Drinking Beer in Niagara

Tourism and craft beer seem intimately entwined as the explosion in interest in the microbrewery marketplace continues. Aspiring brewers are tapping and cashing in to travel destinations where flocks of tourists seem to guarantee a market for their wares.

The Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada is a fascinating mix of tourism, spectacle and agriculture. Niagara Falls, long known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World, attracts millions of visitors each year who swarm to casinos, haunted houses, arcades and resorts; not to mention the falls themselves and the various adventure and exploratory activities offered both in and around them.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, in stark contrast, maintains a quaint, small town feel with a main street that offers wares-of-interest to the modern weekender. Less than 30 minutes from the falls, NOTL is surrounded by the area’s celebrated wine region, one of the prides of Ontario and another hotspot for tourism.

In an area awash in wine a burgeoning beer scene is emerging. I took a stumble around the area a few weeks ago in search of gems, here is what I found!

Niagara Oast House Brewers

A beautiful brewery found along Niagara Stone Road, housed in “the Beer Shed.”  Everything about this brewery oozes quality and respect for brewing tradition, with even the name, oast house, being that of an old style kilning shed for drying hops. I consider Oast House a required destination for any trip to Niagara. I was fortunate enough to arrive just as they were finishing off an eisbock seasonal, a beer that is actually frozen in order to remove water and increase the alcohol content and associated characteristics. Quite an experience!

Saison Farmhouse Ale

Not the traditional session ale some expect from saisons, this 6.5-7% ABV offering brings surprisingly bready notes with a balance between citrus and pepper flavours most expect from saisons. A hint of bubblegum also comes through while the hops remain tame but present. Available at many LCBO stores in Ontario and highly recommended.

Barn Raiser Country Ale

A distinct, while slightly subdued, American pale ale, and the breweries flagship brew, Barn Raiser is made for social events like the one after which it is named. Flavours of straw and honey are quickly overcome by delicious sweet citrus fruit like tangerines from the hops. Due to the brewer’s dedication that it be served fresh, Barn Raiser is generally only available at the brewery and on taps at select bars throughout southern Ontario; though fortunately, we did catch wind that new cans may be available in stores soon.

Silversmith Brewing Company

Another lovely location along Niagara Stone Road, Silversmith is housed in an old church built in the late 1800’s. Like Oast, you can feel the passion for beer when you walk through the doors.

Bavarian Breakfast Wheat

Very light and effervescent, banana shines through this yeast-forward entry. Not heavy or overly filling like a traditional wheat, we could certainly see enjoying this with brunch on a sunny spring day.

Black Lager

A great entry in the schwarzbier category which is picking up steam in Ontario. This beer brings mild coffee and dark fruit flavours to the fore with woody hops backing them up. All this is wrapped in a light bodied, easy drinking package.

The Exchange Brewery

Dropping this nano brewery in the heart of the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake was a bold move, a boldness that is matched by the stark, modern design and décor of the brewery itself. The Exchange has only been open for a few months and while they have their branding brilliantly forged, their beers are somewhat unrefined. I look forward to seeing what they put up as they mature.

#1 American Wheat Ale

This beer brings some nice tartness and spice to a style that can be, at times, a little hop forward. The Exchange manages a nice profile, bringing clove flavour with notes of grapefruit and tart kiwi.

Niagara Brewing Company

Located at the base of Clifton Hill, the notorious tourism/entertainment district of Niagara Falls, Niagara Brewing is a lively location for beer and stylish pub food. There are a few misses on their beer menu, along with some so-so seasonals like their novel Ice Wine Beer and Peach Radler. Nonetheless, a neat stop when you are taking in the neon on “the Hill.”

Beerdevil IPA

Sweet caramel highlights the malt profile and gives this beer a somewhat non-IPA characteristic. Moderately hoppy with citrus and grassiness dominating.

Niagara College Teaching Brewery

You might think a teaching brewery would produce sub par brews, but with their focus on getting their name, and their beers, out there via festivals and other beer events, Niagara College actually has some wonderful products.

