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DRAGONETTE • DANNY MICHEL • THE TREWS 

THE MIDWAY STATE • THE SHEEPDOGS 

AUG. 5 TH - 7 TH Bandshell Park • get tickets at beerfestival.ca 

Legal Age 19+. Proper ID Required. No Children or Pets. Rain or Shine. Please Enjoy Responsibly. 

get tickets 

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toronto’s 

Top 20 

beer bars 

Match brews 

with your 

TakeouT 

cool new 

beer gear: 

openers, carriers, 

coolers and more 

can’t-miss 

beer fesTs

T.O.’S TOP 20 BEER BARS 

where to 

drink 

beer 

in toronto 

right now 

STEFANIA YARhI 

the toronto beer scene is heating up. New, independently 

owned brands are sprouting like spring barley, and at least 

three beer sellers – Brock Shepherd of Burger Bar, Ralph 

Morana of Bar Volo and Tom Paterson, former owner of the 

Paddock – are becoming beer makers. The seeds planted in 

the 80s by microbrewery innova tors like Upper Canada 

and Conner’s are now bearing fruit in the burgeoning craft 

beer movement. By combining the traditions of 

Europe with a no-holds-barred sense of New 

World experimentation, the little guys continue 

to take incremental bites out of the giant maltynationals. 

Toronto’s thirst for distinctive, quality 

beer made both locally and around the world 

remains unslaked. By GRAHAM DUNCAN 

Laurie Hill serves ups 

the suds at Bar Volo. 

1bar Volo 

587 Yonge, at Gloucester, 

416-928-0008, barvolo.com 

Ralph Morana has transformed this Yonge 

Street café into a cozy clubhouse for Toronto’s 

beer scene. Fourteen taps and three 

hand pumps focus on locals, with an emphasis 

on special beers and one-offs, alongside 

150 different bottles, including rarities like 

the sour Le Trou du Diable from Quebec and 

Belgium’s Westvleteren. But this isn’t 

enough for Morana and his two sons. They 

now possess a brewpub licence and a relatively 

tiny brewing system in the kitchen that 

turns out house-made beers and will eventually 

offer up eight regular brews. “This is 

the third phase of my life”, says Morana. “I 

started off as a landscape architect, then a 

restaurant owner and now a brewer. For the 

next 15 years, that’s what I want to do.” 

Michael hollett EDITOR/PUBLISHER alice Klein EDITOR/CEO DAVID LOGAN gEnERaL managER pAm stepheN vP, aDvERTISIng 

PUBLISHED EvERy THURSDay By now coMMunications inc 189 ChurCh Street, toronto, on., M5B 1Y7 telephone 416-364-1300 e-Mail advertising@nowtoronto.com online nowtoronto.com 

NOW is Toronto’s weekly news and entertainment voice, published every Thursday. Entire contents are © 2011 by NOW Communications Inc. NOW and NOW Magazine and the NOW design are protected through trademark registration. 

R. jEANETTE MARTIN 

7beerbistro 

18 King East, at Yonge, 

416-861-9872, 

beerbistro.com 

If you have any doubts 

about beer’s upward mobility, 

be sure to pay a visit to 

this deluxe downtown suds 

stop. The taps pay suitable 

attention to locapours, augmented 

by imports like 

Koningshoeven Dubbel and 

Fuller’s London Pride. But 

BB stakes its claim to fame 

on the impressive document 

that is their 150-bottle list, 

featuring sour beers, aged 

ales, imperial stouts and exclusives 

like Cantillon and 

Avery. continued on page 43 

GRILL 

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Legal Age 19+. Proper ID Required. No Children or Pets. Rain or Shine. Please Enjoy Responsibly. 

2 the NOW beer guide 2011 the NOW beer guide 2011 3 

®/MD Anheuser-Busch, Inc.


where to 

drink 

beer 

in toronto 

right now 

DAVID LAURENCE 

BEER fAcTS 

Bottled beers should be stored upright to reduce 

oxidation and contamination from the metal cap. 

1allen’s 

143 Danforth, at Broadview, 416- 

463-3086, allens.to 

Discerning tipplers seeking scotch, 

VQA wines and beer have known 

about Allen’s on the Danforth for decades. 

Once you subtract the four imports, 

the remaining 11 black-handled 

taps behind the long dark bar all pour 

Ontario craft brews. But it’s the bottles 

that really ensure Allen’s reputation as 

a Toronto beer mecca – 160 labels in 

all, including 22 Belgians, a good selection 

from la belle province and a particular 

focus on hard-to-find Canadian 

strong beers like the vintage dated 

Eisbock from now-defunct Nia gara 

Falls Brewing Company. 

John Kadai pours at the suds at 

Ciro’s House of Imported Bier. 

DAVID LAURENCE 

Chelsea Larocque and Lucas Poirier 

get ready for their brews at Ciro’s. 

1the Feathers 

962 Kingston, at Scarborough, 

416-694-0443, thefeatherspub.ca 

Is there anything more depressingly 

predictable than going into some 

English-style bar called the Duke of 

Earl or the Badger’s Moustache and 

the first thing you see is a lineup of 

corporate beer? Not gonna happen 

at this pub biest of Toronto pubs, also 

renowned for its vast selection of single 

malts. Twenty-one taps split 

evenly between local craft brews and 

imports keep Upper Beaches punters 

happy. And like any pub worth its 

weight in bar towels, it’s got a pump 

for cask beer. 

