The Growler Ontario • Volume 1 Issue 2 • August-October 2018

VOLUME

01 02 ISSUE

o n ta r i o

$2 C R A F T

Display until dec. 15, 2018

B E E R

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Refillable Growlers are now available at our Toronto Beer Boutiques in Liberty Village &The Distillery District!

Check out our current draught offerings today: TheBeerStore.ca/Growlers

NORTH & EAST GTA TORONTO

PUBLISHER Gail Nugent gnugent@thegrowler.ca

O N TA R I O REGIONS COVERED IN THIS ISSUE

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Crystal Luxmore

PRODUCTION & DESIGN MANAGER Tara Rafiq tara@thegrowler.ca PHOTOGRAPHY David Ort Libby Roach COVER ILLUSTRATION Cai Sepulis SOCIAL MEDIA David Ort ADVERTISING Krysta Frederick krysta@thegrowler.ca DISTRIBUTION Craig Sweetman (Newsstand) Debbie Tang (Direct) orders@thegrowler.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS on.thegrowler.ca/subscribe © The Growler 2018

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. Every effort is made to avoid errors and omissions. If you notice an error, please accept our apologies and notify us.

Published by Glacier Media Group thegrowler.ca @thegrowleron

NIAGARA BRANT NORFOLK

SOUTHWEST & WINDSOR

EDITOR David Ort david@thegrowler.ca

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ben Johnson Jordan St. John

HAMILTON & WEST GTA

CENTRAL WEST & TRI-CITIES

Breweries by Region 28 46 51 56 62 74

TORONTO NORTH & EAST GTA HAMILTON & WEST GTA NIAGARA BRANT NORFOLK CENTRAL WEST & TRI-CITIES SOUTHWEST & WINDSOR

Contents 06 08 12 15 18 20 23 26 82

BEER AND CIRCUSES THERE'S A FLY IN MY BEER BREWER VS BREWER: HOMEBREWERS TURNED PRO TRAVEL: FEEL THE BURN OF HOPS IN VERMONT THE FLAVOUR WHEEL OF CRAFT BEER NERDISM A BEER NEW WORLD CONTRACT BREWING CONTRARIANS RECIPE: CURRIED CHICKPEA LETTUCE WRAPS BEER TO THE GROUND

LEGEND

reading the growler for newbies Beer Glassware

A guide of recommended glassware that will cover most of the beers in this book. Impress friends and annoy enemies (or vice versa) with this knowledge.

STANGE Kölsch Alt Gose

PILSNER Lagers Pilsner Witbier

NONIC PINT

Pale ale Porter Most ales, actually

Beer Colour Guide PALE

GROWLER FILLS

PALE GOLD

BOTTLES / CANS

GOLD

KEGS

PALE AMBER

TASTING ROOM

MEDIUM AMBER

ON-SITE KITCHEN OR FOOD TRUCK

DEEP AMBER

TOURS

BROWN

KID FRIENDLY

RUBY BROWN

GLUTEN-FREE BOOZE OPTIONS

BLACK

Growler ApproveD

WEIZEN

Hefeweizen Weizenbock American wheat

TULIP

Saison Double IPA Strong ales

GOBLET

Dubbel Belgian Strong Tripel

Brewery Details

Beer Profiles

Indication of beer colour and suggested glassware

IT'S CALLED WHAT? W H AT T Y P E O F B E E R I S T H AT ?

Availability Where to get it

SNIFTER

ABV

Barley wine Quad Anything funky

IBU

00% 00

Editor's note

Thanks for grabbing a copy of The Growler’s second issue. Some people will tell you this is the Fall edition, but you and I, we’ll just call it Late Summer. (Next up: The Just After Summer guide.)

I’ve had a blast introducing this little bundle of beer knowledge to drinkers in the GTA and Niagara. This time, we’re very pleased to add a large

Denotes 10 new, exciting or otherwise excellent beers that we think are worth drinking now.

Is the beer available year-round, seasonally or as a one-off ?

Where to find it: B (Brewery), L (Licensees, bars and restaurants), LCBO (liquor store) and TBS (The Beer Store).

ABV (alcohol by volume) tells you how boozy the beer is.

IBU (International Bitterness Units) tells you about a beer's perceived bitterness.

swath of southwestern Ontario to our coverage map.

That means you'll find that our brewery directory is packed with craft producers from Bowmanville in Durham all the way over to Windsor. North-tosouth we cover from about Kincardine down to the Lake Erie shore.

Find us @thegrowlerON to send feedback and stay in touch. Cheers!

—David Ort, editor

Beer . circuses

by David Ort

H

ere’s an idea to chew on: Ontario’s craft beer industry has matured beyond the gold-rush growth phase into something more complex. No longer can entrepreneurs buy a brew system and throw up their shingle. We, as beer drinkers, demand something more nuanced of them.

Late summer and early fall is the best time for this type of pulse-taking because it’s the last time we’ll have a great time drinking together until Victoria Day 2019. Sure, in Deep Autumn there are holidays with family and a few Baltic porters, Darkest Winter is the time to contemplate a richly layered imperial stout, and the First Signs of Spring bring their bock-beer-for-Lent diets, but nothing beats High Summer.

Part of what’s braking the industry is a bottleneck in one very specific place: Beer retailer. The government-controlled system just isn’t equipped to handle the supply from 250-odd physical breweries in Ontario, plus another 75 or so who brew on contract. It also struggles to meet the subtle gradations in demand that come with a province of 14,000,000 very diverse people.

There is the promise of a sea change floating on the horizon. For her column, Crystal Luxmore looked at what the new government at Queen’s Park might mean for craft breweries trying to get their IPAs and kettle sours into more retailers.

I’ve also noticed a shrinking gap between “a cold one” beers and the “wine-barrel-aged brett tripels” meant for beer nerds. Despite the hard-fought efforts from megalithic brewers, more sports and music venues are going beyond cold ones. Canada’s Wonderland is committed to craft with vendors like Muskoka’s Craft Burger and Beer Bar. St. Catherine’s Warehouse offers concert-goers an

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exceptional list that stretches from craft by Beau’s to the cider-equivalent of IPAs by Garage D’Or to a barrel-aged sour or two by Blood Brothers.

On the sports side, the Beer Garden put together for Toronto Wolfpack games put rugby fans well ahead of their baseball or hockey compatriots.

Craft breweries are also finagling their way onto menus at casual and upscale chain restaurants. This sounds like a good idea on paper, but the execution can be fraught with pitfalls. Ben Johnson took a crack at a guide for handling the hiccups that might occur when bars and restaurants don’t hit all the points of proper beer service.

As we work through the details of where and how to serve beer, we’ll also continue thinking about who makes it. To that end, Jordan St. John had a look at what happens when contract and craft brewing turns the corner from being an “us versus them” dichotomy.

It truly is a wonderful time to be a craft beer drinker in Ontario. And that goes well beyond looking at a growing list of successful breweries. It means finally approaching the point where good beer just is. j

AN EXCLUSIVE CANADIAN HOP We’re proud to introduce BC Hop Company’s proprietary hop, Lumberjack™. It has a predominately bitter aroma with notes of melon, sweet citrus and spices like clove and allspice.

A slight earthiness softens this hop, producing a pleasant mouth-feel in the beer.

We grow and supply Canada’s highest quality hop.

Lumberjack™ is perfect for lager, pilsner, saison or ale.

We deliver volume and customer service.

Buy our Canadian grown and processed hops direct from sales@bchop.co.

You can also purchase through our distribution partners at hopscentral.ca.

www.bchop.ca

When is it OK to send a beer back?

How can you do it without making a stink?

by Ben Johnson

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I

recently had occasion to visit a nearby outpost of a franchise steak restaurant.

It was one of those rare moments in our lives as parents when my wife and I realized that we were out, childless, hungry at the dinner hour and could actually sit down and enjoy a meal together.

This is, of course, what franchise steak restaurants are for. They are a known entity: You will have a large and decent piece of meat that you will pay a large and decent price for. You will have the same two appetizers you always order at their other locations. And you will enjoy timely and courteous service. Deep booths, dim lighting, these are all things you are familiar with.

I like an independently-owned, funky, and unique restaurant as much as the next casual food snob, but when you’ve got 90 minutes and no margin for error, give me the comforting sameness and uniform service standards of a reasonably solid franchise every time.

Of course, the one unknown at places like these is always the beer selection.

Sure, things in Ontario have improved. Most decent restaurants no longer just pour a monotonous selection of lagers decided based on whether Molson or Labatt was the last company to send in a sales rep with an expense account, but still, the franchise restaurant, with its barely contained corporate vibes, is always something of a gamble.

That’s why, on my unexpected night out, I was pleased to see a couple of semi-decent local offerings being poured amid the usual macro shit.

Larger craft brewers you could likely guess, but respectable and welcome accompaniments to my prime rib (which is coming off the bone tonight at medium rare, as it always does, of course). Un-

Is it really so bad that I need to send it back? Do I really need to be that guy?

Why can’t I enjoy things?

fortunately, however, when I ordered and received my beer, something was clearly wrong with it. It was flat.

So, now I was faced with a dilemma. And I was caught off guard outside of my natural habitat—a craft beer bar or the safety of my own garage. Do I simply drink the mediocre-at-best beer and eat my prime rib? (Did I mention it was medium rare tonight, sir?) Or do I attempt to flag down my server, who is currently being hit on by thicknecked, polo-shirt-wearing salesmen happily sucking down Shock Top at the bar?

Is it really so bad that I need to send it back? Do I really need to be that guy? Why can’t I just enjoy things? The voice in my head was obstinate. Why are you like this?

Or was that my wife’s voice?

But really, when is it OK to send back beer?

Lauren Fitzgerald is a Certified Cicerone who works in the restaurant industry in Stratford, Ontario. I spoke with her recently about my dilemma.

Was I just being high maintenance, or was I within my rights to send back my subpar beer?

“It is hard to find a beer so bad that it is undrinkable,” she told me. “People have been drinking Bud Light for decades after all and they seem to be fine with that.”

“That being said, there are definitely certain instances where sending back a beer is acceptable,” she says.

Fitzgerald cites infected beer as a definite cause for sending back a pint.

“Unlike if there is an infection or bacteria in food, infected beer is unlikely to physically harm you,” she explains. “However, it can be very unpleasant to drink. Some common off flavours that are easy to detect are vegetal flavours, staleness, cardboard flavours, buttery popcorn, or sourness in a beer that is not supposed to be sour. Some of these off flavours can be very unpleasant and any sort of quality control should weed these beers out before they are served to the public, but, unfortunately, it is common for these things to slip through the cracks.” >>

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Of course, the first and simplest reason to send back beer is if it’s improperly served.

While sending back a beer because it is infected is a no brainer, I’d probably be unlikely to get into too much detail about what I thought was wrong.

There is a clear and present risk of sounding like a dick if you start throwing words like acetaldehyde or chlorophenol at a busy server. Just describe to your server what you’re tasting and tell them it’s off. They’ll probably just replace your beer.

Another reason Fitzgerald says you might send back a beer is if it is simply “bad,” but then of course, this is pretty subjective.

“I have seen people send back Bellwoods Brewery beers or Burdock beers— two of the best breweries in Ontario, in my opinion—and I’ve seen people take a sip of a beautifully and painstakingly crafted wild cider from Revel Ciders and call it awful,” she says. “Each time my heart breaks a little because these are places going out on a limb to create beautiful, individual products but they just weren’t to the tastes of the person who ordered them or he or she wasn’t expecting what was poured.”

A bad beer is something that is clearly unbalanced. Fitzgerald says a bad beer might include “an IPA that is so bitter and resiny that it coats the tongue and leaves an aggressive aftertaste, an amber style beer that finishes cloyingly sweet or a stout that contains so much dark malt that it becomes burnt and acrid tasting.”

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Personally, I would probably send back a beer because I didn’t like it, but I’m also unlikely to order an entire pint of something I think might not be to my tastes. If it’s a style that is new to you, a brewery with a questionable track record, or something you’re just not familiar with, ask questions or request a sample before you dive in.

Of course, the first and simplest reason to send back beer is if it is improperly served. This can be anything from warm beer, beer served in a dirty glass, or under-carbonated beer like the one I was served. All of these things mean the establishment is doing something wrong and it is actually pretty unlikely at a franchise steak restaurant that usually has high standards. Fitzgerald concurs, and says: “All of these things are relatively simple fixes that establishments should be made aware of and should take ownership for.”

And so when I did finally get the attention of my server, I politely explained that my beer was flat and asked for something else. She gave me a crinkled-nose look that confirmed she thought I was wrong but apologized profusely and retreated to get me my second choice instead.

My second beer arrived with much ceremony alongside my prime rib, which was a perfect medium rare, by the way. I took a sip. My server anxiously awaited my reaction and I nodded my approval so she could get back to the thirsty salesmen.

This beer was flat, too. I drank a third of it and switched to wine. j

The homebrewer-turned-pro edition

by David Ort

I

love the diversity of paths that lead people to become brewers, but I think my favourite is the homebrewers.

These are the folks who honed their craft huddled around a propane burner on their porch, in a February snowstorm.

Muddy York launched in early 2015 with a tiny brew system. They have greatly expanded and now have a fully-fledged taproom and bottle shop in East York.

Jeff Manol

Libby Roach photos

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Across the city, People’s Pint opened this spring—in true, plucky style they took over Junction Craft’s former space— with their own tasting room and bottle fridge.

I sat down with Jeff and Peter for an engaging conversation (and a couple pints) on the patio at Clinton’s in Toronto.

I entered a competition early on—it was ALES 2012. I got some really good feedback, including a gold medal. - Peter Caira GROWLER: When did you start homebrewing?

When did it become something you knew you wanted to do professionally?