Butler’s Bitter

An exceptional example of this traditional style, NC manages to pack bold malt and hop flavours together to produce an incredibly satisfying experience. If you can find it, get it. 

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Drinking Beer in Collingwood

Once strictly viewed as a winter destination on account of the incredible Blue Mountain ski resort, Collingwood, Ontario has transformed itself into a haven for day-trippers and vacationers alike during all four seasons. Home to attractions like the Blue Mountain Village (complete with shopping, restaurants, hotels and an adventure park featuring the Ridge Runner mountain roller coaster, a ropes course with zip lines, the Apex Bagjump, and gondolas to the top of Blue Mountain), Scenic Caves, Scandinave Spa and a variety of other attractions, there is no shortage of ways to fill you days.

The town also features an incredible trail system. During our stay we trekked along the Heather Pathway which does a loop through the better part of the town and starts and ends at two magnificent lookouts over Collingwood Harbour.

With the development of four season tourism along with a strong community of both seasonal and full time residents, an array of beer, wine and spirit manufacturers have also found their homes in Collingwood. The town is home to three breweries; Canadian Mist Distillery, makers of the excellent Collingwood rye whiskey; and an array of wineries.

Never missing the chance to try local beer, I visited two of the three local breweries during my visit and found the following gems. I look forward to checking out Collingwood Brewery on my next visit.

Side Launch Brewery

Formally known as Denison’s, the brewery re-branded and are now named for the method of launching ships used in Collingwood for generations. Side Launch has experienced impressive success in the Ontario beer market. Their lineup is focused and features mainstays that are quality approaches to traditional beer styles, along with a revolving selection of seasonals.

Wheat

One of the brewery’s three mainstay beers, and likely their most popular, Side Launch’s wheat is a German Hefeweizen, and likely one of the better efforts at the style amoung Ontario breweries. Banana predominates on both nose and flavour and is backed with strong yeast character. Coriander and other mild spices round out the flavour.

Dark Lager

I’ve been drawn to this style (traditionally called German Dunkel), of late. The beer is pure malt on the nose with the flavour of light caramel, bready malt and a little bit of brown sugar. The beer leaves you smacking your lips long after your sip.

Northwinds Brewhouse & Eatery

A brand new entry into the Ontario beer market, Northwinds opened a little over a year ago and offers a great selection of food and beer at their brewhouse. You won’t find these beers in major retailers, but the variety of beers on tap is astounding. While there were a few misses, the following beers really grabbed my attention.

Brew Mountain SMaSH Series (Centennial)

A great entry in the American Pale Ale category. Thin body with plenty of citrus on nose and flavour. Grapefruit and floral/piney notes predominate with the centennial hops really coming through as advertised. Great for summer.

Old Baldy Farmhouse Ale

With so many saisons on tap I feel brewmaster Andrew Bartle must have been a homebrewer. While lacking the usually yeast forward character of many saisons, this entry brings the hops to the forefront with the hot taste of rye malt coming through. Unique and tasty.

Side note! If you are looking for a truly unique place to eat while around the Collingwood area, check out Hai Sai in Singhampton (20 minutes south of Collingwood). Managed by restaurant legend Michael Stadtländer, Hai Sai is completely and utterly surprising. Both food and décor are out of the ordinary and definitely worth the trip off the beaten path.

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Adventure in Ontario's Highlands: Wilderness Tours - Protecting the Wild Ottawa River

A post by Scott F.

After a wild drive across the Trans-Canada Highway, we were primed for some adventure in Ontario’s Highlands. Our much anticipated Saturday stop on our three day trip to the region was Wilderness Tours, who have been offering whitewater rafting and a variety of other activities on the Ottawa River since 1975. While we were primed for adventure, that which Wilderness Tours provided in spades, we didn’t expect to learn that there’s a lot more to the company than thrills and a cool party atmosphere.

Our day was not quite this sunny, but was every bit as extreme. Photo courtesy of Wilderness Tours.

