The Growler ON • Volume 6 Issue 2 • Fall/Winter 2023

BEER GROUND TO THE

You may have noticed that Beer To e Ground was absent from the last issue and that was for good reason. e number of brewery openings in the province has slowed in 2022 and 2023. According to Beer Canada’s statistics for the calendar year ending 2022, the number of brewing licenses in the province remained static at 380. If you assume that each of those breweries makes 10 beers a year, you’ll have to make do with something like 4000 beers to choose from.

I can hear you now: How many of those are IPAs?

It’s worth acknowledging some of the moves that have happened since the last time this column ran. Amsterdam Brewing has been purchased by Denmark’s Royal Unibrew. Waterloo has been purchased by Denmark’s

Carlsberg. Beau’s is now owned by Steam Whistle, Henderson’s beers are being brewed at Bench. Black Oak was purchased by Silversmith. Barncat Artisan Ales, Rhythm & Brews, and Bell City have all closed their doors. Whitewater and Calabogie have entered a partnership. It’s all getting a bit hectic, really.

BARREL HEART BREWING

Barrel Heart Brewing in Ancaster is a labour of love on the part of accomplished brewer Mark Horsley who had a hand in the success of both Nickel Brook and Bench Brewing. Specializing in saisons and fruited variants made with local produce, Barrel Heart occupies a truly delightful niche and is well worth your attention. BarrelHeart.com

Breweries by Region

NORTH & EAST GTA

HAMILTON, BRANT & WEST GTA

NIAGARA

CENTRAL WEST

SOUTHWEST

KAWARTHAS, KINGSTON & PEC

EASTERN ONTARIO

COTTAGE COUNTRY

NORTHERN & NORTHWEST ONTARIO

It’s an exciting time to be in craft beer. We’ve got openings, closings, mergers, acquisitions, hops, barley, yeast, and slightly uncomfortable taproom stools.

In this issue, we’ve gotten off the slightly uncomfortable taproom stools and headed out into the world. Sean Mallard sits on a tractor and spreads seed all over the back forty. Gary Gillman heads out to see the improvisational gladiatorial zymurgy that is Ontario’s Iron Brewer competition. Mark Solomon heads into the great north woods equipped only with a rifle and a two-four of pilsner. Ben Johnson has been out drinking with the guys from Beerlab! and wants to tell you about their expansion!

Closer to home, Beer To The Ground is back with updates on new breweries and closures in addition to irresponsible speculation about bear fights. Brewer vs. Brewer features the staff at Amsterdam vs. Toronto’s own Victorian-era brewer Enoch Turner. Sabryna Ekstein has a recipe for Oyster Mushrooms and Corn Custard paired with a beer from Black Bellows.

So belly up to the bar, grab a copy of The Growler, and perch upon a slightly uncomfortable taproom stool. Just make sure your foot doesn’t fall asleep.

—Jordan St. John, editor

Brewery Details

GROWLER FILLS

BOTTLES / CANS

BEER FOR SALE ONLINE

TASTING ROOM

ON-SITE KITCHEN OR FOOD TRUCK

TOURS

DOG-FRIENDLY

GLUTEN-FREE BOOZE OPTIONS

Availability

B – brewery taproom

L – licensed establishments, pubs, bars and restaurants

LC – LCBO

TBS – The Beer Store

Suggested Glassware

Kolsch

Alt

Gose

PILSNER

Lager

Pilsner

Witbier STANGE

NONIC PINT

Pale ale

Stout and porter

Most ales, actually

WEIZEN

Hefeweizen

Weizenbock

American wheat

TULIP

Saison

Double IPA

Strong ales

GOBLET

Dubbel

Belgian strong Tripel

SNIFTER

Barley wine Quad

Anything

Brewer vs.

Wherein editor Jordan St. John goes head-to-head with an 1840s Bass Pale Ale.

by Jordan St. John

Over the course of my career, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about historical brewing. I wrote a book called Lost Breweries of Toronto that was nominated for a Heritage Toronto Award, and in doing so I spent a lot of time looking at archives, digitized newspapers, and fire insurance maps. It turns out that historical breweries are surprisingly flammable. Sometimes you get very lucky. When I made Helliwell Old Ale with Muddy York, I was able to reverse engineer some detail from a well-kept diary by William Helliwell that told us how strong the beer would have been and what the process might have looked like. When I made Revelator Bock with Amsterdam, we were able to cadge ingredients from newspaper advertisements from the 1890’s (Baird Roasted Barley from Glasgow, which still exists!) and gravity readings from excise documentation in order to recreate Reinhardt Salvator.

When the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse got in touch with me to ask if I’d host a pub night for them to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the building, I suggested that we might brew a beer for the occasion.

Enoch Turner was a brewer in Toronto who lived on Taddle Creek, which also supplied mill power for the city’s first brewer in 1803. Enoch was

Enoch Turner, one of Toronto's most photogenic historical brewers.

known locally for feeding his horses beer, which the horses seemed not to mind and which people gathered round to watch. His brewery property had a small vineyard, and he was a member of the horticultural society, growing filberts and plums. He was, by all accounts, a sterling fellow.

When Toronto’s population more than doubled in 1847 as a result of the Irish famine, the neighbourhood he lived in changed dramatically and became known as Corktown. Such was the flood of immigrants that it was administratively prohibitive to write down which part of Ireland they would have been from. According to the ledger, they were from Cork.

How do you provide services for 18,000 refugees in a city that only has 15,000 citizens? The city didn’t want to pay for services as it had no tax base. The province didn’t want to pay for services as it had other problems. The 416/905 funding situation is at least 200 years old. Enoch, to his eternal credit, stepped up and funded a schoolhouse that educated the neighbourhood’s children, resulting in thousands of literate, numerate, productive members of society.

Enoch had been a pub landlord at a couple of locations in The Potteries in Staffordshire, just seven miles down the canal from Burton-on-Trent. It stands to reason that when he moved to Toronto, he would have made something like the beer he knew from just down the road in Burton. At the time, Bass Pale Ale would have been extremely widespread, and would certainly have made it as

Enoch's Schoolhouse is actually in its own architectural style, built sturdy and quickly in order to accommodate the students. They never built them like this. Photo courtesy of Enoch Turner Schoolhouse

far as Toronto’s taverns by mid-century as did Guinness, Beamish, Barclay Perkins, and Allsop’s. The difficulty in creating something approximating Enoch’s beer is that no records of his brewing survive.

All historical beer recreations are fraught with complication. Even if you had a complete ledger of brewing records, you do not have that year’s crop of barley. You do not have hops that grew in the summer of the year that beer was brewed. Guinness, which has complete records due to its longevity, still has to make assumptions for their Brewmaster’s Series; just fewer of them.

Partnering with Toronto’s Amsterdam Brewery, two of whose brewers have celebrated their weddings at the Schoolhouse, our first task was to track down the beer that would likely have influenced Enoch Turner: Could we find a recipe for Bass Pale Ale from the 1840s that would approximate the beer from the year the schoolhouse was built?

Ron Pattinson, a legendary beer historian who has written numerous books on historical brewing, immediately dissuaded us of the notion. The closest we could get was 1874.

The good news is that Bass Pale Ale is not a beer with a huge number of moving parts. It encompasses a single malt variety and a single hop variety. It’s what you’d call a SMASH beer, although it has some pronounced differences to a modern Pale Ale. It would have been 6.6% with 111 IBUs, making it just bitter enough to really frighten

Brewer Conor McMaster adds 350kg of Chevallier to the Mash Tun. Jordan St. John photo

With whole cone hops, you need to break them up so that they can be used properly in the kettle. Jordan St. John photo

casual drinkers. They would have boiled for two hours, and the hard Burton water profile would have had 700 ppm Sulfate, at least according to historical records from the time.

Sulfate not only provides a crisp finish that affects the attack of hops on your palate, but it is sulfuric, giving the beer a slight extinguished matchstick quality they refer to in brewing as the Burton Snatch.

You could brew a more or less authentic 1874 Bass Pale Ale, but it wouldn’t be Enoch’s beer. He would have faced geographical limitations. For one thing, Toronto’s water has about 21.6 ppm Sulfate. It’s soft water, and that changes the way the hops would attack your palate. It would be a rounder, wider bitterness. He wouldn’t have had access to fresh East Kent Goldings, and the Ontario terroir would have changed whatever was transplanted, meaning that the hop character would have been whatever was closest.

In discussion, we decided to use Chevallier Malt from Crisp, which was tested out in Toronto in 1871 by the Aldwell Brewing Company in cooperation with George Brown, who had a hobby farm outside of Brantford. It provided about two percent more extract than the local malts of the day and is the coming thing in terms of heritage varieties. In the brewhouse it has a light note of Milk Chocolate as it hits the mash tun.

Canadian breeding stock with a little blackcurrant that is probably period authentic. The EKG is a combination of whole cone, since Enoch would not have had access to pellets, and pellets, since whole cone is a bit of a bear to use on the day. As we add them to the kettle, the aroma is marmalade and herbaceous hedgerow greenery.

We decided to reduce the alcohol to a slightly more sessionable strength and the bitterness from 111 IBU to a more manageable 50. After all, the people who are coming to the Pub Night might want to leave with their taste buds intact. Enoch would not have known about Burtonization. No one did until later in the century. We decided to replicate the water chemistry and the yeast from Burton mostly because it would have been what he was trying to emulate.

What will result, in just a few weeks from now, is a quintessentially Anglo-Ontarian beer that never existed, but that probably could have if everything had come together.

Enoch was influential enough that if you live in Toronto, you still feel his impact on the city daily. It’s rare that a private citizen’s philanthropic acts so profoundly echo through time that you’re able to honour his achievements 175 years later. I don’t know if it’s anything like his beer, but I like to think that if we could put a bottle in the wayback machine he’d recognize it. j

We’re using a combination of hops, including East Kent Goldings and Bramling Cross. Our thought process is that Bramling Cross contains some

Although, so you don't have to spend all day cleaning, it's easier to put them in bag, rather like making tea. Jordan St. John photo

de to drinking beer in

Prague Prague eHT relworg

by Jordan St. John

Prague is a jewel on the Vltava river and historically, the seat of power for Bohemia. Through two world wars and Russian rule during the twentieth century, the city has remained largely unmolested. Around every corner sits an unbroken heritage; not merely the buildings, but a sense of communal life and enjoyment that persists in Prague’s institutions be they the castles, churches, theaters, or taverns.

The thing that makes Prague one of the world’s best beer destinations is the Czech attitude towards beer. Czechia makes approximately the same amount of beer as Canada despite having a population about the size of Ontario. Better yet, they consume 75% of the beer that they produce in the country. The majority of the beer is pale or dark lager at varying degrees of strength, but what Czechia lacks in stylistic diversity, it more than makes up for in quality. The standard of service is higher on average than anywhere in the world for no reason other than they are making and serving the beer for their own enjoyment, which is taken suitably seriously.

Not only is it one of the safest cities in the world, it’s easily navigable by tourists due to the fine pub-

lic transit and regional rail connections. Although part of the EU, Czechia currency is the Koruna, which Canadian travelers will find goes quite a long way: A full meal and a couple of beers might cost twenty Canadian dollars.

Here are some highlights you might want to consider for your trip:

U FLEKŮ

In continuous operation since 1499, U Fleků has seen it all. While it has 1,100 seats, and is therefore popular with large groups touring the region, you’d be mistaken if you wrote it off on that basis. The brewery operates using traditional equipment including a coolship, and produces one of the world’s finest tmavý ležák (dark lager) that develops a pleasing berryish mid-palate and seems completely at home in the whimsically appointed early Renaissance dining halls.

In warm weather, the courtyards are an ideal place to find some shade and a quenching beverage. In the colder months, their mead will take the edge off the chill, and substantial dishes like Svíčková (beef in a cream sauce with bread dumplings), will stick to your ribs.

