Last stop, though I really should have already left. The Olde Stone is a brew pub right in downtown ptown.
With a brewery in the basement, this place serves both their own brews on draught, as well as five Ontario guest taps. Today they were serving their stout, red fife ale, bitter, old ale and Belgian ale. Guests were Amsterdam Spring Bock, KLB framboise, Mill St Organic, Creemore, and Welly Trailhead. I opted for a pint of the old ale. It was dark and malty with lots of nice dark fruit and sweetness. A nice alcohol finish and linger that just kept going and saw me all the way down to the 401.
The atmosphere is a dark “warehouse” style room. Lots of wood and brick, chalk board menu, fireplace with some books near it, large bar with seating. What’s up with ptown and having individual tables on raised seating areas? A nod to Nick Pashley, it’s too dark in here to read, and the music is fairly modern rock. Not canned music, but not unpredictable.
The brewery in the basement is small, but enough to serve the bar. The staff are knowledgeable about their business, as well as some brewing information.
I like this place. A bit of a younger feel then St Veronus, and probably bumping on a ptown Friday night, but quite relaxed and civil on Saturday at noon.
Now, in the words of Simon and Garfunkel, I’m homeward bound.
I have to admit, my ptown prejudices have changed somewhat. I remember a guy called Luis who worked with me at Starbucks. He went to Fleming, and said that deciding if you wanted to go out drinking meant deciding if you felt like getting in a fight with a townie. I have no doubt that in many pubs around ptown, cheap beer and fighting is the name of the game, but I do doubt that this is the case in the three bars I visited on my ptown crawl. Yes, I’ve driven around looking for places and ended up in some pretty bleak residential areas; there is no doubt that this is still a very working class town, but there is growth. There was a number of stores I would have liked to visit, as well as at least one cafe. There were lots of wellies and plaid jackets, but there was also beers from far off places and comfortable, welcoming bars to drink them in.
I will return to ptown, and know I won’t be disappointed.
Cheers to the folks at Publican House, and best of luck on your future endeavours. Here’s to the Only, and the cool friendly place that has the same vibe in ptown as in tdot. Gezondheid to Roland and his very Belgian Tap Room. You me and a bowl of moules, okay? This time I’ll drink something Belgian. And finally I’ll raise my glass to the crew at the Olde Stone, I’ve never been to a brewpub that served other people’s beers as well. Keep up the great beers, and thanks for supporting so many other micros in Ontario.