CAIRA: It was the fall of 2011. My wife came home with a 1-gallon kit and I thought “I can’t screw this up.” So, I read all I could read about it.

Three weeks later we brewed it together on the stovetop. Six bottles of pretty good beer came out of it. I entered a competition early on—it was ALES 2012. I got some really good feedback, including a gold medal.

MANOL: That’s big. That was a huge competition.

CAIRA: I thought in the back of my head “this is something I could do.” And then people like Jeff started opening breweries and I thought “maybe I could really do this.” Always, after that gold medal, I thought at the back of my head “I could do this.”

MANOL: Well, you get excited about it more and more. And you think “maybe I could do this all the time.” For us, the landscape has changed quite a bit since we started homebrewing. Knowing what I know now about opening a brewery and the climate we’re in, I think I might be more hesitant to do it.

GROWLER: Oh yeah? How so?

MANOL: I never really worried about competition. I still don’t worry about competition. But there is some sort of saturation coming. There’s a lot of beer coming into the market. A lot of it not so good; there’s also lots of fantastic beer out there.

You’re starting to fight a bit for taps and the LCBO now is totally over-SKU’d. So, you’re forced to go to the Beer Store if you want to sell your product.

GROWLER: What was your start with homebrewing, Jeff?

MANOL: Pretty much the same thing. I started with a kit with a can of malt syrup. I had some experience of making wine with my father-in-law so I knew about sanitation. We made the kit and it was halfway decent and thought “alright, let’s do this!”

You get hooked on it. Brewing encapsulates all the things that may have been lacking from other jobs I had. You have science, chemistry, creativity, you think about the branding. My wife’s a graphic artist

Peter Caira so she gets to be involved in a way that uses her talents as well. Everything that happens in this I love, so I found a way to make this happen.

GROWLER: What type of homebrewer were you?

MANOL: I was always a traditionalist. I’m very interested in the process—stressing myself by using less and still making it as good as it can be. I’m trepidatious about expanding to new styles. I like getting right into the nuts and bolts of things.

GROWLER: You have a helles as your core beer.

MANOL: When we started to talk to accounts— everyone was doing IPAs, saisons and sours—we went in and looked in the hallway and for every keg of something like that there were four or five of Beau’s [Lugtread] or Mill St. Organic. People are buying that. I would never make a beer just to try to satisfy what I think people want but I’m very proud of the helles. I’m happy it sells so well.

GROWLER: Same for you, Peter?

CAIRA: Well, Gosé Cuervo is our best-selling beer and I’m amazed by it. It’s a beer I didn’t really want to do in quantity.

GROWLER: Let’s talk beer names. Is the idea of coming up with original names something that homebrewers have more experience with?

CAIRA: I’ll tell you, it’s easier as a homebrewer to come up with a name for a beer. You don’t have to sell it. You don’t have to answer to anyone.

GROWLER: How much is it different as a pro?

MANOL: To be honest, I never thought of naming beers when I was homebrewing. I was just interested in making the beer. But once Susan and I came up with a name for the brewery it gave us a lens to look at beer names through. >>

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There’s some sexism in beer labels and that’s a huge problem. We’re very adamant about not doing that and standing up against it.

- Jeff Manol

Many of Muddy York’s beer names—Gaslight and Diving Horse—make historical references to Toronto. Supplied photo

GROWLER: And what do you think of beer names out there in general?

MANOL: People are going to have their opinions, but some breweries, in my opinion, take the wrong route in naming some of their beers and there’s some sexism and that’s a huge problem. We’re very adamant about not doing that kind of thing and standing up against it. Some of these labels come out and I think “how do you think that’s okay?”

GROWLER: After going pro do you still feel a connection with homebrewers?

MANOL: I do. We get a lot of people who come in and if I’m around they want to pick my brain. Guys who bring in beers. We host some of the GTA Brews meetings, which is really nice. They’ve been hugely supportive of us. I try to give back as much as I can; it’s where we came from.

GROWLER: How’s the homebrewing tap going at People's Pint, Peter?

CAIRA: Good it’s cool to see what people want to bring. I’ve noticed a little bit of carefulness instead of just balls-out, crazy ideas, but that will change.

sourcing a 20-hectolitre system right now. We’re limited by the height of our ceilings. I might be able to push it to 30 but I think we’re going to do 20.

CAIRA: My brewhouse is very strange and small.

It’s a pair of two-hectolitre kettles. My batch sizes are about 400 litres. I have Jeff ’s first three tanks.

Scale-wise I’m averaging about 1,200 litres per week.

GROWLER: What did you read that inspired you on the course to open a brewery?

MANOL: When homebrewing I read way more than I do now. John Palmer’s How to Brew is the one I devoured. And then Brewing Classic Styles really helped. It gave me a roadmap for each style.

CAIRA: The first book I read was written by a guy and his wife who lived in Manhattan about how to brew 1-gallon batches. The next book was Principles of Brewing Science. Totally the opposite and it just jumps right into every aspect. The other one I’m thinking of is Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels.

He goes through all these award-winning beers and he’s got this great analysis.

This is a pared-back version of our conversation. Find the rest at on.thegrowler.ca/bvb2 j

GROWLER: Is that what you expect from the tap?

CAIRA: What I want the tap to be is what the homebrewer wants. It’s their product, it’s their recipe that is on display there.

MANOL: It’s a great way to innovate. Homebrewers are always going to be at the forefront of that.

CAIRA: There’s a coffee cream ale that’s coming. I was like “do you have any of this that I can try?”

GROWLER: How far have your breweries grown?

MANOL: We started off with say five hectolitres and we ran that for a year. And then we upgraded to a 10-hectolitre system. I’m in the process of

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Peter Caira and co-founder Doug Appeldoorn set aside one of 12 taps for beer from the GTA Brews. Photo David Ort

The home of Bernie Sanders, ski slopes, and farmhouse cheese is also a top craft beer destination

by David Ort

W

e should probably get something out of the way right here. I don’t ski. Or snowboard. I tried to learn, about ten years ago when I was in my twenties, but that went dreadfully.

I learned to skate at a young age and played my fair share of hockey. And that might be the root of my problem with skiing. I’m pretty good at the hockey stop—in one direction. And that translated decently to turning in skiing—in one direction.

Really, I’m fine until I need to turn to the right. And then it’s either off into the trees or a fall that sees two skis and two poles each heading in their own direction.

Despite my aversion to all sports alpine, I really enjoy Vermont. It’s a scenic, sparsely populated state with great food and even better craft beer.

And it probably goes without saying that the home state of Bernie Sanders is a progressive place where Canadians are welcomed with open arms.

And that’s a surprisingly relevant consideration in this time of tariffs and trade wars.

Whether you’re going to Vermont for the tail end of summer on Lake Champlain, to see the fall colours in all their splendour or, yes, even for the skiing at Stowe, I would definitely include Waterbury and Burlington on your itinerary. The former is an impressively picturesque small town that punches well above its weight for beer and the latter is Vermont’s version of a big city. >>

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Church Street in the heart of Burlington combines a pedestrian-only mall, a wide variety of shopping and historic streetscapes.

It's an all-season draw for both locals and out-of-town visitors. Photo VermontVacation.com

Zero Gravity Originally based out of the American Flatbread restaurant in downtown Burlington, they now have a production brewery on the outskirts of town. Even in late winter, when the beer garden is months from opening, the taproom is a sunny refuge with a welcoming bar and solid food menu.

Little Wolf APA (5.2% ABV) is a remarkable balance between lemony, dank and resiny hops on the nose and a body of toasted brown bread and orange marmalade. Conehead (5.7% ABV) breaks from IPA tradition by using a wheat base that helps with its spritzy aroma and Citra-supported notes of pineapple on the palate.

Among the delicious bar snacks, deep-fried cheese curds are impossible to resist. All that saltiness

helps highlight many of the individual elements in various beer options.

Switchback Brewing Co. Long before Heady Topper was brewed in a pub basement in Waterbury or Shaun Hill built one of the most recognizable brewery brands in the U.S., Switchback was a go-to brewery in Burlington.

They recently revamped their space on Burlington’s south side and it is now a friendly spot (including for dogs) to enjoy a tasting flight.

The Citra Pils (5.1% ABV) has plenty of the promised German malt as a backbone and a bright spot of pine needles and white grapefruit juice notes from the citra hops to earn the IPL designation granted to it by Switchback.

Continuing on the hop-forward theme, Connector IPA (6.1% ABV) is hazy medium-gold with orange ice cream on the nose and a leaf-and-marmalade flavour that ends with a slightly prickly finish. It doesn't drink like six per cent.

Foam Brewers

Zero Gravity's Pine Street brewery is an ideal spot for a flight of tasters. The snack menu has a few equally delicious options, but no flatbread. Photo David Ort

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This lakefront brewpub has recently become the must-recommend spot in Burlington. Their tasting room is filled with brewing equipment and the pleasant aromas that go with it. The colourful-splotches-and-wavy-corners decor reminds me of the early 1990s. It has become a meeting spot for locals looking to get their hop fix.

of Sunshine (8.0% ABV) in its distinctive, bright yellow can. Just enough sweetness supports the fruity notes that range from apricot and melon to lime and orange zest.

Visitors to the Green Mountain State don’t track the Switchback distribution schedule the way they do for Heady Topper—but it is one of the quintessential Vermont breweries.

If it's enamel-stripping, slow-sipping double IPAs you want, this is the place. Youth Lagoon (8.0% ABV) represents the tropic-fruit section of that style with light-medium bitterness and a nicely dry finish. Built to Spill (8.0% ABV) is danker with more earthiness on the nose and bright pineapple flavours.

John Kimmich’s The Alchemist brewery has moved production of Heady Topper and Focal Banger out of town to Stowe, but Waterbury is still a must visit. Prohibiton Pig, with shareable plates of barbecue and house-brewed beer, feels like an unofficial clubhouse for the hometown of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Across Elm Street, Craft Beer Cellar is a gem for those looking to fill their trunks for the drive home, especially because they are a rare source for single bottles and cans.

Where Else to Visit Yes, you absolutely should consider making the drive up to the top of the hill in Greensboro. Hill Farmstead is a craft beer treat. But if driving conditions aren’t the best or they are and it’s likely to have a long lineup, I think you’re better off at The Farmhouse Tap & Grill.

The beer list for a dinner at the Hotel Vermont included selections from Hill Farmstead, The Alchemist and a tripel made with maple sap by Lawson's Finest. Photo David Ort

By all appearances, this should be nothing more than a very good option for a casual dinner with your parents if they are dropping you off for another year of college in Burlington. In fact, it has one of the best tap lists in all of the northeast U.S. with plenty of options from local breweries like Good Measure, Queen City and von Trapp as well as the fermented apple option from the likes of Citizen Cider and Cider Creek.

Getting to Burlington

I had an excellently fresh Hill Farmstead Edward (5.2% ABV), which is one of my favourite takes on the highly drinkable American pale ale style.

The stone-fruit aroma and mildly bitter flavour did an admirable job of standing up to my blue cheese and bacon selection from the excellent burger menu.

Where to Stay

Down closer to the lake, the Growler Garage is a decidedly more casual place with tap, bottle and can lists that are nearly as good. Despite the bar’s name, they no longer do growler fills. This was the first place I found Lawson’s Finest Sip

Porter flies from Toronto every week from December through the end of ski season. The drive to Burlington is an easy one, especially if you stop at one of the excellent breweries south of Montreal.

Driving also makes Waterbury and Stowe much easier to get to.

The all-year tourist season means there are plenty of accommodation options in Burlington, but it’s hard to top the Hotel Vermont. The boutique hotel on Cherry Street has gorgeously modern rooms furnished with goods from local producers.

They also have a strong craft beer focus for their lobby bar and special events calendar. j

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THE FLAVOUR WHEEL

If you think you hate beer, chances are you haven’t tried the right beer. Or, rather, you haven’t tried the right beer for you. Like with wine, or food, the human palate progresses through experience. With beer, people tend to follow a similar path. We examine the course here in a thoroughly unscientific pie chart, culled from anecdotal evidence we’ve gathered from local beer enthusiasts.

PHASE 1: LAGERS This is typically the entry point for beer drinkers because, until very recently, it’s been the most widely available style in Canada. We’re talking macro lagers here: Labatt, Budweiser, Canadian, Corona etc. People are often lured in—and turned off—because of the weak flavour profile.

PHASE 2: AMBER ALES ^ RED ALES ^ STOUTS This is the best starting point for people who get serious about beer. These are malt-forward brews, with few hops, so they’re sweet and smooth with subtle, approachable flavours (think Mill St Tankhouse). Stouts often hit this stage via the infamous chocolate stout, or by the world famous Guinness.

PHASE 3: WHEAT ALES ^ FRUIT ALES Interchangeable with Phase 2. Wheat ales are usually light and sweet, again with low hops and not much bitterness, which makes them ideal for newbies. At this point, people are adjusting to the common beer ingredients. Think Kronenburg Blanc or any radler.

PHASE 4: PALE ALES This is where people start moving away from sweet flavours and toward higher IBUs. These beers are often still malty, but with enough bitterness to start people down the hops rabbit hole

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that leads into craft beer fandom. Other hoppy ales, including red ales, cycle in here too. Think Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Junction Conductor's Ale. PHASE 5: IPAS Hops, baby. This is the stage where people tend to get locked in and start waving the craft beer flag.

The India Pale Ale phase is vast because the style is abundant and so versatile, which means there’s a lot to explore here. People can get hung up here for long stretches.

PHASE 6A: IMPERIAL IPAS When chasing the hop dragon leads you to the most hops possible. You’re chasing IBUs to get your fix, but the high alcohol content of these beers leads to an affinity for Big Booze Beers in general, which leads to…

PHASE 6B: IMPERIAL ANYTHING Big booze-y, flavourable beers are the trend here.