After checking in to our clean and comfortable deluxe cedar cabin, we received a knock at the door from a man who introduced himself as Joe. What we’d later learn, and wouldn’t have expected at first glance, was that Joe was one of the most extreme men we had ever met. He founded the resort 39 year ago and had actually been one of the first to run many of rapids we’d be hitting that day. In fact, he’d named most of the rapids too.

That's Joe, President of Wilderness Tours. Photo courtesy of Wilderness Tours.

Joe was instantly friendly, describing the Real Man Travels lads as the “last of a dying breed” of adventurous Canadians and promising to show us around.

After getting settled in we made our way to “Rafters,” the figurative heart of the Wilderness Tours resort situated right on the Ottawa River. With 30 minutes before our rafting instruction, we were eager to get our gear readied up; that was before we were intercepted by Joe who insisted that then was a perfect time for our tour. So we hopped in his GMC Envoy and sped into the resort.

Joe’s formality, if it ever existed, instantly broke down into a sincerity one rarely gets from the owner of a major company. He expanded on his “last of a dying breed” statement, explaining how the changing face of Canada and its inhabitants meant a declining interest in adventure and exploration outside city limits. We later heard from our guide that Joe had started an outdoor adventure club when he was in college and at the first meeting something like 200 people showed up; you can only imagine how many less students would show up today. He took us through the history of the river, including how it was the same route Samuel de Champlain navigated three centuries earlier, and how years of use for logging had left sediment at the bottom, tinging the water tea black.

Joe also discussed how the focus of his company was different than many might expect. The Ottawa River, he described, had been developed so rapidly that the land that Wilderness Tours had worked hard to acquire over the years represented the last wild section still in existence. You quickly learn what he means by “wild” as you make your way down the river. The cottages that one would expect to dot the banks of such picturesque surroundings are simply not there to break up the wilderness. Any buildings that exist are set far back from river’s edge, by Joe’s design.

Joe’s dedication to maintaining the “last wild section of the Ottawa River” can only be truly appreciated from the water. After he dropped us off we grabbed our wet suits (highly recommended to fully enjoy the rafting experience in comfort) and went to our briefing. A quick bus ride and additional safety instruction later, and we were ready to set out.

Being in a boat going through class four whitewater rapids simply can’t be described in words. The power of the water as it crashes into and over the raft is both thrilling and humbling at the same time. Our guide, Joel, a champion whitewater kayaker, did a killer job keeping us safe and motivating us to push the raft into the most extreme circumstances. Joking around and levying some hilarious criticism at our lazier paddlers kept things light throughout what ended up being a very rainy day on the water. Some surprises awaited as well, as a member of our group who we had been berating the entire row for being the only American amoung us, hopped out of the raft just before a rapid and proceeded to “steal” a whitewater kayak from the shore. Feigning understanding of how to work the kayak, he eventually got settled and dove into the rapids. The rouse was quickly revealed as “America,” who ended up being another champion kayaker, expertly navigated the rapids, throwing in a few barrel roles for good measure, and our amusement.

Photo courtesy of Wilderness Tours.

Mid-way through the day we pulled up in a small bay for lunch. A roaring fire, hot soup and coffee were provided the moment we were out of our boat to warm our soaked bodies. The snack was followed by burgers, sausages, salads, chips, apples, cookies and more. A perfect chance to recharge.

The remainder of the day saw us hit a variety of different rapids, swimming and jumping off the raft, and stopping in for a 25’ cliff dive into raging waters.

It was easy to appreciate Joe’s focus on retaining the wild. The unbroken wilderness at the riverbank was complimentary to the raging whitewater. Cottages, marinas and other buildings would have destroyed the marvel and the sense of true adventure the river provided. We were starting to understand why Joe had poured “every spare dollar” into protecting this shoreline. The log buildings that make up the resort were built by a local craftsmen to maintain a rustic, natural feel.

