The Bar Towel

Setting aside hard-to-get imports for a minute to stock of what's right here, undiscovered and really great... what do you think? What are OUR great beers?

My votes,

Wellington (Guelph)
Iron Duke Strong Ale and especially the Imperial Russian Stout. Great ales!

Church Key (Near Napanee)
Stg Major's India Pale Ale. Enjoyable hoppy madness.

(I'd say Unibroue too except they're well known here -- just completely taken for granted in terms of quality for the price, I think.)

Belgian wrote:
Church Key (Near Napanee)
Stg Major's India Pale Ale. Enjoyable hoppy madness.

Church Key is actually in Campleford, Ontario. Scotch Irish (which is based near Napanee) contracts brews Sgt. Major's there. Scotch Irish is, of course, run by our very own Perry Mason (PRMason).

And, yes Sgt. Major's is one of our really great beers.

My other votes go to:

Denison's Weissebier
Mill Street Tankhouse Pale Ale
Scotch Irish Corporal Punishment

Cheers,

Joe.

As far as the best that Ontario has to offer, I'd pretty much agree with Joey's list.

But I also think that Ontario has several underrated pale lagers/pilsners (styles that tend to be underrated in general, really). King Pilsner and Neustadt Springs Lager are both quite good, and I must admit that I had a pint of Steam Whistle last week and found it vastly improved since the last time I tried it around 2 years ago.

Joey, you're right, Campbellford (sp?) is the brewing location.

(Is PRMason not an importer as well? Explains the tasty IPA.)

I work 1.5 km from the Distillery so I've been waiting to try all the Mill Street beers right there, on tap!

And yes, I will try Steam Whistle again if you say it's 'growing up' in taste, Greg. The Neustadt and King I will watch out for too, when I'm in lager mode which sometimes happens.

Scotch Irish is based out of Fitzroy Harbour, I think.

I cast my vote for Session Ale from Scotch Irish, dry hopped of course.

Setting aside hard-to-get imports for a minute to stock of what's right here, undiscovered and really great... what do you think? What are OUR great beers?

If Denisons ever bottles that will be half my problems with drinking great beerat my cottage solved.

Is Michael a "sleeper" brewery??

Dunno?

But having good dunkle and heffe at home is a dream for the future.

I would also add Black Oak Nutcracker and Denison's Dunkel to the list.

Oh, and when it was done as a cask conditioned beer, the Church Key Holy Smoke was a very fine ale indeed.

Cask conditioned Macleans Pale Ale, cask conditioned Durham XXX, cask conditioned Scotch-Irish Dogsbody are all terrific when found in excellent condition. King Pilsner is very good, IMO. Black Oak's Saison was outstanding, I thought, and I second the view re Nutcracker. Finally, one I've only had once and wish was available in the GTA (not sure I'd rate it as outstanding but would like to try again) is Heritage Lager.

I would also include the following as pretty good beer:
1) Hockley Valley Dark
2) King Premium Pilsner
3) Magnotta IPA (good value for the dollar).

lagerale wrote:I would also include the following as pretty good beer:
1) Hockley Valley Dark
2) King Premium Pilsner
3) Magnotta IPA (good value for the dollar).

Glad you mentioned the Magnotta IPA (Altbier too) and the Hockley...all well put together beers and under appreciated.