New Year's Eve Events

[GregClow]

If you're looking for a craft beer friendly way to spend your New Year's Eve this year, here are the details on how a few of Toronto's top beer destinations will be ringing in 2007:

beerbistro
18 King St. E. - (416) 861-9872
Four Course Dinner (two seatings) with live jazz
$90 with beer pairings/$70 without per person

C'est What
67 Front St. E. - (416) 867-9499
Regular menu & prices
No Cover

Esplanade Bier Markt
58 The Esplanade - (416) 862-7575
Four Course Dinner (two seatings - 6:30 & 8:00), followed by entertainment from the Eric Summers Band & DJ Freshstone, hors d’oeuvres, party favours & champagne at midnight
dinner & party: $129 with beer pairings/$99 without per person
party only: $49 per person

Granite Brewery
245 Eglinton Ave E. - (416) 322-0723
All You Can Eat buffet from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM featuring prime rib, roast chicken, salads & vegetables, desserts, coffee & tea
$19.95 per person - one child under 12 eats free from the Kid’s Menu with each buffet ordered

Local 4
4 Dundonald St. - (416) 915-0113
Prix Fixe Menu starting at 6 PM, party at 10 PM with DJ Victron, party favours & champagne at midnight
No Cover

Mill Street Brewpub
55 Mill St. Building 63 - (416) 681-0388
Three Course Dinner (seating at 8:30) with live entertainment from the Dick Felix Quartet, party favours, snacks & champagne at midnight
$69.99 per person

Steam Whistle Brewery
255 Bremner Blvd. - (416) 362-2337
"New Year's Eve 007": a Bond-themed bash starting at 9 PM with dancing, complimentary appetizers, a casino & cigar lounge, and cash bar (one drink tickets included with admission)
$50 per person

Volo
587 Yonge St. - (416) 928-0008
Closed Dec 24th-26th, Dec 31st & Jan 1st

Bar Towel News link: http://www.bartowel.com/news/archives/000246.php

[shintriad]

Hate to be snarky, but how is Steam Whistle "beer-friendly"? It's downright hostile to beer lovers.

Unless, of course, they're going to have something on tap other than, gee, I don't know...Steam Whistle.

[GregClow]

Ah, I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to slam Steam Whistle in this thread.

This place has become so predictable. It's kind of sad, really...

[shintriad]

Really? I hadn't really noticed that much Steam Whistle slamming before. Sorry 'bout that...I don't want to pull out tired material.

It's kind of sad, really...

Tough crowd!

[Derek]

Upper Canada had some nice offerings, but they didn't last long. Maybe they've learned from previous mistakes?

I can't say I regularly support S.W. (I'm not generally a pilsner fan), but hopefully they'll add something else once they're a little more established. Perhaps something like the Rebellian Ale? (though that'd probably require maintaining two separate yeasts).

Back on topic... dinner at the Granite looks like a good deal.

[GregClow]

Upper Canada had some nice offerings, but they didn't last long.

I don't know about that. UC lasted nearly 15 years as an independent brewery, and the quality of their beer was great for most of that run.

And even though Steam Whistle was started by the son of UC's founder and a couple of other former UC employees, I don't see many similarities between the two breweries. SW is a much more mainstream oriented brew than anything UC made in the early days, and they seemed to have their sights set on a larger market right from the beginning.

I can't say I regularly support S.W. (I'm not generally a pilsner fan), but hopefully they'll add something else once they're a little more established. Perhaps something like the Rebellian Ale?

The SW folks have been pretty adamant about being a one-beer brewery. It's working out well for them, so I don't know if they'll ever change their mind. Although it would be interesting to see them pull a Creemore and try a single seasonal to test the waters.

[JerCraigs]

PErsonally I like Steamwhistle the company better than the product, but that event does look like a lot of fun, and while I'd prefer a BOak Pale, or Tankhouse, I could happily quaff SW for an evening.

[Derek]

I don't know about that. UC lasted nearly 15 years as an independent brewery, and the quality of their beer was great for most of that run.

Somehow I didn't know they were around for that long? (perhaps distribution was limited... though some of that was certainly prior to my drinking years).

But yes, it would be nice to see Steam Whistle do something really special (rather than just changing their box for the holidays).

They're certainly focused on one product, but as the publics perception of craft beer changes, maybe they'll branch out? (I can hope anyway)

[GregClow]

I don't know about that. UC lasted nearly 15 years as an independent brewery, and the quality of their beer was great for most of that run.

Somehow I didn't know they were around for that long? (perhaps distribution was limited... though some of that was certainly prior to my drinking years).

Yeah, prior to mine as well - I didn't start drinking their stuff until I moved to Toronto in 1989 or so. But they had already been around for 5 years by that point, and the Sleeman takeover didn't happen until 1998. They sure brewed plenty of good stuff in the interim - and I did my part to keep them brewng it.

[John Aitken]

I forgot to call The Granite earlier. Does anyone know if reservations will be required for their New Years eve dinner?

[John Aitken]

I called The Granite today, and reservations are recommended.

[lister]

Did anyone attend any of these events?

[Derek]

I stayed in with friends.

Aside: I'm loving the soft pretzels from Longo's (I couldn't find them anywhere in London)... they went nicely with an Aventinus.

[northyorksammy]

[quote="Derek"]I stayed in with friends.

Aside: I'm loving the soft pretzels from Longo's (I couldn't find them anywhere in London)... they went nicely with an Aventinus.[/quote]

I got me at half price Godiva chocolate covered pretzels, and even one a person was satisfying. Longo's has a great sourdough pretzel too that goes good with about any beer

[John Aitken]

I did go to The Granite for New Years eve and am happy to report that Ron had a full house with excellent food and drink, not to mention the best NY eve dinner price in town. He closed early that night so everyone could go and ring in the New Year where they wanted.