Getty Images photo

PULT

In Czech service, the tapster is on equal footing with the brewer in terms of assuring quality. A brewer could do no better than having their beer on tap at Pult. The large stainless steel bar takes up an entire side of the gothic vaulted beer hall, and its pristine aerodynamic sleekness lets you know what you’re going to get.

Six perfectly poured lagers and three guest taps featuring craft beer styles are typically on offer. While Budvar and Pilsner Urqell are mainstays, there are frequently offerings from Hendrych and Matuška, in addition to a wall full of bottled options and a small but robust menu of sandwiches and charcuterie. Try the pickled camembert with black garlic.

DVA KOHOUTI

Located in the Karlín neighbourhood, just east along the river, is Dva Kohouti, one of the city’s most popular craft breweries. The same care that Czech brewers take in making lager is applied to craft beer styles like IPA and fruited sours, and Dva Kohouti is a great example of the results of that painstaking. The brewery and taproom format will seem familiar to Ontario drinkers, but the inclusion of a spacious beer garden and courtyard gives you room to sprawl.

Since the courtyard is shared by Lokál Hamburk, you’re in good hands for catering. Try the beef tartare, and should you get thirsty waiting in line, you can avail yourself of their pristine Kozel Tmavý Ležák served from tanks directly below the bar.

LEFT: A perfectly poured Dva Kohouti Raspberry Sour at Pult. ABOVE: U Zlateho Tygra is the quintessential Prague palaverer's bar. BOTTOM: Dva Kohouti in Karlín is here for all your modern craft needs. Jordan St. John photos

U ZLATÉHO TYGRA

Some things never change. Adorned with a golden tiger for the last three hundred and twenty years, this pub is housed in a six hundred year old building. Over time, it has been formative not only for reformers, patriots, and the intelligentsia, but also literary hero Bohumil Hrabal whose sculpted relief greets patrons as they enter.

This is not a tourist pub, although it is surrounded by beer museums. This is a pub you can spend a couple of hours or a lifetime in, and since people are engaged in doing exactly that, order confidently

ABOVE: Andělský Pivovar is small but mighty, with its equipment in a cavernous subterranean space.

BOTTOM: An Easter collaboration between Pilsner Urquell and Břevnov features smoked malt in order to add a little Papal reference. Jordan St. John photos

and find a place to sit. Try the fried ham rolls with blue cheese and cucumber alongside your Pilsner Urquell, and spend a couple of hours reading Hrabal. His writing style makes it seem like he’s sitting next to you sipping a Snyt.

BŘEVNOV MONASTERY

In practice, the monks at Břevnov represent one of the world’s oldest operating breweries having started in 993 AD, but the lineage pales in comparison to the view of the grounds from the Monastery Brewery’s beer garden. The brewery features traditional methods including open fermentation in steel squares and is housed the Monastery’s stables.

Their regular offerings include a wonderfully vinous, silkily textured tmavý ležák that develops light roast and dark chocolate without sacrificing drinkability, and which must be one of the world’s best.

ANDĚLSKÝ PIVOVAR

On the west side of the Vltava, in the Smíchov neighbourhood is Andělský Pivovar, which makes a wide variety of experimental craft beers. Having tacked IPA with a familiar combination of Chinook, Simcoe, and Mosaic, adventurous drinkers will want to try the Kolagen 13; a Polotmavy. The rich caramelly amber coloured lager is infused with pharmaceutical grade collagen, which is just the thing to repair your knees after walking all day on Prague’s cat’s head cobbled sidewalks.

It is conveniently located across the street from Pivotéka BeerGeek Andel, a fine bottle shop that

will give you an idea of what’s happening in Czech beer on an up to the minute basis.

MANIFESTO MARKET ANDEL

You may have noticed that the Czech food recommendations have been a little meat and cheese forward. Eventually, you are going to want a vegetable.

Manifesto is an all weather food court with a wide variety of options for any taste. Whether you’re craving ramen, bibimbap, poke, Indian street food, or southern barbeque, Manifesto is a great all around option just across from Andel Metro. In addition to vegan options for food, the beer bar is a collaboration between Pilsner Urquell and Vinohradský Pivovar ensuring you’ll get to try something novel alongside a world classic.

While Prague contains untold joys for anyone planning a vacation, it is worth mentioning that local transit is excellent and that day trips are possible to Plzen to see Pilsner Urquell, České Budějovice to see Budvar, and Únětice for Únětický Pivovar. If you fancy just a little bit of distance, try the Letna Lookout Beer Garden for a sweeping vista of the entirety of the city including the castle. j

Ontario’s smallest brewery will soon expand its seating capacity

by Ben Johnson

expansion expansion expansion Beerlab! eyes

No, Nick Baird isn’t going to the PUP show tonight.

It’s a question he’s asked maybe a dozen times as we make our way across two venues and handful of beers over the course of a mild Monday in late summer.

PUP, the Toronto punk band, is in London to play a sold out show at the London Music Hall; a venue that’s roughly a five minute stumble from Beerlab!, the small, experimental brewery where Baird is co-owner.

It’s not an unreasonable question. Baird has roots in the music scene that run deep—he is, in fact, friends with the members of PUP—and his brewery, which he opened with his partner Adil Ahmad in 2019, has become a de facto pre-drinking spot for live music events in the city’s downtown core. That’s clearly the case tonight as the place is rammed with concert-going friends and acquaintances—and so we opt to head south down Talbot Street to Holy Diver so Baird can avoid the overwhelming urge to hop behind the bar to pour beer for his buds.

Like a lot of places around Beerlab!, Holy Diver is owned by folks with whom Baird and Ahmad are friends. It is, by design, a dive bar, but you can see suggestions that the Beerlab! friendship has borne fruit here. Case in point: We order Pilsner Urquell pints poured from side pull draught taps as we grab a booth.

Ahmad is notably unable to join us for side pull Czech pilsners on this particular evening because, while his passion might be creating unique craft beer, his time-consuming other “hobby” is working as a family doctor.

The pair met in the early 2000s as they orbited each other at the handful of London bars that showed an early interest in pouring anything other than Labatt’s products—places like Chaucer’s, Chancey Smith’s, and the Alex P. Keaton — and were eventually encouraged by one time Chaucer’s and Chancey Smith’s general manager (and now renowned publican) Milos Kral to pursue their homebrewing passion more seriously—and so Beerlab! was born.

We always just wanted a space that feels like hanging out in the kitchen.

—Nick Baird

Four years into the brewery’s existence, the duo has largely stayed true to their original vision.

“We still brew whatever the fuck we want,” Baird tells me, echoing what he said upon opening in 2019. You are unlikely to find the same beer brewed the same way twice at Beerlab!. The team is more interested in seeing what a subtle tweak can do to a recipe. “We’re hyper-focused on yeast strains again,” Baird says, “and playing with different hops in a very subtle way, especially with the lagers.”

World domination has also never been part of the duo’s plans. There are no designs for LCBO or Beer Store distribution and they maintain a tight list of about 30 licensees that Baird still delivers to personally. “We always just wanted a space that feels like hanging out in the kitchen,” Baird says.

Of course, as they welcome more and more beer fans, concert-goers, curious downtown passersby, and pre- and post-game London Knights fans, that kitchen has begun to feel just a little too tight. “We're technically Ontario's smallest square foot craft brewery,” he says.

And so the plan is to expand seating capacity.

After an initial concept for a second location in London’s east end fell through, Baird and Ahmad lucked out and had an opportunity to expand their hospitality capabilities closer to home.

Much like when the duo first opened Beerlab!, Baird prefers to keep details of their expansion plans close to the chest. Difficulty obtaining permits and unforeseen delays tend to come with the territory when opening or expanding a brewery ,so talking to a nosy beer writer can feel like putting the cart before the horse. It might even feel like you’re jinxing what you’re working so hard on.

Of course, much like in 2019 when drywall dust was essentially permeating the walls of the adjacent Pub Milos as they built Beerlab!, the veil of secrecy Baird wants to keep over their expansion plans is a little laughable. Regulars at the brewery are well aware that Baird and Ahmad have taken over the lease for the other space next to their current location—formerly occupied by a wine bar—and that work is underway. Baird has asked that I not publish too many details for the reasons stated above, but I’m allowed to tell you the space will add considerable capacity (I’d estimate 90 seats) and will allow the duo to serve food. It’s not entirely clear what will be on the menu, but if you walk by you’ll see that the windows are papered with a design that features slices of pizza.

What is clear is that this good news for beer drinkers in London. Once plans are complete, a relatively large portion of Talbot Street (directly across the street from the crowd-drawing Budweiser Gardens arena) will be occupied by venues (with patios!) providing about as unique and interesting a beer menu as there is anywhere in Ontario—whether you’re going to a concert or opting to skip it to drink beer (and maybe eat pizza). j

Nick Baird, pictured here estimating the authenticity of a lamp. If it's a reproduction, the resale value will drop. Ben Johnson photo

TURNING BARLEY INTO BEER

Mississippi Mills Malt, Esma barley and a brief history of Ontario malting barley

by Sean Mallard

It’s a sunny day in late spring and I’m riding through a dusty farm field outside Pakenham, Ontario with Will Bowes. We follow the planting line of his father Dean Bowes, the owner of Mississippi Mills Malting, as he sows barley seeds into the fields. As we trundle through the field, Will rattles off a plethora of tractor knowledge that can only be obtained by growing up on a generational farm. Ripping along a field watching this year's barley have being planted is a blissful experience.

It’s easy to get lost in thought about how these little seeds will emerge in the late summer fully grown and ready for harvest to make tasty beer. The barley variety is called Esma. Dean is a trained forensic accountant and a farmer in addition to being a homebrewer and craft maltster. He’s not only sowing the seeds for this year’s harvest, but for the growth of future generations using locally-grown malting barley in the Ottawa Valley.

Finding a waY to support the family through the farm

As we traverse the farm and maltings, Dean’s passion for farming and what he is doing with Mississippi Mills Malting pulls me in. The idea to build the maltings started a few years after he bought his uncle's house and took over the farmland on which it was situated. The land has been farmed by his family for generations. It was a place of business where his father and uncle sold farm equipment to bring in extra income to support the local farmers and his family. The experience helped shape how Bowes has decided to build his business on the farm, not only with the land but also with the maltings.

In the early 2010s, he started to think about how he could get the farm to support his family and provide a business that could last for generations, in the same way the farm equipment business supported him growing up. It was something that

Dean Bowes looks out at his barley crop, seeing the future basis for this year's malt. Sean Mallard photo

sat in his mind while he worked for Deloitte in forensic accounting. There was just something about farming and working in the agriculture industry that he couldn’t shake. As Dean and his family started farming again, they started buying farm equipment as they could afford it, and hiring neighbours to help where they did not have the equipment, laying the foundations for the future maltings.

As he looked for ways to make the farm a sustainable business, he was attracted by the comradery of the brewing industry and how similar it is to the way farmers work together to grow their community. He crunched the numbers and realised there was an opportunity to create a sustainable business with the farm: craft malting. Inspired by businesses such as Barn Owl Malt, Dean recognized that there was a demand for locally grown and malted barley in Ontario, and he thought it might be worth the investment.

It took quite a few more years, sifting through advances in equipment, drinking more than a few research beers and the choosing to keep working in forensic accounting while running the maltings to make the dream a reality. Eventually, in 2020, Mississippi Mills Malting opened shop just as there was a European malting variety becoming widely available in Canada after successful trial crops. If you are drinking a beer made with Ontario grown barley, there is a very good chance you are drinking a pint brewed with Esma barley.

