Best Brewery Shops of the GTA

Beer Academy

The Good

     Hiding in plain sight at a location conveniently located across from the Canadian Passport Office, Beer Academy is an intriguing concept that offers a tasting room, event space, and retail shop all rolled into one.  Its got everything that a craft beer nerd needs to fulfill his lust for suds.  The tasting room is meticulously designed and laid out to provide you with the experience of hanging out in the middle of a brewery, not just a tasting room!  Boil kettles and fermentation tanks easily visible through the glass panel walls.  Its a bit high brow and the space glows during the day with all the natural light reflecting off the surrounding buildings.  This place has the  look of deep pockets investing good money into making this space super cool.  I love the bar top comprised of hundreds of recycled beer bottle shards that shimmer like a mosaic of green, brown and black glass.  Very sexy.

     The staff are very approachable and well trained.  They have a fine selection of merch including t-shirts, glassware and stickers available in their beer shop. All of their beers are available for sale in large format bottles as well as on tap for sampling.  The beers even have trading cards!  TRADING CARDS!  Each card profiles the beers design, profile, recipe and even suggested serving glassware.  Their Kölsch blonde ale is an exceptional beer as well as their Hefeweizen wheat ale.  

The Bad

     There is a corporate vibe that resonates through this place, but that does also mean that the day to day operation standards must be very high.   Location is a little odd as its easy to get to yet not very well located.  If you're on foot its less than a 10 minute hike from the Eaton Centre.  If you're coming by car at any point during the day, good luck getting to this place without pulling at least a small amount of hair out.  Its plagued by a maze of one way streets, poor parking and heart of downtown traffic.  There is street parking available out front on Lombard st. for decent price if you can find it.  

The Verdict

     An awesome beer establishment that exudes quality and attention to detail.  Well worth the trip and they offer private tours if you get in touch ahead of time.  Their beers are available in multiple formats like 625ml bottles as well as growlers.  Keep an eye out for their limited and seasonal releases as they do tend to have a very diverse selection of styles.  Beer Academy gets an B+ from me with their high quality beers, amazing tap room, and a multitude of beer styles.

Cost: $$

Steamwhistle Brewery

The Good

     Ok so this is a total no-brainer as Steamwhistle is simply iconic.  Conveniently located in a destination that just happens to be "on the way" to any major sporting event in the city. The Roundhouse is just so easy to end up at without even trying.  You get a free sample when you walk in the door and Steamwhistle Pilsner is served up in any size, shape or variety that you could possibly ask for.  Anyone that has ever visited the tap room knows how awesome this space really is.  How can you possibly get any better branding than having a railway themed brewery inside of an old train roundhouse?  Perfect.  If you end up here, take a tour;  It's seriously good fun and a lot of beer is consumed at the end.  The staff are energetic and friendly and thrive in the high paced touristy environment that is the Steamwhistle brewery.

The Bad

     Oh god this is hard and people are going to hate me for mentioning anything that I think could be better about this place.  Let's just rip this bandaid off and get it over with.  As a craft beer lover, variety is a big deal.  Steamwhistle prides itself on "Doing one thing really well" and you can't hate them for sticking to their guns on this one.  Is there a way that Steamwhistle could possibly offer more variety without compromising their mantra?  I think so.

     I think that Steamwhistle could take a page directly from the collaboration series handbook. Already interwoven into the DNA of what Steamwhistle does is their Unsigned Indie Music Series.  I easily see a limited release beer created in a partnership between Steamwhistle and one of their Indie bands.   How cool would it be to sell a limited release Indie beer?  Did you ever hear about the Sam Roberts band Session Ale collaboration with Spearhead Brewing?  Just food for thought.

The Verdict

     By far the best location, building, and product; Steamwhistle is on top of the craft beer game.  Their beer shop has limited hours between noon and 6pm on most days, which is not totally up to craft beer par, but every other aspect of their business more than makes up for it.  The shop has a plethora of super cool merchandise and Steamwhistle pilsner is available in just about any size and shape you can drink it in.  Steamwhistle also gets major points for pushing the boundaries of what an eco friendly and green brewery can actually be.  Steamwhistle gets an A-

Cost: $$

Granite Brewery

The Good

     Holding down the uptown craft scene, Granite Brewery has a small and effective brew store tucked into the corner of an outstanding craft beer restaurant.  Its pretty basic, but these people really know their shit.  Bottles, not a chance.  This is growler country.  A closet sized section of the establishment holds a single, two- door sliding fridge, containing an assortment of pre-filled growler goodies.  Each one filled by hand, safety sealed and labelled by wax pencil.  I've been here about 3 times and each time I've spoken with a different staff member who scuttled over from behind the bar to help me.  "What kind of yeast do you use in the blah blah blah ale" I ask.  A rudimentary question that opens up an ark of the covenant of beer answers.  These guys can tell you the flavours produced by the yeast strain, hops, boil times, fermentation schedule, adjuncts, pairings, you name it they know it.  This didn't happen to me just once, it happened 3 times!  This is a well trained staff that understands their product from grain to glass.  Exceptional doesn't even begin to cover it.  

