Outside my window in midtown Toronto the snow is falling, but very gently. In fact, individual flakes hover amongst the pigeon netting. The old adage that March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion is not exactly accurate in this instance. Split the difference. April arrives like a limping Alpaca. While we’re waiting to go to print with the newest issue of The Growler, I realized it was time to convey the news from around the province of Ontario.
OPENINGS AND CLOSURES
Corbyville’s Signal Brewing has re-opened on a soft launch basis under new ownership. Trevor Lehoux from Kingston’s Skeleton Park Brewing had purchased the location in the closing days of 2023. They are currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 12-9.
Skeleton Park Brewing, which had purchased Spearhead Brewing as part of the same deal, is in the middle of closing its original location and moving into the Spearhead facility on Development Drive in Kingston, Ontario. The final day at the old location is slated to be Sunday, March 24.
Gananoque Brewing in Gananoque has permanently closed. The announcement in January that the brewery was closing for the winter first raised suspicions that this may have been the case.
Cambridge’s Old Galt Bottle Shop is closing and will be celebrating its final day in operation on Saturday, March 23rd with live music, a sausage pop up, and guest brews.
Toronto’s Folly Brewing, currently on its third set of ownership, is slated to close in the very near future and has ceased production of beer. This comes as some surprise as the renovation to the space prior to its closure was extensive.
Kingsville Brewing’s 127 Taphouse is once again open, having successfully recovered from the flood that closed their location for a month and a half.
ENDORSEMENTS & KUDOS
Congratulations goes to Third Moon Brewing, which won 16 awards from Untappd’s Community Awards last week, including 8 awards for highest rated Imperial/Double Pastry Stout, Triple IPA, Quadruple IPA, Imperial Black IPA, Black IPA, American Strong Ale, Doppelbock, and New Zealand Pilsner. They also took the entire Imperial/Double Pastry Stout category, which must be some kind of record.
At that point, why not just buy one of everything?
THE SIX PACK
The purpose of this section is to recommend products that I think are neat from breweries around the province that you might not have tried. I’m going to do something a bit gauche up top here, and promote one of my own projects. There has to be some kind of benefit to doing this job.
THE SECOND WEDGE ZIVOTNI CZECH STYLE LAGER
A collaboration with me, Zivotni is a 6.1% Czech Style Specialni that includes Bohemian Floor Malt, Jasmine Rice, Saaz hops, and a new Czech variety called Vital which produces white and pink florality on the nose alongside a gentle hit of sandalwood and a complex, herbal palate. Mostly, I just hope people like it.
TRESTLE BREWING SALT DOCK JUMP PEACH SAISON
Salt Dock Jump. Brewer make saison. Peach go blender. Puree go saison. Saison peach now. Beer go can. Can go LCBO. You buy can. Beer go glass. Glass go mouth. Beer go mouth. Mouth go yum. Salt Dock Jump. Nice can art.
WILLIBALD CYCLOPS DOUBLE IPA w/ SIMCOE HOPS
Described as “slightly dank with notes of red berries, plum and citrus,” this tasty DIPA is not to be missed, but then most Willibald IPAs are like that. I just hope that all that dry hopping didn’t create any hop Polyphemus. You know who’s going to get that joke? Nobody.
HENDERSON SUNBLOCK BLACK LAGER
Did you know that the 8th of April is going to feature an eclipse? Did you know that Southern Ontario is on a prime viewing trajectory? Did you know that if you buy a four pack of Henderson Sunblock Black Lager you get a pair of Eclipse glasses? Well, now you know. For God’s sake, don’t stare directly at the sun. You’re not a Cure album.
Burdock has been making a lot of good lagers lately, and personally, I think their Christmas six pack of lagers in the LCBO was a really good idea. I’m excited about this because of the collaboration with Mellön Brasserie, but also because whole cone hops are pretty rare at the moment.
BARREL HEART BREWING EACH APRICOT MADE GOLD
To make this saison, Barrel Heart sourced several varieties of apricots from a single farm in Beamsville, Ont., and ripened them in their brewery for three days – a laborious but joyful task that required turning each apricot by hand each day. Mark Horsley is going to do it the hard way every single time. I love that about him.
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