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

Get your copy of The Growler today!

The Fall/Winter 2023 issue of The Growler is out now! You can buy single issues or subscribe here, or find Ontario’s only craft beer guide at these local breweries across the province:

7/62 Brew
Barrel Heart Brewing & Blending
Belle River Brewing
Black Gold Brewery
Black Lab Brewing
Brothers Brewing Company
Brew Donkey Tours
Broken Rail Brewing
Cameron’s Brewing
Canvas
Caps Off Brewing Co.
Cassel – Microbrasserie Cassel Brewery
Chapter Two Brewing
Clear Lake Brewing/Muskoka Beer Spa
Clifford Brewing
Cold Bear Brewing
Common Good Brewing
Couchiching Craft Brewing
Counterpoint Brewing Co.
Cowbell Brewing
Dominion City
Eastbound
Fairweather Brewing Co.
Fenelon Falls Brewing
Flora Hall
Flux Brewing Company
Focal Brewing Co.
Gateway City
Godspeed Brewery
GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co.
Goose Island
Granite Brewery and Tied House
Great Lakes
Lagershed (Shawn & Ed)
Lake of Bays
Lake of the Woods
Left Field Brewery
London Brewing
Longslice Brewery
Mackinnon Brothers
MacLeans
Market Brewing
Meuse Brewing Company
Meyers Creek Brewing Co.
Muskoka Brewing
Natterjack Brewing Co.
Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Orange Snail Brewing
The Paris Beer Co.
Publican House Brewery
Railway City
Red Barn Brewing Company
Refined Fool Brewing Co.
Rorschach
Sawdust City Brewing Co.
The Second Wedge Brewing Co.
Shacklands Brewing Co
Shillow Brewing
Side Launch Brewing
Sleeping Giant Brewing
Something in the Water Brewing Co.
Sons of Kent
Spark Beer
Sparrow Brewing
Split Rail Brewing Co.
Still Fields Brewery
Stonehooker Brewing Co.
Three Sheets Brewing
Tilted Glass Brewing Co.
Together We’re Bitter
Town Brewery
Turkey Shoot Brewing Co.
Upper Thames Brewing
Waterloo
Wellington Brewery
The Wheeled Brew