Ian Innes’s pub, the Feathers, boasts 21 

taps and a pump for cask beer. 

Ciro’s house 

oF imported bier 

1316 Bloor West, at 

Lansdowne, 416-533-4914 

Its list of 150 bottled beers 

has always made Ciro’s a bit 

of an oddity among the district’s 

stripper bars. International 

labels get the spotlight 

at this low-key watering 

hole, with choices like German 

Doppel-hirsch, Dutch 

La Trappe Quadrupel and 

japanese hati chino Nest. 

Taps are less of an 

attrac tion. The’ hood’s a 

changin’, so get there while 

it’s still edgy. 

bier markt 

600 King West, at Portland, 

416-862-1175, thebiermarkt.com 

While it can be a bit of a meat markt 

and its corporate ownership sometimes 

shows through, you can’t disregard 

the Markt’s serious list. Fortytwo 

taps balance out between 

imports and locals, and over 100 different 

labels are sourced form 30 

countries, with an emphasis on the 

northern European brewing nations. 

Point of pride is five out of six Belgian 

Trappist breweries: Achel, Orval, 

Rochefort, Chimay and Westmalle. 

burger bar 

319 Augusta, at College, 

416-922-7423, theburgerbar.ca 

Man, things have changed since this 

used to be Rice Bar. Now there are 

eight beer taps featuring six rotating 

locals, one rotating cask, shelves of 

old bottles, retired tap handles poking 

out all over the place and Randal the 

Ena mel Animal, an odd hop-infusing 

beer bong device that was obtained 

from the highly lauded Dogfish head 

brewery. Beyond that, Brock Shepherd 

is now selling his own beer, the 

nicely balanced Augusta Ale made by 

Paul Dickey, who brews at Black Oak. 

This guy’s got more beer stuff going 

on than a Milwau kee Octoberfest tailgate 

party. 

Castro’s lounge 

2116 Queen East, 

at Hammersmith, 416-699-8272 

BMW-driving Beachers are lured less 

by any notions of Caribbean socialism 

than by this small but lively bar’s 

well judged selection of brews both 

bottled and on draft. Nine local taps 

keep things on a micro tip, augmented 

by German faves like Warsteiner 

and hacker-Pschorr hefe Weisse. The 

bottle choices include Oregon’s 

Rogue and Quebec’s Dieu du Ciel! Or 

try the Warsteiner non-alcoholic 

beer. No problem with the Beemer 

after a few of those. 

embassy 

223 Augusta, at Baldwin, 416-591-1132 

If you want to drink your beer to the 

sound of music recorded in the 21st century 

in the company of people who’ve 

never dialed a number, then make the 

scene on Augusta. Embassy’s local-centric 

eight taps will soon expand to 10, 

and in a move I think we can all endorse, 

they’re trading some food fridges for 

beer fridges. Bottles include three different 

Unibroues, Pilsner Urquell and Früli. 

the monk’s table 

1276 Yonge, at Woodlawn, 

416-920-9074 

Even if you can’t afford a regular economy 

flight to Europe, at the Monk’s Table 

you can travel first-glass to the great beer 

nations of the Old World. If it’s Weihenstephan 

hefe Weissbier it must be Germany. 

If it’s Old Speckeled hen it must be 

England. If it’s Gouden Carolus it must be 

Belgium. You get the picture. Seventeen 

taps and 17 bottles will keep you imbibing 

at this well-tended two-floor hostelry. 

continued on page 63 

get tickets at 


Legal Age 19+. Proper ID Required. No Children or Pets. 

Rain or Shine. Please Enjoy Responsibly. 

C’est What 

67 Front East, at Church, 

416-867-9499, cestwhat.com 

If you wanted to major in Ontario 

craft beer drinking, 

C’est What’s cozy cellar 

rooms would be your centre 

for continuing studies. Ontario 

dominates the 35 all- 

Canadian taps. These include 

Toronto’s best five hand 

pumps for local casks and 

regular appearances of specials 

and one-offs. C’est What 

also has a lineup of its own 

house beers made by County 

Durham Brewing, including 

Al’s Cask Ale, home Grown 

hemp Ale and Big Butt 

Smoked Dark Ale. Your onestop 

craft beer shop. 


DAVID hAWE


where to 

drink 

beer 

in toronto 

right now 1Cloak 

MARK COATSWORTh 

BEER fAcTS 

Czechs drink the most beer in the world – 

an average of 160 litres a year per person. 

and dagger 

394 College, at Borden, 416-921- 

8308, cloakanddaggerpub.com 

The Cloak is a Toronto rarity in that it 

manages to maintain a bit of grit while 

still taking its beer selection seriously. 

It’s not inconceivable that you’ll endure 

some music played above conversation 

level while considering 

whether the Fuggles hops you’re nosing 

are bittering or aromatic. Of the 26 

taps that bristle behind the little bar, 18 

are craft brews, and there’s usually a 

County Durham cask on the pump. 

Bottle selection says it all: Keith’s, 50, 

Stock, Corona and heineken. 

