Tag Archives: ontario

Cask Days 2011 – Start Planning

By chris | Published: October 14, 2011

Cask Days is coming.  Specifically, it’s Sunday October 30th.  That should be enough.  If you’ve been to Cask Days before hit up http://www.caskdays.com/  and get your tickets. I’ll see you there. Okay, I realize that a lot of you might not be familiar with Cask Days, so let me elaborate, though seriously consider just buying your tickets now: they’re going fast.  You can read my pitch once you’re done. So, many of you will know that I am not alone in my reverential view of Bar Volo, on Yonge St, north of Wellesly.  To say that Ralph Morana and his bar are one of the most influential entities in the Ontario beer scene is an understatement indeed. From importing stellar….  [Read More]

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The Rambam – Gluten-free Belgian Quad – Snowman Brewing

By chris | Published: October 13, 2011
The Rambam - Gluten-free Quad - Snowman Brewing

You know what I love?  Good beer.  I think that goes without saying, but I said it anyways.  I love weissebeirs and dunkels and pilsners and stouts and imperial lite lagers.  I like it all.  Incidentally (and seemingly non-related) I also love bread and pasta.  See where I’m going?  I’m a bit of a gluten freak.  My wife somewhat recently went gluten-free.  This means I make two pizzas, two pastas, and toast out of two breads.  I suppose I could just bite the bullet and eat the gluten-free stuff, but I don’t.  I just really love gluten. I wonder, what would happen if I couldn’t have gluten.  My grandfather was a pretty severe celiac, so I’ve got a long history….  [Read More]

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Miami Weiss – Great Lakes Brewery

By chris | Published: September 9, 2011
Miami Weiss - Great Lakes Brewery

Ah Great Lakes, you and your crazy names.  Robohop, Does the Muumuu make me look hefe?, and the classic, Miami Weiss (say it. Remember, that “W” is pronounced like a “V” in German).  Miami Weiss, up until now, has only been available on draught at bars in southern Ontario and at festivals, where it is often served in a dry-hopped cask version.  The funny thing about it, is it’s not a weisse beer.  It would more accurately be called a pale ale, with a lot of wheat in the grain bill.  But you’ve got to love the name.  It’s available for a limited time at the LCBO, and often found at bars around Toronto.

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Dunkel Buck – Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.

By chris | Published: September 8, 2011
Dunkel Buck - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.

Okay, I know, I kind of go on and on about Beau’s.  But seriously, this is one of the coolest friendliest breweries out there.  And they just keep on making awesome beers.  Many of you will be familiar with their “Wild Oats” series, which are special batches of beers they make seasonally. Vrienden, Bog Father, and Winterbrewed all pop to mind. So of course, when I heard about their new Wild Oats, No. 10 “Dunkel Buck”, I was excited.  Beer from one of my favourite breweries named after one of my favourite films from my youth.  It’s hard to imagine it could go wrong.  The style of beer is a Dunkel Weisse beer, the dark strong Bavarian-style wheat beer.  For….  [Read More]

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Rickard’s Blonde

By chris | Published: July 11, 2011
Rickard's Blonde

So in a little package from my friends at Molson, I received this alongside Sublime 67, for me to see if I wanted to review.  Rickard’s has obviously been on my radar for some time.  Red was one of the early “craft” beers I drank, though I now have red ales that I prefer.  Their white is okay, and not a bad option in bars where the other choices are things you see bikini-clad women hawking during sporting events on TV.  So I was interested when I received this brand to review.  It’s listed as  German-style Pils on the label.  I’ll be honest, it’s a gold lager made by a macro brewery.  My history with Rickard’s makes me think it….  [Read More]

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Open July First

By chris | Published: June 30, 2011
Parliament Hill with fireworks in the background

Alack and alas, too often do I find myself on a National or Provincial holiday in want of beer.  Why?  Well, because I don’t plan well.  And thinking of things like buying beer the day before the holiday is just totally beyond me, most times.  But do I have good news for you!  Just because the LCBO and Beer Store see it fit to not sell beer on the few days a year when they really should, doesn’t mean all purveyors of beers are that close-minded. For sure, we all know, most bars will be open.  And no doubt, those blessed with a patio will be jumping.  Those with a roof top patio with sight lines to fireworks (I’m looking….  [Read More]

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Johnny Simcoe A.P.A. – Great Lakes Brewery

By chris | Published: June 17, 2011
Johnny Simcoe APA - Great Lakes Brewery

I almost feel like it’s silly mentioning, but I guess you can’t say it enough.  I love Great Lakes Brewery.  Mike Lackey at Great Lakes is producing some amazing wonderful beers.  Now with Adrian (formerly of Black Oak) taking over as Brewmaster and Plant Manager, things are going to get crazy!  Many of the best beers are one-offs or adaptations for their monthly event, Project X, a night of fun, food and beer at the Brewery in Etobicoke.  If you haven’t been to one and you like beer, get to one as soon as you can (check http://www.greatlakesbeer.com/ for details).  While it hardly replaces being there and drinking casks of amazing beer, they often have bottles in their retail store….  [Read More]

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India Pale Ale – Black Creek Historic Brewery

By chris | Published: May 23, 2011

This past Friday, I was invited up to Black Creek Pioneer Village, in Toronto’s north-end of the city, next to the main York University campus, to visit their historic brewery.  Despite an insane long-weekend induced drive, I was happy and excited to be going up.  I really like Pioneer Village, and have actually been a few times since the usual person stops going in public school.  I’m also a big fan of their two brands available at the LCBO, a Porter and a Pale Ale.  And, of course, I love visiting breweries of all stripes, and going to one that is in an historic style, is even better.  I’ll be writing a post shortly about the tour itself, but I….  [Read More]

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Interview with Bill Coleman – Cameron’s Brewing Company

By chris | Published: May 21, 2011

Things seem to be in a constant state of change in the brewing scene here in Ontario.  More and more breweries are trying new and exciting brews, they’re growing, not just in portfolio, but in physical size too.  New faces are turning up, as demand increases.  All this is excellent for beer drinkers here, who will see more excellent products available, both seasonally, and in regular distribution. I recently was able to sit down with Bill Coleman, the new president of Cameron’s Brewing Company, in Oakville.  Cameron’s hosts a monthly cask event, and I was invited with a few other beer writers to come out, meet Bill, discuss where they’re at and where they’re headed, and, of course, drink some….  [Read More]

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Oranje Weisse – Amsterdam Brewery

By chris | Published: May 19, 2011

Okay, we all know I’ve got a huge crush on Amsterdam.  Disclaimer stated.  That being said, I’ve got a bit of a “thing” about this beer.  Ummmm, it’s not a weisse.  That’s a German style of beer, and the sausage-munchers are a tad bit obsessed about the ingredients, and specifically what is *not* in there.  Namely, anything other than water, malted barley/wheat, hops and yeast.  Therefore, orange peel, dry spices, whatever, have no place in weisse beers.  Amsterdam calls this Oranje Weisse, as a nod to the Dutch part of their history (Oranje being a nickname for the Netherlands National Football Team).  But even on the label, it’s referred to as an unfiltered Flemish-style wheat beer, which is better known….  [Read More]

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  • Chris Schryer

    Chris SchryerI regularly describe myself as an "ardent supporter of beer", which pretty well sums it up. While I'm not working or busy being a husband and dad (okay, honestly, sometimes while I'm doing those things), I am drinking beer, attending events, visiting pubs, and thinking about beer. I work at Castro's Lounge, my local bar in the Beach, where I host beer events and take part in most things beer-related.

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