Drinking only these beers leads to trouble, so people tend to explore areas previously explored, or they move on rather quickly. But because this area has a variety of different styles, there’s plenty to explore. An appreciation for stouts often accompanies this phase.

PHASE 7: BELGIANS

PHASE 9: LAGERS AGAIN

The appreciation for high alcohol and experimental beers usually leads here, where the palate develops a taste for yeast: freaky yeasts, tame yeasts, it’s all about the yeast and bold flavours.

Here, you’ve overdosed on flavour and high ABVs, and you’re craving light, sessionable beers. Or, you’ve crossed back over via the German sours (e.g.: Berliner Weisse) and think, “Hell, maybe Germans do make good beer!” We’re talking well-made, quality lagers here: kölschs, pilsners, and so on. j

PHASE 8: SOURS This is the peak of the Belgian canon, with the funkiest of all yeasty beers, lambics, leading into an exploration of North American sours. We’re in true expert phase here.

Some people skip steps, or get stuck in places, or never move on, or chart the course in a haphazard way. There’s no set time for how people move through it either—it could take a decade to complete the cycle, or it could take six months.

NOTE:

19

A beer

new world

Forget buck-a-beer, it's the government's promise of beer in more retailers that matters, but there the devil is in the details

by Crystal Luxmore

20

G

rabbing a 12-pack from a corner store, or a case of lager at Costco might not be far off for Ontarians. On July 12, in their throne speech, the Ontario Progressive Conservatives made good on some of its campaign promises—including the one to allow all grocery, convenience and big box stores to sell beer and wine.

In this spring’s election campaign, Doug Ford, leader of the Ontario PC Party campaigned on two promises to “put people first” when it comes to beer sales—opening up sales beyond the Beer Store, LCBO and 450 grocery stores that the Liberal Party negotiated in a 2015 agreement, and reducing the price floor so that buck-a-beer sales are possible. (We have yet to hear whether the latter will actually happen.)

Of these two promises, the first one, if it’s implemented the right way, could seriously free up the way Ontarians buy beer and give us more choice.

nience store offering a 24-pack alongside ice and chips, and open on statutory holidays.

There is hope. In Ford’s original campaign promises on freeing up access to beer, outlined on the Ontario PC website, the party cites the wider selection of beer available in fully-privatized Alberta as inspiration: “Alberta serves as a good example on how this policy will increase consumer choice. According to the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission, there are currently 21,793 spirits, wines, beers, coolers and ciders available for sale in Alberta.

Compare that to the mere 13,618 offered by the LCBO.”

Picture a hip corner store in Toronto selling fresh-squeezed juices, fancy snacks and small-batch sour beers from Left Field or Small Pony Barrel Works.

The first thing the government needs to do is allow these stores to sell any beer or wine available in Ontario—not just what’s already for sale at their competitors. Under the current system, grocers are limited to listing products from an LCBO catalogue. And guess what? All of the products listed are already for sale at either The Beer Store or LCBO. This ensures that grocers can never compete on selection, offer rare bottles or one-offs, or be the exclusive purveyor of a certain brewery.

It keeps the LCBO at the top of the food chain.

But for consumers, it keeps the selection of local, craft and imported beers in Ontario pathetically limited. The LCBO’s severely limited shelf space means it simply can’t stock many of the fascinating imported brews being brought to Ontario by passionate import agencies, and it can only make room for one or two brands from most of the over 260 craft breweries in the province.

Opening up selection for new stores opens up choice for all of us. Picture this: a hip corner store in Toronto selling fresh-squeezed juices, fancy snacks and small-batch sour beers from Left Field or Small Pony Barrel Works. Or a cheap conve-

On the other hand, Premier Ford has also promised to “maintain the current LCBO model as part of expanding distribution of beer and wine,” so there’s a chance he’ll let the Crown corporation continue to control selection for every beer drinker in Ontario.

The second thing this new deal has to do is get rid of—or at least quickly phase out all favourable treatment to—the Beer Store.

The Beer Store’s retail model was created by the government after prohibition. It is a nearly 100-year-old holdover, majority-owned by foreign multinational beer giants—Labatt Breweries of Canada (owned by AB InBev), Molson (owned by Molson Coors) and Sleeman (owned by Sapporo).

Sure, there have been a few concessions, like allowing small brewers to buy shares, a slice of board membership, and list their beers for free in five of their stores. But these came too late and felt like a desperate public relations move to try to appease a government-ordered review of beer retail in Ontario. Today, the majority owners remain firmly in charge. >>

21

The Beer Store enjoys favourable treatment. It’s the only store in Ontario that can sell formats larger than 12-packs (grocery stores can’t sell anything larger than a six-pack, and only a handful of LCBOs are permitted to do so). The Beer Store controls which beer goes on sale at a discounted price and when—grocery stores can offer the same sale but can’t discount beer independently. The Beer Store has no limits on opening new stores, and if the LCBO wants to open a new location, the Beer Store can block it by opening a location of its own instead.

The Beer Store escaped largely unscathed and stubbornly unchanged after the 2015 agreement.

Want evidence? Just go to the Beer Store and ask yourself, has your shopping experience been radically transformed by the $80 million they’re obligated to spend on more open and inviting store design by the end of this year? Is it easy to find your favourite craft brands? Nope. Have we seen enough Beer Boutiques open, where customers can stroll through the aisles and look at all the beers for sale? Nope.

The system of beer sales in Ontario is an embarrassment. It’s infuriating to explain the concept to people visiting from outside the province—they don’t understand why we put up with it and then chuckle at its very existence. As for us Ontarians?

We were so grateful for the 2015 agreement’s radical move to put beer in grocery stores that we’re back to collective complacency. So we allow the biggest foreign multinational beer conglomerates an exclusive right to have their own chain of stores; and to be the only retailer in the province that’s allowed to sell beer in formats bigger than a 12-pack!

The big question is what Ford’s PCs will do when they face a full-court press from Beer Store lobbyists, a potential lawsuit from The Beer Store for pulling out of a nearly 100-year-old ongoing deal with the government, and angry international beer conglomerates with deep donor pockets.

The third thing the PC Party needs to do to create a beer retail environment that is “for the people,” is to continue to offer some protection for independently-owned breweries at convenience stores and any other new retail outlets. Under the 2015 Agreement, the government mandated that grocery and beer stores must dedicate 20 per cent of

22

In Ontario, we’re at eight per cent market share for locally-made craft beer with 20 per cent year-over-year growth in craft beer sales. their shelf space to independently-made beer from “small” breweries anywhere in the world. Loblaws later announced its strategy to dedicate 50% of its beer fridge to Ontario craft beer.

Let’s look at the results of that: The amount of craft beer sold at the Beer Store is four per cent of total sales, at the LCBO it’s 10 per cent and in grocery stores it ranges from 20-40 per cent of all beer sales. The way that beer is merchandised, and the choices available to us directly impacts the growth of the craft beer market in Ontario.

And we’ve got a long way to grow: In the U.S. craft beer sales are slowing at just over 20 per cent market share. In Ontario, we’re around eight per cent market share for locally-made craft beer, with about 20 per cent growth in craft beer sales year-over-year.

The government should legislate that at least 20 per cent of new store shelf space be dedicated to beer made by small independent brewers from anywhere in the world. This will help secure continued growth for local breweries, especially as they figure out the infrastructure and cost challenges of delivering beer to an unlimited number of retail outlets.

If Premier Ford’s beer reform includes allowing any retailer to freely choose the products it sells; cutting the cord with The Beer Store; and reserving some shelf space for independent breweries the future is bright and bubbly. Now that would be putting people first.j

Is it time to stop being so cranky about contract brewing?

Purpose-built, world-class facilities demand a second look

I

by Jordan St. John

n the middle of Ontario’s craft brewing boom, one segment of the market has been maligned more than any other. It’s become the butt of jokes and a magnet for scorn. The idea that a beer was brewed under contract is an almost immediate disqualifier for serious beer drinkers.

ago. You want more recent examples? Well, in the United States, Samuel Adams and Brooklyn both brew under contract at facilities owned by other companies as part of their business model despite having their own (smaller) facilities. It’s a practice nearly as old as brewing itself.

The idea of contract brewing is not a concept that cropped up in Ontario. The Romans were doing it at Vindolanda in Britain nearly 2,000 years

What is it about contract brewing in Ontario that has created such lasting animosity? There are a number of issues. >>

23

It’s not that contract brewing is evil so much as that the results are frequently not very good and the lack of quality creates a drag on sales.

While companies like Cool in Etobicoke were designed to handle brewing other people’s recipes to scale (Denison’s Weissbier, brewed at Cool, was the number one wheat beer in the world on ratebeer.com for years), the majority of small brewers who brew batches for others do so because they aren’t using their own capacity themselves.

That might mean that the brewery was making styles of beer drinkers weren’t interested in. It might mean that the sales and marketing for that brewery were suboptimal. In some cases, it meant that the beer wasn’t very good. During the writing of the second edition of the Ontario Craft Beer Guide, my co-author and I could tell which beer was contract-brewed at which host brewery by the predominant off flavours.

Into this situation walks an aspiring beer company owner. It could be an individual or a consortium of people, usually from a field that has provided them ample funding. They might have homebrewed a little, but probably they just know what they like. “How hard can it be?” they might think if it’s a vanity project. Sometimes they have recipes, sometimes they ask for help with design. Sometimes, the brewery making their beer isn’t really equipped to produce the beer they want. (Maybe, for instance, because they have a list of house yeast strains that doesn't include an optimal one.)

Does that stop them? Of course not. There’s capacity to fill and a living to be made.

Sometimes a brand will bounce around between breweries until it finds a set of equipment or a billing structure that works.

These contract brewery owners were typically not people with industry contacts, which means most of the volume has to go through the LCBO. That takes up shelf space and creates competition for breweries with physical locations. It’s no wonder

24

those companies view contract brewing with a certain amount of animosity. It’s not that contract brewing is evil so much as that the results are frequently not very good and the lack of quality creates a drag on sales for the entire sector.

However, what if you were able to strip away the qualities that make contract brewed products undesirable? That’s what Brunswick Bierworks in Toronto is attempting to do. Rather than spare brewing capacity housed in an aging facility, the equipment is state of the art and recently constructed with the single goal of producing a wide variety of beers in mind. Rather than attempting to keep the brands being contracted a secret, Brunswick is transparent if not outright vocal about its partnerships. If some of those partnerships are international, it’s worth pointing out that Brunswick’s brewmaster is also an import.

Lodewijk Swinkels is a seventh generation brewer who jumped ship from De Koningshoeven, a Trappist brewery in the Netherlands, and moved across the Atlantic just to be a part of the organization.

It signals an evolution in the market beyond the original contract model that has allowed Brunswick to grow to nearly 50,000 hectolitres in production over the course of just two years, making it one of the largest independent breweries in the province of Ontario. The brands involved have been incredibly successful. Lost Craft, Woodhouse, and Ace Hill have all improved in quality since moving to the facility and sales through the LCBO reflect that.

“They’re offering options for consumers who are still switching from mainstream import and domestic products,” said owner, Mike Laba. “We’re also offering options other than importing old world beers that have been losing some relevance.”

Brunswick produced Ora et Labora, a Swinkels designed doppelbock available through its retail store in short cans. There are also partnerships with Mikkeller and Omnipollo, the latter of which has resulted in a locally produced version of Zodiac IPA that currently has the fastest rate of sale for an IPA at the LCBO. This new model can be very attractive for overseas brewers. Shipping a container of kegs or cans from Europe can take months, by which point some nuance is lost in the product’s aroma. Brewing the

Currently, Brunswick is partnered with 21 separate breweries and producing 64 to 65 different brands. Demand is such that it is already considering expanding capacity to a facility that could hold over 100,000 hectolitres.

Brewer Pat Ayukawa filling a cognac barrel at Brunswick with a batch of Ora et Labora, a handshake brew they made with the team from La Trappe. Supplied photo

same beer in East York comes with advantages.

There’s the freshness of the product to be considered. There’s no need to go through one of a small number of importers because of direct delivery. It’s also a single contracted batch, so an international brewer could suddenly decide to test the market with a one-off recipe. Innis & Gunn have recently begun doing just that.

Brunswick also offers services that established craft brewers are taking advantage of. Beau’s All Natural, out of Vankleek Hill in the east end of the province, is shipping its flagship Lug Tread and Full Time IPA to Brunswick in tanker trucks for canning while it works on constructing its own packaging hall.

Currently, Brunswick is partnered with 21 separate breweries and producing 64 to 65 different brands.

Demand is such that they are already considering expanding capacity to a facility that could hold over 100,000 hectolitres.

At one time, breweries like Left Field, Spearhead and Kensington contracted early batches in order to develop name brand recognition before launching their own physical locations; it is a strategy that has worked for a number of breweries in the province. Neighbouring brewery Muddy York is partnered with Brunswick as an interim step.

“From the moment they came to the neighbourhood, they have been super friendly, helpful & supportive of us,” said Muddy York’s brewer Jeff Manol. “I was always very much against contract brewing because I want to be brewing the beer we sell the way I want to brew it.”

Faced with mass popularity of their Gaslight Helles, capacity became an issue. “We have access to a world-class facility without having to find $2-3 million to upgrade our current system to meet demand. It's allowed us to increase our sales dramatically beyond what we are capable of, which is going to help us with financing when we do decide to expand our current facility. It's also freed us up to experiment with new styles and to keep things interesting for us and our customers."

At a conservative estimate, there is well over 100,000 hectolitres worth of capacity for contract brewing in facilities across Ontario at the moment and that seems poised to expand. Given the increasingly diverse manner in which that capacity is being used, it is probably time to concede the fact that there may be some nuance to the problem.