Dean works away in his malthouse, a batch of his pilsner malt on the go while he is also busy working the fields. Sean Mallard photo

Esma barley makes its debut

Esma is a shorter European malting barley variety that has only recently become commercially available in Canada. To get to the point where it could be grown on a larger scale there needed to be a large number of trials across Canada to understand if it was a viable choice for farmers. Trials were completed through SeCan, a large farm seed distributor, which worked with farmers across the country to learn more about how the variety grew in the wide-ranging Canadian climate. One of the early farms to trial and adopt Esma was Miller Seed Farm, which is owned by the same family as Mackinnon Brothers Brewery in Bath, Ontario.

As a multigenerational seed farmer and Heriot-Watt educated brewer, Dan Mackinnon is humble in the way he presents his knowledge and and the impact their work had had in brewing and growing malting barley in Ontario. He talks about the difficulty of finding a malting barley variety that can work well in Canada, and more specifically, Ontario. A big part of Mackinnon Brothers’ philosophy is to use ingredients from the farm in the beer they produce. This means using malting barley grown at Miller Seed Farm, malted at Barn Owl to their specifications, then brewed in a variety of their beers.

This has meant that they have had a very connected view of how barley varieties impact yield for farmers, ease of use for maltsters and flavour profiles in beer. Over the years, they have used

Esma Barley held in the fields at Mackinnon Brothers Brewing. Photo courtesy of Mackinnon Brothers Brewing

varieties that were more widely available because of their popularity in the prairies, such as AC Metcalfe and CDC Copeland, but pretty early into their trials with Esma they figured out it was a great fit in the Ontario climate. Their adoption has impacted the direction of the Ontario craft malting industry and helped people like Dean determine what malting barley varieties to plant and malt to build a sustainable business.

Harvest time, beer time

It’s months later, during the harvest, and I’ve met up with Dean and Will to see how the summer has gone for their barley. We walk through the fields observing this year's crop and talk about how local brewers such as Spark Brewing, Cold Bear Brewing, and Whiprsnapr Brewing have been taking on the use of local grain. I get to see the product of a lifetime of hard work and passion, the barley that a variety of brewers in Ontario will be using in their beer, and the potential for how it can create a positive impact in the brewing industry.

It has become apparent that locally-grown barley is being sought after by brewers; a number of brewers have even developed their brand image

around it. You can see this with breweries such as Dominion City Brewing, Matron Fine Beer, Sonnen Hill Brewing, Avling Brewing, Cold Bear Brewing, Mackinnon Brothers Brewing, and Spark Brewing. As these breweries have developed their recipes based on the use of local grain, it has led to a rise in the demand for the grain, boosting the growth of the craft malt market, resulting in more farmers being interested in growing malting barley varieties. This then pushes the seed producers to bring in higher yielding, more productive varieties for climates outside of the prairies and you get Ontario-grown Esma on a farm outside of Pakenham, Ontario. Then, on an early August day, it is harvested and malted for brewers to make beer with barley that was grown less than an hour from the brewery itself.

As we trundle along in the field, harvesting barley, Will follows along as Dean and I keep the harvesting line straight in the combine. It's enjoyable work. The type of enjoyment that you get when you harvest that first vegetable from the garden. I look at the ripe fields around me and it makes me thirsty for the beer will be made with this year's crop. j

Four beers that use Esma barley as part of the recipe, from left to right: Spark Future Occasions West Coast Double IPA, Mackinnon Brothers Brewing Philomena Pilsner, Dominion City Civic Pilsner and Cold Bear Brewing Shift Change Pub Ale Sean Mallard photo

TCommuning with nature is thirsty work.

by Mark Solomon

he fall is a special time in Northern Ontario. Days are getting shorter and evenings are cooling. It is a time where hunting and fishing camps come alive with activity. My journey to camp started months ago when planning started. We are headed north.

My uncle, who has been hunting and fishing his whole life, called last April to help me remember what WMU (Wildlife Management Unit) our camp is in. In Ontario there are close to a 100 WMUs, which help to conserve the animal population through the allocation of “tags.” In April, we apply for tags and renew licences for the coming fall, crossing our fingers that we are lucky enough to get a tag. During

that chat we talked about how we’d done the previous year. It ended with a promise to call and visit more.

During the phone call we shared a beer. Mine was a Red Tape Life Story. His was a Bud Light. My uncle once told me he looked forward to the days we would share a beer when I was old enough. I spend time reflecting that both of our beer choices are community based. He drinks macro beer, as that was what his friends and family have always drank, where I support the locals. As businesses close in Northern Ontario, I see him lean more into supporting craft—lagers still, but supporting the people who sponsor the local teams and give back.

Months later, with the vehicle packed, we head to the highway noticing the sugar maples have started to turn bright red in mid-August. My wife and I do this trip multiple times a year as we have a camp in the North where I grew up. The trip to the Soo will take us about six hours. Once we hit Parry Sound the SUVs and electric cars give way to large vehicles pulling boats and ATVs. Trailers are loaded with coolers and gas cans. I giggle. This is normal in Northern Ontario, but closer to Toronto it would be shocking.

Our camp in Northern Ontario is a cottage, however camps can range from cottages with indoor plumbing, electricity, and wifi to sheds completely off the grid, water access, logging road access. We are fortunate to have both. Our hunting camp is off the grid, five hours down a logging road.

The last time we visited my family and hunt camp members, we got together on the patio of Outspoken Brewery. It’s a must visit when in the Soo.

Menus for the camp are planned, expenses are divided, and dates are picked for the fall journey to hunt camp. Laughing and reliving stories from years of hunts over pints of Deadfall Lagered Ale becomes its own story when we stay all evening and close the patio down. Deadfall Lager is a great beer for the macro crowd. My family just recently commented on how good it was. It pours golden clear, with minor hop florals—exactly what you would expect for a beer to taste like beer.

When we arrive at our base camp, we turn on the power and the BBQ, prepping for the rest of the journey. On the BBQ, a lake trout caught in Georgian Bay in the past week. We do follow a strict water-on-the-water and beer-on-the-pier rule. Fall fishing will make you never want to put a line in before September, as long as you don’t capsize. The first night in camp, there’s usually a little treat with dinner.

There was a time when Stack Brewing had their bottle caps turned into fishing lures as merch.

ABOVE: When hunting it is important to wear high visibility clothing. The deer might have an SUV. LEFT: A canoe sits in the bucolic wilderness, waiting to be portaged or paddled. Amy Gaukel photos

Stack 4 x4 Belgian Quad is warming me like the fire I am sitting in front of, dark like the nightfall which comes early this time of year. The wife and I aren’t talking much, just taking in what is to come.

The sun rises and we are packed and heading up Highway 17. At our turn off, we pass through a provincial park, and then onto Crown land. We are actively hunting now, mostly looking for the partridge, who warm themselves on the side of the road and use the gravel for their gullet. Five hours later and with five partridge in the bag, we hit hunt camp. We unlock, unpack and grab a beer. This will be our home for a week, and we have brought multiple cases of Tread Lightly from Muskoka Brewing, not just for ourselves, but for company. I love this beer; It is full of contradictions. It is bold and full for a light beer, it tastes and looks macro, but it is craft, and for a family who almost solely shops at the beer store in Ontario, it is available there. Tread Lightly is a great beer to have in the afternoon, since it lets you keep working and moving without feeling weighed down.

We will be up before the sun and out until dark, looking for signs: tracks and rubs. We will walk 10 to 15 kilometres a day in the rain, sleet and

LEFT: Keep your beer under the canoe in order to keep the pine needles out. Photo courtesy of Muskoka Brewing ABOVE: A hunter of some calibre, out standing in his field.

Amy

Gaukel photo

blazing sun. Should we be successful in the hunt, that is where the work begins.

Moose and deer are hundreds of pounds, and usually need a trail blazed to recover them. It’s hours of work. With moose, a recovery usually involves one or two ATVs, strong backs, winches, and sleds. Once the recovery is done, hanging the meat, skinning and cleaning happens, again hours of work. This is precious work, ensuring nothing goes to waste, or that we are careless. We have to be thankful and respectful throughout this process. Saturday, a week after we went into hunt camp, we’re on our way home. We will make multiple boxes of steaks and sausages, and my wife puts some preserves in for friends and family who were not able to join us. In the years that we were not able to go hunting, those boxes were very appreciated. Once the work is done, we sit down for one last beer and start talking about next year. We pack coolers of our share to take home, wondering how many more fishing days we get in before we pull the boat out, and we start deer hunting. We also plan a fall feast for our Southern Ontario friends to share the harvest, sitting around the fire with the last Stacked Quad, already thinking of next year. j

Iron Brewer

Iron Brewer ONTARIO'S COMPETITION

by Gary Gillman

Oby Gary Gillman

ne of the most interesting (yet under-the-radar) brewing competitions takes place right on our doorstep: Iron Brewer, held by the Master Brewers Association of America, Ontario District.

Iron Brewer is an annual competition held among and for Ontario District members. It is a unique chance not just to test their skills and versatility, but to do it before their own Ontario peers. They brew at small scale and bring ten litres to judge at an awards event hosted by an Ontario brewery. Instead of representing their employer they compete for bragging rights on their own behalf. This year, Avling Kitchen & Brewery in Toronto hosted the Awards. In 2022 it was Hamilton’s Clifford Brewery, while Stonehooker Brewery held the honours in 2021.

Origins and Organizers

To learn more about Iron Brewer, I sat down with Paul Dickey, until recently its long-time organizer. He developed the competition in 2010 as an initiative of MBAA Ontario’s Technical Committee.

Paul was a key member of the influential Canadian Amateur Brewers Association, garnering many awards. He also brewed for numerous Ontario breweries, including his own, Cheshire Valley Brewery. Adding to this, he is a BJCP judgeGrand Master level, and a busy brewing consultant. A few years ago, veteran home brewer Ian Johnson joined with Dickey in the organizational duties. In 2023, Aaron Spinney (Merit Brewing) and Geoff Wiseman (Foundry Brewery) took over these responsibilities along with Johnson.

How the Brewing Works

Contestants select some or all of the ingredients from a package distributed by organizers but may not add anything—no grain, sugar, water adjustment, etc. They can brew any style. Suppliers associated with MBAA Ontario donate malt, hops, and other ingredients, and package contents change every year.

This year the package included malts (Euro Pilsner, Rahr 2-Row, Golden Promise, Vienna Malt, Caramunich II, and Pale Chocolate), hops

Local brewers sample each others' wares and size up the competition at the 2022 Iron Brewer competition. Paul Dickey photos

(Eclipse, Topaz, a New Zealand blend, and a numbered experimental variety), yeast strains (Thiol Libre, Clean Ale Yeast, Nova Lager, and Verdant IPA), and more esoteric ingredients like Coriander, passion fruit extract, and watermelon extract.

Ingredients for 2023 were contributed by Escarpment Laboratories, BGS Canada, Brew Culture, Canada Malting/Country Malt Group, Hops Connect, Lallemand, Monarch Tea, T45 Hops, and Yakima Chief.

Event Participation and Judging

Up to 16 competitors present their beers at stands. In the past tickets were sold only to MBAA Ontario members but this year a limited number of tickets was made available to the public, part of the proceeds of which go to Breast and Prostate Cancer Research. Each ticket brings with it the right to taste the competing beers and sample complimentary snacks. Attendance has reached around one hundred in recent years, impressive for an intramural event in a relatively small brewing community.

Judging for Iron Brewer is done by an expert panel of three blind-tasters, currently Dirk Bendiak, Marta Horofker and Kevin Hryclik. In 2015 a second award was added, the People’s Choice. All attendees at the Awards get to vote for People’s Choice. Last year Scott Darby won Iron Brewer for an I.P.A., with Dave Coutts winning People’s Choice for his Marzen. The year before, Steven He snagged Iron Brewer for a New Zealand Pils, with People’s Choice going to Ian Johnson for a Dunkelweizen. The winners of Iron Brewer and

People’s Choice earn a spot in the next year’s competition. A spot is also reserved for the hosting venue, and a student selected by Niagara College Teaching Brewery.

