East of the GTA

Duffey · Post by **Duffey** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:28 am

I'm from Courtice, which is a little town nestled between Oshawa and Bowmanville. As far as I know the good beer leaves Toronto travelling East, then stops at Pickering (County Durham is in Pickering.) From here there isn't another decent tap until you hit Cobourg. Does anyone know of a pub around Ajax/Whitby/Oshawa/Bowmanville/Port Hope with good beer? The best I've seen is Creemore Springs, and one bar that has Amsterdam blonde and Brick honey red. Please help.

Trafikker · Post by **Trafikker** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:53 pm

There's a pub in Oshawa, The Tartan or something, and they sell Belhaven on tap (other than that though the menu is very uninspiring).

Duffey · Post by **Duffey** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:18 pm

Trafikker wrote:There's a pub in Oshawa, The Tartan or something, and they sell Belhaven on tap (other than that though the menu is very uninspiring).

Is that Belhaven Twisted Thistle or some other kind of Belhaven? The last time I was at the Tartan the best they had was Mick's Red.

co · Post by co » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:26 pm

Good question and one that I've asked myself many times in the year and a half since I moved from Toronto to Port Hope. I've done a fair bit of driving about the area and have done some research on the computer but have found very little. There's a place in Cobourg called the Oasis/Crabby Carol's that tends to have a couple of good taps at all times (Wellington Dark, ChurchKey, Mill St.) that is decent, but very little else is around. The Kingston brew house has some good taps but that's a bit of a hike. There was talk of a brew house going up in Peterborough but I haven't heard anything about it in months. If I'm really craving a good pint I find myself heading into Toronto which, to me, is a tad ridiculous. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Duffey · Post by **Duffey** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:23 am

co wrote:Good question and one that I've asked myself many times in the year and a half since I moved from Toronto to Port Hope. I've done a fair bit of driving about the area and have done some research on the computer but have found very little. There's a place in Cobourg called the Oasis/Crabby Carol's that tends to have a couple of good taps at all times (Wellington Dark, ChurchKey, Mill St.) that is decent, but very little else is around. The Kingston brew house has some good taps but that's a bit of a hike. There was talk of a brew house going up in Peterborough but I haven't heard anything about it in months. If I'm really craving a good pint I find myself heading into Toronto which, to me, is a tad ridiculous. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There's the Olde Stone brewpub in Peterborough, and the Publican House is opening sometime soon. http://www.thepublicanhouse.com I've been to the Oasis, very nice pizzas there. What a surprise it was to see Wellington Dark and Church Key Maplesomething on tap, and fresh too.

Olde School · Post by **Olde School** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 9:23 am

The last time I was at The Great Farini in Port Hope they had Brooklyn Lager and Paulaner on tap. Oasis always has a Wellington and Church-Key product. There's a Taiwanese place in Port Hope on Walton that has Church-Key bottles, including the West Coast Pale. Los Sorbitos in Port Hope usually has 2 Church-Key taps including the unbottled red ale. That's all I got for now.

Al of Kingston · Post by **Al of Kingston** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:11 pm

Have you been to St. Veronus in Peterborough? One of the best beer bars in the province.

runes · Post by **runes** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:30 pm

i'll swing by veronus sometime soon, most of what they have is listed on their website, but they usually keep a side list of new additions/unlisted stuff. i hope they get some of their winter belgians in, like scotch de sily, which i loved last year.

plus, their food is intensely good.

co · Post by co » Wed Nov 21, 2007 7:51 pm

The Great Farini and the Olde Stone I've tried. The Great Farini is not bad, nice and low-key, but the beer list is not my cup of tea. The Olde Stone has a nice decor but the beer is mediocre and I never get good service when I'm there. I am looking forward to the Publican House (though it seems to be moving along rather slowly). I've only been to St. Veronus once and it was several years back when I drank Carlsberg on a regular basis (I admit this with adequate shame and resentment for past self). I'll have to give it another go.

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:55 am

I was up there this summer, was disapointed that several of the listed beers were unavailable. Most of the list was available, so perhaps call ahead if you're looking to try something specific, and the food was fantastic as well.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:12 pm

Duffey wrote:
Trafikker wrote:There's a pub in Oshawa, The Tartan or something, and they sell Belhaven on tap (other than that though the menu is very uninspiring).

Is that Belhaven Twisted Thistle or some other kind of Belhaven? The last time I was at the Tartan the best they had was Mick's Red.

According ro google, it's Belhave Best / aka 70 Shilling

the beer:
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/belhaven-best/4051/

the menu:
http://www.tartantavern.com/menu.php

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 6:19 pm

Al of Kingston wrote:Have you been to St. Veronus in Peterborough? One of the best beer bars in the province.

I like the looks of that Al.

runes · Post by **runes** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:19 am

rounded out the mardsous offerings, now i've tried all three (6,8,10)

8 is my favourite.

and had an 11% belgian called Kasteel (can't recall which version)

which was pretty awesome, i don't think it was the blonde. dark, syrupy (but not super cadied, plums, figs, port) quite good.

they always have an alternate list, it was full of alot of farmhouse and summer belgians, not my style, i'm looking forward to the winter editions.

the owner apparently has some $$ down payment on some good 'uns, but it's hard to predict when they come, and if actually what ordered is what shows up.

i know a bunch of people who work there, so i'll keep my ears open.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 9:25 am

Trafikker wrote:There's a pub in Oshawa, The Tartan or something, and they sell Belhaven on tap (other than that though the menu is very uninspiring).

Not anymore. I was there on Saturday night, and I ended up ordering a couple gin and tonics. Its not exactly a beer heaven, but makes for great people watching if you hit the room at the back for the dancing. So much hairspray in that place that a loose spark would have turned it into a deathtrap.

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 3:06 pm

Is there any decent Beer bars in Oshawa? I will be out there for Christmas with the Fiance and wouldn't mind having a decent place to take her Dad.