Kristina Heese makes 

a toast at Rebel House. 

1sarah’s CaFé and bar 

1426 Danforth, at Monarch Park, 416- 

406-3121, partywithus.ca 

You could easily pass this innocuous 

place on an east end corner by, but demanding 

quaffers do so at their peril. 

Sarah’s 13 taps are almost all local craft 

beers, excepting the likes of Warsteiner 

and Quebec’s Maudite by Unibroue. Bottles 

are Sarah’s strong suit, with approximately 

60 labels focusing on imports. 

It’s currently one of the very few places 

in town where you can obtain the rare 

and sought-after (like $35-a-bottle rare 

and sought-after) Belgian Trappist Westvleteren 

ales. 

the only 

972 Danforth, at Donlands, 

416-463-7843, theonlycafe.com 

As a long-standing outpost of indepen 

dent drinking in the land that 

gentrification forgot, the Only keeps 

the faith with 15 out of 16 taps dedicated 

to craft beer and more than 

200 bottles. Labels include the UK’s 

hobgoblin and St. Peter’s, Belgium’s 

Chimay and Kas teel and America’s 

Rogue and Southern Tier. And if that 

isn’t enough, the taps they are a 

changin’. Soon the Only will expand 

its system to an even two dozen. 

Beer on! 

the rhino 

1249 Queen West, at Gwynne, 416- 

535-8089, therhino.ca 

If the dividing line between Queen 

West and Parkdale can be defined by 

where you can get a seat on Friday 

night, then we have to call the Rhino 

a pub formerly in Parkdale. Regardless 

of the drinking demographic, the 

Rhino’s got the suds. Eighteen taps 

dedicated to craft beers and a cask 

that usually hosts County Durham 

cater to draft non-dodgers. With 341 

bottles, their list verges on encyclopedic, 

but past attempts to find out 

what’s in stock imply that this compendium 

is more of an admirable 

ideal than a cold hard reality. 

Erin Calder (left), Brian Vaz 

and Rebel House chef Karen Vaz 

sample the pub’s almost 

entirely Canadian beer lineup. 

the rebel house 

1068 Yonge, at Roxborough 

416-927-0704, 

rebelhouse.ca 

Before you embark upon 

any sort of Upper Canada 

rebellion and its requisite 

march down Yonge, be sure 

to stop in at the Rebel house 

for some Can-Con courage. 

Only Guinness manages to 

shoehorn itself into the 

otherwise all-Canadian 19tap 

craft brew lineup. Bottles 

are likewise nationalist, with 

30 mostly micro labels. Canadiana 

cuisine helps to build 

up a thirst at this busy midtown 

fave. 

stout irish pub 

221 Carlton, at Berkeley, 

647-344-7676, stoutirishpub.ca 

Tigers, both Woods and Celtic, 

aren’t quite what they used to be, 

but apparently many new Canadians 

from Ireland are taking 

comfort at this convivial new Cabbagetown 

watering hole. That is if 

they can survive with Murphy’s 

stout instead of Guinness. Maybe 

Stout’s 16 Ontario craft brew taps 

will encourage them to embrace 

their new home away from home. 

The hand pump featuring locally 

produced cask ales should help, 

too. 

West 50 pourhouse 

and grille 

50 Burnhamthorpe West, at 

Hurontario, Mississauga, 905- 

949-9378 

Despite the fact that it’s called a 

Pourhouse and Grille and that 

Brampton’s a long cab ride from 

the centre of the universe, West 

50 does tempt with an incredible 

109 different draft taps. European 

lagers/pilsners get the nod with 

brands like Paulaner, Erdinger, 

Stiegl, Pilsner Urquell and Czechvar. 

With approximately 40 craft 

brews, West 50 is also giving Canada 

some love. 





the ViCtory CaFé 

581 Markham, at Lennox, 

416-516-5787, victorycafe.ca 

13 taps all dedicated to local 

craft beers and one cask that 

gets changed almost daily at 

this beloved Mirvish Village 

hotspot. If you’re looking for 

fresh beer this is the place, as 

the impecunious student 

crowd somehow manages to 

drain the kegs on a nightly 

basis. In winter the upstairs 

room hosts Wednesday night 

gypsy jazz and, lord knows, 

you a need a drink to listen to 

that stuff. 

1magpie 

831 Dundas West, at Palmerston, 

416-916-6499, magpietoronto. 

ca 

This formerly forlorn frontier section 

of Dundas is now starting to 

grow up around the Magpie, which 

continues to pour ales and lagers 

for a crowd that favours comfort 

over attitude. County Durham is 

usually the cask beer, and it’s supported 

by 13 to 14 locals . The bottle 

selection is small, focusing on 

Americans like Brooklyn, San Francisco’s 

Anchor and New York 

state’s Southern Tier. 