One of the great things about the competition is the way it permits an entrant’s creativity to blossom. Consider Ian Johnson’s 2021 Dunkelweizen: “We were given quite a bit of wheat and a huge variety of dark malts. While there wasn’t a major ingredient, it made sense to create a flavour profile that would be equivalent to Munich Malt. With the Weizen I yeast, a Dunkelweizen made sense. You look at the box and ask, ‘what can I do with this?’ It’s improvisatory.”

Using a limited number of ingredients to brew any style, a variety of tastes will emerge. Yet, the entries have a certain unity, since they use largely the same ingredients–which justifies judging them as a group. The results depend on whatever imagination the brewers bring to the assignment.

The Future is Wide Open

Iron Brewer has made a unique mark on the beer judging landscape, and the future holds even more promise. Geoff Wiseman considers the program a great confidence-booster, especially for assistant and younger brewers, himself included at an earlier stage. He hopes to encourage more of this segment to participate. According to co-organizer Aaron Spinney, “We're proud and happy to carry on the legacy that is the Iron Brewer… We're looking forward to bringing the excitement back to the Iron Brewer event post-Covid lock downs. We're off to the races.” j

The winners of 2022's competition (Iron Brewer Scott Darby, left photo, and People's Choice Winner Dave Coutts), as congratulated by the extremely accomplished Paul Dickey.

Paired

OYSTER MUSHROOMS WITH CORN CUSTARD

BY LUCIEN COMMAND

Lwith Black Bellows Ball Peen Nitro Stout

ucien Command—owner of Duff Pies— was born in Geneva, Switzerland but is originally from the South of France. Growing up he was surrounded by food – his mom owned a restaurant and everyone in his family was either a chef or butcher, “Every aspect of my life was ruled by cooking,” he says. As a kid, he practiced his skills by attempting the recipes in his mom’s cookbooks. What makes this recipe special for Command is its minimal food waste, “You use every single part of the corn. Stock, kernels, juice! With all the waste in today's world, this is a great way to waste less.”

The beauty of a nitro stout like Ball Peen by Collingwood’s Black Bellows Brewery can be

found in its rich flavour that coats the entirety of your mouth. With a large fluffy head that leaves a trail of milky bubbles on the glass, it’s impossible to drink this beer without daydreaming of crisp autumn leaves and cozy sweaters. Often in beer pairings, one looks for a combination that will highlight each other’s differences—opposites attract, after all! However, for this pairing, the smoothness of Ball Peen reflects the light and creamy indulgence that is this Oyster Mushrooms and Corn Custard dish. Both are lush and rich without being overpowering. The two, when enjoyed together, create a pairing that is elevated, decadent, yet approachable.

—Sabryna Ekstein

Lucien Command photo

Chef Lucien Command created this dish to use every part of the corn cobs, minimizing food waste.

TOOLS NEEDED

• Lemon juicer

• Cheesecloth

• Blender or food processor

INGREDIENTS

• 3 or 4 cobs of corn

• 4L water

• 10 to 12 oyster mushrooms

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Thinly sliced radish

• Thyme

• Cilantro

DIRECTIONS

Serves 2

Corn Custard

1. Start by shaving the kernels from the cobs of corn. Reserve a cup of kernels, and the naked corn cobs, and set aside. Blend the remaining kernels until it has a chunky consistency (approximately 10-20 seconds).

2. After placing a cheesecloth over a bowl, strain the blended corn mixture through the cloth using your hands. This will require some elbow grease! Discard the juiced kernels.

3. Transfer the corn juice to a small pot and stir constantly with a spatula over medium-high heat. Continue stirring until the juice becomes thick and creamy – custard consistency. Once reduced and thick, put on a lid and set aside.

Crispy Mushrooms

1. Preheat oven to 450F.

2. In a bowl, coat the mushrooms with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a baking tray and cook for 10 to 12 minutes. When the timer goes off, flip the mushrooms. Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes if you like a crispy yet tender consistency or cook for 10 minutes for a chiplike resemblance (umami bomb!).

Corn Stock

1. In a large pot add the reserved shaved cobs from earlier and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for at least one hour. Strain and discard cobs.

To serve

1. In a pot add the reserved kernels and sauté over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Be careful not to burn the kernels.

2. Add one tablespoon of your corn stock to deglaze, followed by immediately adding the corn custard to the pot. Stir well to combine. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Consistency should be creamy.

3. Spoon into a bowl and drizzle over a bit of olive oil. Add the crispy mushrooms. To garnish, top with sliced radishes, thyme springs and some cilantro leaves.j

When naming beers after hammers, you could have Sledge or Claw. Ball Peen: The Metalworker's Hammer.

VICTORIA PARK AVE.

VICTORIA PARK AVE.

LAKE ONTARIO

GREAT LAKES BREWERY

Brewery: 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd. | GreatLakesBeer.com Brewpub: 11 Lower Jarvis St. | GreatLakesBrewpub.com

RETAIL STORE SUN-TUES 10AM-8PM ^

WED-SAT 10AM-10PM

EST. 1987

Great Lakes Brewery continues to focus on Ontario, getting beer out to market as fresh as possible with a dedication to the customer. 99.999% of all beer produced remains here in the province for the people of Ontario to enjoy.

GREAT LAKES LAGER PREMIUM

LAGER

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

This crystal-clear lager pours bronze with a snowy head. Aromas of lightly toasted malts offer notes of honey and hay alongside underlying citrus.

PUMPKIN ALE

PUMPKIN SPICED BEER

Seasonal: B, L, LC

Pumpkin Ale has been brewed with a generous amount of locally-grown pumpkin and subtle additions of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and allspice.

CANUCK PALE ALE WEST COAST

PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

Canuck pours a deep gold, bordering on burnt orange, and produces a tight snowy white head with aromas of grapefruit, mango and pine.

KARMA CITRA IPA

Seasonal: B, L, LC

Notes of lemon rind, tropical fruits, soft pine resin and a touch of honey bound from the glass thanks to a generous amount of the famous Citra hop.

drink well, eat well!

Great Lakes’ new brewpub location, located at the bottom of Jarvis Street in Toronto, boasts 20 taps of #FreshGLB, a large courtyard patio, retail store, Detroit-style pizza and one heck of a smash burger.

MUDDY YORK BREWING CO.

22 Cranfield Rd., East York | MuddyYorkBrewing.com

Muddy York is the 2023 Canadian Brewery of the Year, with a second location coming in Stouffville in 2024. Perhaps more importantly, you might meet Nelson the brewery cat.

FREUDIAN SIP VIENNA-STYLE LAGER

VIENNA LAGER

Small-batch: B, L

25 5.0%

FRENCH BRANDY BARREL-AGED

INKWELL IMPERIAL STOUT IMPERIAL STOUT

Small-batch: B, L

65 11.9%

EASTBOUND BREWING CO.

700 Queen St. E., Toronto | EastboundBeer.com

Eastbound brewing offers regular trivia nights every other Tuesday, monthly live music, daily specials and happy hour. See their website event calendar for details!

BACKPACKER BLONDE BLONDE ALE

Year-round: B, L

LET’S GO EXPLORING DRY-HOPPED

IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC

TORONTO TORONTO

THE GRANITE BREWERY

245 Eglinton Ave. E. | GraniteBrewery.ca

The Granite deals not only with yeast but with culture: Come out for their Opera Revue on the fourth Sunday of every month.

GREAT NORTH MILD

ENGLISH DARK MILD

Seasonal: B, L

DARKSIDE BLACK

IPA

Seasonal: B, L

LEFT FIELD BREWERY

36 Wagstaff Dr. | LeftFieldBrewery.ca

ABV 24 3.9%

ABV 68 6.8%

BIRD WATCHER LAGER

Seasonal: B, L, LC

ABV 17 5.2% IBU

Left Field is expanding to Liberty Village in the near future, just north of the old Exhibition Stadium. Ernie Whitt would like that. You can just tell lookin’ at him.

SWEET SPOT MOCHA MARSHMALLOW STOUT

Seasonal: B, L, LC

ABV N/A 4.2%

N/A 6.2%

26 6.0% IBU

101-100 Symes Rd. | Shacklands.com

With an expanded brewhouse and local hero Frank manning the Fuoco Mio food truck just outside the door, Shacklands is a must visit.

Year-round:

AMSTERDAM BREWERY

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

AVLING BREWERY

1042 Queen St. E., Toronto Avling.ca

BANDIT BREWERY

2125 Dundas St. W., Toronto BanditBrewery.ca

BAR VOLO

17 St. Nicholas St., Toronto BarVolo.com

BEACHES BREWING CO.

1953 Queen St. E., Toronto BeachesBrewing.com

BELGIAN MOON BREWERY AT STACKT MARKET

3 Tecumseth St., Toronto Can.BelgianMoon.ca

BELLWOODS BREWERY

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

BIG ROCK BREWERY

42 Liberty St., Toronto BigRockBeer.com

BIRROTECA AT EATALY TORONTO

55 Bloor St West, Toronto IndieAleHouse.com

BLACK LAB BREWING

818 Eastern Ave., Toronto BlackLab.beer

BLOOD BROTHERS BREWING

165 Geary Ave., Toronto BloodBrothersBrewing.com

BRUNSWICK BIERWORKS

25 Curity Ave., East York BrunswickBierworks.com

BURDOCK BREWERY

1184 Bloor St. W.; 6 Denison Sq., Toronto BurdockTO.com

COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING

777 Dundas St. W., Toronto CollectiveArtsBrewing.com

COMMON GOOD BEER CO.

475 Ellesmere Rd., Scarborough CommonGoodBeer.com

FOLLY BREWING

928 College St., Toronto Folly Brewing.com

GODSPEED BREWERY

242 Coxwell Ave., Toronto GodspeedBrewery.com

GOLDENFIELD BREWERY

71 Sunrise Ave., North York GoldenfieldBrewery.com

GOOSE ISLAND BREWHOUSE

70 The Esplanade, Toronto GooseIslandToronto.ca

HALO BREWERY

247 Wallace Ave., Toronto HaloBrewery.com

HENDERSON BREWING CO.

128A Sterling Rd., Toronto HendersonBrewing.com

HIGH PARK BREWERY

839 Runnymede Rd., Toronto HighParkBrewery.com

INDIE ALEHOUSE BREWING CO.

2876 Dundas St. W., Toronto IndieAleHouse.com

JUNCTION CRAFT BREWERY

150 Symes Rd., Toronto JunctionCraft.com

KENSINGTON BREWING CO.

299 Augusta Ave., Toronto KensingtonBrewingCompany.com

LAYLOW BREWERY

1144 College St, Toronto Laylow.beer

LONGSLICE BREWERY

484 Front St. E., Toronto Longslice.com

LOST CRAFT BREWING CO.

837 Runnymede Rd., Toronto LostCraft.ca

LOUIS CIFER BREW WORKS

417 Danforth Ave., Toronto LouisCiferBrewWorks.com

MASCOT BREWERY

37 Advance Rd., Etobicoke; 220 King St. W., Toronto MascotBrewery.com

MILL ST. BREW PUB

21 Tank House Ln., Toronto MillStreetBrewery.com

NICKEL BROOK BREWING CO.

1589 The Queensway, Etobicoke NickelBrook.com

NORTHERN MAVERICK BREWING CO.

115 Bathurst St., Toronto NorthernMaverick.ca

OLD FLAME BREWING CO.

43 Tankhouse Lane, Toronto OldFlameBrewingCo.ca

RADICAL ROAD BREWING CO.

1177 Queen St. E., Toronto RadicalRoadBrew.com

RAINHARD BREWING CO.

100 Symes Rd., Toronto RainhardBrewing.com

RED TAPE BREWERY

159 Main St., Toronto RedTapeBrewery.com

RORSCHACH BREWING CO.

