Great Lakes Brewing News Archive

Ontario Beer News

Originally Published: 10/97

By Ian Bowering

With the havoc befalling the Ontario micro market, it is reassuring to see that some of the pioneers are still there. This August Creemore Springs noted its 10th anniversary by throwing a party for the town. Starting out with just one award winning label Creemore Springs Premium Lager; a second label, their seasonal Urbock was not introduced until 1996, proving that quality can triumph over variety. Similarly, Toronto1s Granite Brewpub celebrated its 6th anniversary of brewing great beers.

Magnotta, brewers of the True North line of natural bargain priced, quality mainstream beers is about to triple its capacity to 4,500 hectolitres at their new $1 million brewery in Vaughan. Currently retailing three labels from their Scarborough brewery, this fall they are planning to release True North Strong, 6% abv.

Following on the heels of the acquisition of Okanagan Spring Brewing Ltd. of Vernon BC, by Sleeman Brewing & Malting, Sleeman announced this summer, that it will proceed with a $10 million expansion of its Guelph brewery, nearly doubling its capacity.

Almost a year in the planning Oliver Dawson of Upper Canada brewing is to be congratulated for the spiffyist Ontario beer newsletter out there. Titled the "Upper Canada Loyalist" you can become a Loyalist and receive 20% off all brewery paraphernalia by writing to Oliver at Upper Canada Brewing Co, 2 Atlantic Ave., Toronto, Ont., M6K lX8, FAX 416 534-6998.

Still with Upper Canada, the brewery announced that they showed a profit during their second quarter, despite declining sales, caused in part, by the cancellation of several brands, and stiff premium beer competition.

The Clocktower brewpub in Ottawa celebrated summer with a Raspberry wheat beer. Approximately 4% abv, the raspberry taste competed with the hops to make this an adult fruit cup.

Finally, you will see the Ontario Small Brewers Association "Quality Alliance" symbol on their member's products guaranteeing that your beer has been brewed with care using natural ingredients, to the highest industry standards.

From The Bookshelf

Sometimes you have to ask yourself, why didn't I think of it? Maybe I didn't have enough nerve. Beer drinker Roger Tottman has just released "The Traveller's Guide to Great Beer - The Renaissance of Craft Brewing in Ontario." Okay nothing original about this, and actually very timely with the rapid changeover happening in the industry. What is new is he doesn't describe the BEER! Instead he simply provides the brewery1s description, history and pr, and only if they sent it to him. Consequently five micros are absent. If the book is short on critical text what about the introduction? How can I be critical when 1/3 of it was cribbed by my history of brewing in Ontario?

Despite of all of this the book is useful. For $12.95 the reader is given reasonably good maps locating 21 Ontario micros, along with telephone numbers and details about the respective brewery stores, along with a listing of better beer bars and brewpubs. (Published by Vanwell Publ. Ltd., P.O. Box 2131, St. Catharines, Ont., L2M 6P5, tel. 905 937-3100; fax 905 937-1760.

And in the MacKenzie Brothers category, you will no doubt be thrilled to learn that Stephen Gale and David Lloyd are about to launch "Beer Rules" telling you all you need to know about hangovers, and skunky beer etiquette. Their pr says it all: the book "is a must for every coffee table, bar and bathroom in North America." Neophytes to the beer world, these guys are so knowledgeable they actually thought I was Stephen Beaumont!