Granite Brewpub

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:55 am

Uncle Bobby wrote:I was at the Duke of York on Tuesday, and that establishment now designates OCB beers on its menus. They don't have many at the Duke, but they were all neatly demarcated in a separate box with the OCB logo. It helped me find my beverage.

They do the same thing at City Grill in the Eaton Centre. Again, the selection isn't broad - when I was there around Xmas, I think they had Brick Amber and Steamwhistle on tap (alongside several macros/imports), and only a couple of OCB beers in bottles - but they definately stood out on the menu.

tupalev · Post by **tupalev** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:10 am

When I was at the Duke of Richmond just before Christmas, my wife and I just ordered our standard pints of Guinness, not expecting anything else, until we started looking at the menu and saw the OCB header listing Wellington County Ale underneath! I quickly scrambled to the bar and changed our order...

Lubaka · Post by **Lubaka** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 4:10 pm

JerCraigs wrote:The Halifax Keefe (Kevin?) actually ran for office in Halifax for the Conservatives.

Whatever.. Political affiliation is less interesting that the product you are producing. As beer lovers we should be asking what candidates will do to help small brewers.

I'm embarassed to say that I'm not terribly savvy about our various levels of governments work, but isn't it the province, with its role to play in The Beer Store and the LCBO, that can do the most for our small brewers?

One would hope the feds could reign in the mergers and foreign takeovers of the large brewers, but I don't recall hearing of a single instance of liberal or PC government doing so.

Returning to my original post, though--it appears the Dora Keogh on the Danforth will be doing something election night--no particular political affiliation.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 5:09 pm

One of the big issues the OCBrewers were tackling was the issue of excise taxes which is i believe a federal issue. Not sure what the current status of that is.

Basically there is a tax by volume on beer production, which affects the cost of the beer. Lower taxes = more profit for the brewery.

Duct Tape · Post by **Duct Tape** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:13 pm

JerCraigs wrote:One of the big issues the OCBrewers were tackling was the issue of excise taxes which is i believe a federal issue. Not sure what the current status of that is.

Basically there is a tax by volume on beer production, which affects the cost of the beer. Lower taxes = more profit for the brewery.

Jer, thats correct, Beer is still subject to Taxation under the Federal Excise Act:

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-14/index.html

Excise Act wrote:SCHEDULE
(Sections 135, 170, 185 and 200)
The following duties of excise shall be imposed, levied and collected:

II. BEER

1. On all beer or malt liquor containing more than 2.5% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume, $27.985 per hectolitre.

2. On all beer or malt liquor containing more than 1.2% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume but not more than 2.5% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume, $13.99 per hectolitre.

3. On all beer or malt liquor containing not more than 1.2% absolute ethyl alcohol by volume, $2.591 per hectolitre.

I don't think these rates have changed (at least if they have i can't find it), but i am sure Perry or one of the other brewery operators will know exactly what the rates are.

Later

DT

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:51 pm

I was in Halifax on Thursday and made it to the Halifax version (Ginger's Tavern). I enjoyed it a lot (I'm also a big fan of the Toronto Granite) but found it different from the Toronto pub in several ways. One nice thing is that they have all four main beers on handpump (Best Bitter, Best Bitter dry hopped, Peculiar and IPA), though they are all unnecessarily served through swan necks and sparklers, which is a pet peeve of mine. The Best Bitter (generally not available in Toronto cask conditioned) was excellent. They had a few different, and pleasing, food options too, most notably a very good clam chowder. But the most noticeable thing for me was the smoke - most everyone in the main bar was smoking, and it was very very noticeable (especially coming from Toronto). I didn't mind so much, I'm not allergic or anything, but I was glad it's not the norm in Toronto anymore.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 9:56 am

midlife crisis wrote:I was in Halifax on Thursday and made it to the Halifax version (Ginger's Tavern). I enjoyed it a lot (I'm also a big fan of the Toronto Granite) but found it different from the Toronto pub in several ways. One nice thing is that they have all four main beers on handpump (Best Bitter, Best Bitter dry hopped, Peculiar and IPA), though they are all unnecessarily served through swan necks and sparklers, which is a pet peeve of mine. The Best Bitter (generally not available in Toronto cask conditioned) was excellent. They had a few different, and pleasing, food options too, most notably a very good clam chowder. But the most noticeable thing for me was the smoke - most everyone in the main bar was smoking, and it was very very noticeable (especially coming from Toronto). I didn't mind so much, I'm not allergic or anything, but I was glad it's not the norm in Toronto anymore.