1001 Eastern Ave., Toronto RorschachBrewing.com

SAULTER STREET BREWERY

1-31 Saulter St., Toronto SaulterStreetBrewery.com

SILVERSMITH BREWING CO.

75 Horner Ave., Etobicoke SilversmithBrewing.com

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

BREWING CO.

151 E. Liberty St., Toronto SomethingBrewing.ca

STEADFAST BREWING CO.

301 Lansdowne Ave., Toronto SteadfastBrewingCo.com

STEAM WHISTLE

255 Bremner Blvd. , Toronto SteamWhistle.ca

3 BRASSEURS

Unit 100-120 Adelaide St. W., Toronto Les3Brasseurs.ca

TRUE HISTORY BREWING

1154 St Clair Ave. W., Toronto TrueHistoryBeer.com

WOODHOUSE BREWING CO.

150 Symes Rd., Toronto WoodhouseBrewing.com

The Second Wedge is fully rebuilt and reopened after their brewery was destroyed by an EF2 tornado in May 2022! (See issue 0601, nuff said -ed.)

5

NORTH & EAST GTA

PADDLES BREWING CO.

#3-1390 Hopkins St, Whitby 5PaddlesBrewing.ca

ALL OR NOTHING BREWHOUSE

439 Ritson Rd. S., Oshawa AllOrNothing.beer

BANTER & CO. BREWING

100-666 Baldwin St., Brooklin BanterAndCompany.com

BROCK STREET BREWING CO.

244 Brock St. S., Whitby BrockStBrewing.com

C’EST WHAT DURHAM

1885 Clements Rd., Pickering CestWhatDurham.com

CHRONICLE BREWING CO.

422 Lake Rd., Unit 3, Bowmanville ChronicleBeer.com

COPPERWORKS BREWPUB

7 Division St., Bowmanville CopperworksPub.com

THE CORNERHOUSE ON MAIN

6403 Main St., Whitchurch-Stouffville TheCornerhouse.ca

FALCON BREWING

30 Barr Rd., Ajax FalconBeer.beer

LITTLE BEASTS BREWING CO.

2075 Forbes St., Whitby LittleBeastsBrewing.com

MAGNOTTA BREWERY

271 Chrislea Rd., Vaughan MagnottaBrewery.com

MARKET BREWING CO.

4-17775 Leslie St., Newmarket MarketBrewingCo.com

OLD FLAME BREWING CO.

135 Perry St., Port Perry; 140 Main St. S., Newmarket OldFlameBrewingCo.ca

ROUGE RIVER BREWING CO.

8-50 Bullock Dr., Markham RougeRiverBrewery.com

TILTED GLASS BREWING CO.

160 Baseline Rd. E., Bowmanville TiltedGlass.ca

TOWN BREWERY

1632 Charles St., Whitby TownBrewery.ca

YORK BREWERY

Unit 10-10 Newkirk Rd., Richmond Hill YorkBrewery.ca

GOODLOT FARMSTEAD BREWING CO.

18825 Shaws Creek Rd. | GoodLot.beer

Goodlot makes fresh, hyper-local farm-raised beer using ingredients grown on their farm and by other small Ontario farmers.

PIPPA PORTER

Year-round: B, L

YONDER WEST COAST IPA

Year-round: B, L

BARREL HEART BREWING

Unit 20-53 Bittern St., Ancaster | Barrelheart.com

Barrel Heart’s house barrel culture coupled with the refreshing acidity of fruit weaves together old and new, creating elegant beers with depth and nuance.

WASHED AWAY BY SEA AGED GOSE

Year-round: B, L

CHERRIES

Year-round: B, L

NICKEL BROOK BREWING CO.

3426 Mainway, Burlington | NickelBrook.com

Burlington’s own specialists in IPA have changed over from their old Drury Lane location and have acquired brewmaster Johnny Briggs. Way to go, Johnny!

WICKED AWESOME

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE IPA

Seasonal: B, L, LC

UNCLE GOOSE

WEST COAST-STYLE IPA

Seasonal: B, L, LC

COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING

207 Burlington St. E., Hamilton | CollectiveArtsBrewing.com

Collective Arts celebrated its 10th anniversary this past September with a two-day party at the brewery called A Creative Trip, which brought together artists, beer lovers and live music.

COLLECTIVE LAGER LAGER

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

NONALCOHOLIC HAZY PALE ALE

NON-ALC PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC

BURLINGTON HAMILTON

Invicta

Adding to a long list of accolades for this Oakville gem, their IPA won World’s Best IPA at the World Beer Awards in 2021.

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

BADLANDS BREWING COMPANY

13926 Chinguacousy Rd., Burlington BadlandsBrewing.ca

BREWERS BLACKBIRD KITCHEN & BREWERY

375 Wilson St. E., Ancaster BrewersBlackbird.ca

BURLINGTON BREWERY

Unit G101-3600 Dundas St., Burlington BurlingtonCraft.com

CALEDON HILLS BREWING CO.

17219 Hwy 50, Palgrave CaledonHillsBrewing.ca

CLIFFORD BREWING CO.

1-398 Nash Rd. N., Hamilton CliffordBrewing.com

FAIRWEATHER BREWING CO.

1-5 Ofield Rd., Hamilton FairweatherBrewing.com

FURNACE ROOM BREWERY

1 Elgin St., Georgetown FurnaceRoomBrewery.com

GRAIN & GRIT BEER CO.

11 Ewen Rd., Hamilton GrainAndGritBeer.com

MASH PADDLE BREWING CO.

111 Sherwood Dr., unit 3A, Brantford MashPaddleBrewing.com

MERIT BREWING

107 James St. N., Hamilton MeritBrewing.ca

MONO CENTRE BREWING CO.

388113 Mono Centre Rd., Mono Instagram.com/MonoCentreBrewingCo

OLD CREDIT BREWING CO.

6 Queen St. W., Mississauga OldCreditBrewing.com

ORANGE SNAIL BREWERS

1-32 Steeles Ave. E., Milton OrangeSnailBrewers.ca

ORANJE SON BREWING

118 Sutherland S. W., Caledonia OranjeSon.com

SHAWN & ED BREWING CO.

65 Hatt St., Dundas LagerShed.com

SONNEN HILL BREWERY

20683 Heart Lake Rd., Caledon Instagram.com/SonnenHill

STEEL WHEEL BREWERY

105 Powerline Rd., Brantford SteelWheel.ca

STONEHOOKER BREWING CO.

866 Lakeshore Rd. E., Mississauga Stonehooker.com

THIRD MOON BREWING

295 Alliance Rd., unit 3, Milton ThirdMoonBrewing.com

3 BRASSEURS

2041 Winston Park Dr., Oakville Les3Brasseurs.ca

THE EXCHANGE BREWERY

7 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake | ExchangeBrewery.com

In addition to its wide selection of beer, The Exchange now has a robust menu of beer friendly food including General Assembly Pizza.

LIFE GAVE US

LEMONS

LEMON LAGER (SHANDY)

B, L

BENCH BREWING CO.

3991 King St., Beamsville BenchBrewing.com

BLACKBURN BREW HOUSE

8001 Blackburn Pkwy, Niagara Falls BlackburnBrewHouse.com

BREAKWALL BREWING CO.

46 Clarence St., Port Colborne BreakwallBrewery.com

BRIDGEWATER BREWERY

60 Niagara St., Welland BridgewaterBrewery.ca

BRIMSTONE BREWING CO.

209 Ridge Road N., Ridgeway BrimstoneBrewing.ca

COLD BREAK BREWING

193 St Paul St. W., St. Catharines ColdBreakBrewing.ca

COUNTERPART BREWING

3659 Stanley Ave., unit 6-8, Niagara Falls CounterpartBrewing.com

DECEW FALLS BREWING CO.

207 St. Paul St. W., St. Catharines DecewFallsBrewing.ca

DRAGAN BREWING AND WINE

100 Grantham Ave. S., Unit 1, St. Catharines DraganBrewingAndWine.com

THE GRIST CRAFT KITCHEN & BREWERY

78 Four Mile Creek Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake TheGrist.ca

KAME & KETTLE BEER WORKS

25 Pelham Town Square, Fonthill KameAndKettle.ca

LOCK STREET BREWING CO.

104-15 Lock St., Port Dalhousie LockStreet.ca

THE MERCHANT ALE HOUSE

98 St. Paul St., St. Catharines MerchantAleHouse.com

NIAGARA BREWING CO.

4915-A Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls NiagaraBrewingCompany.com

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING BREWERY

135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake NCTeachingBrewery.ca

NIAGARA OAST HOUSE BREWERS

2017 Niagara Stone Rd., Niagara-on-theLake | OastHouseBrewers.com

SILVERSMITH BREWING CO.

1523 Niagara Stone Rd., Virgil SilversmithBrewing.com

CITY NIAGARA

WELLINGTON BREWERY

950 Woodlawn Rd. W. | WellingtonBrewery.ca

DAILY 11AM-7PM

EST. 1985

Autumn sees the return of Wellington’s Imperial Stout, one of the most faithful recreations in Ontario of the original English style. This beer’s existence might be the reason behind the success of their M31 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout Gift Pack in the LCBO’s holiday release.

UPSIDE IPA

NEW ENGLAND-STYLE IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

Upside is exploding with grapefruit, peach, and tropical hop flavours. Bursting with fresh citrus hop character, this tasty IPA is on the up and up!

SPECIAL PALE ALE

ENGLISH-STYLE PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

Deep copper in colour, this well-balanced English style pale ale has biscuit and caramel flavours upfront and a subtle citrus hop finish.

HELLES LAGER HELLES LAGER

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

Crisp, refreshing, and smooth, this classic lager is the perfect go-to beer. Inspired by traditional German light lagers. Helles Yeah!

IMPERIAL STOUT

STOUT

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

This bold, full-bodied stout has an inviting aroma of dark chocolate and coffee, with roasted malt and toffee flavours alongside a hint of dark fruit.

hop on the bus!

Hop on the Guelph.Beer Bus and enjoy a free shuttle service with stops at each of Guelph’s local breweries. The Guelph.Beer Bus rolls once per month from April to December, get details and schedule at https://guelph.beer.

CITY PARIS

THE

Paris is serving award-winning beers on tap and in the bottle shop! Try the Dunkel alongside their mushroom and black truffle risotto!

HEAD GATE

Seasonal: B, L Year-round: B, L

TOGETHER WE’RE BITTER CO-OPERATIVE BREWING

300 Mill Street, Unit 1 | TWBBrewing.com

Join the October 7th Hop On WR Beer Bus tour between Counterpoint Brewing Co., Short Finger Brewing & TWB and a pop-up with Twas Now Brewing.

WOBBLY

Year-round: B, L

CENTRAL WEST

ABE ERB BREWING CO.

Year-round: B, L

WATERLOO BREWING

400 Bingemans Centre Dr. | WaterlooBrewing.com

143 Northumberland St., Ayr; 151 Charles St. W., Kitchener; 15 King St. S., Waterloo AbeErb.com

BAD APPLE BREWING CO.

73463 ON-21, Bayfield BadAppleBrewingCo.com

BAYFIELD BREWING CO.

14 Bayfield Main St. N., Bayfield BayfieldBrewingCo.com

BLACK SWAN BREWING CO.

144 Downie St., Stratford BlackSwanBrewing.ca

BLOCK THREE BREWING

1430 King St. N., Unit 2, St. Jacobs BlockThreeBrewing.ca

BROKEN RAIL BREWING

480 Glass St., St. Marys BrokenRailBrewing.ca

Waterloo’s taproom features a large variety of their craft beers, including their Festbier, brewed annually to celebrate the start of Bingeman’s Oktoberfest.