At Brunswick, they have managed something fantastic: they have turned an established model on its head. j

25

RECIPE

Ryan King photo

26

curried chickpea lettuce wraps paired with Block Three Fickle Mistress

BY FAT SPARROW GROUP

Y

ou can tell a lot about a year from the stretch between mid-August and mid-November. At the start of this issue’s life, we could easily have the hottest day of the summer, and then, just as easily, the first with snow on the ground by the end.

So, a recipe to suit that season should be both hearty and light. Lots of vegetables, balanced with bright and spicy flavours. I think we found just the ticket here.

Nick Benninger, at the head of the Fat Sparrow group, is a culinary fixture in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. He and his wife Nat, run Nick & Nat’s Uptown 21, Taco Farm and Harmony Lunch.

After 24 hours of kettle souring, Fickle Mistress is dryhopped with Simcoe, Citra and Columbus. Supplied photo

lettuce wraps were developed there by chef Dean Baker, for a recent vegan Tuesday prix fixe menu.

(Mondays, with the beer and brats special, will also appeal to carnivores like Dean and me.)

They also have Marbles, in uptown Waterloo, which bills itself as casual fine dining. These

Fickle Mistress is just as much an all-season beer with its balance of sweet and sour. The tartand-dry finish is perfect for cleansing the palate between wraps. —David Ort

I N g r ed i ents

d i r ecti o ns

Curried chickpeas: • 1 Tbsp curry powder • 1 tsp maple syrup • 1 pinch salt • freshly ground black pepper • 1 can chickpeas, drained

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

Korean BBQ sauce: • 0.5 Tbsp ginger, grated • 0.5 Tbsp garlic, minced • 1 tsp dried chile flakes • 1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped • 1 Tbsp lime juice • 1 tsp sesame oil • 1 cup hoisin

Wraps: • Boston or bibb lettuce, washed • 1/2 carrot, cut into thin slivers • 1/4 English cucumber, thin slivers • 4 radishes, thinly sliced • Sesame seeds, toasted • Cilantro for garnish

2. Dry the drained chickpeas with paper towel and toss them in a bowl with curry powder, maple syrup, salt and pepper until evenly coated.

3. Spread chickpeas onto a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until coating has adhered.

4. For the sauce, blitz all ingredients except hoisin (you may need to add a bit of water) in a blender until they puree together. Mix in a bowl with hoisin.

5. Create each wrap by filling a leaf of lettuce with a spoonful of chickpeas, topped with the sliced vegetables, BBQ sauce and garnished with a few cilantro leaves and sesame seeds. j

27

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TORONTO

GREAT LAKES BREWERY

30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd., Etobicoke | GreatLakesBeer.com SUN-WED 11AM-6PM ^ THU-SAT 10AM-9PM EST. 1987 GLB is one of the oldest independently owned and operated craft breweries in Canada. Freshness and quality are the keys to the beers that are Ontario favourites—99.99% stays in the province.

CANUCK PALE ALE

POMPOUS ASS

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E A L E

ABV

5.2%

IBU

35

A local leader in the APA style, Canuck balances tropical citrus, pine and smooth carbonation.

OCTOPUS WANTS TO FIGHT IPA

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Year-round: B,L,LC ABV

6.2%

IBU

E N G L I S H - S T Y L E PA L E A L E

ABV

4.2

IBU

28

Pompous Ass features notes of green and black tea, raisin and soft citrus. Highly sessionable.

KARMA CITRA IPA A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Seasonal: B,L,LC

88

Plenty of hops lend tropical aromas and just the right bitterness to go with the malty body.

ABV

6.6%

IBU

65

Blast of tropical sunshine with grapefruit, lychee and pineapple and hops leaning into the end.

A bite with your beer The Wavy Wall Craft Kitchen opened earlier this summer. The 22-foot trailer is a fully functioning kitchen led by Chef Michael Tucker (Nota Bene, Langdon Hall) and serves items like jerk chicken, southern fried chicken, and Berkshire pork ribs. Open Thursday to Sunday with $5 pours of #FreshGLB on the patio.

30

TORONTO

INDIE ALE HOUSE BREWING CO.

2876 Dundas St. W. | IndieAleHouse.com SUN-THU 12-11PM ^ FRI-SAT 12PM-12AM EST. 2012 As the fall weather helps us regain our appetites, it’s off to the Junction brewery with the strongest food programme. This is also the time of year when special releases pack their bottle shop shelves.

INSTIGATOR IPA

LEMONADE STAND

Year-round: B,L

Seasonal: B,L

W E S T C OA S T- S T Y L E I PA

ABV

6.5%

IBU

88

An ode to craft beer trailblazers, this IPA is full of citrus and ends on a cleanly bitter note.

ABV

5.0%

IBU

30

Lemons and lactose give this sour a balance of snap and sweet that helps on warm afternoons.

PATERS BIER

BROKEN HIPSTER

One-off: B

Year-round: B,L

B E L G I A N - S T Y L E TA B L E B E E R

ABV

4.7%

IBU

30

Brewed in the style of a “daily drinker” for monks, it’s light with bready esters, straw and hay finish.

Bottle shop or tableside in the restaurant.

SUNKICKED

BA R R E L - A G E D I M P E R I A L W I T Seasonal: B,L ABV

8.0%

BELGIAN WIT

ABV

5.0%

IBU

20

The pairing of sweet orange and ginger notes keep this wit sharp. A popular all-year option.

RITUAL MADNESS FLANDERS-STYLE RED ALE Seasonal: B

IBU

20

Is it still summer here in Toronto? Is the beer actually 8%? So many questions to ponder while enjoying the barrel notes and warm, lasting finish.

32

D RY- H O P P E D S O U R W I T H L E M O N

ABV

8.0%

IBU

20

Blend of 2-year and 6-month batches has tart, rich red wine from aging on skins and subtle barrel notes, fruity and sweet with a tart finish.

TORONTO

EASTBOUND BREWING CO.

700 Queen St. E. | EastboundBeer.com TUE-SUN 11-12AM ^ MON 1-9PM EST. 2017

Chef Tara Lee’s kitchen draws in locals keen on a bite with brewer Dave Lee’s beer. Available to go in short cans and 950 ml crowlers.

HIDDEN LAKE HEFEWEIZEN

S M A S H - S T Y L E I PA Small-batch: B,L

Small-batch: B,L ABV

5.7%

IBU

N/A

Banana and clove shine through on this late-summer sipper in the classic German style.

34

REVEALED CONSTELLATIONS

ABV

4.4%

IBU

11

Golden Promise malt and Mosaic hops carry the side for this juicy, sessionable IPA.

TORONTO

JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING

150 Symes Rd. | JunctionCraft.com

WED 4-9PM ^ THU-SAT 11AM-11PM ^ SUN 11AM-7PM EST. 2011 Their diverse lineup of beer styles continues to draw crowds to the historic space in the Aleyards. Stay tuned for Oktoberfest details.

JUNCTION ROAD BLACK LAGER S C H WA R Z B I E R Seasonal: B,L,LC ABV

5.5%

IBU

38

A touch of bitterness from noble hops keeps the roasted malts in line. Recent gold-medal winner.

CONDUCTOR’S CRAFT ALE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E A L E Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV

5.3%

IBU

32

A hopback adds citrusy aromas that lay nicely on the bicsuity, caramel malt backbone.

35

TORONTO

TORONTO

AMSTERDAM BREWING CO.

AVLING BREWERY

45 Esandar Dr. , 87 Laird Dr. , 245 Queens Quay W. | AmsterdamBeer.com

1042 Queen St. E. | Avling.ca

One of Toronto’s oldest names in craft beer has three locations: Their brewery in Leaside, plus a nearby brewpub and a lake-side outpost down on Queen’s Quay.

In a former A&P, this 5,000-square-foot brewery will eventually also have a restaurant and rooftop garden. With a planned autumn opening, details are still tentative.

3 SPEED

BALTIC

BONESHAKER

LAGER

I N D I E PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

Availability: xx

4.2% 14

ABV IBU

IPA

BA LT I C P O RT E R

7.1% 80

TORONTO

I PA

Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.4% 45

Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.0% 65

TORONTO

BATCH

BANDIT BREWERY

2125 Dundas St. W. | BanditBrewery.ca

75 Victoria St. | BatchToronto.com

One of the west end’s better breweries continues to hone their craft with a sharper focus on hops and sours. Their bottle shop is open every day from 11-11.

Creemore’s Toronto brewpub makes special on-site brews. It’s in a historic space that many former breweries have passed through, including one called Growlers.

WIZARD OF GOSE (APRICOT)

PALE ALE

JUICEBOX

G O S E W I T H A P R I C OT Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

36

4.2% 10

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE PA L E A L E Year-round: B,L ABV

5.5%

IBU 25

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.6% 35

ENGLISH IPA

E N G L I S H - S T Y L E I PA Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.2% 58

TORONTO

TORONTO

BIG ROCK BREWERY (LIBERTY COMMONS)

BELLWOODS BREWERY

124 Ossington Ave., 20 Hafis Rd. BellwoodsBrewery.com

42 Liberty St., 1589 The Queensway LibertyCommons.ca

Get in your last shot at the Ossington patio before the weather turns. After that, the two bottle shops are stocked with their world-class beers and release season really gets underway.

The nanobrwery at Liberty Commons is where they really stretch their innovation wings.

There, they also have an elevated pub menu by O&B. Bottle shop in Etobicoke, as well.

JUTSU

GOBLIN SAUCE

GRASSHOPPER

Year-round: B,L

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

I N D I A PA L E A L E

D O U B L E I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.6% N/A

ABV IBU

8.5% N/A

TORONTO

K R I S TA L LW E I S E N

ABV IBU

CITRADELIC

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA (SINGLE HOP) Year-round: B,LC,TBS

5.0% 16

ABV IBU

6.0% 67

TORONTO

BLACK CREEK HISTORIC BREWERY

BLACK LAB BREWING

1000 Murray Ross Pkwy. | BlackCreek.ca

818 Eastern Ave. | BlackLab.beer

Jump back two centuries with this recreation at Black Creek Pioneer Village and drink ales as they were made in the days when Ontario was a frontier for a fledgling country.

Projected to join the bustling East End beer scene this August, RunTOBeer’s Dan Grant and Billy Madden choose man’s best friend as the mascot for their neighbourhood brewery.

RIFLEMAN’S RATION

CORNERSTONE BLACK LAGER

RHUBARB KENNEL SOUR

Year-round: B

Occasional: B

B R OW N A L E

Year-round: B,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5% 20

CANADIAN FRONTIER BEST BITTER

BLACK LAGER

Year-round: B,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5% 25

ABV IBU

5.0% 25

KETTLE SOUR

ABV IBU

4.0% 10 37

TORONTO

TORONTO

BLACK OAK BREWING CO.

BLOOD BROTHERS BREWING

75 Horner Ave. | BlackOakBeer.com

165 Geary Ave. | BloodBrothersBrewing.com

Their N.S.E.W. cask series continues with features from OCB neighbours. Reserve your spot on the Ken Woods-guided tours (he founded the brewery in ’99) every Saturday.

Their top-notch beers are more frequently appearing on beer lists across the city, but hit the taproom on the thriving Geary strip for a tour of offbeat food-and-drink establishments.

OAKTOBERFEST NUT BROWN MARZEN ALE

WHITE LIES

Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 22

ENGLISH-AMERICAN B R OW N A L E Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

SOUR ALE

SHUMEI I PA

Year-round: B,L

5.0% 24

ABV IBU

TORONTO

Year-round: B,L

6.0% 10

ABV IBU

7.0% 50

TORONTO

BRUNSWICK BIERWORKS

BURDOCK BREWERY

25 Curity Ave. | BrunswickBierworks.com

1184 Bloor St. W. | BurdockTO.com

A world-class brewing team help a range of brands, both Canadian and international, brew their product. Friendly space for sampling the range. Limited hours.

The masters of walking the line between beer and wine. Their on-site music hall features an eclectic mix of acts throughout the week.

KANZAN X SAKURA (FEAT. INNIS & GUNN)

S O U R C H E R RY W I T B I E R Small-batch: B ABV IBU

38

5.5% 11

OMNIPOLLO ZODIAK I N D I A PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

6.2% 64

TUESDAY

BUMO

SAISON

BEER/WINE HYBRID

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.4% N/A

Small-batch: B,L ABV IBU

8.1% N/A

TORONTO

TORONTO

COMMON GOOD BEER CO.

DUGGAN’S BREWERY

475 Ellesmere Rd. | CommonGoodBeer.com

1346 Queen St. W., Lower Level DuggansBrewery.com

Scarborough’s only brewery switches hats between making their own beer and acting as a contract-brewing hub for many recognizable brands. Both are available on site.

Mike Duggan is one of the big names of Ontario craft beer. They now make beer for their upstairs neighbours, Vegandale Brewery, and live on as live-music bar in the basement.

SOCIABLE PILSNER

#9

#10 IPA

BOHEMIAN PILSNER

W E S T C OA S T- S T Y L E I N D I A PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

Small-batch: B

4.7% 27

ABV IBU

6.2% 56

TORONTO

#5

I N D I A PA L E A L E

LIGHT LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L,LC

6.2% 55

ABV IBU

4% 15

TORONTO

GODSPEED BREWERY

FOLLY BREWING

928 College St. | FollyBrewing.com

242 Coxwell Ave. | GodspeedBrewery.com

Their bottle shop hours have changed to 2 p.m.-11 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays. Their rotating guest tap changes frequently.

The beer programme led by Luc Lafontaine focusses on subtle and refined. Now open every day, the on-site Japanese restaurant serves classics from Japan’s comfort food canon.