Lege!

You should have let us know you were in town.

Did you make it to Rogues Roost? Probably someof the best beer in Nova Scotia. I particularly like the Pale Ale and IPA.

I had my last visit to Gingers for a long time last week. The upstairs part is nice, but not always open. The downstairs is just too smokey for me to bother going back. The beer doesn't seem to move as fast as it does in Toronto either so some taps are hit and miss.

The upstairs is a good venue for shows though, a few interesting concerts have come through there this year.

PRMason · Post by **PRMason** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 1:31 pm

On the subject of excise tax on beer...
We currently pay $28.00 per 100 litres excise. That means roughly $14.00 of every keg sold is excise ( I say roughly because not all large kegs are 50 litre) Many prominent beer producing nations have a sliding scale for excise. Production targets are set for tax breaks, say the first 50,000 hl you pay this % of the excise, for the next 50,000hl you pay this % more and above that you get taxed the full amount. This is equitable because even the MolBatt/Sleeman crowd gets a break for the first two milestones, albeit a drop in the bucket for them really. This drop in the bucket takes on tsunami proportions however when it is applied to the smaller players. It would make many struggling craft breweries (read MOST) profitable overnight.
The OCB really pushed hard for this break last year. Their efforts were really well planned and executed, but in the end the Liberal government of the day decided that the Jewellery businesses needed excise relief on all those precious stones and metals instead. Look for this initiative to be resurrected and re-pitched at the Tories. Fingers crossed everyone.

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:32 am

The Granite is my local and I've had many pints of Peculiar there over the years, but I've always hated the service. There's one guy in particular who's worked there for years and years and is still just as clueless as when he started. He's the sort of guy who calls you "Guy" or "Chief" and I hate that. The Granite has never embraced the concept of barmaids, which is sad. But I come back again and again for the Peculiar.

tupalev · Post by **tupalev** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:39 am

Welcome to the site jmcnally.

Agree with you on the Granite - I don't live in that area but make my way to it when I can for the beer, not necessarily the service. It has been mixed, sometimes good, sometimes not so much. Which is too bad, as I do want to support the city's only proper brewpub...

inertiaboy · Post by **inertiaboy** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:06 am

jmcnally wrote:The Granite is my local and I've had many pints of Peculiar there over the years, but I've always hated the service.

The Granite was my local as well before we moved. It does get very busy on Friday and Saturday nights so the service can slow down. I've never had a problem during the week. Of course, it probably helps when you go in once or twice a week and they know you by name...

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:17 am

That never seemed to happen. My roommate and I moved into the area in 1994 and wanted to make it our local so that at least they'd recognize us. I may not be in twice a week, but every couple of weeks for more than ten years and I still get the blank look from most of the servers.

It's kind of very typical of Toronto, I guess!

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:35 am

I don't get up there that often, but I was amazed with the service I got from one waiter. A couple years ago I went to a beer dinner there for my birthday in November, and he was our waiter. My girlfriend and I went back to take advantage of their fixed price menu on Valentines day - and he remembered us. That was the icing on the cake of already stellar service from him.

HogTownHarry · Post by **HogTownHarry** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 2:11 pm

typical Toronto!

Oh, wait ...

cask99 · Post by **cask99** » Tue Jun 06, 2006 12:21 pm

Granite Brewery is my #1 favorite pub, the food is spectacular, the smoked ribs made with their own sauce and the sour cream mashed potatoes is the pic although the wraps are very good also.

The beer is always "on" I've never had a bad pint. IPA and "Special" best bitter are my usual, but I will have a Peculiar or a Summer Ale now and again. Since I moved to Oakville I rarely get an opportunity to visit the great Granite but when I do it's always a treat!

Cheers to Ron at the Granite for creating the best brew pub in town!

Blair Wright