WATERLOO

Seasonal: B, L Year Round: B, L, LC, TBS

BROTHERS BREWING CO.

15 Wyndham St. N., Guelph BrothersBrewingCompany.ca

COUNTERPOINT BREWING CO.

#4-935 Frederick St., Kitchener CounterpointBrewing.ca

COWBELL BREWING

40035 Blyth Rd., Blyth CowbellBrewing.com

ELORA BREWING CO.

107 Geddes St., Elora EloraBrewingCompany.ca

FARM LEAGUE BREWING

295 Ainslie St. S., Cambridge FarmLeaguebrewing.com

FIXED GEAR BREWING CO.

20 Alma St. S., Guelph FixedGearBrewing.com

FOUNDRY BREWING

74 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge FoundryBrewing.ca

GREY MATTER BEER CO.

726 Queen St., Kincardine GreyMatterBeer.com

HERITAGE HOPS BREW CO.

21 Market Pl., Stratford HeritageHopsBrew.com

HOCKLEY VALLEY

25 Centennial Rd., Orangeville HockleyBeer.ca

INNOCENTE BREWING CO.

283 Northfield Dr. E., Unit 8, Waterloo Innocente.ca

JACKASS BREWING

100 Sheldon Dr., Unit 36, Cambridge JackassBrewing.ca

JOBSITE BREWING CO.

45 Cambria St., Stratford JobsiteBrewing.ca

MACLEAN’S ALES

52 14th Ave., Hanover MacLeansAles.ca

NEUSTADT SPRINGS BREWERY

456 Jacob St., Neustadt NeustadtSprings.com

PEEL ST. BEVERAGE CO.

68 Huron St., New Hamburg PeelStBevCo.com

RIVER ROAD BREWING AND HOPS

35549 Bayfield River Rd., Bayfield RiverRoadBrewing.com

ROYAL CITY BREWING CO.

199 Victoria Rd. S., Guelph RoyalCityBrew.ca

RURAL ROOTS BREWING COMPANY

21B Industrial Dr., Elmira RuralRootsBrewery.ca

SHAKESPEARE BREWING CO.

2178 Line 34, Shakespeare ShakespeareBrewingCompany.ca

SHORT FINGER BREWING CO.

20 Hurst Ave., Kitchener ShortFingerBrewing.com

SPARROW BREWING & ROASTING CO.

4-54 Guelph Ave., Cambridge SparrowBrewCo.com

SQUARE BREW

430 Parsons Crt., Goderich SquareBrewCo.com

STOCKYARDS BREWING

137 Glasgow St., Suite 385, Kitchener StockyardsBeverage.co

STONE HOUSE BREWING CO.

76050 Parr Line, Varna StoneHouseBrewing.ca

TWAS NOW BREWING

449 East Ave., Kitchener TwasNowBrewing.ca

UPPER THAMES BREWING CO.

225 Bysham Park Dr., unit 9m, Woodstock UpperThamesBrewing.ca

WAVE MAKER CRAFT BREWERY

639 Laurel St., Cambridge WaveMakerBrewery.com

WILLIBALD FARM BREWERY & DISTILLERY

1271 Reidsville Rd., Ayr DrinkWillibald.com

WRINKLY BEAR BREWING CO.

#121-355 Elmira Rd. N., Guelph WrinklyBearBrewing.ca

LAKE

BELLE RIVER BREWHOUSE

499 Notre Dame St., Belle River BelleRiverBrewhouse.myshopify.com

Belle River is local in the best sense of the word since all their beer names are related to Belle River and its history.

SONS OF KENT BREWING CO.

27 Adelaide St. S. | SonsOfKent.com

In addition to a wide variety of beers on tap, Sons of Kent has a plethora of vegan and gluten-free options in their delightful taproom.

WEST BEACH WEST COAST IPA DRIFT HAZY IPA

Year-round: B, L

LONDON BREWING COOPERRATIVE

521 Burbrook Pl. | LondonBrewing.ca

BLACK GOLD BREWERY

395 Fletcher St. | BlackGold.beer

Having made the switch to organic brewing, the range of products offered by London Brewing has significantly expanded, making them one of London’s fastest growing breweries.

LONDON ORGANIC LAGER LAGER

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

25 4.7%

ORGANIC HAZY

IPA HAZY IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC

30 6.5%

Petrolia, Ontario’s finest, Black Gold focuses on offering a range of crowd-pleasing classic styles. For something a little different, order a candypaired flight in their taproom.

LIQUID GOLD CREAM ALE

Year-round: B, L

ANGRY REDHEAD

IRISH RED

Year-round: B, L

SUNSPLASH

LONDON PETROLIA

BELLE RIVER CHATHAM

FLUX BREWING CO.

185 Oakland Rd. | FluxBrews.ca

Having celebrated their third anniversary, Flux is celebrating by bringing back their monthly music bingo starting in October. Purple Haze and IPAze!

MEUSE BREWING CO.

1853 Windham

Seasonal: B,L

Seasonal: B,L

In addition to serving their farm beers in a picturesque garden all summer long, Meuse now has indoor seating for those cold winter months.

SAISON DE LA MEUSE

SPÉCIALE BELGE

Year-round: B, L, LC

Year-round: B, L

CORDUROY DARKBIER

FARMHOUSE BLOND ALE

FESTBIER OKTOBERFEST LAGER

CHARLOTTEVILLE

BREWING CO.

1207 Charlotteville West Quarter Line Rd. | CharlottevilleBrewingCompany.ca

In addition to creating farm fresh beer with organic ingredients, Charlotteville is a living wage employer with Greenstep certification. Feel good about drinking well!

LOCAL 519 PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L

ALL WOUND UP!

HAZY IPA

Year-round: B, L

SOUTHWEST

ANDERSON CRAFT ALES

1030 Elias St., London AndersonCraftAles.ca

BACKYARD BREWING CO.

3035 Front Rd., Simcoe BackyardBrewing.ca

BANDED GOOSE BREWING

15 Main St. E., Kingsville BandedGooseBrewing.com

BAYSIDE BREWING CO.

970 Ross Lane, Erieau BaysideBrewing.com

BEERDED DOG BREWING CO.

21 King St. E., Harrow BeerdedDog.ca

BEERLAB!

420 Talbot St., London Beerlab.com

BIG FAMILY BREWING CO.

485 Harbour Rd, Sarnia BigFamilyBrewing.com

BREW MICROBREWERY

635 University Ave. E., Windsor BrewWindsor.com

CAPS OFF BREWING CO.

Unit C-168 Curtis St., St. Thomas CapsOffBrewing.com

CHAPTER TWO BREWING CO.

2345 Edna St., Windsor ChapterTwoBrewing.com

CONCESSION ROAD BREWING CO.

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

CRAFT HEADS BREWING CO.

89 University Ave. W., Windsor CraftHeads.ca

CURED CRAFT BREWING CO.

43 Mill St. W., Leamington CuredCraftBrewing.com

DUNDAS & SONS BREWING

400 Adelaide St. N., London DundasAndSons.com

FORKED RIVER BREWING CO.

45 Pacific Crt., Unit 4, London ForkedRiverBrewing.com

FRANK BREWING CO.

12000 Tecumseh Rd., Tecumseh FrankBeer.ca

GL HERITAGE BREWING COMPANY

8728 Howard Ave., Amherstburg GLHeritageBrewing.ca

GLASSTOWN BREWING CO.

331 James St., Wallaceburg GlasstownBrewingCo.ca

THE GROVE BREW HOUSE

86 Wigle Ave., Unit 1, Kingsville MyGroveBrewHouse.com

HOMETOWN BREW CO.

1730 Front Rd., St. Williams HometownBrew.com

IMPERIAL CITY BREW HOUSE

1330 Exmouth St., Sarnia ImperialCityBrew.com

KINGSVILLE BREWERY

15 Main St. W., Kingsville KingsvilleBrewery.ca

LOT 10 BREWING CO.

263 Dalhousie St., Amherstburg Lot10Brewery.ca

NATTERJACK BREWING CO.

25292 Talbot Line, West Lorne NatterjackBrewing.ca

NEW LIMBURG BREWERY

2353 Nixon Rd., Simcoe NewLimburg.com

POINT BREWING CO.

705 Lite St., Point Edward PointBrewing.ca

POWERHOUSE BREWING CO.

100 Kellogg Ln., London PowerhouseBrewery.beer

RAILWAY CITY BREWING CO.

130 Edward St., St. Thomas RailwayCityBrewing.com

RAMBLIN ROAD BREWERY FARM

2970 Swimming Pool Rd., La Salette RamblinRoad.ca

RED BARN BREWING COMPANY

20466 Lagoon Rd., Blenheim RedBarnBrewing.com

REFINED FOOL BREWING CO.

1326 London Rd.; 137 Davis St., Sarnia RefinedFool.com

RIVER RUN BREW CO.

146 Christina St. N., Sarnia Facebook.com/RiverRunBrewCo

RUSTY WRENCH BREWING CO.

9 Front St. W., Strathroy RustyWrench.ca

SANDWICH BREWING CO.

3230 Sandwich St., Windsor @SandwichBrewing

STONEPICKER BREWING

7143 Forest Rd., Plympton-Wyoming StonepickerBrewing.com

STORM STAYED BREWING CO.

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

TOBOGGAN BREWING CO.

585 Richmond St., London TobogganBrewing.com

TWO WATER BREWING CO.

446 Lyndoch St., Corunna TwoWaterBrewing.com

WALKERVILLE BREWERY

525 Argyle Rd., Windsor WalkervilleBrewery.com

WISHBONE BREWING CO.

80 Alice St., Unit 2, Waterford WishboneBrews.com

PUBLICAN HOUSE BREWERY

300 Charlotte St. | PublicanHouse.com

DAILY 11AM-PM

EST. 2006

Publican House’s charming Peterborough brewpub frequently features live music and their gold medal-winning Square Nail English Pale Ale. Why not try pairing it with their house cured Corned Beef Sandwich?

SQUARE NAIL

ENGLISH PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC

ABV IBU 5.5% 43

Slight citrus, fruit and earthy tones but with caramel malts and juicy but slightly resinous thirst quenching bitterness on the finish

PUB HOUSE ALE KOLSCH

Year-round: B, L

ABV IBU 4.6% 22

Light Bitterness with balanced toasted caramel malts, fruity citrus zest and herbal English hops make for a quaffable kolsch.

FENELON FALLS MADOC

FENELON FALLS BREWING CO.

4 May St. | FenelonFallsBrewing.com

Weekly events including trivia nights hosted by the brewmaster and live music/open jam nights every Friday. Sign up for the newsletter for lots more fun!

7/62 CRAFT BREWERY & TAPROOM

162 Russel St., Madoc 762brew.com

Simply good beer! Enjoy classic standards and innovative seasonals in a year-round taproom and seasonal patio.

RED ALE WEST COAST STYLE AMERICAN AMBER ALE MADOC DARK DARK RED ALE

GARAGE TIME BREWING CO.

658 Danforth Rd., Wellington | GarageTimeBrewing.ca

Visit Garage Time and enjoy a pint or a flight of artisanal beer in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Experience the passion, care, and craftsmanship that goes into every beer they make.

RENAISSANCE

GARAGE

JUMBLEBERRY

SOUR FRUITED SOUR

Year-round: B, L

STP – SPRUCE

TIP PALE ALE

PALE ALE IBU

11 5.2%

Seasonal: B, L

74 5.8%

KAWARTHAS, KINGSTON & PEC

100 ACRE BREWING CO.

390 Ashburnham Dr., Peterborough 100AcreBrewingCo.com

555 BREWING CO.

124 Picton Main St., Picton 555Beer.com

ALL MY FRIENDS BEER CO.

