TORONTO, ON // More than 300 Cabinet Ministers, Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), and Legislative Assembly of Ontario staff gathered at Queen’s Park on Wednesday to taste and vote for their favourite fresh, local Ontario craft beers during the 14th annual Speaker’s Tasting at the Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) event.
Hosted by the Hon. Ted Arnott, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, this year was the biggest event yet. Thirty-two OCB-member breweries across 29 provincial ridings brought 116 different beers to be sampled and voted on. The winning selections will be served in the Legislative Dining Room at Queen’s Park for 2019-2020.
“On behalf of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the Ontario Craft Beer Tasting event,” says Speaker Arnott. “Your industry is dynamic and growing, and we are delighted to partner with you.”
Ballots were given to the guests, allowing them to vote for their favourite beers in specific style categories, as assigned below. The winning craft beers of the annual Speaker’s tasting event are:
- Speaker’s Choice Niagara College Teaching Brewery – Pilsner 101 Niagara Falls
- Ale Full Beard Brewing – The Bearded Prospector Cream Ale Timmins
- IPA Junction Craft Brewing – Caribru Session IPA York South-Weston
- Lager Blyth Cowbell Brewing – Shindig-Huron County Lager Huron Bruce
- Stout & Porter Muskoka Brewery – Shinnicked Stout Parry Sound-Muskoka
- Specialty Old Tomorrow Beer – Honey Ginger Shandy Don Valley West
“This annual tradition just keeps getting bigger and better. It reflects both the passion these brewers have for their craft and appreciation to the government for helping drive tremendous growth in the number of locally-owned breweries now operating across the province – especially in northern and rural Ontario – while creating unique opportunities for those communities,” says Scott Simmons, President, Ontario Craft Brewers. “This industry has an impact beyond brewing high quality, craft beer. It creates thousands of jobs, drives tourism, generates almost $2 billion in annual economic impact, and enriches communities.”
About Ontario Craft Brewers
Ontario Craft Brewers is an association of 90+ small, independent brewers dedicated to making great tasting, high quality beer in Ontario. Ontario craft brewers brew their beers locally using fresh, all-natural ingredients in communities throughout Ontario – from the Ottawa Valley to Windsor, Niagara, Muskoka, and as far north as Kenora.
Handcrafting over 550 premium beers, Ontario craft brewers employ over 2,200 people (FTEs) in Ontario, accounting for over 30 per cent of the direct brewing industry jobs in the province. As of 2017, craft brewers’ share of the provincial beer industry represented over 7.7% of the beer volume sold. Craft beer also continues to be the fastest growing segment within the LCBO’s beer category. The OCB’s long- term mission is to be a catalyst for growth in Ontario’s craft beer industry by creating an environment of inclusiveness, collaboration, advocacy, and innovation for all stakeholders. The vision is to be the unified voice for the Ontario craft beer industry. Please enjoy our Ontario craft beer responsibly.
For more information about the Ontario Craft Brewers, visit ontariocraftbrewers.com, follow us on Twitter @OntCraftBrewers, Instagram @OntCraftBrewers & Facebook www.facebook.com/OntarioCraftBrewers