Back at the resort following a shower and change the rain lifted just in time for our most extreme challenge, bungee jumping! Wilderness Tours has a crane set up for a jump 150’ over the Ottawa River. Yep, this happened:

Sammy doing the big dive

Exhausted, we tucked in to an incredible dinner at Rafters and a pitcher or two of Whitewater Brewery Farmer’s Daughter Blond Ale (quickly became our trip staple). There is no shortage of activities to fill your evening at Wilderness Tours: live music, hot tubs, a pool, basketball and ball hockey courts, a full serve bar, board games, pool tables, horseshoe pits, arcade games, special events… the list goes on.

The next morning we checked out the resort’s beach area and took a few plunges into the river from a rope swing suspended on an elevated dock.

We again met Joe, who offered to take us over to Whitewater Brewing Co., conveniently located just outside the resort on a plot of land owned by Joe and leased to the brewers. The three brewers include “the twins,” as Joe calls them, two unrelated lads with the same name, one of whom is an international finance major, turned raft instructor, turned certified professional brewer. The beer was phenomenal with their Midnight Oatmeal Stout (surprisingly approachable with great malt flavour) and Whistling Paddler English Style Ale (under-bittered for the style making it very sessionable) joining their Farmer’s Daughter Blonde Ale on our list of favourites. The guys use locally sourced hops for their beer, one of many attributes that add to the brewery’s local feel. Joe mentioned plans to turn the brewery, an old farm, into a destination with retail opportunities, which we would love to see. It already features a restaurant and tasting room.

Everything is better on a stick, part deux.

With all the work Joe has done to conserve the wild of the Ottawa River, we were surprised to hear him call himself an "unreserved capitalist." He oozes business savvy and is easy to like. It’s good to know that Joe is “on our side” when it comes to retaining the beauty and awe-inspiring majesty of Ontario and Ontario’s Highlands. Against the pressures that must surely exist to use the land and river for other purposes, it takes a specific type of person to dig in their heels for what they believe, and actually be successful at it.

Cheers to Joe and all the good folks at Wilderness Tours. Special thanks to Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization for having us in to explore their region. Ontario’s Highlands is, truly, Ontario’s wild child!

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This Week in Beer - Ale-Induced Anecdotals

A post by Scott F 

Beer is awesome, but you knew that. But did you know that beer could get... awesomer (not a real word)? Some very cool stories of people doing awesome things with beer have crept up in the last couple of weeks that we thought our readers would find interesting. Enjoy!

Beer brewed from prehistoric whale fossils

What? It’s true. These folks found yeast in the bones of some long dead whale and said: “Hey, yeast makes beer, let’s use this prehistoric whale bone yeast to make beer.” To be fair that is exactly what I would be thinking. The Lost Rhino Brewing Company is behind the new Bone Dusters Paleo Ale (get it, paleo, har har). They teamed up with a non-profit called Paleo Quest to pull of this feat of brewing magic. Finally, a practical use for old bones. Check out the story.

On the topic of odd beer ingredients, how about smoked goat brains?

The newest in a long line of TV promo beers (including the Ommegang Brewery Game of Thrones-inspired brews), the AMC’s The Walking Dead now has a beer of its own. If you’re going to make a beer for zombie fanatics you don’t go half way, so these guys threw in some brains, you know, for authenticity sake. Story here.

Beer fasting.

Most people give up trifles for lent like watch Ellen or their daily Oreo indulgence. Chris Schryer, like few others before him, is giving up food. Yes, food. He’s subsiding of only beer during his observance. Follow his exploration on his blog (great reads).

Baseball and beer. Enough said.

Thrillist.com took it upon themselves to match every Major League Baseball team with a beer that they felt fit best. I’ll say nothing about them matching up the Toronto Blue Jays with Labatt’s Blue, other than it’s a lazy travesty. Still a good read. 

Beer your meat, if you know what’s good for you.

Scientists have found that marinating your meat in beer can prevent the formation of crazy compounds from the grill that can cause cancer. That’s right, beer beats cancer. 