DAVID hAWE 

MARK COATSWORTh

STEVEN DAVEY 

BEER PLUS 

TAKEOUT TIPS 

who has time to cook? We’re way too busy watching the Food Network. But Toronto has no shortage 

of fine takeout, and once you’ve scored that bag of chicken balls, why not make a stop at your 

sometimes not so local liquor outlet for a perfect beer match? Food and wine is fine, but for food 

and beer, look here. By GRAHAM DUNCAN 

Lamb with spicy potato and chickpea chana 

roti from Gandhi (554 Queen West, at Bathurst, 

416-504-8155) 

Veal sandwich from California Sandwiches 

(244 Claremont, at Treford, 416-603-3317) 

Veggie sushi set from Sushi 930 (930 King 

West, at Strachan, 416-603-9992) 

wAnnA BugER wiTh yOuR BEER? 

Check out the Burger Issue 

next week in NOW. 

your takeout meal pair it With: your takeout meal pair it With: 

mill st. tankhouse 

ale, toronto 

An IPA (India pale ale) in all 

but name, so why not serve 

it with Indian food? Tankhouse’s 

robust malt and hop 

flavours are what’s required 

to stare down the spicy flavours 

of the Subcontinent 

and the Caribbean. 

At the Beer Store and the 

LCBO: 6 x 341 ml/$12.55 

beau’s lug-tread 

lagered ale, 

Vanleek hill, on 

The veal’s neutral, as is, obviously, 

the bun, but the tomato 

sauce has more of an 

acidic, assertive presence. 

Beau’s has versatile balance 

and depth of flavour derived 

from the cold-maturation 

process, the lagering part, 

making it an excellent match 

for this favourite of the boys 

and girls down at 14 Division. 

At the LCBO: 4 x 600 

ml/$15.60 

duggan’s no. 5 

soraChi lager, 

toronto 

Given what the vinegar in 

sushi rice does to a glass of 

wine, beer is mandatory. 

Duggan’s new No. 5 is made 

with Sorachi hops, which originated 

in japan. Their 

bright citric qualities combined 

with this lager’s delicate 

malt footprint work perfectly 

with the fresh, clean 

rolls of 930. 

At the LCBO: 6 x 275 

ml/$11.25 

jAMES PATTYN DAVID LAURENCE 

hot pepper and sausage pizza from Pizzeria 

Libretto (221 Ossington, at Dundas West, 

416-532-8000) 

Porchetta sandwich from Porchetta & Co. 

(825 Dundas West, at Palmerston, 

647-352-6611) 

Fish and chips from Chippy’s (893 Queen 

West, at Gore Vale, 416-866-7474) 

steam Whistle 

pilsner, toronto 

hot peppers? Sausage? Melted 

cheese? It’s not a particularly 

epicurean insight that 

eating this will make you 

thirsty. For that you can’t 

beat a cold Pilsner, and I always 

really enjoy this Toronto 

expression of the style. 


LCBO: 6 x 341 ml/$12.95 

great lakes deVil’s 

pale ale, toronto 

Pork shoulder, wrapped in 

prosciutto, wrapped in pork 

belly. A little fatty perhaps? 

The astringent qualities of 

the hops that have been generously 

allotted to this tasty 

pale ale provide a good way 

to cut through the blubber. 

Pig out, drink up. 

At the LCBO: 1 x 473 ml/$2.60 

muskoka summer 

Weiss, braCebridge, 

ontario 

Again with the vinegar. The 

focused, distinct clove flavour 

of the wiess style is at 

least going to stand a chance 

up against the sourest of 

condiments. Or maybe you’ll 

take the tartar sauce option, 

in which case this is an excellent 

deep-fried-oil cutter. 


LCBO: 1 x 750 ml/$6.45 

beer 

gear 






DAVID hAWE 

By aNdreW 

sardONe 

ThE 

OPEnERS 

Don’t crack that brewski on the 

corner of your kitchen counter. 

Here are five openers that get 

the job done in style. 

1 imm Living dove opener ($24, 

Shop AGO, 317 Dundas West, 416- 

979-6610, imm-living.com). 

2 Bottle opener rings ($8.95/set of 

two, Rolo, 24 Bellair, 416-920-0100, 

rolostore.com). 

3 Alessi Diabolix bottle opener 

($19, Bergo, 55 Mill #47A, 416-861- 

1821, bergo.ca). 

4 Crow cast iron bottle opener by 

Tadahiro Baba ($36, Studio Brillantine, 

1518 Queen West, 416-536-6521, 

studiobrillantine.com). 

5 Suck UK bottle opener fridge 

magnet ($24, BYOB, 972 Queen 

West, 877-989-8980, byobto.com). 

4 5 

1 

2 

3

SUPER SUdS 

cELEBRATIOnS 

Beer festivals are popping up at locations all over 

Toronto. Here’s the lowdown on upcoming events 

featuring food, music and, of course, some of the best 

brewskis around. By GRAHAM DUNCAN 

Queer beer FestiVal 

August 4, 4 to 10 pm. $38.50- 

$48.50. queerbeerfestival.ca 

“OMG! Did somebody thay there’s a 

Woody’s shuttle bus?!” Yes, just because 

this event is out at the CNE 

grounds, there’s no excuse for 

Church Streeters not to get 

aboard the Queer Beer Festival 

express. 

immediately preceding the toronto 

Festival of Beers, Queer 

Beer features an extensive lineup 

of beer tastings and food 

tents spread about the grounds 

BEER fAcTS 

One way experts evaluate a beer’s quality is by how 

much foam adheres to the side of the glass after a sip. 

