Tag Archives: volo

The Case For Cask

By chris | Published: October 25, 2012

*** This post lead to a re-connection with The Bell, and their story has taken an interesting turn: they have just successfully funded a community buy-out! Exciting times, and you can read more about it here: http://www.bellcommunity.org.uk/ *** In June of 2000, my girlfriend (now wife) and I staggered through the streets of Bath, making our way from the bus terminal to the YMCA hostel. It was dark, and nobody seemed to be around. Erika had mis-stepped off a curb leaving London, and had sustained a fairly moderately sprained ankle. To try and help out, I was carrying my own pack and the day pack, as well as heavier items from hers. As new backpackers, we had totally over-packed and…. [Read More]

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]

Posted in Beer News | Also tagged cask days, ontario | 2 Responses

Stuff you need to know today – March 1st 2011

By chris | Published: March 2, 2011

Wow, blink and suddenly there’s like a billion cool beer events and news items to address. Okay, maybe not quite a billion, but a lot. Get your calendar and bank statement out, and get planning! March promises to be a pretty exciting month for beer lovers in Toronto.

Posted in Beer News | Also tagged amsterdam brewery, BB BarFly, beau's, great lakes brewery, lcbo, Project X | 4 Responses

Stuff you need to know about Volo today – Tuesday, December 21st

By chris | Published: December 21, 2010

So, I’m going to go ahead and assume we all know about Bar Volo, and just dive in (if you don’t, http://www.barvolo.com is a great place to start). Some updates are in from Tom, and well worth passing along: Holiday Hours December 20th-23rd: 12PM – 2AM December 24th: 12PM – 5PM December 25th-26th: CLOSED January 1st – 2nd: CLOSED

Posted in Beer News | Also tagged bar volo | Leave a comment

Stuff you need to know today – Tuesday, December 7th

By chris | Published: December 7, 2010

Doing it again, stuff I think you can’t live without… A Night with Fred – Hopfenstark – Bar Volo So, immediately below this post is my post for this event. I won’t repeat myself, I just thought I’d point out that it’s happening, and it’s going to be great. Telling it like it is – Jordan St John While I generally try to be supportive of all the small brewers (and some of the bigger ones) in Ontario, and also keep an open mind about different people’s preferences, I’ve had an ongoing personal conflict. There is a brewery who is infamous on the big internet beer sites (www.bartowel.com, www.beeradvocate.com, www.ratebeer.com, etc). While I’ve enjoyed some of their products, and reviewed…. [Read More]

Posted in Beer News | Also tagged bar volo, beau's, caba, Church-Key, hopfenstark, lcbo | Leave a comment

A Night with Fred – Bar Volo

By chris | Published: December 7, 2010

Just got a reminder from Tom at Volo and thought I would pass it along. HMH Negotiants and barVolo Presents A Night With Fred… Microbrasserie Hopfenstark Feature Join barVolo on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 at 8:00pm and discover the beers of Microbrasserie Hopfenstark from L’Assomption, Québec. Brew master and founder Frederick Cormier will be present while his beers are being served on draught in limited availability. To commence the occasion, we will only be serving beers from Microbrasserie Hopfenstark in 300mL glasses until supplies last. The following beers will be available; Hopfenstark Ostalgia Blonde Hopfenstark Postcolonial IPA Hopfenstark Saison Du Repos Hopfenstark Saison Station 7 Hopfenstark Saison Station 55 Hopfenstark Greg American “Harvest” Stout Hopfenstark Framboise Hopfenstark Kamarad Friedrich Russian…. [Read More]

Posted in Beer Event | Also tagged bar volo, hopfenstark, quebec | Leave a comment

Cask Days – Bar Volo

By chris | Published: October 5, 2010

Just in from Ralph at Volo!!!! ABOUT CASK DAYS October has become Toronto’s annual month to celebrate cask-condition ale – a term for unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally carbonated beer that undergoes secondary fermentation. Once tapped, cask-ale – also referred to as real ale, has only a few days to be consumed at it’s peak; we call these days ‘Cask Days’. During this time of the year, Cask Days attracts brewers from Ontario and Quebec to showcase their finest brews. This event has encouraged brewers and fans of craft beer to experiment and explore diverse styles of beer. To commence the 6th annual Cask Days, we are happy to announce that this is the biggest yet – with cask events hosted across…. [Read More]

Posted in Beer Event | Also tagged bar volo, cask, cask days, ontario, toronto | Leave a comment

Black Oak at Volo and beyond – Toronto Beer Week

By chris | Published: September 25, 2010

After making my farewells at The Monk’s Table, I hopped the subway down to Wellesley and the short walk to Volo. Upon approaching, I was hailed from the patio by Ken Woods, Ralph and a crew of happy beer drinkers. After a chat, abbreviated only by my desire for more beer, I headed into the bar, where I bumped into yet more beer-minded friends. After discovering that pretty much everything I really wanted (hopbomb, Oktoberfest, saison) was gone, I opted for a Cheshire Valley ESB (which Paul Dickey brews at Black Oak). I then settled in for some of the usual Volo chat, traded a bottle of DDC Rigor Mortis for a Half-Pints Burley Wine with Andrew Bartle, met Kevin…. [Read More]

Posted in Toronto Beer Week | Also tagged bar volo, black oak, castro's, cheshire valley | 4 Responses

$4 Pints at Volo – Toronto Beer Week

By chris | Published: September 21, 2010

After eating more seafood then a Nova Scotia Fisherman at Starfish, I hopped up to Volo to vote on the IPA cask challenge final and enjoy some $4 pints. At this point I must say: I go to Volo somewhat frequently. I’ve been to numerous events, including the epic cask days. With that in mind, let me say, Volo was RAMMED last night. So busy I didn’t bother taking out my camera, as it would have been hard to find a place to open the case. I also discovered that they had blown though the casks a long time before I arrived. The good news was, I was able to get a lovely glass of 10 Bitter Years, which made…. [Read More]

Posted in Toronto Beer Week | Also tagged bar volo, black oak, cask, ipa, scotch-irish, toronto, toronto beer week | Leave a comment

Pre Toronto Beer Week – Saturday Night

By chris | Published: September 19, 2010

So, yesterday was a busy beer day, despite the fact that Toronto Beer Week still doesn’t actually start until tomorrow. Volo was having a Dieu du Ciel! party, and I celebrated my 30th birthday a few weeks early, to take advantage of my best friend actually being in the country. So, unless this is the first post you’re reading on my blog, you probably know I’m pretty fond of Dieu du Ciel! brewery, from Montreal. I’m also pretty fond of Bar Volo and HMH Negotiants (Ralph Moranna owns them both) who do a steady trade of Cieu du Ciel! beers in Toronto, God bless them. So an invitation to the media/trade element of the party last night was more like…. [Read More]

Posted in Toronto Beer Week | Also tagged bar volo, castro's, castro's lounge, dieu du ciel! | Leave a comment