Help? Canada & good beer.

Nov 08, 2004 3 Replies
M

Hi Folks, I tried to post this a few days ago, but the vagaries of google posting seem to have disappeared it. Anyway . . .



My brother & sis-in-law are visiting family & touring Canada for a couple of weeks in December & want to try to find some of the best beer-bars & brewpubs on the way for them (not necessarily cask only, but good places for beer, food, atmosphere, etc)



I have a couple of books, incl a brewpub cookbook by Stephen Beaumont, but they are a bit out of date.



They are traveling by train for a big part of the journey & will stop at Vancouver, Victoria, Jasper, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax & Montreal. I'm not sure how long in each, but enough for a beer :~)



I have some info from Arthur's postings to this group earlier in the year (thankyou) but any more would be good too.



I've also got some good advice from the brewtheren over on rec.food.drink.beer, rec.crafts.brewing & alt.beer, but if anyone here has anything to add, 'twould be muchly appreciated. cheers, Mike McG. replies here, or email - mic (underscore) mac (at) postmaster (dot) co (dot) uk the deja email above is long dead, but means I can post via google (sometimes)


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J

I suggest you check out:

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In Montréal, might I suggest three venues on (or just off) the Main (Boulevard St-Laurent): Dieu du Ciel! on Laurier Ouest, for a great range of styles; La Taverne du Sergent Recruteur on the Main, for some real hophead brews; and Réservoir on Duluth Est, for some spot-on ales.

Last time I was in, each had one or two ales on cask, and several on keg (but unpasteurized and quite yummy).

If your brother and his wife are into lagers, L'Amère à Boire on St-Denis might be in order. Another brewpub in the same area (a little east) is the oldest, Le Cheval Blanc. I've heard good things about it, but have never had a good pint there. The last (probably the very last) pint I had there had so much diacetyl, pouring it over popcorn would not have been amiss.

In Toronto, might I suggest your brother and sister-in-law try C'est What? on Front and Café Volo on Yonge in Yorkville. (WARNING, WARNING, shameless plug to follow.) Have them check out Scotch Irish Sgt. Major's IPA and Corporal Punishment, while they're in those bars.

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M

Thanks for the info - sounds good stuff.

I've got to ask - why is it a "shameless plug"? - are they just your favourite beers, or do you brew the stuff, or work in the bars? cheers MikeMcG

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J

Well, sort of no. 2. I'm the second-heaviest investor in the company (Scotch Irish Brewing) and my best friend (the heaviest investor) is the president (read managing director) and only, unpaid employee.

I'm also the guy our glorious leader (Perry Mason, really, honest) bounces all his brewing ideas off, the one who maintains the website

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and the one who worked out the names for about half our brews (Corporal Punishment Ale, Dogsbody Ale, Major Misconduct Ale, etc.).

I know it was a shameless plug but, if your brother is into hops, he'll really love our ales. (All the hopheads do.)

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