Toronto’s beer scene is growing up fast—here’s a roundup of the trends and not-to-miss beers of 2012.
Sour beers
Bar Volo had its first Funk Night last August, showcasing sour (a.k.a. funky) beers from Canadian craft brewers. Volo is known for popularizing rare styles in Ontario. Owners Ralph and Tomas Morana are loving sours right now, so watch for imports of great examples from Europe and the U.S., and some made-in-Toronto creations. Great Lakes, Amsterdam and Volo’s own House Ales brewery are already at work on their funky beers for Volo’s second annual Funk Night this summer.
Beer clubs
Beer appreciation is finally starting to mean more than saying “thanks” to the LCBO clerk at the checkout. Barley’s Angels, a beer club for ladies, was founded last February and is growing fast. Its merry meetings are held monthly at pubs and breweries across the city. The proceedings are led by cicerone (that means beer sommelier) Mirella Amato, and focus on everything from dissecting the India Pale Ale with folks from Spearhead Brewery to barrel-aging with Beau’s. CASK! continues its popular monthly socials in various city pubs, where some of its 300 members geek out over real ale—it’s free to join (casktoronto.wordpress.com). And last fall, Saloon League members (mostly beer-industry types) started tapping hard-to-get kegs of American craft beer at their monthly house parties.
Big craft
The biggies will continue to get crafty this year. Moosehead-owned craft brewer Hop City got its Barking Squirrel lager into the LCBO last October. In March, Six Pints Brewing—Molson Coors’ new craft-brew arm—will open its headquarters at 75 Victoria St. and brew one-offs that can be sampled in a “tasting room.” A retail store will hock Molson brands and beeraphernalia.
Anniversary ales
To mark its 25th year in the biz, Great Lakes Brewing will release a different anniversary brew every three months during 2012. The exact recipes are a secret, but the beers will be big in alcohol and flavour, and include a barrel-aged and a sour. Each batch will be very small—so nab it when you see it.
Private ordering
Can’t get the beer you want from the LCBO? Private ordering company Keep 6 Imports is ramping up its sales of beers from Quebec microbreweries like Dieu du Ciel!, Hopfenstark, Les Trois Mousquetaires, Dunham, Charlevoix and Le Trou du Diable. The only catch? You have to buy a case ($60 to $80). To find out what’s available, or to find a beer nerd to split a case with, check the private ordering section on The Bar Towel’s website.
Oak no you didn’t!
Aging beer in barrels adds a tannin-like richness and complexity, just as it does to wine. Look for barrel-aged releases throughout the year from a variety of breweries. House Ales’ upcoming collaboration with Amsterdam brewer Iain McOustra is a Belgian brown that’s aged in a barrel from Niagara’s Stratus winery. Small batches of Cameron’s soon-to-be-announced spring seasonal are aged in bourbon and cognac barrels. Nickel Brook has been aging a bunch of its beers in 12 Jack Daniel’s bourbon barrels since October. On April 5, look for Beau’s Brewing’s Venskab—a wine-barrel-aged collaboration with superstar brewer Anders Kissmeyer.
Loosening liquor regulations
The provincial government has been slowly loosening some antiquated liquor regulations. December’s quick change of the Liquor License Act to allow for home beer delivery from breweries has sparked a 15-month review of the Act—expect slow progress.
More craft breweries
In February, a 100-seat resto and brewery called the Indie Alehouse will open in the Junction, and Bellwoods Brewery and café will open at 124 Ossington. Hogtown Brewers just put its first beer, a kolsch, on tap at the Duke of Devon at 66 Wellington St. Gluten-averse and beer lovers alike can look forward to the debut this summer of ales from Snowman Brewing, made with malted buckwheat and millet.
