As the winter progresses, you can just about bet there’s doings transpiring in Ontario’s beer world. The Growler Ontario is here to relay all the news that you can reasonably fit into a bi-weekly newsletter on a website with theoretically unlimited space.
The Canadian Brewer’s Choice Awards were hotly contested at Niagara On The Lake’s very own Pillar and Post Inn last week highlighting the best in Canadian brewing for calendar year 2023. While full results are available over at their website, a couple of notable Ontarians deserve special recognition.
Tied for first place as Brewer of the Year is Jamie Shillow of Ottawa’s own Shillow Beer Co. With early brewing success as a part of a Samuel Adams sponsored homebrewing competition, Shillow has paid her dues, and with husband Ben moved their contract brand to a physical space in Ottawa in 2021. Congratulations to Ben and Jamie!
Mascot Brewing’s Frost Hammer Double IPA beat the competition from pillar to post to take Beer of the Year. Featuring Nelson Sauvin and weighing in at 8% ABV, Frost Hammer has notes of stone fruit, guava, passionfruit, and white wine. Reached for comment, CEO Aaron Prothro said “This recognition is a shoutout to the passion and dedication of our brewing crew. Crafting approachable, top-notch beers is what we’re all about, and Frost Hammer Double IPA embodies the chill craft vibe we’re known for.”
Michael Hancock (late of Denison’s Brewing Company and Side Launch Brewing) was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. An associate of Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, Michael Hancock is responsible for a number of excellent beers across the range of his career, but perhaps most famous for Denison’s Weissbier, which for a period of nearly a decade was the highest rated wheat beer in the world according to Ratebeer.com. Although Michael is semi-retired and tinkering with clocks and motorcycles, you can still find his collaborative beers at Godspeed Brewing under the name Arbeit.
Abe Erb’s locations in Waterloo, Kitchener, and Ayr have ceased brewing as part of the operations of their chain of restaurants. While the restaurant chain concept continues apace, the brewing portion of the business has ceased as of late 2023 according to ownership.
Closures
South River Brewing (originally Highlander, opened in 2009) in South River, Ontario has announced the cessation of operations at their brewery on February 29th, 2024. President Dwayne Wanner has posted a statement in a banner at the top of their website with their circumstances and a heartfelt message.
The original Bank Street location of Clocktower Brewing in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood has been shuttered. Having been founded in 1996, Clocktower was one of the mainstays of Ottawa’s brewing scene through the late 90’s and early 2000’s and spawned several other locations, three of which are still operational. On a personal note, I very much enjoyed a roast turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce I had there alongside an ESB sometime around 2006.
Openings
The newest brewery in the province is Tavistock, Ontario’s Madmash Brewery, which features a Scottish theme and pub fare so traditional that Cranachan is actually featured as a dessert. Try their 5-Way IPA, named for a local if somewhat confusing intersection.
Upcoming Events
February 10
Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival 10:30 – 6:00
Please don’t throw a snowball at me! I’m serving a beer! Also, there’s no snow. That’s mud!
Terra Lightfoot @ Black Bellows
Breweries are the new venues, you know. And this should be excellent.
True History x Godspeed’s Double Release Party
Two Zoiglbiers being released at two locations on the same day! Lukr taps! Metal Jeff! ZOIGL!
February 16
Royal City Brewing Lager Fest
Some of the best lagers in Ontario! 18 Breweries! Snacks! DJ Chill Haze on the ones and twos!
Hamilton’s Food and Drink Fest
Try out Miski Brewing! They make beer from Quinoa! Also, try the Shaq burger!
Beyond the Buzz: A Non-Alcoholic Beer Festival
Dive into the world of non-alcoholic brews. Tickets are for a brewer’s profile on Sunday at 5:00. Find out what goes into non-alc creations!
Left Field Liberty Village Grand Opening
Live music all weekend! $5 and $8 dollar pours! Hot Dogs! Slightly larger than normal stools!
February 17
Royal City Brewing Lager Fest
Some of the best lagers in Ontario! 18 Breweries! Snacks! DJ Chill Haze on the ones and twos!
Hamilton’s Food and Drink Fest
Try out Miski Brewing! They make beer from Quinoa! Also, try the Shaq burger!
2024 Toronto I Heart Beer & Taco Festival
Lotsa breweries! Lotsa tacos! If you’re going to get birria, you probably want a bib.
Beyond the Buzz: A Non-Alcoholic Beer Festival
Dive into the world of non-alcoholic brews. Tickets are for a brewer’s profile on Sunday at 5:00. Find out what goes into non-alc creations!
Left Field Liberty Village Grand Opening
Live music all weekend! $5 and $8 dollar pours! Hot Dogs! Slightly larger than normal stools!
February 18
Beyond the Buzz: A Non-Alcoholic Beer Festival
Tickets are for a brewer’s profile on Sunday at 5:00. Find out what goes into non-alc creations!
Left Field Liberty Village Grand Opening
Live music all weekend! $5 and $8 dollar pours! Hot Dogs! Slightly larger than normal stools!
February 19
Left Field Liberty Village Grand Opening
Live music all weekend! $5 and $8 dollar pours! Hot Dogs! Slightly larger than normal stools!
February 22
The Sadies @ Farm League Brewing
The Sadies! And also, presumably beer!
February 24
Winter Warmup 2024 Beer and Cask Festival @ Henderson Brewing 11:00-5:00
Remember cask? It’s back! In winter!
March 1-2
Beerhurst @ Deerhurst
The best rhyming beer festival since … ever.
The Six Pack
In order to compile this newsletter, I signed up for every brewery newsletter I could find in the province of Ontario. This means I see a lot of new releases. Every two weeks, I’m going to pick the six pack that piques my interest. This week, I’ve completely ignored Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl. I wrote themed listicle columns for years and I’m over it.
Muddy York Diamond Geezer English IPA
Alright, Guv. I wrote the other week lamenting the state of English IPA, and I might have been talking out my khyber. You know. Telling porkies. This is the business. Kosher as chicken soup. Finest in all Westminster. British as Charlie Windsor.
Quayle’s The Last Spike Szechuan Wit
This expression of mala numbing is available at the brewery only, and for a limited time. To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Quayles has added Szechuan peppercorns to the mix, adding a little zing to the palate.
Blood Brothers Paradise Lost Salty Dog
For the midwinter blahs, you might want something a little bright, a little citric. This is described as a Gin Paloma in a can. It’s got grapefruit, salt, and acidity making it a refreshing change of pace from the everyday. Can I interest you in a Rip Torn reference, Larry?
Cold Bear Brew Co Morning Star ft. Mallard’s Milk Bar
Okay, it doesn’t come out until the 14th, but this is an 11.9% imperial stout that is a collaboration with an artisanal ice cream store which is part-owned by one of our writers. Sure, nepotism, but also it tastes like “chocolate chip cookies dipped in coffee.” You would have chosen it too.
Refined Fool Dogzone 2: Maximum Juice 10% IPA
A 10% IPA featuring notes of zesty tangerine, lemon, passionfruit, apple, and grapefruit. Light on bitterness but packed with flavour, once you try it you’ll be begging for a sequel (or a prequel). The label is a mash up between a pug and Terminator 2.
Grain and Grit Fly By Night Stout with Chocolate and Sabro
Here’s a great idea. It’s essentially a chocolate macaroon, but instead of using toasted coconut, you have the influence of Sabro, 2022’s hop of the year. It’s a good solid use of an ingredient to create depth and interest in a flavour profile. Also, the label has a raven and a skull.
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