The foamy residue is called Brussels lace. 

of the Bandshell park. Said 

bandshell is graced by a 

Queer Beer-specific 

night of entertainment, 

emceed by 

comedian Maggie 

Cassella, featuring 

Ace of Base, Lucas 

from the Clicks and 

Hunter Valentine. 

For an additional fee, novice lesbeerians 

can take Mirella Amato’s 

Girls Guided Beer tour starting at 5 

pm. how come i never got that 

merit badge? 

the 

festival 

circuit 

******* 

hart house CraFt beer FestiVal July 28, 7 pm. $35, stu $30. 416-978-8849, uofttix.ca 

University and drinking beer? Now, that’s a crazy idea. hart house goes with a less-is-more approach by 

dedicating itself to local craft beers. As at any craft beer festival, a number of brewers bring down one-of-akind 

specials just for the event. 

in addition to multiple quality beers, hart house executive chef Marco Tucci serves up the barbecue. and, 

um, Ciut DJs spin for the crowd. Given the scale of the event and the beautiful setting of the hart house quad, 

this is an eve ning the ontario craft brew industry really looks forward to. Don’t hesitate – it usually sells out. 

LIMITED RELEASE 

AMBROSIA BLONDE 

A deep, golden, medium-bodied brew, Ambrosia Blonde 

delivers a captivating aroma and distinct flavourful taste. 

Slightly hoppy with hints of caramel, it’s aged for a 

crisp finish – perfect on those warm days. 

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† Must Mus Must Mu Must ust 

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a age 

ge.* ge ge. e.* TM/M TM TM/M TM TM/M M/M M C Ke K Ke Keith’ Ke ith’ ith ith’ ith ith’ ith th’ h s Br BBr 

Br Brewer ewer ewe ewer ewe ewer ewe wer w er ry. y. 

Luke and Sean salute the joys 

of a rollicking beer fest. 

Peter and Dayna let a beer box 

be their disguise as they stroll 

along the 18-wheelers. 





toronto 

FestiVal oF beer 

August 5 to 7, Friday 4 to 10 pm, 

Saturday and Sunday 1 to 7 pm. 

$38.50-$48.50 per day. 


This is the big one. Stroll, cup in 

hand, from the Davids of the craft 

brew world to the Goliaths of beer 

who arrive in 18-wheelers of sudsy 

chug-a-lugging good timez. The 

event spreads across the relatively 

scenic yet accessible grounds 

of the CNE’s Bandshell Park. 

Show exclusives include a brewers 

mashup where craft brewers 

like Beau’s and Black Oak or 

Nickel Brook and Flying Monkey 

pair up to create collaborative kegs. 

the Girls tour happens at this fest, 

too, on august 7. and don’t miss 

Great lakes Caskapalooza, with 20 

different cask beers on tap. With 

chefs like Ted Reader, Cowbell’s 

Mark Cutrara and Marben’s Carl 

Heinrich showing their chops, you 

can eat and drink like there’s no 

Monday. 


LBK_N_11_1023_AMB_RVL.indd 1 6/14/11 8:16 PM 

ZACh SLOOTSKY ChEOL jOON BAEK 

ZACh SLOOTSKY

DAVID hAWE 

beeR belt 

I’m sure we’ve all experienced 

this cold-one conundrum: 

you’ve packed 

12 bottles into a cooler, 

another half-dozen into 

a knapsack and you’re 

already sucking back 

the two cans you’re 

carrying in the holsters 

of that novelty baseball 

cap, but you’re still short 

six beer-stashing spots! 

Introducing the beer 

belt, a plastic cincher 

that promises to pick up 

the ale-toting slack. 

$18.95, Rolo, 24 Bellair, 

416-920-0100, 

rolostore.com. 

By aNdreW 

sardONe 

beer 

gear 

Clone bRewS 

A bible for DIY brewers looking to replicate the flavour of their favourite 

pale ale and hearty stout, Clone Brews by Tess and Mark Szamatulski 

features 200 recipes inspired by some of the world’s most popular beers. 

The updated second edition also includes food pairing advice, tips on creating 

your own mash and instructions on how to deduce the formulas for 

pilsners and porters not included in the book. $24, Good Egg, 267 Augusta, 

416-593-4663, goodegg.ca. 

Ritzenhoff Seidel 

beeR mug 

Skip the souvenir steins with 

their sculpted ceramic bodies 

and thumb-levered lids in favour 

of Ritzenhoff’s slightly 

less kitschy collection of Seidel 

beer mugs. Each designer 

glass holds a half-litre of your 

favourite ale and comes with a 

set of four designer coasters. 

Beer mug by Israel Guevara 

($52, Studio Brillantine, 1518 

Queen West, 416-536-6521, 

studiobrillantine.com). 





woRking ClaSS 

Studio CoaSteRS 

If there’s any etiquette involved 

in beer-drinking, it’s 

use a coaster, and these are 

the cardboard bar top protectors 

we think you should 

employ. Created by Working 

Class Studio, a company that 

brings the design work of Savannah 

College of Art students 

to market, they feature 

tipsy squiggle and swirl 

graphics. $12/set of 20, Ma 

Zone, 63 jarvis, 416-868- 

0330, ma-zone.com. 

built Six-paCk tote 

Wine shoppers have endless 

options for reusable 

bags to carry home their 

haul of pinots and cabs, but 

none of them stack up to 

BUILT’s new six-pack tote. 