Rob Ford announces the Ford Nation Brewing Company.

Seriously! Okay, not seriously. A well-played April Fools’ Day article by Mom ‘n’ Hops declared that Toronto’s embattled mayor was setting out to create the best beer the city’s ever had. They noted that a gravy-flavoured beer was also on the way. Nicely done, Mom 'n' Hops.

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Steam Whistle Brewery

Steam Whistle Brewery, A Family Adventure?!

     I have been to Toronto many times with my family for different types of Sporting Events or Ice Shows. But had never thought of going on a brewery tour while I was there. Until I heard from The Steam Whistle Brewery Company claiming it was the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" type of brewery (Sadly, no Oompa Loompas). This sounded like the perfect place for the kids to take their dad... 

  I was right! The kids, and even my mom, had a great time. The kids were even lucky enough to pull the actual "Steam Whistle"!! (Jealous)

Three Things I love About Steam Whistle 

1. The delicious taste of the beer. 
2. The Steam Whistle Company is as Green as it gets when it comes to saving the planet.
3. Real Man Travels and Steam Whistle have "founding" similarities. Steam Whistle was thought up on a canoe trip in Ontario around a campfire and that is exactly how Real Man Travels was created.

   Steam Whistles Tour Info

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Real Girl Travels - Niagara on the Lake

A Real Girl Travels Adventure:

So another post for Real Man Travels and another great adventure had. This time I actually made it, and I was early to boot!

On Sunday September 22nd at an early morning start time of 8:00am I set out on a highly anticipated adventure to Niagara on the Lake. Along side my best friend we began our 2 hour drive. On the agenda for the day were 4 wineries, and a micro brewery tour and tasting. We were very excited to do this as neither of us had ever been to Niagara on the Lake or to a wine tasting. We were definitely not disappointed.

First stop was Stratus. (@Stratuswines ) As we pulled into the parking lot of our first winery we fell in love with the architecture. The building is made of sustainable materials presented in a uniquely modern and raw way. Aside from the fantastic wines at Stratus, the building and the way the winery is run is very fascinating. No small detail was overlooked. From the recycled materials used in the construction of the building, to the pump-less wine flow technology, to the geothermal heating/cooling, this facility certainly earned its' 2005 LEED certification. (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

While at Stratus we took part in Swirls, Sips, and Hops, where we did a tour of the winery at Stratus, followed by a tasting. After that we walked next door to Oast House Brewery (@OastHouseBeer ) where we had a tour of their red barn facility and a nice sampling of their different beers available. This tour was a fantastic way to take in 2 different tours at once with two distinctly different atmospheres. From Stratus I purchased a bottle of their Stratus 2009 Red (which was on our tasting) and from Oast House, I bought a bottle of their Saison and Biere de Garde.

From Stratus we drove about 2 minutes down the road to Joseph's Estate Wines. (@NiagaraWine ) A family owned and operated winery that opened in 1996 officially. The family feel is definitely present at this facility. It was such a warm and welcoming experience. Our tour guide Joe made you feel like you were a part of the family. With a tour of the vineyard and wine making operations, we ended it with a great tasting. We both left with a bottle of their fantastic ice wine.

Keeping with the family run wineries we made our way to Konzelmans Estate Winery. (@KonzelmannWines) This winery is full of history with the 6th generation of the Konzelmann legacy currently running the business. When we first arrived, it was a very busy place! The tasting room and boutique is where are tour began and we were escorted through the grounds for a full tour of the vineyard and facility. The vineyard boasts a gorgeous view of Lake Ontario with a rolling Toronto city landscape in the distance. Reminds you that this little piece of paradise really isn't so far from home. Following our tour we were treated to a tasting and a lesson in "The 5 S's of Wine Tasting". This lesson is featured in the video at the end of this post. We both purchased 2 bottles from Konzelmann's, one white Pinot Blanc, and one red Pinot Noir. 

