It’s patio season and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate that cracking open and refreshing, ice cold Ontario craft beer – from one of Ontario’s hundreds of talented, hard-working craft brewers!
Speaking of which, June is Ontario Craft Beer week. Say thank you to our hard-working and creative brewers by picking up a sixer or two to enjoy this weekend. We promise, you won’t regret it!
Agatha’s pick
Celebrating Sisters: Saison
Katalyst Brewing Co, Bracebridge, ON
katalystbrewing.com
“I love a good beer collab – even more so when it gives back to a community in meaningful ways. Brewed in collaboration with Reverence Barrel Works, and organized by the Indigenous Brew Crew at an Indigenous Brew Day), this Saison is the perfect beer for living your ultimate Muskoka #docklife. It’s fermented with a strain of wild yeast they harvested off a blackberry! The artwork is by Chief Lady Bird and a portion of the proceeds from this beer is being donated to indigenous women’s charities.”
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Caroline Morrow’s pick
CHERRY B Dry Hopped Sour
Burdock Brewery, Toronto, ON
burdockbrewery.com
Not too sour, not too sweet. This beer is an easy sipper, perfect for summer park hangs and made with Montmorency sour cherries from Niagara. One of my favourite things about Burdock is the ever changing rotation of fruity summer flavours. If you haven’t tried their wine-beer blends, those are also a must.”
James Arteaga’s pick
Glad Day Belgian Blonde with raspberry, orange peel & heather flowers
Henderson Brewing Company, Toronto, ON
hendersonbrewing.com
gladdaybookshop.com
“The Glad Day Belgian Blonde is a great complement to a day out in the sun with its light taste and hint of fruitiness. The craft beer is a collaboration with Glad Day Bookshop, which is the oldest queer-focused bookshop in the world. Profits of the beer sales go directly to Halco, which is a charitable not-for-profit community-based legal clinic that provides free legal services for people living with HIV/AIDS. Highly recommend checking out the bookshop that also serves as a food service and event space!”
Trevor Benson’s pick
Golden Spiral Dandelion Pale Ale
Kichesippi Beer Company, Ottawa, ON
kbeer.ca
“From their name to their amazing beers, everything at Kichesippi is based on telling great stories, and almost every story is connected to the people behind the business; and this makes their beer taste even better. A latest brew in their Lab Series, the Golden Spiral packs a nice bitterness from the dandelion roots and leaves used in it, is a beautiful colour when poured into a glass, and connects the drinker to the vital role that bees play in our lives.”
Robert Elliot’s pick
Spinning Yarn Barrel-Aged Blend
Avling Brewery, Toronto, ON
avling.ca
“A perfect picnic pint! This easy-drinking barrel-aged Saison blend combines funky farmhouse flavours with balanced fruit and floral notes. It’s local (99% Ontario ingredients!), it’s delicious, and it will age well if you want to save it for a special occasion. It doesn’t last long in my fridge, though – especially during BBQ season.”
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Dinusha Prasad’s pick
ZAP! Sour IPA
Nickel Brook Brewing Co., Burlington, ON
nickelbrook.com
“I love this easy-drinking (award-winning!) sour IPA from Nickel Brook. It’s tart, hoppy and mildly floral with notes of bright lemon, tangerine, and pine. Crisp and refreshing, it’s exactly what you want to drink on a hot summer day.”
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Zoë Galanis’s pick
Pumpkin Ale
Great Lakes Brewery, Etobicoke, ON
greatlakesbeer.com
“While I’m not a huge beer drinker, I really appreciate brewing as a craft. When I do drink beer it’s typically around the fall during “pumpkin season”. One brew I go back to year after year is Great Lakes Brewery’s Pumpkin Ale. It’s refreshing, super smooth, and the ale’s warm spices make the beer taste like fall in a glass.”
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Valerie Keast’s pick
Ta-Beer-Wit Belgian Wit Beer
Whiskeyjack Beer Company, Haileybury, ON
whiskeyjackbeer.ca
“A stop at a nearby retailer in Sudbury to pick up some of Whiskeyjack’s Belgian Wit is part of my upcoming camping trip. I’m excited to enjoy this beer, with its zesty flavours, by the fire as I sit back to enjoy the beauty of Northern Ontario!”