Made specifically for beer, 

the neoprene bag stashes a 

half-dozen 12-to 20-ounce 

cans or bottles and keeps 

them cool for up to four 

hours. It’s also machine 

washable, just in case 

you’re a messy drunk. $25. 

builtny.com. 

STOUT IRISH PUB 

Fresh, Local 

Food & Drink. 

221 Carlton St. 

(West of Parliament) 

Open 7 days until 2am 

Corner King & Bathurst • 416-504-9912 

20 Local Craft & Imported Beers 

on Tap 30+ by the Bottle 

Here are just a few of our amazing craft beers: 

DRAFT: Barking Squirrel, KLB Raspberry Wheat, Muskoka Summer 

Weisse, Beau’s Lugtread, Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, St-Ambroise 

Oatmeal Stout & Apricot Wheat, Dead Elephant Ale, King 

Brewery Pilsner, Murphy’s Irish Stout and many more... 

BOTTLES: Rosée d’hibiscus, 10W30, Maudite, Devil’s Pale Ale, 

Chuck Norris Round-House, Hoptical Illusion & Smash Bomb, 

Innis & Gunn Original, MacLean’s Pale Ale & Stone Hammer 

Dark Ale, Iron Spike Copper, Nickel Brook Green 

Apple, Waupoos, Denison Weissbier, Green Tea, 

Crazy Canuck and many more! 

647-344-7676 stoutirishpub.ca 

Serving Up Great Value! 

Patio 

Open 7 Days a Week 

17 beers on tap • Pool Tables • CD jukebox 

The Watering Hole Where Tradition Runs Deep. 

Watch all sporting 

events on one of our 

8 Plasma TV's 

or 2 HUGE screens 


Brunch 

Every Saturday 

& Sunday 

11am - 4pm 

• 1/2 PRICE WING NIGHTS - SUN, MON & TUES AFTER 5PM • 

At the Ontario Craft Brewers ® ario Craft Brewers , over 25 members brew premium beer with 

a single, noble purpose: to satisfy your every taste. 

® At the Ontario Craft Brewers , over 25 members brew premium 

a single, noble purpose: to satisfy your every taste. 

® , over 25 members brew premium beer with a single, 

noble purpose: to satisfy your every taste. 

Why not discover over 150 of our locally crafted premium ales, lagers, stouts, pilsners and more? 

Each one is brewed in small batches with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives. 

You’ll understand when you open one. Look for the OCB ® Why not discover over 150 of our locally crafted premium ales, lagers, stouts, pilsners and more? 

Each one is brewed in small batches with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives. 

You’ll understand when you open one. Look for the OCB seal at the LCBO and The Beer Store. 

Discover us at www.ontariocraftbrewers.com 

® seal at the LCBO and The Beer Store. 

Discover us at www.ontariocraftbrewers.com 

PLEASE DISCOVER RESPONSIBLY 

PATIO 

NOW 

OPEN!

cAnAdA 

Vs 

ThE WORLd 

Beer Style 

Showdown 

neaRly 2,000 

RestauRants! 

Search by rating, price 

neighbourhood, genre, 

review and more! 

BEER fAcTS 

The music for The star-spangled Banner 

was derived from a British drinking song 

called To anacreon In Heaven. 

in craft brewing, you Online can brew as you please. If you 

want to make a lagered Restaurant 

pumpkin spice ice porter, the 

only thing stopping guide you is money. Yet a lot of Canadian 

craft brewers nowtoronto.com/food 

stick to established styles like stouts and 

pale ales and market their beer accordingly. The following 

is a taste test of Cana dian craft beers versus international 

examples of Online classic beer RestauRant styles. guide 

By GRAHAM DUNCAN 

nowtoronto.com/food 

CRITERIA: It’s not a rigorous investigation of stylistic correctness. I’m not examining 

whether the IPA or the lager is a “true” IPA or lager. I’ve invoked the more subjective criteria 

of overall drinkability. In other words, I’m saying which one I thought tasted better. 

All of these beers are available at either the LCBO or Beer Store, so you can do your own 

Us-and-Them beer-off. 

METHODOLOGY: The beers were tasted in pairs. I knew which two brands were being 

served but not which was which. 

Online RestauRant guide nowtoronto.com/food 


neaRly 2,000 RestauRants! 

Search by rating, price, genre, 

neighbourhood, review & more! 

Online 

Restaurant 

Guide 

pilSneR 

In 1842 in the town of Plzen, 

as a result of technological 

advances in barley malting, a 

bright golden beer was born. 

This key moment in the evolution 

of lager beer leads us to 

the brands we see today on 

waistlines and in stadiums 

of North America. 


neaRly 2,000 RestauRants! 

Search by rating, price, genre, 


Online hop aroma. RestauRant Lean and thirst-quench- guide petizing grainy nowtoronto.com/food 

toastiness that’s elabing, 

with a full finish. 

orated upon in the mouth as savoury 

At the Beer Store and neaRly the LCBO: 2,000 rye toast RestauRants! 

upbraided with indulgent 

Online RestauRant Pilsner Urquell guide Both are enjoyable, nowtoronto.com/food 

but for the com- 

Check out our online 

RestauRant guide 

nearly 2,000 restaurants! 