After Konzelmann's we went to our hotel to check in. We stayed at The Harbour House Hotel. (@NiagarasFinest ) This boutique hotel is absolutely stunning. Easy to get to, with ample parking, the hotel is situation right by the water with a fantastic view of the harbour. In the lobby you're treated to a complimentary wine tasting, their service was prompt and check in was smooth. There are elevators, how ever Chantelle and I used the stairs more. Our room was adorable with 2 single beds, a fantastic bathroom complete with a walk in shower, jacuzzi tub, and a rubber duck. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the hotel was pleasantly peaceful at night. 

The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to anywhere in town, complete with drop off and pick up, which was fantastic. We took the shuttle to our next tour and tasting at Strewn Winery. (@NiagaraWine ) Here we had a tour of the facility followed by a tasting. Located at Strewn is a fantastic restaurant called Terroir La Cachette (@TerroirCachette ) They use locally grown and raised products which really gives you a true taste of Niagara on the Lake. Our server, Steven, was so knowledgeable about the area, the food we were eating and the wine we were drinking, he really enhanced our entire dining experience. From beginning to end, our tour and tasting at Strewn, followed by our fabulous dinner at Terroir La Cachette, was incredible. 

We finished our night off at a local pub called The Olde Angel Inn. Established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1816 after the War of 1812, The Olde Angel Inn is a great place to go for a local pint and a ghost story or two. We both had a pint of the Angel Inn Lager.

Our Monday morning began with a tour and tasting at Coyote's Run. (@coyotesrun ) This winery boasts some distinct soils that are unique to the area. They grow grapes from both the Red Paw soil and the Black Paw soil. It's amazing the difference in taste that the soils can produce in the grapes. Our tour was conducted by one of the onsite wine makers so we were treated to trying an unreleased Cabernet Sauvignon directly from the barrel. It was delicious! 

Following Coyote's Run we finished off our wonderful winery weekend at Ravine Vineyard (@RavineVineyard ) It was at Ravine that we had one of the most unique vineyard tours; geo-tracking. Along with a guide from Ravine, we set out on a geo-tracking adventure through the entire vineyard. Using a GPS app on my iPhone we were able to locate all of the boxes and learned a little bit about the vineyard with each box we uncovered. It was a definitely a fun way of seeing and learning about the vineyard. Following our geo-tracking adventure we had lunch at the restaurant onsite. This restaurant uses vegetables from the organic garden which is right on site, as well as their own farm raised pigs, and they even bake their own bread. The meal was delicious and had just as satisfying a view of the entire vineyard and surrounding area. 

Also Check out this Awesome Niagara on the Lake Video 

While we managed to take in 6 wineries and 1 brewery there is so much more to do in beautiful Niagara on the Lake. Here are some upcoming events:

• In November, the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake host "Taste the Season," a touring pass event which features a seasonally-inspired VQA wine and food pairing at each of the 27 member wineries.

• In January, we celebrate Icewine with the Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival, which includes tutored tastings with some of Canada’s leading Icewinemakers, live jazz, Icewine-inspired culinary creations, and an Icewine cocktail competition, as well as a lot of fantastic winery events. We could even get you out picking some Icewine grapes.

• In February, there's "Days of Wine and Chocolate," a touring pass event which features VQA wines matched with chocolate-infused dishes at each of the wineries.

• In May the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake welcome spring with "Wine and Herb," a touring pass event which features different herb-themed food pairing matched to a premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb at each of the 27 wineries.

Planning a guys weekend? Here are some other great activities that would be great:

● Hitting the greens and enjoying Canada’s largest concentration of golf facilities in one region, including the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club, which is North America’s oldest course. Niagara is also home to the Niagara Golf Trail, which includes six great area courses open for public play that are known for their beautiful views, challenging courses and fabulous club houses.

● Packages from transportation partners with great options for the guys, including a Land, Sea and Air package that offers guests the opportunity to ride the Niagara River’s Class 5 rapids in a Jet boat, have an unforgettable Land Rover off-roading adventure and soar over Niagara’s vineyards in a helicopter.