     Granite's beer should be a Toronto treasure.  This place was craft beer brewing before it was cool and trendy.  Granite represents the bridge between the old school craft breweries and that of the scene today.  They brew beers that are diverse, unique, and they're not afraid to make beer styles that nobody else really touches (eg. ringwood.  How many breweries make a ringwood beer?).  A growler will set you back $13 + $4 deposit that you get back when you return your empty growler for your next one.  Recycling is cool!  FYI, the brewshop is open until 11pm most nights. Did I mention that you can order 3 sizes of kegs there too?  Hmmmm......

The Bad

     Granite Brewery you are too far away from me!  It's not your fault though, and I do suppose that people that live north of Bloor deserve a great craft beer experience too.  Parking is not too much of a challenge in that area.  If you're there after 8pm, there's a strip plaza across the street where the cross fit gym is thats usually empty.  I can honestly say that I haven't had a disappointing beer there yet.

The Verdict

     Granite can be a stretch for most but well worth the journey.  Its one of Toronto's first craft beer restaurants and the staff is once again very knowledgeable and super friendly.  Granite deserves a solid A for its diverse selection of beer styles, on site recycling, and great staff.  If they had a second location more central to downtown I could see it being super successful.  If you haven't gone yet, check it out.  You will not be disappointed. 

Cost: $$$

Amsterdam Brewhouse

The Good

     My relationship with Amsterdam goes back many years.  The old Amsterdam brewery on Bathurst was spitting distance from my condo and effortlessly supplied me with craft beer goodness.  When they closed and relocated to Queens Quay, the brewshop was resurrected inside the Amsterdam Brewhouse.  

     The shop is awesome!  Its new, its shiny, and they've managed to cram an entire brewshop into about 150 square feet.  There's an excellent selection that includes Amsterdam's updated core brands like Natural Blonde & Downtown Brown.  The seasonal selections are diverse and always in stock and the one off's are always interesting.  Check out Boneshaker, Maverick & Gose, and the seasonal Framboise.

The Bad

     When I go into a business to spend my hard earned dollars I expect great customer service.  One problem that I often find when I stop in here is that there's NOBODY at the counter.  There have been a few times I've literally waited around alone in the shop for 5 minutes before anyone appears behind the desk.  I could have easily walked out with a few handfuls of product and nobody would have even known.  Are people being pulled into the restaurant or something?  Are you on a smoke break?  Show up for your customers!

     Also, If you're in a car, you're in trouble.  There is absolutely no parking nearby that you doesn't require a permit for you to ditch your car, or you have to pay Green P fees.  Let me also remind you that there's a police station right next door!  How brave are you when parking illegally with a cop looking over your shoulder?  The entire stretch of the Queens Quay in that area is also in a terrible state.  It's been torn up and constantly under construction for the past 2 years so its a labyrinth of one way streets, potholes, speed bumps, winding roads, and pedestrian crosswalks.  If you're heading down for beer shopping, go by bike or on foot.  When the streetcars are running again, there should be a stop right out front that you can jump off at. 

The Verdict

    Amsterdam delivers some excellent craft beer selections.  This place crams a lot of shop into a moderately accessible location but lacks on delivering consistent customer service.  This shop gets a B based on great beer selection, poor parking, spotty customer service, yet a plethora of merchandise.  It is by far the most modern and dare I say prettiest looking brewshop.

Cost: $

Bellwoods Brewery

The Good

     Among the most easily accessible brewery shops in the city (literally right in front of a bus stop) Bellwoods is the go to for any trendy beer loving Queen West hipster.  This former automotive shop turned craft beer mecca consistently produces great brews.  Personally, I'm a big fan of Farmageddon & Monogamy.  The beer shop is open 11am-11pm and if you show up past 11pm in your search of beer glory, you can always try your luck getting a table in the Bellwoods tap room.  The beer is visibly made on site so freshness is guaranteed.  Bellwoods has amazing branding that is adorned on everything from t-shirts, stickers, posters, toques, bags and more.

The Bad

     I do find that they put out beers that don't offer as much diversity as I would hope.  By this I mean, I've bought bottles of pretty much everything that they've ever created and a few things tend to taste the same after a while.  I find at times that there's not enough range in the hops and yeasts used from beer to beer.  Take it or leave it, its just my opinion.  Bottles are a tad on the pricey side and will run you around $8 each.  