Search by rating, genre, price, 



Online 

Restaurant 

Guide 

CANADA 

King Brewery Pilsner 

4.8 per cent ABV 

Nobleton, Ontario 

Claims unequivocally to be a Czechstyle 

beer. A full, assertive Pilsner 

with toasty malt notes and a tangy 

winneR 

6 x 341 ml/$12.95 

THE WORLD 

Pilsner Urquell 


Plzen, Czech Republic 

Pilsner Urquell is the direct descendent 

of that first Bohemian batch 

in 1842. The bouquet ushers in an ap- 

severity by the definitive Saaz hops. 

At the Beer Store and the LCBO: 

1 x 500 ml/$2.35 

bination of refined flavour laid over a dainty frame, PU 

gets the nod for elegance. 

Check out our online 

RestauRant guide 

nearly 2,000 restaurants! 

Search by rating, genre, price, 



Proud supporter get tickets at 


of any Canadian party 



noRth 

ameRiCan ipa 

A full-flavoured ale with higher 

alcohol content and defined, in 

part, by piney, citrusy American 

hop varieties. Combined with 

its kissing cousin, pale ale, 

these ales dominate the Canadian 

craft brew industry. 

CANADA 

Muskoka Brewery Mad Tom IPA 


Bracebridge, Ontario 

A recent addition to the Muskoka 

lineup, Mad Tom’s bouquet is very 

resinous, redolent of hops. In the 

mouth there’s a rush of grapefruit 

tartness and an undertow of malt-derived 

sweetness. Long grapefruit 

pulp finish. 

At The Beer Store and the LCBO: 

6 x 355 ml/$12.95 

THE WORLD 

Southern Tier IPA 

7 per cent ABV 

Lakewood, New York 

South of Buffalo, Southern Tier is almost 

home turf. Very balanced in 

bouquet and flavour. Relative to the 

style, easy-drinking and well integrated. 

hops and malt in happy balance, 

with alcoholic strength not 

dominating. 

At the LCBO: 6 x 355 ml/$12.65 

Southern Tier IPA Mad Tom’s just a little too mad. 

Southern Tier shows real maturity in its execution of 

what can be a rowdy style. 


12 July 7-13 2011 NOW 

winneR 

Proud supporter 

www.mcauslan.com 

lageR 

An all-encompassing term for 

the worldwide diaspora of coolfermented, 

cold-aged beers. In 

the style’s German homeland, 

lagers are more specifically referred 

to as helles, bocks, dunkels 

etc. 

of any Canadian party 

CANADA 

Cameron’s Lager 


Oakville, Ontario 

hint of orange peel in the bouquet. 

Very quick departure from the palate. 

Lemony finish. Tricky combination 

of aggressive hops and light texture. 

More Pilsner in style. 

At the Beer Store and the LCBO: 

9 x 341 ml/$18.95 

winneR 

THE WORLD 

Löwenbräu Original 


Munich, Germany 

This helles isn’t earth-shattering, but 

that’s not necessarily in the job description. 

Light but attractive hops in 

the bouquet, featuring a sprinkle of 

pepper and… is that ganja I’m detecting? 

Mild citrus flavour, with an easy, 

balanced finish. 


Löwenbräu Original With its bolder flavour, Cameron’s 

may be favoured by serious lagerheads, but for me the 

middlebrow Löwenbräu is a more coherent experience. 

Official sponsor of www.mcauslan.com

extRa 

SpeCial bitteR 

Sounds like a description of 

that whole decline-of-the-empire 

feeling. Beer-wise, despite 

the name, we’re expect ing 

something not too big, with 

malty nuttiness and fresh hop 

presence. 

cAnAdA 

Vs 

ThE WORLd 

Beer Style 

Showdown 

CANADA 

Propeller Brewing Company 

Extra Special Bitter 


halifax, Nova Scotia 

ESB’s just the tip of Propeller’s multi-brand iceberg. 

The bouquet? Advantage malts and 

maybe some yeasty fruitiness. The flavour 

leans toward the caramelized end of things, 

with a not entirely harmonious twanging citric 

finish. Overall, just a touch strident, maybe 

even… bitter. 

At the LCBO: 6 x 341 ml/$13.05 

winneR 

THE WORLD 

Greene King Abbot Ale 


Suffolk, England 

The bouquet starts off on a roasty, toasty note 

with an effective hop contrast. In the mouth, an 

overall impression of lightness and softness, but 

with long-lasting, balanced flavour. hard to stop 

drinking. 


Greene King Abbot Ale Go with God and take prelate over the prop. 

belgian-StYle 

StRong ale 

These richly flavoured beers 

will confound those of you in 

the shallow end of the pool 

quaffing heinies and Coro nas. 

heavy in flavour, heavy in alcohol. 

Both examples employ secondary 

in-bottle fermentation 

with attendant yeast 

residue. 

