops. In his article, Mosher claims that bog myrtle was commonly used in medieval beers known as gruit, a un-hopped beer. With the introduction of hops, gruit beer made a hastily exit and its only now, in the wave of North America's craft brewers and their experimentation, can we enjoy a beer with such a historical background. Beau's used the entire plant - the branch, cone and leaf as each one provide a distinct flavour and aroma. The herbal comes from the branch, the bitterness from the leaf and the peppery spice from the cone.

The taste is really nice. A good evening sipper. The myrtle provides an earthy herbal and spicy mouthfeel that soothes the taste buds while leaving a malty coating behind. It has a light to medium body with a slight aftertaste that leaves you wanting another sip, which makes it a truly quaffable beer. At 6.6% though, the alcohol can creep up on you quickly.

The Bog Water Dirty Brown Ale was produced as Beau's first seasonal offering and by all accounts is has been a complete success. The beer (not sold in LCBO's) is available only at the brewery at select accounts close to Beau's.

Nice beer with a great story behind it! It seems Beau's is planning on releasing another seasonal this summer, a German Altbier Ale. "Matt's brewing the first batch as soon as he gets back from Tiajuana... er... San Diego. It's an altbier, a nice summer German Ale we hope you're gonna love." Stay tuned.

Meet Jamie Mistry: Cool Beer Brewing Brewmaster

Meet Jamie Mistry - Brewmaster at Cool Brewery.

Jamie got his BSC at Waterloo U. and did post-graduate studies at Heriot Watt U. in Brewing Distilling Science. After this, he held senior positions at the Upper Canada and Steam Whistle breweries. Jamie co-created Cool’s new Millennium Buzz Beer among his many accomplishments.

How long have you been brewing beer?
Since I was 16

How long have you been with Cool?
Total of 8 years

Who did you brew for before Cool?
Upper Canada and Steam Whistle

How did you get into the brewing industry?
First job out of university was working in the lab at Upper Canada Brewing.

Brief history of the Cool brewery?
We have been brewing for 11 years, started out selling draught only at first and started bottling a few years ago. 90% of our sales are in draught, we also co-pack for some smaller craft brewers.

Describe the new location.
We purchased the new location and wanted to move to a more visible location. We purchased a used brewhouse from Germany, a 140 hl Huppmann Brewhouse. (164 Evans Avenue, Toronto - Just off the Gardiner Expressway and just south of Great Lakes Brewery)

How long has Cool been a member of the Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB)?
Since the beginning.

What is the line-up of Cool beers look like?
We brew: Cool Lager - a blonde, crisp, refreshing beer (signature beer), Stonewall Light and Millennium Buzz Beer - a hemp based red lager.

Where are your beers available for purchase?
LCBO's, Beer Stores and many, many accounts throughout Ontario.

Describe your passion for the brewing industry.
I would describe the craft scene as a community where we all share ideas and experiences. Not a day goes by where a challenge does not arise.

What's your favourite beer style?
I will try anything once, but un-filtered lagers

What events will drinkers see Cool at this summer?
Not sure will look in to it, but I imagine Cool will be at the usuals.

Best place to have a beer?
Loved Smokeless Joe's 7 years ago, very interesting beers all the time. Now don’t get out too often (children), so best place now is anywhere with a good selection of domestic and imported beer with about a half dozen of your friends.

Church Key Spring Revival

If you looking for any last minutes ideas on how to spend your Saturday, head east on the 401 to Pethericks Corners to the Church Key Brewery. Owner John Graham is hosting his annual Spring Revival today starting anytime after 11am.

Unfortunately for me I have to attend another event back in my hometown so I'll have to miss out. From what I hear the Revival is a great time with good bbq food, delicious beer and great music.

Check out Church Key's website for directions here and their facebook site dedicated to the event.

Enjoy!

Session #15: Where did it start

May 2nd, the first Friday of the month, time for Session #15 on "Where did it start" chosen by Boakandbailey.

Continuing the “Beervangelism” theme, we’d like you to write about the moment when you saw the light. At what point did you realise you were a beer lover / geek / enthusiast? What beer(s) triggered the conversion? Did someone help you along your way, or did you come to it yourself?

In short; how did you get into good beer?

