Great Lakes Brewing News Archive

Ontario Beer News

Originally Published: 12/97

By: Robert Hughey

by Robert Hughey

The new Magnotta Brewery in Vaughan, which has a 27 hectoliter brewkettle and a 22 hl cast out, is nearing completion with beer expected in time for Christmas. Head brewer Mike Ligas says that a 5% abv Magnotta Alt beer will be appearing in early 1998 under Magnotta's Classic European Styles series. A true India Pale Ale at 6.5% abv with a good whack of dry hops will be the next beer to be released in the series. A Magnotta Pilsener is still in the brewer's mind, though seasonals will surely follow.

An eight Hectoliter microbrewery, The Old Mill Brewery, has opened on the site of the former Taylor & Bate Brewery, in the picturesque village of Elora which is situated on the River Grand. This is the second brewery for Mike Arnold, who also owns Trafalgar Brewing Company in Oakville. George Hengstman, Trafalgar's head brewer, will be overseeing brewing operations at The Old Mill Brewery. Hengtsman has developed four new beers for the Old Mill: Irish Ale at 5% abv; Old Mill Grand Lager at 4% abv; an ESB tipping the scales at 4.7% abv; and Old Mill Rye Beer at 5% abv. The recipes and rights for the Taylor & Bate brewery's flagship brands, Elora Pale Ale and Elora Grand Porter, were not part of the deal.

John McKinney will do the brewing, as well as look after the day-to-day operation of The Old Mill Brewery. An on-site retail store, open from Thursday through Sunday to capture the busy tourist market generated by the quaint village, the Grand River Falls and the Elora Gorge, will be the main marketing tool. All beers are available in 650 ml bottles at the retail outlet adjoining the brewery. The Old Mill Brewery brands will be available on tap in Elora restaurants in due course.

The Waterloo Wellington Area Brewers Group is up and running with Mary Cocivera named as the coordinator. Brick and Gold Crown breweries in Waterloo County and Wellington County, F & M and Sleeman breweries in Wellington County are the founding members. Old Mill, Elora, has expressed interest but for now remains on the sidelines. To date, the organization is keeping the membership within the two counties. The plan is to recruit a number of other interested partners such as pubs, restaurants, hotels and historic inns, which can be part of a self-guided tour of the microbreweries and places where the brew can be sampled.

"As a group, we are dedicated to increasing awareness of the regional brewing industry and increasing interest in and consumption of the region's premium beers," said Mary Cocivera. The Waterloo Wellington Area Brewers Group has not yet zeroed in on all of their activities, but they expect to designate some "hospitality" weekends throughout the year when all the breweries will be open for visitation and tours.

"We will promote the two counties as a craft brewing destination and educate consumers about the qualities of craft beers, particularly the regional craft beers," added Mary Cocivera. "We want to attract tourists to the area, but also increase local pride in the regional breweries and brews."

MacLean's Pale Ale from the F & M Brewery is on tap at the Bow & Arrow, Toronto, and StoneHammer is on draft at the Rebel House, Toronto. If you make it up to Guelph, the Woolwich Arms has the Honey Wheat, the Pils, and MacLean's Pale Ale, all from F & M, on draft.

Keefe's Irish Stout has made a successful return at The Granite Brewery. Also, the Granite has a Friday night special of IPA in a wooden cask which has been releasing flavors from a vanilla/oakiness to a light, dry woodiness with underlying hop bitterness. The IPA, while not cask conditioned, is a bit different each time out and more than a few savvy beer drinkers have set themselves the task of sampling from each new batch.

Look for this year's release of Märzen, copper-colored and the hoppiest, hop bitter, of the range at Denison's Brewing Company.

Wellington County Brewery, Guelph, has relaunched SPA (Special Pale Ale) as WCB Special Cream Pale Ale, 4.5 % abv, which has three malts and Fuggles and East Kent Goldings hops. SCPA is an easy drinking, smooth, slightly sweetish ale with a subdued hop bitterness. WCB, in marrying several beer styles, has created a hybrid beer whose appeal lies in its unruffled drinkability.

Interbrew SA, owner of John Labatt, is ending its production and distribution deal for Stella Artois with Sleeman Breweries of Guelph.

Taylor & Bate, ex of Elora, looks to be in the process of being resurrected. Financing is being sought with the idea of putting together a deal to open a brewery at a new southern Ontario location. All to be revealed in time.

How can this be? In a recent reader's survey in Now Magazine the respondents chose under the heading of the Best Brewpub, The Amsterdam and the Rotterdam, neither of which are brewpubs though both used to be. The original Amsterdam Brewpub was sold and renamed Al Frisco's. The Rotterdam Brewpub is now a downsized bar serving beer from the adjoining Amsterdam Brewery, the name having been transferred at the time of sale of the original Amsterdam. Both the Rotterdam pub and the Amsterdam brewery are housed in the same building on King Street West.