8 Stanley St., Bloomfield AMFBeer.com

BARLEY DAYS BREWERY

13730 Loyalist Parkway, Picton BarleyDaysBrewery.com

BELMONT LAKE BREWERY

54 Fire Rte. 17, Havelock BelmontLakeBrewery.com

BOBCAYGEON BREWING CO.

4-649 The Parkway, Peterborough BobcaygeonBrewing.ca

CHURCH-KEY BREWING

1678 County Road 38, Campbellford ChurchKeyBrewing.com

DAFT BREWING

768 Princess St., Kingston DaftBrewing.com

FINE BALANCE BREWING CO.

677 Innovation Dr., Unit 4, Kingston FineBalanceBrewing.ca

FOCAL BREWING CO.

98 County Rd. 35, Hastings FocalBrewingCo.ca

FOGORIG BREWING

2445 County Rd. 8, Campbellford Fogorig.com

GAN BREWING COMPANY

9 King St. E., Gananoque GanBeer.com

GANARASKA BREWING CO.

33 Mill St. S., Port Hope GanaraskaBrewingCompany.ca

GILLINGHAM BREWING CO.

1316 Wilson Rd., Hillier GillinghamBrewing.ca

HAVEN BREWING CO.

687 Rye St., Unit 6, Peterborough HavenBrewing.ca

KICK AND PUSH BREWING CO.

24613 Hwy. 7, Sharbot Lake KAPBrewing.ca

KINGSTON BREWING CO.

34 Clarence St., Kingston KingstonBrewing.ca

LAKE ON THE MOUNTAIN BREWERY

11369 Loyalist Pkwy., Glenora LakeOnTheMountainBrewCo.com

LINDSAY BREWING COMPANY

8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay Instagram.com/LindsayBrewingCompany

MACKINNON BROTHERS BREWING

1915 County Road 22, Bath MackinnonBrewing.com

MATRON FINE BEER

65 Barker Lane, Bloomfield MatronFineBeer.ca

MEYERS CREEK BREWING CO.

60 Dundas St. E., Belleville MeyersCreekBrewing.ca

MIDTOWN BREWING CO.

266 Wellington Main St., Wellington MidtownBrewingCompany.com

NAPANEE BEER COMPANY

450 Milligan Lane, Napanee NapaneeBeer.ca

NORTHUMBERLAND HILLS

BREWERY

1024 Division St., Unit 1, Cobourg NHB.beer

OLD DOG BREWING CO.

30 King St. E., Bobcaygeon OldDogBrewing.com

PARSONS BREWING CO.

876 County Road 49, Picton ParsonsBrewing.com

PRINCE EDDY’S BREWING CO.

13 Macsteven Dr., Picton PrinceEddys.com

RIVERHEAD BREWING CO.

631 Fortune Cres., Kingston RiverheadBrewing.com

SIGNAL BREWING COMPANY

86-87 River Rd., Corbyville Signal.beer

SKELETON PARK BREWERY

675 Arlington Park Pl., Kingston SkeletonPark.ca

SPEARHEAD BREWING

675 Development Dr, Kingston SpearheadBeer.com

SLAKE BREWING

181 Mowbray Rd, Picton SlakeBrewing.com

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

275 Princess St., Kingston SomethingBrewing.ca

STRANGE BREWING CO.

371 Chase Rd., Hillier facebook.com/The-Strange-BrewingCompany

WESTPORT BREWING CO.

41B Main St., Westport WestportBrewingCompany.ca

WILDCARD BREWING CO.

38 Gotha St., Trenton WildcardBrewCo.com

WILLIAM STREET BEER CO.

975 Elgin St. W. #4, Cobourg WilliamStreetBeer.com

QUEBEC

BEAU’S BREWING CO

10 Terry Fox Dr., Vankleek Hill Beaus.ca

Beau’s taproom in VanKleek Hill features 12 beers on tap and a range of events featuring live music! Many of their beers are available for purchase online! Oh yeah!

JUICED AF HAZY IPA (NEIPA)

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

N/A 6.5%

LUG TREAD LAGERED ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

N/A 5.2%

TAPROOM OPEN

Tuesday-Sunday 11am-7pm

10 Terry Fox Dr., Vankleek Hill, ON beaus.ca

ARNPRIOR OTTAWA

COLD BEAR BREW CO.

100 Madawaska Blvd., Arnprior | ColdBear.ca

Cold Bear’s brewery and taproom focus on using local ingredients to brew classic and innovative styles.

MADAWASKA BOHEMIAN

PILSNER CZECH

STYLE LIGHT LAGER

Year-round: B, L

TWO RIVERS

Year-round: B, L

FLORA HALL BREWING

37 Flora St., Ottawa | FloraHallBrewing.ca

Flora Hall Brewing is built on quality drink and food, with a focus on ensuring that their customers are delighted in every respect.

ENGLISH ORDINARY BITTER

ENGLISH BITTER

Year-round: B, L

BOHEMIAN STYLE PILSNER CZECH/BOHEMIAN PILSNER

Year-round: B, L

1,000 ISLANDS BREWING CO.

65 King Street West, Brockville 1000IslandsBrewery.ca

4 DEGREES BREWING CO.

275 Brockville St., Smiths Falls 4DegreesBrewing.com

ASHTON BREWING COMPANY

113 Old Mill Rd., Beckwith AshtonBrewingCompany.com

BEYOND THE PALE BREWING

250 City Centre Ave., Bay 108, Ottawa BTPShop.ca

BICYCLE CRAFT BREWERY

850 Industrial Ave., Unit 12, Ottawa BicycleCraftBrewery.ca

BIG RIG BREWERY

103 Schneider Rd., Kanata; 2750 Iris Street, Ottawa BigRigBrewery.com

BRAUMEISTER BREWING CO.

19 Moore St., Carleton Place Braumeister.ca

BRAUWERK HOFFMAN

733 Rue Industriel, Unit 5 Brauwerk-Hoffman.ca

BREW REVOLUTION

6081 Hazeldean Rd., Stittsville, BrewRevolution.ca

BROADHEAD BREWING CO.

1680 Vimont Ct., Unit 106, Orleans BroadheadBeer.com

BROKEN STICK BREWING CO.

600 Du Golf Rd., Hammond BrokenStickBrewing.com

CALABOGIE BREWING CO.

12612 Lanark Rd., Calabogie; 105 Schneider Rd. Unit 130, Kanata CalabogieBrewingCo.ca

CARTWRIGHT SPRINGS BREWERY

239 Deer Run Rd., Pakenham CSBeer.ca

MICROBRASSERIE CASSEL

BREWERY

2 Racine St., Casselman CasselBrewery.ca

CLOCKTOWER BREWPUB

575 Bank St., Ottawa Clocktower.ca

CONSPIRACY THEORY BREWING CO.

2172 Robertson Rd., Bells Corners CTBrewing.ca

COVERED BRIDGE BREWING

119 Iber Rd., Unit 6, Stittsville CoveredBridgeBrewing.com

DOG HOUSE BREWING COMPANY

3477A Petawawa Blvd., Petawawa DogHouseBrewingCompany.ca

DOMINION CITY BREWING CO.

5510 Canotek Rd., Unit 15, Ottawa DominionCity.ca

EVERGREEN CRAFT ALES

767 Silver Seven Rd., #21, Kanata EvergreenCraftAles.com

GOOD PROSPECTS BREWING CO.

411 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa GoodProspects.ca

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS BREWING CO.

25 Thorold Ln., Ingleside HumbleBeginningsBrewing.ca

KICHESIPPI BEER CO.

2265 Robertson Rd., Ottawa KBeer.ca

LAKETOWN BEER CO.

29 Beckwith St. East, Perth LaketownBeerCo.ca

LOWERTOWN BREWERY

73 York St., Ottawa LowertownBrewery.ca

MILL STREET BREWPUB

555 Wellington St., Ottawa MillStreetBrewery.com

NITA BEER CO.

190 Colonnade Rd., Unit 17, Ottawa NitaBeer.com

ORLÉANS BREWING CO.

4380 Innes Rd., Orléans OrleansBrewing.com

OVERFLOW BREWING

2477 Kaladar Ave., Ottawa OverflowBeer.com

PERTH BREWERY

121 Dufferin St., Perth PerthBrewery.ca

RIDGE ROCK BREWING CO.

421 Donald B. Munro Dr., Ottawa RidgeRockBrewCo.ca

RURBAN BREWING

412 Cumberland St., Cornwall RurbanBrewing.com

SHILLOW BEER CO.

1458 Cyrville Rd., Gloucester ShillowBeer.com

SMOKIE RIDGE BREWERY

10090 Cameron Rd., Mountain SmokiesGrapes.com

SPARK BEER

702 Somerset St. W., Ottawa Spark.beer

SQUARE TIMBER BREWING CO.

800 Woito Station Rd., Pembroke SquareTimber.com

STALWART BREWING CO.

10 High St., Carleton Place StalwartBrewing.ca

STRAY DOG BREWING CO.

501 Lacolle Way, Unit 4, Orleans StrayDogBrewing.ca

TOOTH AND NAIL BREWERY

3 Irving Ave. , Ottawa ToothAndNailBeer.com

TUQUE DE BROUE BREWERY

189 Bay St., Embrun TuqueDeBroue.ca

3 BRASSEURS

240 Sparks St., Ottawa; 565 Kanata Ave, Kanata Les3Brasseurs.ca

TWO HAWKS BREWING CO.

1 Mallard St., Pembroke TwoHawksBrewingco.ca

VIMY BREWING COMPANY

145 Loretta Ave. N., Unit 1, Ottawa VimyBrewing.ca

WHIPRSNAPR BREWING CO.

14 Bexley Pl., Nepean WhiprsnaprBrewingCo.com

WHITEWATER BREWING CO.

78 Pembroke St., Cobden; 503 Rafting Rd., Foresters Falls WhitewaterBeer.ca

WINDMILL BREWERY

5 Newport Dr., Johnstown WindmillBrewery.ca

WOOD BROTHERS BREWING CO.

2980 Wylie Rd., North Glengarry WoodBrothersBrewingCo.com

Muskoka & Lake Simcoe

THREE SHEETS BREWING

705 Goderich St.; 1246 Goderich St. ThreeSheetsBrewing.ca

Join Three Sheets at the Saugeen Shores Winterhawk’s Games all season long or at the brewery for trivia nights every Thursday!

ANGRY WIENER

MUSKOKA BREWERY

1964 Muskoka Beach Rd. | MuskokaBrewery.com

In addition to an innovative lineup of beers, Muskoka offers a number of delicious canned cocktails. The new Festbier comes in a 568mL can, available at the LCBO!

FESTBIER

PINEAPPLE

Seasonal: B, L, LC

Seasonal: B, L, LC

SIDE LAUNCH BREWING CO.

1-200 Mountain Rd., Collingwood | SideLaunchBrewing.com

The taproom is open seven days a week—stop by for a tasty pint or if you are in a rush pick up a case at the Side Launch retail store.

SIDE LAUNCH

SIDE LAUNCH

Year-round: B, L, LC

GRAVENHURST

SAWDUST CITY BREWING CO.

397 Muskoka Rd. N., Gravenhurst SawdustCityBeer.com

Join the crew at Sawdust in their delightfully rustic taproom on Mondays for open mic night! Maybe you’ll even join their mug club!

JUICIN’

NEW ENGLAND IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

ABV 35 6.0%

LONE PINE

WEST COAST IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS

65 6.5%

Year-round: B, L, LC

CANVAS BREWING CO.

12 John St., Huntsville | CanvasBrewing.com

Located just east of the swing bridge in Huntsville, Canvas not only has a mug club, but a 3200 sq. ft event space that’s perfect for weddings!

HORIZON HAZY

IPA

NEW ENGLAND IPA

Year-round: B, L, LC

THUNDERHEAD WEST COAST IPA

Year-round: B, L

QUAYLE’S BREWERY

4567 Line 12 N. | QuaylesBrewery.ca

Quayle’s has become a real year-round draw because of its music series, iconic taproom, beer garden and seasonal menus. They use their own hops in every one of their beers.