The Verdict

     Bellwoods is the easiest craft beer destination for anyone living west of Yonge.  If you haven't stopped in yet, you are truly missing out on a real diamond in the rough.  It seamlessly fits into trendy Ossington Avenue and taps into the grass roots of the craft brewing scene in Toronto.  This place has character, heart, and indie spirit written all over it.  The shop is great and gets an B+ based on quality or beer, bus route/walking location, proper brewshop hours and the superior patio out front.

Cost: $$

Great Lakes Brewery

The Good

     The Great Lakes Brewery shop is my absolute favourite for choice of product.  I'm a HUGE fan of anything that shows up in their Tank Ten Series (Etobichoker, Audrey Hopburn, My Bitter Wife IPA etc.) and their core brands are outstanding.  The location is convenient enough by car, positioned just off of the Queensway and the 401.  If you're walking or bussing from downtown good luck.  

    The Walls are adorned with full size posters of their stellar signature artwork found on their cans.  They can their stuff in bullets!  Bullets!  I love the small time feel of this big time brewery.  The staff is always super nice and there's always someone with a good lean hanging off of their mobile bar where their taps can be found.  

The Bad

     I say it every time that I go in there and its become a bit of a cliché, "You guys need to be open later."  The biggest downfall of this brewery shop is the hours.  I happen to drive past this brewery on the way home from work and they're always closed.  I can't be the only one that feels this way guys.  We love your beer, we want to buy your beer past 5 or 6 pm.  There's business to be had and I think that they're shorting customers by closing early.  Look at how many other brewery shops on this list are open until 11pm!   That is your opportunity guys.  I'm sure that all of my constant harassment will lead to later hours but I'll let you guys take credit when it happens.  

The Verdict

     High quality beer from the often named "Canadian Brewery of the Year."  You can't go wrong grabbing a few cold ones here and I guarantee you will love anything marked Tank Ten on it.  This entire operation gets an A- from me based on quality of product, selection, staff, and location.  If GLB was open until 9pm, I would undoubtedly call this an A.  

     If you're looking for a little post brewery snack, check out The Pie Commission just around the corner.  They make a pie that uses GLB beer in the sauce.

Cost: $

Great Lakes Brewery: Etobichoker Double Belgian IPA

 


From Great Lakes Brewery comes the legendary (well sorta) Belgian Double IPA called Etobichoker.  This is a beer that I've heard about in whispers, but tonight marks the first occasion where Etobichoker has made its way to my fridge.  It came highly recommended by the friendly crew at Great Lakes Brewery and I was promised that it would be unlike any IPA that I have ever tried before.  This is the legend of Etobichoker!

Make no mistake, this is a truly unique ale.  The artwork and the hilarious story that decorate the can are enough to make you want to dive in.  The back of the can reads:

"Legend has it Etobichoker rose from the depths of The Humber terrorizing Etobicokers and 

haunting their children's dreams.  Overwrought citizens everywhere from Sherway Gardens to Longbranch still report sightings of the hideous monster daily.  Turns out, Etobichoker is one of those oft-misunderstood monsters who simply love hops for their pungent aromas and flavours of pine, tropical fruit and resin.  Just like the rest of us!"

Etobichoker has a body colour somewhere between gold and orange.  It pours with a subtle head and packs a pungent boozy aroma with tropical hints of peach, pineapple, and melon.  Smells like the yeast also contributes a light banana nose.  

This boozy beer comes in at 8.1% and packs a dignified 80 ibu's.  On first sip, it's tartness masks the boozy undertones of this double IPA with great balance.  You can tell that this beer is strong, but it doesn't taste like you're drinking more booze then beer. It goes down easy and has a clean mouth feel. For a beer with 80 ibu's it's not actually as bitter as you would think. It tastes as though the hops and booze find a nice middle ground underpinned by a mild sweetness.

This limited run beer is awesome!  Its seasonal and ties in well with Halloween and Great Lakes Pumpkin Ale.  I rate Etobichoker an irreproachable A (81).  Remember, this beer is a limited run and its ONLY available directly from The Great Lakes Brewery.  Because it's such an easy drinking beer, I can see myself unknowingly ending up hammered after a number of tall boys.  I think Etobichoker is actually the name of the hangover you get as a result of drinking this Tank Ten ale.

Support your local brewery!

Chris

Bartender Blues: The Unwritten Code

I've wanted to rant about this for a little while now.

This is a message to all of the bar owners and general managers out there as a reminder.  There is an unwritten code for the end of night protocol: give each of your staff one complimentary drink.

