ThirstyMates.com

Steam Whistle has made their first advertisement! Can’t wait to see it on TV!

Apparently I did something right around here because I got the attention of someone at Beaus All Natural Brewing Company. They sent me a press release (ThirstyMates first official one!) about an up coming first annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Located in Vankleek Hill, Ont, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company was co-founded in 2006 by Tim and Steve Beauchesne, with a mission to brew beer Eastern Ontario could proudly call its own. Lug Tread is served on tap at more than 200 bars and restaurants and 60 LCBO stores in Eastern Ontario, as far West as Kingston, as well as directly from the brewery’s on site retail store. The brewery was recently named the best microbrewery in Ontario at the 2009 Golden Tap awards held in Toronto.

I wish I was a little closer to Ottawa and not in Toronto! Heck I wish I could just get my hands on some of it! I’d love to head out there and check it out. They’ll be releasing their fall seasonal beer Nightmärzen which is a traditional Oktoberfest lager and they’ll be serving up Lugtread as well.

I noticed Lugtread in the LCBO’s in Ottawa when I was there a few weeks ago for an unfortunate family gathering. The sweet looking swingtop caught my eye with it’s painted logo I love the style of the bottle and although it looked intriguing I didn’t have a chance to pick any up. This is a decision I sorely regret and wish that I could get some of thier beer in my local LCBO’s.

Beau’s is also teaming up with a bunch of restaurants in the Ottawa area for the festival. It appears as if this will be a really good time for those who can attend.

The Bavarian-inspired food will be provided by some of the best restaurants in Ottawa: Allium, Domus, Murray Street Murray Street Kitchen Wine & Charcuterie, Pascale’s All Natural Ice Cream, The Piggy Market, Urban Pear and Whalesbone; and a few hidden gems from further out: Ballygiblins (Carleton Place), The Branch Organic Restaurant (Kemptville), Knox Fine Dining (Moose Creek) and Mary’s Country Kitchen (Vankleek Hill). The event also boasts 8 hours of live Oompah music, haywagon rides, free brewery tours, free games for kids and adults, homebrewing demonstrations and more. Beau’s All Natural will also be releasing its Fall seasonal beer, the Night Märzen, a traditional Oktoberfest lager. More announcements of entertainment will be announced shortly.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. Bus packages including return trips from St. Laurent Shopping Centre are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available at all Bridgehead locations, the Piggy Market (400 Winston Ave, Ottawa), at the brewery in Vankleek Hill and by phone at 866-585-BEER (2337).

Now all I have to do is see if I can make it out there!

The open beer market for Ontario has come up again in our recent politics. This time it’s Progressive Conservative Leadership Candidate Randy Hillier striking up conversation of bringing beer to our local corner stores.

Last time this issue came up I was against it. Even praising Dalton McGuinty for declining the thought of selling in corner stores. But after some discussion on A Good Beer Blog I’m pulling off my best impression of a politician and doing a flip-flop.

My first reaction almost a year ago was to think that sellers of cigarettes are already doing a piss poor job of keeping THEM out of the hands of minors and that would just pass on to beer and wine. But I’ve had almost a year to think it over and think over the arguments posed to me by my readers and the readers of A Good Beer Blog and I’m thinking now that it wouldn’t necessarily be easier for kiddies to acquire alcohol in all cases and that the deregulation would end up to be good for the industry little guys.

I’m still somewhat on the fence though. I would like to see beer in my local convenience store but I do still think it would sometimes be easier for kids to get their hands on it. BUT that being said I never really had troubles getting my hands on a beer or 12 when I was under age either and that beer had to come from The Beer Store.

I’m sure if deregulation did occur though that the govt. would surely police it quite strictly for a long time to come.

Here’s what Randy thinks:

“Beer distribution in this province is currently controlled by foreign companies.” Hillier said. “In these tough times we need to give struggling small Canadian businesses like corner stores, restaurants and hotels more opportunities.”

“Dalton McGuinty is costing local Ontario businesses millions of dollars, to the benefit of foreign-owned breweries.”

Hillier proposes to allow corner stores to be able to sell wine and beer. As well restaurants, bars and hotels would be able to sell off-sales to further help their businesses.

I think he’s got a point or two that are quite valid. I for one would certainly take advantage of closer beer and wine (although now I mostly make my own). But I will still have that twinge in the back of my head about some dick-head shop keeper being too lazy to check an ID and some kid ruining or ending someone’s life. We’ve all seen it before though coming from the current system as well. So why am I afraid of this change?

Beer Wars has popped up on my radar a few times in the last few months and I thought that seeing as how it will be released on Thursday (April 16th) I’d throw up the trailer and a few thoughts. Check out the trailer then follow through to my thoughts.

And from the official site:

Director Anat Baron takes you on a no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry that ultimately reveals the truth behind the label of your favorite beer. Told from an insider’s perspective, the film goes behind the scenes of the daily battles and all out wars that dominate one of America’s favorite industries.

I’m pretty excited for this movie. I don’t know how soon I’ll be able to see it because there doesn’t seem to be any Canadian screenings set up yet. But being a fan of documentary films and a fan of beer I’d like to experience this insider’s perspective of what’s going on in the American beer industry.