FLEMISH CAP

OTSUKARESAMA

O L D - WO R L D S A I S O N Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.5% 15

VELVET DREAMS

FRUIT SOUR WITH BLACK RASPBERRIES One-off: B ABV IBU

6.0% 15

D O RT M U N D E R

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.8% 29

OCHAME

G R E E N T E A I PA Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.5% 45 39

TORONTO

TORONTO

GOOSE ISLAND BREWHOUSE TORONTO

70 The Esplanade | GooseIsland.com

GRANITE BREWERY

245 Eglinton Ave. E. | GraniteBrewery.ca

A Toronto outpost for a Chicago icon serves a deep list of made-on-site beers. Their first anniversary party included a charity jortsmaking station and Lager Day is Sept. 22.

The Keefe family has been the driving force here since Ron founded it in 1991. Mary Beth now runs the Ringwood-fuelled open fermenters that make ales especially good on cask.

BETWEEN THE PIPES

OFF-SEASON LAGER

PECULIAR

Occasional: B,L

Seasonal: B,L

PISLNER

ABV IBU

MARZEN

4.8% 42

ABV IBU

GALACTIC

ENGLISH-STYLE STRONG ALE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE

Year-round: B

6.2% 26

ABV IBU

TORONTO

6.0% 26

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.2% 47

TORONTO

HALO BREWERY

HENDERSON BREWING CO.

247 Wallace Ave. | HaloBrewery.com

128A Sterling Rd. | HendersonBrewing.com

Even after an ownership change, it has been steady as she goes at this Wallace Emerson brewery. Top-notch food popups rotate through on weekends.

On top of the two regular beers, every month brings a new one-off for their “Ides of...” series.

Check out the Sterling Road Block Party on September 23.

SHAPESHIFTER

HENDERSON’S BEST

S O U R I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

40

6.5% 10

NEW WAVE

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE I PA Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.7% 40

AMBER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.5% 48

FOOD TRUCK BLONDE ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.8% 20

TORONTO

TORONTO

KENSINGTON BREWING CO.

LEFT FIELD BREWERY

299 Augusta Ave. KensingtonBrewingCompany.com

36 Wagstaff Dr. | LeftFieldBrewery.ca

Right in the heart of colourful Kensington Market, this multi-level operation tucked into a small space is peak big city brewery, but with a casual and friendly atmosphere.

Sadly, there will be no Jays’ playoff games this year for the pup and kid-friendly taproom, but the roster of food pop-ups continues to be one of the best on the east side.

WAGON JOBBER

GREENWOOD

BREAKING POINT

W H E AT I PA

Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE D O U B L E I PA Small-batch: B,L

5.4% 21

ABV IBU

8.5% 80

TORONTO

V E R M O N T- S T Y L E I PA

BANG-BANG

D RY- H O P P E D S O U R

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L

6.3% 60

ABV IBU

5.3% 10

TORONTO

LOUIS CIFER BREW WORKS

LOT 30 BREWERS

303 Lansdowne Ave. | Lot30Brewers.com

417 Danforth Ave. LouisCiferBrewWorks.com

Newly opened this spring, the Brockton Village brewery continues to impress. They’re joining Toronto Beer Week this year with an Oktoberfest event in mid-September.

Brewpub meets bar at this Danforth favourite.

The lively room attracts groups of locals with a mix of house-made brews and favourites from other local craft breweries.

PINK LADY

COCONUT LEMONGRASS THAI-PA

KAISER DOME

FRUIT SOUR

KÖ L S C H

One-off: B ABV IBU

42

5.5% N/A

Small-batch: B ABV IBU

5.4% N/A

I PA W I T H F R U I T Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

6.5% 60

IRISH DRY STOUT S TO U T

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.1% 33

TORONTO

TORONTO

MILL ST. BREW PUB

MUDDY YORK BREWING CO.

21 Tank House Ln. | MillStreetBrewery.com

22 Cranfield Rd. | MuddyYorkBrewing.com

A longstanding fixture in the historic Distillery District, the Brew Pub also has a sister beer hall. When it opened, it featured the only bierschnaps distillery in Canada.

Jeff Manol and his team make approachable, true-to-style beers. Any time the popup food vendor is serving BBQ, this is a must-visit spot. Full events on their Facebook page.

ORIGINAL ORGANIC LAGER

STORM GLASS IPA

100TH MERIDIAN ORGANIC AMBER LAGER

LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

AMBER LAGER Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

4.2% 11

ABV IBU

5.0% 27

TORONTO

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

7.0% 40

CERVISIA SAISON W/ GUAVA

FA R M H O U S E A L E Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

5.8% 25

TORONTO

NORTHERN MAVERICK BREWING CO.

PEOPLE’S PINT BREWING COLLECTIVE

115 Bathurst St. | NorthernMaverick.ca

90 Cawthra Ave. | PeoplesPint.com

Experienced hands leading the brewing team (Andrew Crowder) and the kitchen (Mark Cutrara) help fill the sunny taproom on the regular, especially when there’s a game on.

The tap permanently devoted to the GTA Brews homebrew club helps keep the beer on the cutting edge. September brings a homebrew tap takeover and cask social to the taproom.

HAND CRAFTED LAGER

THE LITTLE SIPPER

STOUT

OAT M E A L S TO U T

VIENNA LAGER Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 12

S E S S I O N I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.8% 15

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.2% 30

EL CHUPACABRA P O RT E R W I T H A N C H O AND CINNAMON Seasonal: B ABV IBU

5.5% 35 43

TORONTO

TORONTO

RADICAL ROAD BREWING CO.

RAINHARD BREWING CO.

1177 Queen St. E. | RadicalRoadBrew.com

Late-summer and fall sees an appropriate shift in what’s pouring from their six in-house taps. Seasonally tuned and independent; this brewery needs to be visited to take its measure.

GO FOR BROKE KELLERBIER

DOPPELBOCK

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

DJANGO DOPPELBOCK

6.0% 20

100 Symes Rd. | RainhardBrewing.com

Look for weekend food pop-ups and special events to continue complementing the most hop-foward beer programme in the Aleyards.

RAGE AND LOVE SOUR ALE

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

ARMED ‘N CITRA

Year-round: B,L

8.0% 20

TORONTO

D RY- H O P P E D PA L E A L E

ABV IBU

Seasonal: B,L,LC

5.4% N/A

ABV IBU

5.2% 40

TORONTO

RORSCHACH BREWING CO.

SAULTER STREET BREWERY

1001 Eastern Ave. | RorschachBrewing.com

1-31 Saulter St. | SaulterStreetBrewery.com

On top of already having an excellent rooftop patio, they now have a license for their dogfriendly front patio out on Eastern Ave.

The poster child for an endearingly small-scale take on brewing. The weekend of Sept. 14-16 they’ll mark their first anniversary with a celebration including live music and food.

PRECONSCIOUS D RY- H O P P E D S A I S O N W I T H A P R I C OT S Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

44

5.6% 25

HEDONISM

S O U R I PA W I T H B L A C K B E R RY Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

6.5% 35

RIVERSIDE PILSNER

MAGIC HOUR GOLDEN

PILSNER

PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.7% 25

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.0% 55

TORONTO

TORONTO

SHACKLANDS BREWING CO.

THE SIX BREWING CO.

101-100 Symes Rd. | Shacklands.com

777 Dundas St. W. | TheSixBrewingCo.com

Go for the full-flavoured saisons, and other Belgian-style ales; stay for the kitschy decor and friendly conversation. Eclectic event schedule includes in a t-shirt and print sale in August.

Whether by taxi, bike, transit or on foot, this is one of the easiest breweries to get to and feels right at home in the creative and youthful Trin-Bellwoods neighbourhood.

SHACKLANDS SOUR

HOPSTER

SOUR ALE

SAISON DAVENPORT SAISON

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L

4.5% 0

ABV IBU

6.4% 22

TORONTO

LINE 1

S E S S I O N I PA

LAGER

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.3% 40

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.8% 22

TORONTO

VON BUGLE BREWING

STEAM WHISTLE

255 Bremner Blvd. | SteamWhistle.ca

249 Evans Ave. | vonbugle.ca

Tour the brewery in its landmark railroad roundhouse for an opportunity to sample the unfiltered (and therefore more complex) version of their Czech-style pilsner.

To Steam Whistle as Frasier was to Cheers, Von Bugle continues the make-one-beer-well mantra, this time with a dark lager.

PILSNER (UNFILTERED)

CZECH-STYLE PILSNER

VON BUGLE MUNICH LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

Year-round: B,L

CZECH-STYLE PILSNER Year-round: B ABV IBU

5% 22

PILSNER

ABV IBU

5% 22

MUNICH DUNKEL

ABV IBU

5.0% 33

Tweet at us! @THEGROWLERON

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46

5 Paddles Arch Brock St. Chronicle County Durham Lake Wilcox Little Beasts Magnotta Manantler Market Old Flame Rouge River The Second Wedge 14 Town

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13

BREWERIES

48 50

50 47 50 47 48 49 50 49 47 48 48 47

02 10

E

400

06

08

VAUGHAN

NEWMARKET

W

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404

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401

MARKHAM

48

407

47

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01 03

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07

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PORT PERRY

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BOWMANVILLE

BOWMANVILLE

CHRONICLE BREWING CO.

MANANTLER CRAFT BREWING CO.

422 Lake Rd., unit 3 | ChronicleBeer.com

182 Wellington St., unit 18 | Manantler.com

The team behind Bowmanville’s latest have started their brewery with a nano system and a love board games. Beer lineup is diverse and rotates frequently.

They are growing into a local hangout with a cool aesthetic. Thursday is open mic night and weekends feature live music. The art on the walls is by local artists and is for sale.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

CREAMED BY BICKELL

GOLDEN AXE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Availability: B ABV IBU

6.0% N/A

BLONDE ALE

CREAM ALE

Availability: B ABV IBU

4.0% N/A

MARKHAM

DARK PRINCE B L A C K I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L

4.4% 16

ABV IBU

6.0% 90

NEWMARKET

ROUGE RIVER BREWING CO.

ARCH BREWING CO.

8-50 Bullock Dr. | RougeRiverBrewery.com

4-11 Pony Dr. | ArchBrewing.ca

The bottle shop has both cans and bottles in a range of styles and flavours, that have now moved into the range fall-appropriate flavours.

Newmarket’s two-year-old brewery has a Canadiana-cool vibe from the Dinner Jacket IPA in its recognizable “lumberjack formal” plaid-adorned can to a Chesterfield kölsch.

AUTUMN IPA

SHORTY LONG BACK

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

7.0% 45

BLACKCURRANT SOUR FRUIT SOUR

Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 2

S E S S I O N I PA

Year-round: B ABV IBU

3.8% 40

CHESTERFIELD KÖ L S C H

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.3% 20 47

NEWMARKET

PICKERING

MARKET BREWING CO.

4-17775 Leslie St. | MarketBrewingCo.com

COUNTY DURHAM BREWING CO.

1885 Clements Rd.

Live music on Fridays and Saturdays is the entertainment highlight for this north-ofToronto brewery.

If you spot their ales on cask at your local, that’s what you should order. Straightforward and complex. No on-site bottle shop or taproom.

USELESS CRAYON WHITE IPA

SIGNATURE ALE

BEAR HUG IPA I N D I A PA L E A L E

B R I T I S H - S T Y L E I PA

W H I T E I PA

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

6% 50

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

7.5% 55

PORT PERRY

BLACK KATT STOUT I R I S H S TO U T

Year-round: L,LC ABV IBU

Year-round: L

5.0% 28

ABV IBU

4.4% 26

UXBRIDGE

OLD FLAME BREWING CO.

135 Perry St. | OldFlameBrewingCo.ca

SECOND WEDGE BREWING CO.

14 Victoria St. | TheSecondWedge.ca

A bit under-the-radar in Port Perry, Old Flame took home medals in two of the North American lager categories at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards.

This community-supported brewery has become a welcoming hub in Uxbridge. Popular stop for cyclists. Sundays bring a farmers’ market in the morning and live music in the afternoon.

RED VIENNA LAGER

BACK FORTY

WITCH’S HAT

Seasonal: B,L

Seasonal: B,L

VIENNA LAGER

Year-round: B,LC ABV IBU

48

5.0% 20

BRUNETTE MUNICH DUNKEL

W E T- H O P P E D PA L E A L E

MUNICH DUNKEL Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.8% 20

ABV IBU

5.0% 35

B L A C K I PA

ABV IBU

6.5% 65

VAUGHAN

VAUGHAN

LAKE WILCOX BREWING CO.

MAGNOTTA BREWERY

3-1033 Edgeley Blvd.

LakeWilcoxBrewing.com

271 Chrislea Rd. | MagnottaBrewery.com

Even after the cottage is closed for the season, this is a fine place to stop in for a beer. They also have lunch service in the taproom and freshly shucked oysters occasionally.

The Vaughan stalwart has a longstanding connection to wine country (beyond also making wine) that includes their own strain of hops grown in Vineland.

MAD QUACKER

DOUBLE DROOLING DOG IPA

AMBER VIENNA LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.0% 24

BLACK HOPS

BELGIAN-STYLE BLACK I PA Year-round: B,TBS ABV IBU

5.5% 49

B L A C K I PA

Seasonal: B,L,TBS ABV IBU

6.4% 64

TRUE NORTH INUKSHUK IPA

ENGLISH-STYLE INDIA PA L E A L E Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

6.5% 38

ladiesdrinkbeer.com @ladiesdrinkbeer 49

WHITBY

WHITBY

5 PADDLES BREWING CO.

#3-1390 Hopkins St. | 5PaddlesBrewing.ca

BROCK STREET BREWING CO.

1501 Hopkins St. | BrockStBrewing.com

One of Durham’s most successful craft breweries, 5 Paddles runs two side-by-side brew systems. That setup gives them the flexibility to brew a style for every palate.