● Fantastic dining options including Barrel Cellar dinners, dinners hosted by the Winemaker, casual food truck fare and more.

There is also a little thing called the Winemakers' Selection Tasting Pass, which allows pass holders  to enjoy one tasting of a Winemaker's Selection wine at each of the 27 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake any day of the year. Touring passes, which are $27 per person, plus applicable taxes, can be purchased online at www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com/winemakers-selections-tasting-pass or by calling Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake at 905.468.1950. You can also buy your passes at any of the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

If you're interested in more information please visit www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com

More links to check out:
http://wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com/

http://www.stratuswines.com/
http://oasthousebrewers.ca/

http://www.josephsestatewines.com/home

http://www.konzelmann.ca/index.php

http://www.strewnwinery.com/english/home/default.asp

http://lacachette.com/

http://www.angel-inn.com/

http://www.coyotesrunwinery.com/

https://www.ravinevineyard.com/

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Beer Festivals in Toronto – Different Strokes for Different Folks

We start with a philosophical question: can you love the same thing for different, and in some ways conflicting, reasons? That’s the question I’ve been asking myself since attending two major beer festivals in Toronto over the past few weeks: the Toronto Festival of Beer and the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival.

The Toronto Festival of Beer – big, loud, glorious

What do you get when you mix 120 beer brands, loud music and pub food with uncertain weather, a sprawling outdoor venue and 30,000 thirsty Ontarians? The answer is a raucous, sticky mess of good ol’ fashioned fun.

What’s true is that you can’t call this a beer connoisseur event. It’s simply too impersonal (not many brew masters or owners/founders to be seen), too generalized (cider, coolers, mixers, you can find them all) and just too big to gain that distinction.

But here’s the thing: the Toronto Festival of Beer is not trying to be a beer connoisseur event. Sure they have some offerings to attract beer enthusiasts - an impressive number of international brewers, some interesting teaching events and a solid selection of cask and seasonal beer – but the core of this event is really about the party and offering a chance to try a huge selection of beers, in a fun environment, with like-minded people. 

And that’s where it delivers. The selection is enormous and extremely diverse. The music, fast paced and easy to enjoy. The food, plentiful enough to sop up any over indulgence. And the vast majority of people, there for the sole purpose of having a great time.

A few detractors:

• Long lines: for everything. Bathrooms, sampling tokens, samples, food. You do a fair bit of waiting around. 
• Cost inconsistency: does a sample cost one, two or three tokens? Does that get you a full sample or half a sample? CONFUSED!
• Beer inconsistency: we found some warm beer and some that just tasted off. To be expected considering the environment and volume. 

The highlight of the festival was chatting with Nathan from Double Trouble Brewing Co., makers of the fantastic IPA Hops & Robbers and the newer Prison Break Pilsner. These guys embody the independent spirit on Ontario craft brewing and are pretty hilarious on Twitter. Give them a follow.

The Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival – local, quaint, social

Hosted at one of Toronto’s most iconic breweries, the Steam Whistle Roundhouse, this hyper-local festival features only registered Ontario Craft Brewers. Fifteen of OCB’s 31 member breweries were in attendance along with 8 food trucks and a smattering of talented local musicians covering a gamut of genres from punk and rock to one lone guy on a ukulele.

Entering Roundhouse Park we instantly felt the pride. Under the shadow of the Roundhouse you see banners of familiar local breweries and the scene just oozes with the camaraderie and fellowship that makes the Ontario brewing industry so special. There is a complete freedom from competition and great respect between the breweries (as seen when they recommend each other’s brews).

The atmosphere is beautifully laid back and welcoming. No lines or the animosity they create. People leaning against trees or sitting on the grass. We were thrilled to get the chance to chat with brew masters and owners, including the great folks from Grand River Brewing and Neustadt Springs Brewery (home of the very approachable 10w30 Dark Ale, which, when mixed with their Sour Krautlager, forms the delicious Black Raspberry). 