Not to mention it would be good homework for opening my own brewery. But that will have to wait till after the OLG realizes I’m overdue for a payout.

Finally winter is here!

Not only does this mean snow and winter sports (which I am fond of) it also means WINTER BEERS!

In the last few weeks I’ve seen some winter and Christmas themed beers popping up in the L.C.B.O. and this makes me very happy as I am a fan of seasonally themed beers.

The first of these special coveted (if only by me) brews that I got my hands on was a Winter Ale from Great Lakes brewery which is nice and definitely drinkable but not quite different enough for me to really get super excited over.

Then just a few days later while wandering through my local L.C.B.O. I came across my absolute favorite of the winter brews. BAH HUMBUG!

Oh just typing the name makes my mouth water! This blend of ale and warming winter spices is truly a masterpiece! Wychwood brewery sure did a good job on this one (I shouldn’t be too surprised though seeing as how these are the people who make Hobgoblin and Fiddlers Elbow).

Winter is definitely my time for what I think of as “warming” beers. Beers like deep flavored ales and heavy stouts. Beers that make me feel full and happy. Beers that can be served without being fully chilled and still be enjoyable.

I’ve even heard rumor of eggnog beers… I’ll be investigating further in to this.

It’s that time again! Well… this blog hasn’t been around long enough to announce any previous but The Golden Tap Awards are upon us and internet voting has commenced!

In its second year now The Golden Tap Awards are a series of acknowledgements for Ontario brewers. The Categories this year are:

• Best microbrewery in the GTA
• Best microbrewery in Ontario (outside of the GTA)
• Best beer brewed in the GTA
• Best beer brewed in Ontario (outside of the GTA)
• Best bar in the GTA in terms of draught beer selection
• Best bar in the GTA in terms of bottled beer selection
• Best bar in Ontario (outside of the GTA)
• Best brewpub or tied house in Ontario

Head over to the Site and vote now.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has made comment on the recent pressure from certain groups to change the way you and I in Ontario buy beer.

There has been some pressure to remove the monopoly that is held by The Beer Store on Ontario beer buyers. When asked is the system should change at a news conference McGuinty said “No, I like the system as it’s found at present,” he said “I don’t think consumers would tell us that. Certainly, Ontarians are not delivering that kind of a message to me.”

Some think The Beer Store is not good for Canada being a foreign-owned operation, it’s a joint venture by American-owned Molson, Belgian-owned Labatt, and Japanese-owned Sleeman. But let’s not forget that all of those were Canadian companies before they were bought by bigger breweries. The Beer Store is also one of Ontario’s rightest supporters and contributors to recycling in Ontario.

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory also defended The Beer Store but said he’s willing to see change in the area of micro or local breweries. “I’m open to looking at ways in which we can give a fair chance to the craft brewers” by allowing them to sell in corner stores.

Personally I think this is a bad idea. There’s enough underage kids getting cigarettes as it is there’s no need to allow them to get beer as well. There is a better way to help craft brewers. Mandate The Beer Store to drop their prices for entry. Breweries are forced to pay to have thier beers supported in thier local beer store or LCBO. Lower that fee and more Craft beers will be eligible.

Steam Whistle Brewery holds a fond place in the heart of most Toronto beer drinkers. While they make on hell of a pilsner they also brew in a partially restored historic building in the heart of Toronto.

The John St. roundhouse was built in 1929 and was previously the home of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s steam engine repair and cleaning facility. It operated from 1929 to May 13th 1988 and is currently owned by the city of Toronto due to it’s historic status. Steam Whistle operates out of bays 1-14. The roundhouse is located just a short walk from Union Station, The Rogers Centre and The Air Canada Centre.

Steam Whistle is also very very GREEN!

• In winter 2008 they installed brand new state of the art equipment that cuts their energy consumption by almost 33% compared to their old brewhouse.
• During the summer months since 2008 Steam Whistle has used Enwave’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system to cool the air in their factory and conference rooms. Deep water pipes draw icy cold water from lake Ontario in order to cool the air. Reducing energy use and CFC’s.
• Even off site they’re green! Using biodegradable cups made of cornstarch resin that is completely compostable within 50 days! (That’s faster than it takes the city to clean up some of the garbage form the Toronto Grand Prix!)
• Keeping with the out of office theme Steamy (as some of the ThirstyMates call it) uses B20 Bio Fuel in their delivery trucks. The fuel contains Soya oils and recycled restaurant grease.
• You may have noticed after finishing a bottle or two of their delicious brew that the bottles are a little heavy. That’s because the glass is 33% thicker than the bottles used by the big boys. This ensures that less bottles get broken or chipped and allows them to be used up to 35 times. That’s about twice as much as a regular beer bottle. Yet another plan by those crafty guys at SW to keep it green is using custom bottles with painted labels they reduce the paper waste headed to the landfill and down the drain.

So next time you sit down to enjoy a box of the good green stuff remember that the company making it is doing its part to keep your world clean.

(As a side note please try to return those special bottles. In the summer of 2006 the crew at Steam Whistle had to slow production due to a lack of returned bottles.)