It’s hard to pin point the actual time I saw the light. I have always been fascinated with Canadian beer history, different beer bottles and the good times associated with them. When did I see the light? It must have been before I was even old enough to even drink.

I grew up in a small community north of Toronto and north-east of Orillia, where I was accustomed to seeing my parents (well my dad) and their adult friends consuming Molson Canadian or Export, Labatt Blue or Labatt 50 religiously. I wasn’t old enough to question their tastes, but I would soon learn that they weren’t drinking it for the flavour; they were drinking it out of habit. You drank what your father drank and he drank what his father drank, and in small communities like the one I came from, you would be sure to find 95% of the population adhered to this unspoken rule. You still can to this day.

No, it wasn’t my father or his friends that showed me the light. It was that garbage truck I worked on during the summer I was going into grade 7. Part of the job was collecting recyclables and my step-father (always a penny pincher) made us sort the beer bottles and cans from the rest of the refuge. It was here that I witnessed that there were different bottles that bore no resemblance to the one’s I helped clean up for my father when I was younger. I became intrigued by all the different labels, shapes and sizes and the different countries the beer came from.

I soon started collecting these bottles and by the end of the first summer I had quite the collection. Many of the bottles were standard LCBO products that cottagers hiked up from the larger cities. So even finding a Chimay Rouge bottle (which would be easy today) was like winning the lottery. I would get so happy seeing a new bottle.

As I got older I made a note to try all the different beers I had in my collection, only to find that the local LCBO didn’t stock 1/3 of them. I started out trying Stella, Heineken, Becks, the usual big name imports. My palate was open to experimentation and it sometimes received unwanted attention at parties. My dad would buy me a sixer every now and then (only if it would be a supervised party!) and showing up to a house party with Creemore (in the big bottles) people would state that it was an old man’s beer. I didn’t care; at least no one wanted to steal it.

Then I went to college and somewhere along the way I feel into the hole of the small community mindset. I was off the imports and craft only to develop a thirst for Alexander Keiths IPA (use IPA very lightly here). I became fascinated with the history behind the name; I even started collecting anything with the Keith’s insignia on it. Also during college, I came across Steam Whistle and when I didn’t have a Keith’s in my hand it was a heavy green bottle of Steam Whistle.

Off to Halifax. My fiancé (girlfriend at the time) and I decided to move to Halifax to explore Canada’s east coast. I soon got a job with Labatt Atlantic working in the Oland brewery, selling beer, clothing, party supplies and helping out in the beer institute. Labatt taught me a lot about beer; how it’s made, its history, how to sell it and how to appreciate it. They were always open about trying different beers and when I started frequenting all the different pubs, I would venture over to the bar and choose something new each time.

Combined with the Labatt’s educational materials and my new thirst for flavour, I started reading, tasting and talking to other interested in craft beer and here I am today.

So, when did I see the light? On the back of that stinky garbage truck. My years in college and time spent with Labatt just reminded me of what my goal was way back in the summer of grade 7.

Garrison, Propeller, Steam Whistle and the Granite helped tremendously in changing my taste buds forever. Premier Wines and Spirits in Halifax and Bishop’s cellar opened my eyes to the US craft brewing industry and back home here the LCBO has started to impress me.

The Session began as an idea on Appellation beer. For links and a summary of all the previous sessions, follow this link.

Great Lakes Wins Big at Ontario Brewing Awards

I had the opportunity to help judge at this years Ontario Brewing Awards, held at Toronto's Bier Markt, and on May 6th at 6:30pm the winning beers will be available for sampling at the Markt during what is expected to be a good showcase of Ontario products.

Great Lakes released their May newsletter today which included this announcement regarding the OBA's.

The results are in from the Ontario Brewing Awards, and we were honoured once again. All six beers we entered earned a medal!

Golden Horseshoe Premium Lager:
Gold Medal, North American Lager

Great Lakes Winter Ale:
Gold Medal, Specialty Beer

Red Leaf Smooth Red Lager:
Silver Medal, Amber Lager

Black Jack Premium Black Lager:
People’s Choice Award, Dark Lager

Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale:
People’s Choice Award, Fruit Beer

Devil’s Pale Ale:
People’s Choice Award, Dark Ale