furthur personal comments on brewers others listed:
Black Oak - could have been in my top 5 for all the reasons others have mentioned but since i cant buy their beers without at least 45min of driving i dont buy them as often as id like too.
Beau's - the lug tread is the only thing ive had from them and it was awesome, id love to try more of their stuff. i also wish i could buy lug tread.
Scotch Irish/Heritage - john by and srgt majors are the only thing i buy from these guys, id buy john by year round if i could.
Denison's - they make the highest rated beer in ontario but i cant buy it without a trip to TO. bottles coming soon might push them into a top 5 spot for me
King - their pils is awesome but i havnt had anything else, cant buy it near me either
Great Lakes - hit or miss with me, other then the pumpkin i dont buy much of their stuff
Neustadt - solid lineup, i should buy their stuff more, (please make an ESB, please!)
Muskoka - solid lineup of safe brews, great value for the lager
other breweries that havnt been mentioned but have top 5 potential:
F&M - never had a bad pint of F&M, id buy it in bottles if i could
Cameron's - safe well made brews, the auburn is under-rated IMO
Flying Monkey's - wheres my Hoptical Illusion??
Granite - if i lived in TO id frequent the place but i dont think its destination worthy
MacLean's/Battleaxe - we'll see, inspirational if nothing else, makes me want to move out of my condo and buy a house with a big garage
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Your favourite OCB breweries
The Beau's IP Eh! iis quite the nice little surprise!matt7215 wrote: Beau's - the lug tread is the only thing ive had from them and it was awesome, id love to try more of their stuff. i also wish i could buy lug tread.
Of all the Ontario IPA's (or TRY-PA's) I've had in recent years it's in the Top Three.
In Beerum Veritas
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icemachine
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I haven't been able to try all the OCB Brewers yet, but my top 5 would be:
1. Grand River
2. Durham
3. Neustadt
4. Mill Street
5. King
Black Oak is up there as well, but I don't see it in the store too often to drink it. Same with Better Bitters.
Great Lakes makes a great pale ale, but I've been underwhelmed with the lagers. The Orange Peel and Pumpkin ales are pretty decent too.
1. Grand River
2. Durham
3. Neustadt
4. Mill Street
5. King
Black Oak is up there as well, but I don't see it in the store too often to drink it. Same with Better Bitters.
Great Lakes makes a great pale ale, but I've been underwhelmed with the lagers. The Orange Peel and Pumpkin ales are pretty decent too.
And thank YOU for my first exposure to Beau's! I really do love that Lugtread, and it's really a shame I can't get any of their other stuff without a trip to Ottawa (though I do love visiting Ottawa, I just don't get to do it enough).Bytowner wrote:I've been impressed by both Grand River and Neustadt (thanks to Jesse). I also have to say Great Lakes just because I'm nuts for Devil's Pale Ale. Oh, and Beau's! Ottawa represent!!1!!!11!
For me:
1) Grand River- I've got to give it up to my local, they really are something special and if I could have an ornate fountain of Galt Knife running 24/7 in my house I could die a happy man.
2) F&M- Everything I've had from them I just love, they make some of my favourite session brews that I can enjoy in any mood and under any circumstances.
3) Beau's- The Lugtread is one of my single favourite OCB beers and I always make sure to get some when I'm in Ottawa. I hope things work out for this brewery over the next few years as I want to be able to drink their stuff for a while yet!
These are just 3 that come to mind right now. I appreciate the time and effort put in by all OCB brewers and will always be a firm supporter of local beer.
I've never tried Grand River (although their web site says they're available at the Wellington St. Gastropub here in Ottawa...good to know). I'd say my top three are:
- Beau's (Lugtread but I've liked all their seasonals too)
- Mill Street (Tankhouse and Coffee Porter in particular)
- Church Key (IPA, chocolate porter)
I don't think Church Key is an official OCB member but I'll include them anyways. I wish they were more readily available.
- Beau's (Lugtread but I've liked all their seasonals too)
- Mill Street (Tankhouse and Coffee Porter in particular)
- Church Key (IPA, chocolate porter)
I don't think Church Key is an official OCB member but I'll include them anyways. I wish they were more readily available.
wellington gastropub has had the Galt Knife on tap for a while now, pretty much the only place in ottawa I've seen any GR.Inkling wrote:I've never tried Grand River (although their web site says they're available at the Wellington St. Gastropub here in Ottawa...good to know). I'd say my top three are:
- Beau's (Lugtread but I've liked all their seasonals too)
- Mill Street (Tankhouse and Coffee Porter in particular)
- Church Key (IPA, chocolate porter)
I don't think Church Key is an official OCB member but I'll include them anyways. I wish they were more readily available.
it's beer o'clock.
These posts just make me sad. I have such limited access to quality brews around here 
1. Mill Street (love the Tank, Wit, Porter and the wife enjoys the Stock)
2. Creemore springs (favourite lager to date)
3. Hockley Valley (both the dark and stout are nice)
4. True North IPA (really solid IPA but sadly hard to get now)
5. Wellington (solid beers)
6. Steam Whistle (once and a while)
Past that I have to really travel to see anything else. Not knocking those choices but even these choices are not stocked up all the time. I have had many a time where I asked for Mill St. and been told "Hmm, we only have a six of that left", there also occasions where I walk out with nothing due to poor stock. Ugh, then I go down the list and cobble together an order - "Fine! give me a two four of Moose Head"
1. Mill Street (love the Tank, Wit, Porter and the wife enjoys the Stock)
2. Creemore springs (favourite lager to date)
3. Hockley Valley (both the dark and stout are nice)
4. True North IPA (really solid IPA but sadly hard to get now)
5. Wellington (solid beers)
6. Steam Whistle (once and a while)
Past that I have to really travel to see anything else. Not knocking those choices but even these choices are not stocked up all the time. I have had many a time where I asked for Mill St. and been told "Hmm, we only have a six of that left", there also occasions where I walk out with nothing due to poor stock. Ugh, then I go down the list and cobble together an order - "Fine! give me a two four of Moose Head"