After three years in Whitby they’re opening a new brewery at 244 Brock St. S this fall.

Approachable ales and lagers fuel the strong event schedule at this community clubhouse.

HOME SWEET HOME

BOHEMIAN PILSNER

SPICED BEER

SKULL PUCKER S O U R I N D I A PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

Seasonal: B,L

5.5% 29

ABV IBU

5.0% 65

WHITBY

BLONDE ALE

BOHEMIAN-STYLE PILSNER Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

LAGERED ALE

Year-round: B,LC,TBS

5.2% 35

ABV IBU

4.2% 25

WHITBY

LITTLE BEASTS BREWING CO.

TOWN BREWERY

2075 Forbes St. | LittleBeastsBrewing.com

1632 Charles St. | townbrewery.ca

A kid-friendly space for sampling well-made takes on pale ales and saisons, among other styles. Named, naturally, after the yeast that is critical to beer making.

Belgian farmhouse and hoppy pale ales are the two stylistic anchors here. Trivia night brings locals out on Tuesdays to the comfortable space and live music is the draw on Thursdays.

WAHEELA

FOUR CORNERS

PA L E A L E W I T H L A C TO S E Year-round: B ABV IBU

50

6.0% 60

THE CHANGELING FRUIT SOUR

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.0% 0

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.2% N/A

SQUARE WHEELS

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE W H E AT A L E Seasonal: B ABV IBU

6.8% N/A

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403

BREWERIES

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51

BURLINGTON CITY

NICKEL BROOK BREWING CO.

864 Drury Ln. | NickelBrook.com MON-TUES 11AM-6PM ^ WED-FRI 11AM-9PM ^ SAT 10-6PM ^ SUN 12PM-4PM EST. 2005 Their brand new taproom is set to open any day offering an improved opportunity to sample their range of award-winning beers.

LOST IN ORBIT S E S S I O N I PA

GOSE Availability: B.L,TBS

Seasonal: B,L,LC ABV

4.5%

IBU

16

Tangerine and guava add a blast of flavour to this sessionable number made with Vermont yeast.

52

CUCUMBER-LIME GOSE

ABV

4.0%

IBU

3

Just the right amount cucumber smoothes the tartness on this late-summer gose.

DUNDAS

HAMILTON

SHAWN & ED BREWING CO.

CLIFFORD BREWING CO.

65 Hatt St. | LagerShed.com

1-398 Nash Rd. N. | CliffordBrewing.com

Lagershed beers are sessionable lagers in three varieties. The Barrelshed range represents the brewery’s connection to wine and are all aged in pinot noir barrels from Flat Rock Cellars.

After plenty of experience brewing on small systems in tiny spaces, it’s good to see Brad Clifford stretch his wings in his own space— East Hamilton’s first craft brewery.

LAGERSHED ORIGINAL

PINBALL WIZARD

LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

BARRELSHED NO.1

W I N E BA R R E L - A G E D ESB Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

5.2% 18

ABV IBU

6.5% 49

HAMILTON

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.7% 55

CLIFFORD PORTER

R O B U S T P O RT E R Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.9% 38

HAMILTON

COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING FAIRWEATHER BREWING CO.

207 Burlington St. E. | CollectiveArtsBrewing.com

1-5 Ofield Rd. | FairweatherBrewing.com

Regular calls for submissions have built a series of the most recognizable can artwork in all of craft beer. Sundays from 5-7 p.m. the taproom is filled with live acoustic music.

Part of the brewery boom in West Hamilton, Fairweather opened in May 2017. They plan on adding a 20-seat patio for next year.

GOSE WITH GUAVA

MADRUGADOR

GOSE

Seasonal: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.5% N/A

IPA 6

F R U I T I PA

S E S S I O N C O F F E E S TO U T One-off: B,L,LC ABV IBU

6.7% N/A

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

4.5% 10

IPSO FACTO B E L G I A N I PA

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

7.5% 35 53

HAMILTON

HAMILTON

GRAIN & GRIT BEER CO.

MERIT BREWING

107 James St. N. | MeritBrewing.ca

11 Ewen Rd. | GrainAndGritBeer.com

A bright and sunny space with thoughtfully made beers from a variety of styles. They have Oktoberfest planned for Sept. 29 and their first anniversary celebration on Oct. 13.

What do you get when a chef, biz school grad and brewmaster walk into Hamilton? Vallins, Sandhu and Spinney have created a wide open space with well-made beer and sausages.

IN THE PALMS

REAL REAL (FEAT. JEN NAD) A M E R I C A N

I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.0% 90

CHASING SUMMER

OAT A L E W I T H RASPBERRIES Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

5.5% 23

MILTON

CHANAN

D RY- H O P P E D S A I S O N

SOUR SAISON Seasonal: B ABV IBU

Year-round: B

6.5% 16

ABV IBU

5.3% 28

OAKVILLE

ORANGE SNAIL BREWERS

ALL OR NOTHING BREWHOUSE

1-32 Steeles Ave. E. | OrangeSnailBrewers.ca

1156 Speers Rd. | AllOrNothing.beer

Family-owned and operated in Milton, this neighbourhood brewery has eight beers on tap.

They make a wide range of English-leaning beer under the tagline “blissfully ignorant ales”.

Changes have been afoot at Trafalgar since it was bought by All or Nothing in 2016. That meant a capital investment and a maintained focus on meads, spirits and beer.

RATTLE ‘N’ NEMO

TRAFALGAR PEACH MEAD

IRON PIG BLONDE ALE

AMBER ALE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

54

5% 25

M E A D B R A G G OT

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5% 18

Year-round: B,LC,TBS ABV IBU

7% 10

ALL OR NOTHING HOPFENWEISSE T R O P I C A L W H E AT Year-round: B,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.1% 30

OAKVILLE

PORT CREDIT

CAMERON’S BREWING

OLD CREDIT BREWING CO.

1165 Invicta Dr. | CameronsBrewing.com

6 Queen St. W. | OldCreditBrewing.com

Still a hidden gem after 20 years and an impressively-full trophy case. The newly renovated tasting room offers exclusive beer selections and picnic tables outside.

Founded by the Listas in 1994, Old Credit is now one of the oldest in Ontario. They make a focused lineup of straightforward styles.

AMBEAR

PALE PILSNER

COSMIC

RED ALE

CREAM ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.0% 30

PILSNER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.0% 26

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5% 15

AMBER ALE AMBER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5% 22

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BREWERIES

Bell City Bench Breakwall Brimstone Charlotteville Concession Road The Exchange Lock Street Mash Paddle New Limburg Niagara Niagara College Niagara Oast House Ramblin Road Silversmith Steel Wheel

59 58 60 57

58 58 59 57 60 58 59

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PORT COLBORNE

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LAKE ERIE

QU EE

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HAMILTON

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Tri-Cities & Central West Ontario maps pages 62 & 67.

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BEAMSVILLE

BRANTFORD

BENCH BREWING CO.

BELL CITY BREWING CO.

3991 King St. | BenchBrewing.com

51 Woodyatt Dr., unit 9 BellCityBrewing.com

The brand-new space in Beamsville has become popular with locals, especially for Tiger-Cats games. They’re another entry on the growing list of breweries doing crowlers.

The brewery gets its name from Brantford’s nickname, a reference to its second-most famous past resident, Alexander Graham Bell. Beers here really lean into their stated flavour.

CITRA GROVE

EUREKA CREAM ALE

D RY H O P P E D S O U R

TWENTY MILE FA R M H O U S E A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

AMBER CREAM ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC

6.0% 14

ABV IBU

5.3% 27

BRANTFORD

MASH PADDLE BREWING CO.

C I T R A N AT T I B E N G A L SESSION ALE

PA L E A L E

ABV IBU

5.6% 24

IBU

5.8% 38

ABV IBU

6.0% 60

STEEL WHEEL BREWERY

105 Powerline Rd. | SteelWheel.ca

Entirely family-owned and operated by self-declared beer geeks. A rotating selection of releases fills the lively taproom with locals.

Year-round: B,L

ABV

W E S T C OA S T- S T Y L E I PA Year-round: B,L,LC

BRANTFORD

111 Sherwood Dr., unit 3A MashPaddleBrewing.com

UNNAMED PALE ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

PEEPSHOW WEST COAST IPA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.5% 30

Located on an existing hop farm in Brant County that belongs to Harold Kuret and Cindy Blair. Taproom is in a fully-renovated 1890s farmhouse with a patio.

EAST COAST IPA

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE I PA Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.3% N/A

PALE ALE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.2% N/A 57

JARVIS

LA SALETTE

CONCESSION ROAD BREWING CO.

RAMBLIN ROAD BREWERY FARM

17 Talbot St. E., unit 4 ConcessionRoadBrew.com

2970 Swimming Pool Rd. | RamblinRoad.ca

Jeff and Shannon Bunton opened Haldimand County’s first craft brewery in an old firehall.

Thursday is trivia night and they have an allsummer-long music series running.

John Picard runs his brewery farm in Norfolk County. The crop selection on this going concern includes a hop garden and they make Picard’s fresh kettle chips on site.

FIREHOUSE BLONDE ALE

COUNTRY CREAM ALE

AMERICAN-STYLE BLONDE ALE Year-round: B ABV IBU

SAISON DU MONDE FA R M H O U S E A L E

CREAM ALE

Seasonal: B

5.0% 17

ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L,LC

6.4% 23

ABV IBU

NIAGARA

5.0% 18

COUNTRY LAGER

EUROPEAN-STYLE LAGER Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.0% 22

NOTL

NIAGARA BREWING CO.

THE EXCHANGE BREWERY

4915-A Clifton Hill NiagaraBrewingCompany.com

7 Queen St. | ExchangeBrewery.com

An oasis in a desert of tourist traps and souvenir shops, this is the place to stop in for an approachable beer on a hot, summer day.

Refined and elevated are the names of the game at the NOTL brewery. On Sept. 8, their Sourpalooza will bring an all-star lineup of breweries to town for a funky-beer festival.

NIAGARA PREMIUM LAGER

PEPPERCORN RYE SAISON

HONEYMOON PEACH RADLER RADLER

LAGER

Year-round: B,TBS ABV IBU

58

4.5% 20

Year-round: B ABV IBU

3.5% N/A

SAISON

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

6.9% 30

FLANDERS RED FLANDERS RED ALE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

7.0% 27

NOTL

NOTL

NIAGARA OAST HOUSE BREWERS

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING BREWERY

135 Taylor Rd. | NCTeachingBrewery.ca

2017 Niagara Stone Rd. OastHouseBrewers.com

Your chance to try the product from Ontario’s future beer-making talent while they’re still waiting to break into the big leagues. Project Brew is their 3-times-a-year festival.

The first weekend in October brings the annual Harvest Hootenany back to the red barn on Niagara Stone Rd. Autumn is also when their farmhouse style really show their true colours.

IPA 101

NIAGARA VERJUS SOUR

STRONG ALE 101

I N D I A PA L E A L E

ALE

Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.0% 55

FA R M H O U S E A L E Year-round: B ABV IBU

SPICED ALE

Seasonal: B

7.5% 24

PORT COLBORNE

COUNTRY BUMPKIN

ABV IBU

Seasonal: B

6.4% 7

ABV IBU

5.4% 18

PORT DALHOUSIE

BREAKWALL BREWING CO.

LOCK STREET BREWING CO.

46 Clarence St. | BreakwallBrewery.com

104-15 Lock St. | LockStreet.ca

They have returned local brewing to Port Colborne after a 100-year absence. A full menu of pub fare is served at the on-site restaurant.

The entire 19th-century historical buildling that they call home is dog-friendly. See the event page on the website for a schedule of upcoming gigs in the biergarten.

SAILOR SAISON FA R M H O U S E A L E

I N D I A PA L E A L E

Year-round: B ABV IBU

NINE O’CLOCK WHISTLE

6.0% 15

I PA

Year-round: B ABV IBU

INDUSTRIAL PALE ALE

6.0% 25

Year-round: B,LC ABV IBU

5.8% 61

OKTOBERFEST MÄRZEN

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

5.0% 20 59

RIDGEWAY

SIMCOE

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO.

CHARLOTTEVILLE BREWING CO.

209 Ridge Road N. | BrimstoneBrewing.ca

1207 Charlotteville West Quarter Line Rd. CharlottevilleBrewingCompany.ca

Brimstone takes its religious decor from its home in a modern church, called The Sanctuary Centre for the Arts in Ridgeway, Ont. MidAugust brings a beer, bacon and bands fest.

An estate craft brewery located on a family farm, housed in two old barns. One was built in the 1860s and the other in 1913. The barns were disassembled and moved here.

MAN OVERBOARD THIS COULD BE (FT. TIDE & VINE) BEAUTIFUL (IT G O S E W I T H C I T R U S A N D IS)

LOCAL 519

S E AW E E D

One-off: B ABV IBU

WITBIER WITH SPICES One-off: B

4.2% 25

ABV IBU

3.8% 15

SIMCOE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

WEDGIE DELIGHT

AMERICAN-STYLE B R OW N A L E Year-round: B

4.9% 28

ABV IBU

5.0% 22

VIRGIL

NEW LIMBURG BREWERY

SILVERSMITH BREWING CO.

2353 Nixon Rd. | NewLimburg.com

1523 Niagara Stone Rd. SilversmithBrewing.com

A popular spot with a patio out front and a volleyball court. Live music on summer weekends, with comedy every second week and trivia and karaoke during the colder weather.

The Virgil location puts them in the heart of fresh-produce country. Many brewery-only beer options. They have a major expansion underway at their historic space.

