The Bar Towel

I ran into a couple of K-W Bartowellers at the Victory recently but neglected to ask them for pub recommendations in that fine double town (I'm from Brighton & Hove, so I know from twin towns). I have occasion to get to K-W briefly very soon and wondered if there was anywhere to drink while ther...

Outstanding event, Cass, and a lot of excellent winners. And all of us at CASK! were delighted with the new cask-related categories and our surprise Editors' Choice Award. Guess we have to do that Cask Crawl again. Oh, and congratulations on the well-deserved prize for bartowel.

Nick

Nope. The Leacock Summer Festival. We're all supposed to be funny, but not necessarily musical.

Thanks, Troy. It's actually Leacock, not the ready availability of fertile young Orillians, that draws me. (I'm showing my age.) I'm doing a speaking gig at the summer festival and hoped there might be a secret source of fine ales. I'm such an optimist. Thanks for the tips.
Nick

Anyone know anywhere to find something palatable in Orillia? I don't recall anyone ever mentioning that fine town. So maybe it isn't so fine...
Nick

I thought it was another great event, and very relaxed despite all that serious tasting and sniffing. I wasn't sure if it would work, not knowing what you were drinking, but it was great fun. Thanks to Ralph, sons, and staff. I did all my serious work on Saturday, then went back on Sunday to revisit...

The Clark Street Ale House downtown is good. Out around Wrigleyville there's the Goose Island brewpub with usually some good beer you won't find elsewhere, as well as a place called Sheffield's, which is pretty good. The Map Room is one of the great bars anywhere, and it's open early, unlike many Ch...

Took the GO train to Burlington on Friday and spent a couple of very pleasant hours at Pepperwood. Paul Dickey was doing some fine tuning on the cask as I arrived, and he kindly poured me tasters of his two new beers -- an English-style IPA on cask and an American style IPA on keg. They were both te...

Sausage rolls!? I am so there!

I just got there for the first time this week -- after a very interesting talk about the alcohol trade in old Toronto at Enoch Turner Schoolhouse -- and liked it very much. I concur with all the above, and look forward to cask ale as well.

I can't top the video, but it was a grand event. Started very well at the Victory, loved the Magic bus (and the Magic bus driver), and had a great time at the brewery. Hats off to Ken and Adrian et al, who really can organize a pissup in a brewery. Good to see everyone.

Nick

The Victory, as a general rule, doesn't open till 4. Have the natural laws been suspended for this occasion?

I had meant to mention the food. If the stews were anywhere near as good as the chicken curry, we were all eating very well indeed. Compliments to the chef.
Nick

As I was helping out, I didn't actually get to all the beers, but I liked everything I had. It was a great festival, and over 200 people got in, though many had to wait in the cold. No one could have expected the turnout. One common theme in conversations was the demographics of the event. It wasn't...

Where are you working?