FIDDLE & FIELD

PALE ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC

BIG CHUTE WEST COAST IPA

Year-round: B, L

IBU

ABV 30 6.0%

ABV 20 5.2%

IBU

TORRANCE COTTAGE COUNTRY

CLEAR LAKE BREWING CO.

4651 Southwood Rd., Torrance | ClearLakeBrewing.co

With products available at the Muskoka Beer Spa, Clear Lake focus on making straightforward styles that will appeal to anyone in a hot tub.

SUMMER ALE ALE

Year-round: B, L

AMERICAN IPA IPA

Year-round: B, L

BANCROFT BREWING CO.

4 Hastings St. N., Bancroft BancroftBrew.ca

BARNSTORMER BREWING & DISTILLING CO.

265 King St. N., Alliston; 3-384 Yonge St., Barrie; BarnstormerBrewing.com

BLACK BELLOWS BREWING CO.

40 Simcoe St., Collingwood BlackBellows.com

BOSHKUNG BREWING CO.

9201 Hwy 118, Carnarvon; 20 Water St., Minden BoshskungBrewing.com

THE COLLINGWOOD BREWERY

10 Sandford Fleming Dr., Collingwood TheCollingwordBrewery.com

IBU

ABV N/A 4.2%

ABV N/A 6.3%

IBU

COUCHICHING CRAFT BREWING CO.

162 Mississaga St. E., Orillia CouchichingBrewing.com

FLYING MONKEYS CRAFT

BREWERY

107 Dunlop St. E., Barrie FlyingMonkeys.ca

HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS BREWING

1067 Garden Gate Dr., Haliburton HaliburtonHighlandsBrewing.ca

KATALYST BREWING CO.

13 Taylor Rd., Unit D, Bracebridge KatalystBrewing.com

LAKE OF BAYS BREWING CO.

2681 Muskoka District Rd. 117, Baysville; 59 Main St. E., Huntsville LakeOfBaysBrewing.ca

LAKE OF BAYS BRACEBRIDGE

BARRELHOUSE

295 Wellington St. Unit #15, Bracebridge BracebridgeBarrelHouse.ca

MANITOULIN BREWING CO.

43 Manitowaning Rd., Little Current ManitoulinBrewing.co

MUDTOWN STATION

1198 1st Ave. E., Owen Sound MudtownStation.ca

NORSE BREWERY

11 Ritchie Dr., Carling NorseBrewery.com

NORTHWINDS BREWHOUSE

499 First St., Collingwood NorthwindsBrewery.com

OUTLAW BREW CO.

196 High St., Southampton OutlawBrewCo.com

REDLINE BREWHOUSE

8 & 9-431 Bayview Dr., Barrie RedlineBrewhouse.com

SOUTH RIVER BREWING CO.

309 B Hwy. 124, South River SouthRiverBrewing.ca

SPLIT RAIL BREWING CO.

31 Water St., Gore Bay SplitRailManitoulin.com

STILL FIELDS BREWERY

317714 3rd Line, Meaford StillFieldsBrewery.com

TEST BATCHES BREWERY

476 Hugel Ave., Midland TestBatchesBrewery.com

THORNBURY CRAFT CO.

90 King St. E., Thornbury ThornburyCraft.com

TOBERMORY BREWING CO.

28 Bay St., Tobermory TobermoryBrewingCo.ca

TRESTLE BREWING CO.

9 Great North Rd., Parry Sound TrestleBrewing.com

TURKEY SHOOT BREWING CO.

482 The Queensway S., Keswick TurkeyShootBrewingCo.com

SLEEPING GIANT

BREWING CO.

712 Macdonell St., Thunder Bay SleepingGiantBrewing.ca

An OG part of Thunder Bay’s brewing community, stop by Sleeping Giant for their tap room and perch in the loft while you enjoy their wares.

NORTHERN LOGGER GOLDEN ALE

Year-round: B, L, LC, TBS Seasonal: B, L, LC

LAKE OF THE WOODS BREWING CO.

350 2nd St. S., Kenora LOWBrewCo.com

LAKEHEAD BREWING CO.

206 Park Ave., Thunder Bay LakeheadBeer.ca

NEW ONTARIO BREWING CO.

1881 Cassells St., North Bay NewOntarioBrewing.com

NORTHERN SUPERIOR BREWING CO.

50 Pim St., Sault Ste. Marie NorthernSuperior.org

ONE TIME BREW CO.

415 Fort William Rd., Thunder Bay OneTimeBrew.co

OUTSPOKEN BREWING

350 Queen St. E., Sault Ste. Marie OutspokenBrewing.com

SLATE ISLAND BREWING CO.

9 Simcoe Plaza, Terrace Bay Facebook.com/SlateIslandBreweryTB

46 NORTH BREWING CO.

Unit 1-1275 Kelly Lake Rd., Sudbury 46North.ca

CECIL’S BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN

300 Wyld St., North Bay Cecils.ca

DAWSON TRAIL CRAFT BREWERY

1181 Golf Links Rd., Thunder Bay DawsonTrailCraftBrewery.com

FULL BEARD BREWING CO.

219 Wilson Ave., Timmins FullBeardBrewing.com

GATEWAY CITY BREWERY

490 Gormanville Rd., Unit B, North Bay GatewayCity.ca

HALLETT BREWING

408 Scott St., Fort Frances Facebook.com/HallettBrewing

SPACECRAFT BREWERY

854 Notre Dame Ave., Sudbury Facebook.com/Spcrft

STACK BREWING

947 Falconbridge Rd., Sudbury StackBrewing.ca

WHISKEYJACK BEER CO.

485 Ferguson Ave., Haileybury WhiskeyjackBeer.ca

NORTHERN & NORTHWEST ONTARIO

BEER GROUND TO THE

You may have noticed that Beer To e Ground was absent from the last issue and that was for good reason. e number of brewery openings in the province has slowed in 2022 and 2023. According to Beer Canada’s statistics for the calendar year ending 2022, the number of brewing licenses in the province remained static at 380. If you assume that each of those breweries makes 10 beers a year, you’ll have to make do with something like 4000 beers to choose from.

I can hear you now: How many of those are IPAs?

It’s worth acknowledging some of the moves that have happened since the last time this column ran. Amsterdam Brewing has been purchased by Denmark’s Royal Unibrew. Waterloo has been purchased by Denmark’s

Carlsberg. Beau’s is now owned by Steam Whistle, Henderson’s beers are being brewed at Bench. Black Oak was purchased by Silversmith. Barncat Artisan Ales, Rhythm & Brews, and Bell City have all closed their doors. Whitewater and Calabogie have entered a partnership.

It’s all getting a bit hectic, really.

BARREL HEART BREWING

Barrel Heart Brewing in Ancaster is a labour of love on the part of accomplished brewer Mark Horsley who had a hand in the success of both Nickel Brook and Bench Brewing. Specializing in saisons and fruited variants made with local produce, Barrel Heart occupies a truly delightful niche and is well worth your attention. BarrelHeart.com

BRIDGEWATER BREWING

Located in quaint downtown Welland, Ontario, Bridgewater offers an accessible lineup of beers brewed on site in addition to a full lineup of wines and cocktails. Why not try their Ciderita, which marries the great taste of apple and lime in a single glass? Best of all, it’s canal adjacent meaning that you can bring your bicycle or just go for a pleasant stroll while the lakeboats slouch by. BridgewaterBrewery.ca

COLD BEAR BREWING CO.

Arnprior’s Cold Bear Brewing answers the question, “What temperature is the bear?” Fortunately the beer is the same temperature as the bear, and you’re not too late to be a part of their Founder’s Club. You can find their beer, which is made exclusively with local ingredients, at the Cheshire Cat Pub and at their taproom. ColdBear.ca

GLASSTOWN BREWING CO.

Located in Wallaceburg, just about halfway between Chatham and Sarnia, Glasstown was founded by Todd Shepley who jumped ship from the tool and die industry. e brewery’s taproom features the largest wood burning stove in Wallaceburg, and a familiar menu of pizza options. We wait with baited breath to see whether their beers will be available at the local curling club, but people who live in Glasstown shouldn’t throw stones. GlasstownBrewingCo.ca

GOLDENFIELD BREWERY

Just a stone’s throw from the Peek Freans factory and Muddy York Brewing in East York, Goldenfield has launched after three years of prep with a lineup of conventional styles including a witbier and an IPA. It will be interesting to see how they settle into the neighbourhood. If you visit, don’t sleep on Sultan of Samosas down the block. e Mutton is a perfect fit for Witbier. GoldenfieldBrewery.com

OLD FLAME DISTILLERY DISTRICT

You’d have to be crazy to take on Mill Street Brewing on their home turf. Fortunately for

Old Flame, they have experience opening in historic locations. Port Perry and Newmarket have prepared them to bring their unique selection of lagers to one of Toronto’s most prominent tourist districts. Some difficulty in licensing has resulted in a delayed opening, but with equipment on site, progress is being made.

OldFlameBrewingCo.ca

WRINKLY BEAR BREWING CO.

After a brief period of hibernation, Wrinkly Bear Brewing departed its original location after just over a year and a half and settled on a larger cave in Guelph. Over the course of the winter, the business has changed its focus from brewpub to taproom, meaning that the food menu has shrunk somewhat.

WrinklyBearBrewing.ca

YORK BREWERY

Long ago, in the before times, there existed Brew Your Own facilities. Some of them were so successful that they lasted until the modern day. York Brewing, which up until recently was e Brew Kettle has made the conversion to commercial brewery and is offering the people of Richmond Hill premium quality craft beer. YorkBrewery.ca

Comments? Questions? Opinions about which bear would win in a fight between a Cold Bear and a Wrinkly Bear? e Cold Bear would probably be at a disadvantage just based on not having warmed up first. Although, a Wrinkly Bear would probably be easier to grab by the pelt and it might have just gotten out of the bath. If they teamed up, could they take on the Dragon from the Kingston Brewpub? j Email us at jordan@thegrowler.ca with your outlandish theories about the outcome of a battle between two such titanic forces.

A guide to the roasty, robust

PORTER

by Jordan St. John

WHAT IS IT?

A style of dark ale initially brewed with Brown Malt in the 18th century, which has laterally become a robust malt forward beverage with lots of toasted malt, coffee, and chocolate notes.

DANGER LEVEL

Might fall in the ames or participate in a Knees Up.

GLASS

Nonic pint

STYLE STATS

ABV 4.0-5.4% IBU 18-25

COLOUR Chestnut to black

BODY Medium to medium full

BUBBLES Measured British enthusiasm

ORIGIN STORY

Picture it! 18th century London! Cockney labourers dine on oyster and jellied eels when they’re not hoisting boxes of stuff around in the ames dockyards! e government, knowing that gin is too strong to allow for such activity, lower the taxes on beer in order to keep the Porters upright. Demand for the refreshment that only Brown Malt and Brettanomyces can provide leads to huge industrial breweries that only periodically result in neighbourhood-wide floods!

DRINK WITH

Unagi don

PEI Malpeque oysters

HEY, IS THERE CHOCOLATE OR COFFEE IN THIS?

Not usually. Here’s the wild thing about grain: e roasting process is basically the same as coffee and chocolate. It’s a seed going into an oven at a high temperature. What you’re tasting are Maillard by-products like Pyrazine and Melanoidins, which are also produced in the coffee and chocolate roasting processes. Yeah! Science!

SIX MUST-TRY ONTARIO PORTERS

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6 Clifford, Porter Magnotta, 3 reads Porter Collective Arts, Stranger an Fiction Indie Alehouse, Breakfast Porter e Granite Brewery, 1812 Porter Muddy York, Porter

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