BELGIAN BLONDE

BLACK LAGER

ST. ARNOLDUS

B E L G I A N - S T Y L E FA R M HOUSE ALE Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

60

7.0% N/A

DUBBEL

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

7.0% N/A

S C H WA RT Z B I E R

SMOKED LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

SMOKEY & THE BANDIT

5.0% 10

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

5.5% 20

CUSTOM BANNERS 4’ x 8’ 10’ x 3’

Brand

$225 $225

Build WITH

CUSTOM PROMO PRODUCTS TENT

14ft high

frame & canopy + bag $275

Double sided walls

FEATHER FLAGS

Double sided fabric with any amount of colours. Inc: bag, poles, indoor stand + outdoor stand

Custom TABLE COVERS

Six Feet Eight Feet

$225 $275

start NOW

$999 $225

Tr i - C i t i e s

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Waterloo Barncat Bitte Schรถn Block Three Descendants Grand River Innocente Jackass North Works Rhythm & Brews Short Finger TWB Upper Thames Waterloo

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CAMBRIDGE 24 5 401

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WOODSTOCK

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Presented by

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CAMBRIDGE

BARNCAT ARTISAN ALES

GRAND RIVER BREWING

1600 Industrial Rd., unit B5 BarncatAles.com

295 Ainslie St. | GrandRiverBrewing.com

A small brewery in Cambridge with a deft hand making hop-forward IPAs and an advanced barrel programme including foeders and local chardonnay barrels.

One of Ontario’s most established craft breweries with a focus on English-leaning and low-alcohol styles. Recently purchased by another Ontario craft brewery.

THE JUICE

PLOWMAN’S ALE

AMERICAN-STYLE PA L E A L E

BASTET

SOUR GOLDEN ALE

Occasional: B,L ABV IBU

Seasonal: B

5.4% N/A

ABV IBU

5.5% N/A

CAMBRIDGE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

TAILGATE

GERMAN-STYLE PILSNER Year-round: B,L,LC

4.7% 60

ABV IBU

4.5% 15

CAMBRIDGE

JACKASS BREWING

NORTH WORKS BREWING CO.

100 Sheldon Dr., unit 36 | JackassBrewing.ca

46 Stafford Ct. unit b | NorthWorksBrewing.com

This Cambridge brewery is owned by two brothers making the wide range of beer styles they love to drink. Selection rotates frequently.

Find their IPA-dominated list (plus a handful of other complementary styles) at a few Cambridge bars and in their taproom.

SUNKISS JUICY IPA

MOSAIC SMASH

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE I PA Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.5% 45

RED BEARD IRISH RED ALE

Small-batch: B ABV IBU

6.5% 20

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.2% N/A

THE EXCHANGER B L A C K I PA

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

7.2% N/A 63

CAMBRIDGE

KITCHENER

RHYTHM & BREWS BREWING CO.

ABE ERB

The Tannery, 151 Charles St. W., Kitchener 15 King St. S., Waterloo | AbeErb.com

1000 Bishop St. N., unit 10 RhythmAndBrews.ca

The 18,000-litre system keeps patrons wellwatered at this brewery that plans to double as a blues bar with live bands on stage.

Named after two Mennonite brothers, Abraham and John Erb, who in the early 19th century decided to leave Pennsylvania in search of new opportunity in Upper Canada. Two locations.

SPOTLIGHT

1857 KÖLSCH LAGERED ALE

LIGHT LAGER

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.0% 10

SELF-TITLED

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.5% 55

KITCHENER

KÖ L S C H

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.8% 25

DAS SPRITZHAUS HEFEWEIZEN

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.7% 10

KITCHENER

DESCENDANTS BEER & BEVERAGE CO.

SHORT FINGER BREWING CO.

319 Victoria St. N. | DescendantsBeer.com

20 Hurst Ave. | ShortFingerBrewing.com

One of the standbys of the Kitchener beer scene, Descendants brews a range of sessionable options. Taproom events range from music bingo to family movie trivia on Sundays.

A well-regarded homebrew shop since 2015, they added a brewery in the spring of 2018.

Their primary focus is blended sours, and are also fond of low(er)-ABV, hop-forward brews.

HARBINGER

TRUE BELIEVER

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

64

5.5% 38

EL BUSCADOR

MEXICAN-STYLE LIGHT LAGER Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

4% 15

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.2% 35

LOVE STINKS

BA R R E L - A G E D BLENDED SOUR WITH RASPBERRIES Small-batch: B ABV IBU

4.7% 2

KITCHENER

KITCHENER

TOGETHER WE’RE BITTER CO-OPERATIVE

WATERLOO BREWING

300 Mill Street, unit 1 | Brewing.coop

400 Bingemans Centre Dr. | WaterlooBrewing.com

Known to locals as just “TWB” and the best spot to grab a growler. It’s a legit co-op with a community focus. Only special releases go into cans or bottles here.

Now part of Brick Brewing Co., this is another claimant to the title for oldest craft brewery in Ontario. They make dependable beers in lowABV styles.

WOBBLY WHEEL

WATERLOO DARK

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

6.5% 47

PULLMAN PORTER

DA R K L A G E R

R O B U S T P O RT E R Occasional: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 31

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

GRAPEFRUIT RADLER RADLER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

5.0% 14

ABV IBU

3.1% N/A

YOUR BEVERAGE SPECIALISTS JENREY CJ1 KEG FILLER The Jenrey CJ1 machine is a dedicated filler designed and priced to bridge the gap between manual filling and a fully automatic machine and can be used to fill Steel Kegs or plastic One Way Kegs!

Petainer™ kegs are 100% recyclable, they are lightweight, they carry no return logistics and they use less energy in production – so it substantially reduces the environmental impact. 15L, 20L & 30L kegs in stock and available.

FOR MORE DETAILS: JENREY.CA | SALES@JENREY.CA | @JENREY_LTD 65

NEW HAMBURG

ST. JACOBS

BITTE SCHÖN BRAUHAUS

BLOCK THREE BREWING

68 Huron St. | BitteSchonBrauhaus.com

1430 King St. N., unit 2 BlockThreeBrewing.Ca

At approx. 1,000 sq feet this is one of the smallest breweries in Ont. Their Berlin-trained brewmaster is from Dublin. Family-friendly and cooperatively promote rural ON breweries.

Right in the core of St. Jacobs, this is the oldest operating microbrewery in the Kitchener Waterloo region. Kevin Freer runs one of the area’s top barrel programmes here.

HURON ST. HEFEWEIZEN

KING ST SAISON

HEFEWEIZEN

WILMOT WILD CREAM ALE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

SAISON

Occasional: B,L

5.0% 13

FICKLE MISTRESS

ABV IBU

4.5% 14

WATERLOO

D RY- H O P P E D S O U R

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

Year-round: B,LC

4.6% 16

ABV IBU

5.5% 20

WOODSTOCK

INNOCENTE BREWING CO.

UPPER THAMES BREWING CO.

283 Northfield Dr. E., unit 8 | Innocente.ca

225 Bysham Park Dr., unit 9 | UpperThamesBrewing.ca

The brewery’s founder, Steve Innocente, was a researcher in his last job and applies his knowledge of yeast to his current craft. Wide range of award-winning styles.

They have a second location opening in Woodstock, in fall 2018. It’s a brewpub with an open-concept brewing facility as well as counter-service light pub fare.

PILS-SINNER

PORTAGE

GERMAN-STYLE PILSNER

P O RT E R

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

66

CHARCOAL PORTER

4.9% 30

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.1% 21

COME TO THE DARK SIDE

I N D I A PA L E A L E

C H O C O L AT E S TO U T

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.6% 45

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 10

08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15

06 07

01 02 03 04 05

BREWERIES

Black Swan Brothers Cowbell Elora Formosa Springs Grey Matter Half Hours on Earth The Herald Haus River Road Royal City Shakespeare Square Stone House Stratford Wellington

74 73 70 71 72 70 73 73 69

70 72

72 71 68 70

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BAYFIELD

09

GODERICH

12

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KINCARDINE

LAKE HURON

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BLYTH

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STRATFORD

01 08 14

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FORMOSA

05

10

9

4

59

11

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Tri-Cities map page 62. xx.

ELORA

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BLYTH CITY

COWBELL BREWING

40035 Blyth Rd. | CowbellBrewing.com

SUN-THU 11AM-9PM ^ FRI-SAT 11AM-11PM EST. 2016 Stephen Rich brews a deep catalogue of styles for the world’s first closed-loop brewery. The restaurant ups their road trip worthiness.

DOC PERDUE’S BOXING BRUIN

ABSENT LANDLORD

I N D I A PA L E A L E Year-round: B,L,LC ABV

6.3%

IBU

KÖ L S C H Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

50

ABV

Named for a local character and his trained bear, it punches with weighty doses of lime and lychee.

5.3%

IBU

18

A touch of copper (colour and flavour) stretch this beyond most kölsches. Crisp and refreshing.

Road Trip!

COME TO THE COWBELL FARM IN BLYTH, ONTARIO

“THE NO.1 CRAFT BREWERY IN CANADA TO VISIT.” —WAYNE NEWTON, BREWS NEWS & LONDON FREE PRESS JOURNALIST

40035 BLYTH ROAD, BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0 68

1-844-523-4724

WWW.COWBELLBREWING.COM

GUELPH CITY

WELLINGTON BREWERY

950 Woodlawn Rd. W. | WellingtonBrewery.ca MON-SUN 11AM-7PM EST. 1985

With over three decades under their belt, one of the original craft breweries in Canada continues to push their drinkable beers forward.

UPSIDE IPA

HELLES LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA

ABV

6.8%

IBU

HELLES

58

Their entry into the Vermont-style category of hazy, smooth IPAs. Citrus, peach and grapefruit.

ABV

4.5%

IBU

14

Crisp and refreshing, one of the top lagers in the province. Available in short cans for hot days.

69

BAYFIELD

ELORA

RIVER ROAD BREWING AND HOPS

ELORA BREWING CO.

35549 Bayfield River Rd. | RiverRoadBrewing.com

107 Geddes St. | EloraBrewingCompany.ca

The first farm-based brewery in Huron County grows ingredients that go into making their beer right on the farm. Visitors are welcome to wander the hop yard and farm fields.

Brewer Alex Nichols turns out a beer lineup full of soft-spoken stars. The setting in downtown Elora is picturesque and the food in their taproom has a farm-to-table focus.

ZESTY FARMER

ELORA BOREALIS

PA L E A L E

UP YER KILT W E E H E AV Y

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

PA L E A L E W I T H C I T R A

Year-round: B,L

4.5% 24

ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L,LC

6.8% 21

FORMOSA

ABV IBU

5.1% 30

LODESTAR WITH PINK GUAVA SOUR ALE

Seasonal: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.1% 3

GODERICH

FORMOSA SPRINGS BREWERY

SQUARE BREW

1120 Bruce Rd., unit 12 | FormosaBrewery.ca

430 Parsons Crt. | SquareBrewCo.com

This brewing operation with a historic connection was bought from Brick and reopened. They do particularly well in the lighter lager categories at beer competitions.

German and American styles share the beer focus for this small-sized brewery in Goderich.

Plenty of nearby sightseeing after you’re done at the taproom.

FORMOSA SPRINGS DRAFT

SQUARE ONE PILSNER

RED BARON BLONDE LIGHT LAGER

LAGER

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

70

5.0% 9

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.8% 10

PILSNER

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.0% 35

VIENNA IS WAITING VIENNA LAGER

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.0% 30

GUELPH

GUELPH

BROTHERS BREWING CO.

ROYAL CITY BREWING CO.

15 Wyndham St. N. | BrothersBrewingCompany.ca

199 Victoria Rd. S. | RoyalCityBrew.ca

They once brewed a beer in an 853-lb pumpkin and made an IPA using a certain widely consumed light lager in place of water. Watch the evidence on their YouTube page.

The four-year-old brewery aims to make interesting and approachable beers made with as many local ingredients as possible.

TROPIC THUNDER

HIBISCUS SAISON

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.3% 35

DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR DUBBEL

Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.5% 23

SMOKED HONEY BROWN ALE

SAISON

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.4% 20

RAUCHBIER Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

5.5% 20

71

KINCARDINE

SEAFORTH

GREY MATTER BEER CO.

HALF HOURS ON EARTH BREWERY

726 Queen St. | GreyMatterBeer.com

151 Main St. S. | HalfHoursOnEarth.com

Four core beers stay on tap all year and share the spotlight with a mix of one-offs. Their event space overlooks the beautiful Kincardine marina and lighthouse.

Right out of the gate, HHOE made some of the finest funky beers in the province. Seaforth is easier to get to than you think, but thankfully they ship anywhere in Ontario.

CHECKMATE

YALLA YALLA

HELLES

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

MISSION TO MARS

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L

4.8% 12

ABV IBU

5.0% 44

SHAKESPEARE

D RY- H O P P E D FA R M H O U S E S O U R Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.5% 0

CONTROL BORED

TA RT FA R M H O U S E A L E WITH CHAMOMILE Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.5% 0

STRATFORD

SHAKESPEARE BREWING CO.

BLACK SWAN BREWING CO.

2178 Line 34 | ShakespeareBrewingCompany.ca

144 Downie St. | BlackSwanBrewing.ca

All of the beers made at this modest-sized operation outside of Stratford are made exclusively with Ontario-grown hops.

Starting this fall, their Playground Series will feature one-offs created by Phil Phillips who doubles as their chef and head brewer.

CLASSY COW

MASHING PUMPKINS

M I L K S TO U T

O N TA R I O PA L E A L E

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

72

RECKLESS ROOSTER

5.5% 22

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5% 28

P U M P K I N BA R L E Y W I N E Seasonal: B ABV IBU

9.0% 55

TRENT SEVERN RYE PALE ALE RY E PA L E A L E

Seasonal: B ABV IBU

5.8% 52

STRATFORD

STRATFORD

HERALD HAUS BREWING CO.