The food selection was stellar. We enjoyed pulled brisket poutine, veal sandwiches, ravioli and fish tacos while just missing out on wood fired pizza. And these gourmet dishes rolled in on wheels.

The similar issue of cost inconsistency found at the Toronto Festival of Beer was also present here. The selection also left something to be desired, as even some local favourites were missing. Amsterdam’s Oranje Weisse was a noted absence despite being one of their more promoted seasonals.

With it’s personal feel and great focus, the Roundhouse festival is an awesome celebration of Ontario beer.

Final ramblings:

For me, the answer to our philosophical question is yes. Depending on what you are looking for you might prefer the hot mess that is the Toronto Festival or Beer or you may be attracted to the local celebration of the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival. If you’re like me, I can show love for both, and am a happy man knowing that beer culture in Toronto is alive and well.

Follow Scott F. on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SFRealManTravel

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Cooperstown, NY - Brewery Ommegang

a Scott F post

After a few days in New York City catching the sites and sipping on Brooklyn Lager and Brown Ale, we took the scenic route back towards Ontario that brought us through Cooperstown, NY. Home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown is the definition of a quaint little American town.

After checking into the Landmark Inn, a remarkably clean and comfortable bed and breakfast in the heart of town (the manliest B&B in town, of course), we strolled down the road to the main street looking for a bite to eat. We found our way to The Pit at the Tunnicliff Inn, lured in by the promise of $15 steak and crab and a selection of local libations. The highlights of the meal were two beers they had on tap, both from Brewery Ommegang, which just so happened to be 15 minutes down the road in the rolling hills of Cooperstown.

After visiting Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard the next day and picking up some of their famed sweet hard cider we meandered our way towards the brewery. Situated, appropriately, on a former hop plantation (evidently New York was once a hot bed of hop production), Brewery Ommegang’s facilities feel about as far from the United States as one can get.

 

And the beer is distinctly non-American as well. Brewed using traditional Belgian methods, Ommegang beers fuse carefully chosen hops with a variety of other spices (from Coriander to orange peel to grains of paradise!) to create some of the most unique and flavourful beers I’ve ever experienced. I can hear all the country boys out there saying “I don’t want no fancy herb concoctions in ma’ beer buoy!” but fear not my fair-weather friend. Ommegang balances these flavours masterfully so that they all enhance the hop profile without overpowering or even being utterly discernible on the tongue.

With six staple beers in arsenal along with a variety of seasonals and a selection from their parent company lead by the fantastic Belgian ale, Duvel; the variety achieved while staying within one category (Belgian-style ales), is almost mind blowing.

Two clear standouts from the collection that sat particularly well with my pallet were their Rare Vos and Hennepin. Rare Vos, an amber ale at 6.5% ABV, was one of those beers that makes you turn the bottle, stare at the label and say “wow” after your first sip (you’ve done it, and seen it done). You get a slight orange citrus taste but the spice and hop notes are what make this beer one of a kind. Hennepin, otherwise known as “that beer I’d choose with my final meal on death row,” is an exceptional ‘farmhouse ale,’ 7.7% ABV, that again features a complex spice mix that achieves an exceptional balance and mouth feel. It’s hoppy, refreshing, and completely delicious.

I'm always impressed when brewers push the envelope with their beer marketing and packaging. Brewery Ommegang has gone to exceptional lengths to provide a unique story for each of their brews; ranging on topics from brewers on stilts to pigeon races. Check out ommegang.com to read all of the engaging stories. The stories are supported by beautiful packaging and labels. 

Speaking with the guides at the brewery we found out that Brewery Ommegang was pushing out beer at capacity in the Northeast United States which likely means we won’t see the beers at the LCBO or Beer Store anytime soon. If you find yourself in upstate New York, though, Brewery Ommegang, and the beautiful town of Cooperstown in which it resides, are definitely worth a visit and a savour.

And for HBO fans, don’t miss their Game of Thrones-themed beer Iron Throne, and their just announced follow up Take the Black Stout.

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