CANADA 

Unibroue Maudite 


Baked, fruity bouquet. Candied peel, 

cloves, cinnamon: it’s Christmas in my 

mouth. Very long finish. Owned by Sapporo/Sleeman’s 

but still uncompromising. 

At the Beer Store: 6 x 341 ml/$12.95 

winneR 

Unibrou Maudite Loving 

that dark, cooked, full 

THE WORLD 

Chimay Triple 


Chimay, Belgium 

Pleasurable trifecta of hops, yeast and malts 

combine into a spicy bouquet. Very fine bubbles 

make for great mouthfeel. Yeastiness 

creates the impression of brioche, followed 

by excellent dry finish. Brewed by monks. 


press of flavour. Reminiscent of midtempo 

Black Sabbath. 

wheat 

Wit, blanche, weiss, weizen, 

aka wheat beer. Doesn’t the 

EU have something to say 

about this name variance 

thing? No matter what you 

call this clovey, fruity style, 

it’s always a mouthful, 

especially for the 

uninitiated. 

CANADA 

Denison’s Weissbier 


Don’t freak out. It’s supposed to be cloudy. 

Nice fruity tang in the bouquet. Weightier in 

the mouth than some wheat beers. Long, 

persistent, almost hard finish. A popular local 

rendition. 


THE WORLD 

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse 


hefe is yeast, and that’s key here, since it contributes 

texture and – here’s a surprise – typical 

bubblegum flavour. You have to try it to 

understand. Combine with the expected clove 

and banana elements and you’re getting a 

very nice weisse. 

At the Beer Store and the LCBO: 1 x 500 

ml/$2.55 

Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse For me, this is really a to-hefe-and-hefenot 

scenario. hacker’s suspended yeast particles are the icing on the 

wheat cake. 

sober 

thoughts 

on the 

VerdiCt 

So the Drink Up 

tasting panel 

obviously favours 

an international 

selection. But let’s 

banish any idea of 

a national inbeeriority 

complex. 

Some of these 

European breweries 

have had a 

couple of centuries 

to perfect their 

brand. The Canadian 

contingent 

is well on the way 

and in a lot of 

cases very close 

to, if not better 

than, their brewing 

predecessors. 


winneR

KAThRYN GAITENS 

BEER fAcTS 

The first consumer protection law was enacted in 1516 by 

duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria. It was a purity law limiting the 

ingredients of beer to barley, hops and water. 

By aNdreW 

sardONe 

Store 

SPotLight 

ThE BEER 

BOUTIqUE 

21 lynn Williams, 416-534-8084, 

thebeerstore.Ca 

The first Beer Boutique, launched last month 

in the heart of booming Liberty Village, stocks 

the same menu of brewski brands as your 

usual beer store, but the similarities end 

there. 

First of all, there’s no menu. Instead of picking 

your buy from a bottle wall and hearing the 

two-four come rumbling down the rolling belt, 

the Beer Boutique’s stock is laid out on shelves 

LCBO-style so you can scan labels and browse 

undiscovered beers. second, two-fours aren’t 

the main attraction. the bulk of the beer is six- 

or 12-packs geared to urban commuters stopping 

by on the bus or bikes. 

Finally, you’ll have to take your empties elsewhere. 

the Boutique doesn’t do bottle returns, 

and choosing a Zen shopping-focused vibe over 

processing thousands of clanging bottles every 

day might be the best part of the concept. 

Beer Boutique picks: In addition to beer, find 

drinking accessories like a carabiner-clipped 

bottle suit, $3.99; pick up a Beer Boutiquebranded 

seat cushion on your way to Wednesday’s 

Toronto FC vs. Dallas game, $12.99; summer 

BBQ accessories include grilling skewers 

and a set of bamboo coasters, $14.99. 

Look for: A central harvest table where beer 

pro Roger Mittag hosts tasting and pairing 

events. 

Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30 am to 9 pm, 

Sunday noon to 5 pm. 

YOU COULD WIN * 

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ® 

The Bar & Shield logo, Harley, Harley-Davidson 

and Sportster are among the trademarks of H-D 

Michigan, LLC. ©2011 H-D. 

YOUR OWN CUSTOM 

MOTORCYCLE. 

Or 1 of 100 prize packs. Look for specially marked 24 or 6 bottle packs of smooth-tasting Miller Genuine Draft. 





Kevin Sormaon (left) and 

Adrian Busschaert check out the 

goods at the Beer Boutique. 

*Must be legal drinking age. No purchase necessary. 

Open to residents only of BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB and NL. Skill testing question applies. One (1) Grand Prize avail. to be won, worth approx. $19,000.00 CAD. Bike may not be as shown. 

100 secondary prizes (ARV $100.00 CAD) to be awarded throughout the contest. All secondary prizes must be claimed on or before August 31 2011 (“Prize Deadline”). Only secondary prize 

winners are eligible to win the custom Harley-Davidson ® motorcycle. Grand Prize draw date: September 7, 2011. For contest details visit MILLERGENUINEDRAFT.CA 

18 the NOW beer guide 2011 the NOW beer guide 2011 19

20 the NOW beer guide 2011 

AUGUST 5TH- 7TH AUGUST 5 Bandshell Park 



Legal Age 19+. Proper ID Required. No Children or Pets. Rain or Shine. Please Enjoy Responsibly.

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