STRATFORD BREWING CO.

The soon-to-open taproom will take up residence in the former home of the Herald on Market Place in downtown Stratford.

A longtime fixture in Ontario’s most famous theatre town. No on-site taproom but they are in the LCBO and on tap in the area and elsewhere in the province.

H2 GOLDEN ALE

STRATFORD PILSNER

21 Market Pl. | @HeraldHaus

GOLDEN ALE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.7% 15

PERTH COUNTY CONSPIRACY A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 35

PILSNER

Year-round: L,LC ABV IBU

4.9% N/A

STRATFORD CALIFORNIA COMMON

CALIFORNIA COMMON Year-round: L ABV IBU

5.0% 30

VARNA

STONE HOUSE BREWING CO.

76050 Parr Line | StoneHouseBrewing.ca

The focus is lagers for this quaint brewery in rural Huron County. The beer programme is overseen by a German-trained brewer.

STONE HOUSE PILSNER

CZECH-STYLE PILSNER Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.9% N/A

Tag us in your beer #ontariocraft agram! photos on Inst @THEGROWLERON

73

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BREWERIES 01 BREW 02 Craft Heads 03 Frank

74 75 74

04 Motor Craft 05 Sandwich 06 Walkerville

75 75 75

TECUMSEH

WINDSOR

FRANK BREWING CO.

BREW MICROBREWERY

12000 Tecumseh Rd. | FrankBeer.ca

635 University Ave. E. | BrewWindsor.com

Sports bar meets pizza restaurant meets fully fledged brewery at this popular spot in Tecumseh. Particularly lively when there’s a game on.

The focus at BREW is on making easydrinking options that appeal widely. The taproom is especially popular on Unfiltered Fridays.

NO NONSENSE

PROPER LAGER

LAGER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

74

5.4% 21

OLD COMRADE AMERICAN-STYLE RED ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.7% 21

LAGER

CANADIAN MAPLE BREW SPICED ALE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

4.7% 15

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5% 35

WINDSOR

WINDSOR

CRAFT HEADS BREWING CO.

MOTOR CRAFT ALES

89 University Ave. W. | CraftHeads.ca

888 Erie St. E. | ThisIsMotor.com

Their 30 taps are (impressively) kept supplied by a tiny nano-sized system. The underground taproom was a famous blues bar in a former life. An online bottle shop is coming soon.

They really have the car theme dialled in at this Windsor favourite. With a brewpub named Motorburger the food menu should be obvious.

TURBULENT ‘BLUES’BERRY CHOCOLATE BLONDE PEANUT BUTTER B L O N D E A L E F L AV O U R E D P O RT E R Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.4% 30

DRAGULA

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E I PA

Year-round: B

5.2% 18

WINDSOR

C-HOP TOP

S C H WA R Z B I E R

ABV IBU

Year-round: B

5.0% 24

ABV IBU

5.5% 59

WINDSOR

SANDWICH BREWING CO.

WALKERVILLE BREWERY

3230 Sandwich St. | @SandwichBrewing

525 Argyle Rd. | WalkervilleBrewery.com

Open less than a year in Windsor’s west end Sandwich has already found a devoted local following. Part of their mission was to bring their historic home back into use.

The brewery name has been in and out of use since the 1890s when Hiram Walker was in the beer business. Today’s lineup is full of sessionable options.

PRAIRIE SUNSHINE

HONEST LAGER

RUBY SUE

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E W H E AT A L E Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.9% 19

ENGLISH-STYLE MILD Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.9% 23

MÄRZEN

PURITY PILSENER PILSNER

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.3% 23

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.2% 30 75

76

10 11 12 13 14

09

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Anderson Bayside Forked River London Lonsbery Farms Powerhouse Railway City Refined Fool (Davis St.) Refined Fool (London Rd.) Rusty Wrench Sons of Kent Storm Stayed Strathroy Toboggan

BREWERIES

80 81 77 80 81 80

80

78 78 78 79 78 79 80

05

40

11

21

CHATHAM-KENT

78

SARNIA

08 09

02

17

79

79

ERIEAU

80

21

3

401

402

10 13

2

STRATHROY

81 22

03

W

N

LAKE ERIE

4

ST. THOMAS

07

LONDON

01 04 06 12 14

E

s ou t h W e s t

CHATHAM

SONS OF KENT BREWING CO.

27 Adelaide St. S. | SonsOfKent.com MON-WED 12PM-9PM ^ THU-SAT 12PM-11PM ^ SUN 12PM-8PM EST. 2017 Four friends founded this 20-tap brewery in downtown Chatham’s once iconic movie theater. Deliveries made in a ’77 El Camino Classic.

8 TRACK XPA

SPIRIT WOLF

Year-round: B,L,LC

Year-round: B,L

E X T R A PA L E A L E

ABV

5.7%

IBU

COFFEE BLONDE

57

West Coast-inspired and loaded with citra for a juicy punch upfront and smooth laid-back finish.

ABV

5.0%

IBU

18

This refreshing blonde ale is infused with coffee beans to impart robust flavours and aromatics.

CRAFT BEER

MADE IN CHATHAM 27 Adelaide st. south . Chatham Ont sonsofkent.com . 519-354-BEER .

sonsofkent

TAP ROOM . BEER SHOP . EVENTS . SNACKS 77

AMHERSTBURG

ERIEAU

LONSBERY FARMS BREWING CO.

BAYSIDE BREWING CO.

7781 Howard Ave. | LonsberyFarms.beer

970 Ross Lane | BaysideBrewing.com

Their beer is crafted with the best ingredients that are locally grown in southwestern Ontario to provide a farm-to-glass experience.

Based out of a little, laid-back fishing village, they creates beers that go well with the village’s easy-going vibes. A large patio looks out on to Rondeau Bay and they’re close to the beach.

CREAM OF THE CROP

LONG POND LAGER

CREAM ALE

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.4% 11

BLACK IPA B L A C K I PA

LAGER

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.9% 55

LONDON

HONEY CREAM ALE CREAM ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC ABV IBU

Year-round: B,L,LC

5.0% 13

ABV IBU

5.0% 14

LONDON

FORKED RIVER BREWING CO.

ANDERSON CRAFT ALES

1030 Elias St. | AndersonCraftAles.ca

45 Pacific Crt., unit 4 | ForkedRiverBrewing.com

This family-owner brewery has a bierhall style taproom and sunny patio in London’s Old East Village. They make drinkable styles packaged with a straightforward label.

They are the oldest craft brewery in London, which is saying something given the its history as a big-brewery town. Forked River makes dependable takes on approachable styles.

IPA

CAPITAL BLONDE

CREAM ALE

I PA

CREAM ALE Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

78

6.5% 60

RIPTIDE PA L E A L E

BLONDE ALE

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.8% 24

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

4.7% 28

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

5.7% 38

LONDON

LONDON

POWERHOUSE BREWING CO.

LONDON BREWING

521 Burbrook Pl. | LondonBrewing.ca

100 Kellogg Ln. | PowerhouseBrewery.beer

They call themselves a plough-to-pint brewery because of the spotlight given to locally-grown, organic malts. Friday is free-concert night with food on site.

LONDON NATURAL LAGER

NORFOLK RED C A N A D I A N R E D I PA

HELLES

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.7% 18

Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.3% 40

Set to open soon in a restored factory space in London’s Old East Village. They’re familyowned and operated with a focus on local.

HOMECOMING

A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA L E ALE Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.5% 32

COFFEE MILK STOUT M I L K S TO U T

Year-round: B ABV IBU

4.5% 30

Like what’s in our Growler?

Carry us in your brewery, tap room or store and your customers will keep coming back for more.

Contact orders@thegrowler.ca to order your copies.

ontario craft beer guide

THEGROWLER.CA

@THEGROWLERON 79

LONDON

LONDON

STORM STAYED BREWING CO.

TOBOGGAN BREWING CO.

585 Richmond St. | TobogganBrewing.com

169 Wharncliffe Rd. S., unit 8 StormStayed.com

Justin Belanger, one of the owners, brings East Coast hospitality from his native PEI as well as the name. The kitchen serves house-cured meats, fermented vegetables, and BBQ.

The restaurant and biergarten patio have helped establish this relative newcomer as a popular fixture in London.

MOONSHADOW

MR. INSURANCE MAN

BERLINER WEISSE

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

SUNBURST

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE PA L E A L E Year-round: B,L

4.2% 4

ABV IBU

5.4% 36

SARNIA

REFINED FOOL BREWING CO.

ABV IBU

80

PINKY BREWSTER

R A S P B E R RY W H E AT

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS

5.0% 18

ABV IBU

4.0% 18

S T R O N G S TO U T Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.0% 35

RAILWAY CITY BREWING CO.

130 Edward St. | RailwayCityBrewing.com

Refined Fool has pretty much cornered the craft beer market in Sarnia with the opening of their second full-service taproom.

CREAM ALE

Year-round: B

ST. THOMAS

1326 London Rd., 137 Davis St. | RefinedFool.com

TROLL TOLL

BLONDE ALE

BLACKFRIARS BRIDGE VANILLA STOUT

Seasonal: B,L ABV IBU

5.5% 25

The name comes from the town’s past as a hub for US railways in Canada. Their Dead Elephant is brewed in honour of Jumbo the Elephant who died in St.Thomas in 1885.

DEAD ELEPHANT

ORANGE CREAMSIC ALE

I N D I A PA L E A L E

F L AV O U R E D W H E AT A L E

Year-round: B,L,LC,TBS ABV IBU

6.5% 60

Seasonal: B,L,LC ABV IBU

4.8% 16

STRATHROY

STRATHROY

STRATHROY BREWING CO.

62 Albert St. | StrathroyBrewingCompany.ca

RUSTY WRENCH BREWING CO.

9 Front St. W. | RustyWrench.ca

This small-town brewery has an independent streak and a historical bent. It’s particularly focussed on the history of the War of 1812.

Local and ethical sourcing is the focus for this small-town brewery. The kitchen also features beer ingredients across the menu. As they say, their “beers range from mild to wild.”

1815 XXXX PEACEMAKER

OXIDATION AMBER ALE

TRADITIONAL ALE

Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.0% N/A

1812 INDEPENDENCE ALE A M E R I C A N - S T Y L E PA Year-round: B ABV IBU

5.5% N/A

DA R K A M B E R

Year-round: B,L ABV IBU

5.0% 24

LEFT HANDED SPANNER

W E S T C OA S T- S T Y L E I PA Year-round: B ABV IBU

6.1% 64

Handmade high quality wooden crates We specialize in store display and home décor, custom branding and display solutions.

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Flying Frenchman bike crates available at a bike shop near you.

cumberlandcratecompany.com 81

BEER GROUND To the

Many of us spend the last days of summer on the dock squeezing in as much sunshine time as we can. These folks are hard at work building their breweries for future seasons.

AVIARY BREWPUB

Canary District, Toronto (2019) Jimmy and John Peat, he brothers behind contract brewer Longslice have partnered with the owners of the Dock Ellis to open a new 230-seat bar. The bar, at 484 A Front St. E. is open now and will add a brewery next year. @AviaryBrewpub

JOBSITE BREWING

Stratford (summer 2018) This new brewery, by Phil Buhler and Dave Oldenburger, is on the cusp of being Stratford’s fourth. The two partners, who are both former construction workers, have been going full speed all summer to open the doors of their shop at 45 Cambria St., which includes an on-site pizza oven. @jobsitebrewing

MASCOT BREWERY

Toronto (late 2018) As you read here in issue 1, their downtown Toronto home on Mercer Street has closed. But, that’s not the end of Mascot. As they work on finding a new space, Siobhan McPherson’s very good pilsner will still be available at LCBOs across the province. @mascotbrewery

MERCHANT ALE HOUSE

St. Catherine’s (summer 2018) Since the late 1990s, this has been a standby for beer in St. Catherine’s. This summer, they added a bottle shop to their restaurant and brewpub at 98 St. Paul St. That news means you can expect to read more about them in these pages. @merchantale

OVERFLOW BREWING

Ottawa (summer 2018) New breweries continue to bubble to the surface of the beer scene in the capital. Ontario Beverage Network reports that early June saw their bottle shop open at 2477 Kaladar Ave. in suburban Ottawa. The plan is to add a taproom later this summer. @overflowbrewingco

SHORT FINGER BREWING

Kitchener (summer 2018) Rob and Kat Hern

have been established faces in the Ontario brewing community for years. Their Kitchener business has grown from indie homebrew supply shop into full-fledged nanobrewery. This June they added a bottle shop to the space at 20 Hurst Ave. @shortfingerbrewing

TRESTLE BREWING Parry Sound (summer 2018) After over three years of work, Parry Sound has a new brewery.

Located on the water at 9 Great North Rd., they have a view of the trestle bridge that lent its name to the operation. A rye porter and an IPA join the golden ale they had been brewing under contract. @trestlebrewery

UPPER THAMES Woodstock (autumn 2018) As we learned via Canadian Beer News, Upper Thames continues to find success in Woodstock, and in just its second year has purchased a second location.

They’re renovating a former golf course at 190 Fairway Rd. to install a full brewpub with 24 taps, split evenly between their own beer and guest taps. @upperthamesbrewing

VEGANDALE BREWERY Parkdale, Toronto (summer 2018) A new brewery has opened in Toronto at 1346 Queen St. W. with its heart (of palm) on its sleeve.

They promise vegan beer (most are) by Mike Duggan (Duggan’s Brewery is downstairs) and vegan food by Doomie’s. Vegandale—the name for both the brewery and cooperative of nearby businesses run by 5700 Inc.—offers beers like Principled Pilsner and Morally Superior IPA under the tagline “Morality on Tap”. @vegandalebrewery What’d we miss? Send tips on new brewery openings to david@thegrowler.ca. j