Even if its not free make it a dollar or something.  This may sound ludicrous to some, but rewarding your hard working staff with a pint and some co-worker bonding time does wonders.  Why you ask?  Hanging out with your co-workers at the end of a long shift fosters team bonding and workplace loyalty.  These two factors are an essential part of creating an environment that people actually want to work in and lets them feel rewarded for their studious efforts.  It also makes the boss look like a decent human being.  Just imagine how it would feel if your boss took your team out for a beer every night after work?  Feels good doesn't it?  Your boss ain't such a jerk anymore now is he?

The reason that I bring this up is because I recently left a bartending job, at a big name brewhouse (that shall remain nameless), that did nothing for the staff at the end of the night.  This sent a message to us, that when you're done your cash out, pack up your crap and get out the door.  There was no complimentary round and we weren't even allowed to pay for an after hours pint.  Ridiculous!  IT'S A BREWHOUSE!!!

This really is a rarity in the industry and it's honestly the first time that I've ever experienced it. At the end of every shift I was pretty let down to know that there were no late night suds and camaraderie.  I worked with people that felt like smiles and faces but not much substance.  We never spent any time getting to know each other and figuring out better ways to improve our bar to maximize workflow.  I loved the brand, I loved the brewhouse, but they made zero effort to build even an ounce of loyalty.  I just didn't look forward to going to work.  So I quit.

The morale of the story is that a simple act goes a long way. A bartender is an usher of good times, so look after him and he'll keep your clientele happy.  Treat him like garbage and expect that you'll have quality people heading for the door.


Tip your bartender!

Chris

Hogtown Brewers: Hogtown Ale

  
I first came across Hogtowns Kolsch ale at The Banknote. This chance encounter turned out to be my first and only run in with Hogtowns Ale for quite some time. This tasty brew won big points with me on style and palette alone. It's a very different beer, and honestly, anything that celebrates my hometown with pride wins my respect. Have you tried Hogtowns Ale yet?

If you aren't very familiar with Kolsch style beer, it's heritage runs deep in the German city of Cologne. This beer is specially characterized with a hybrid of techniques that borrows a bit of aging from ales as well as cold conditioning techniques similar to lagers.

This really is a unique beer that stands out from the rest based on style alone. It tastes like an ale but it's smooth like a lager. Hogtown ale has a straw like yellow colour with excellent clarity. The aroma has hints of grain and cereal. The head has a light white colour with good retention.

Hogtown ale's taste is smooth and pleasant. It's easy mouthfeel is chased by a light hoppiness and a creamy aftertaste that has hints of honey. Style wise, this beer is not going to taste familiar to you. What this beer may lack in punch it more than makes up for in uniqueness.

I love the hometown spirit and style of this ale. It may not win a lot points with the average beer cynic, but the true craft lover will appreciate the stray from the beaten path that this beer has to offer.  I salute you Hogtown Ale with a B-(74) rating.

Kensington Brewery: Augusta Ale

Tonight I'm watching hockey.

Its game 7, anxiety is high and The Toronto Maple Leafs are deep in a clinch battle with the Boston Bruins.  I take my dog for a quick walk, pick up 3 beers and a pizza, and I'm set for the game.  Luckily, my local LCBO has got tall boys of Kensington Brewery's Augusta Ale right near the cash. I make a quick purchase and then escape back to my couch.

I've got a SUPER soft spot for this young brewery.  I used to live just north of Kensington and I spent a ton of time in the market.  Places like Patty King, Big Fat Burrito, Freshmart, Kos, and Oishi Kada were just a few of my regulars.  Kensington Market has a special place in my heart; I even played a few shows on the streets of Kensington with my good friend @locnesbeats during Pedestrian Sundays.  For those who don't know, Kensington Market is the last of a dying breed of independent small business neighbourhoods in Toronto.  There's a unique kind of autonomous vibe and culture that could only belong to a place like Kensington.  I expect nothing less then these core values from the Kensington Brewing Company.

Let's talk about Augusta Ale.  Aptly named after Augusta Avenue (a road that is the backbone of Kensington Market) this Pale Ale is the first beer I've tried from The Kensington Brewery.  It pours a rusty golden copper hue with a subtle head.  It has an inviting aroma of mellow notes of spice and grassy hints.

This hybrid Ale is a delicious blend with layers of grassy tones and nutty inklings.  It has a medium bitterness, I'm guessing around 30 ibu's, which is enough to keep the hop head in me interested without  overpowering me with bitterness.  Its a tastefully done Ale with a unique and flavourful palette.  This is a great beer.  This Ale is different and it offers something that is both unconventional and familiar at the same time.

My first adventure into the beers of The Kensington Brewery is a success.  Augusta Ale is a hit in my books, I'll rate it a B+ (78) for its favourable combination of style and select choice of bittering hops. I'm interested in learning more about these guys and what the future of this young brewery has to offer.  There's also an extra hopped version of Augusta Ale that I'd like to get to know as well!  Let me see if I can hunt down their Watermelon Wheat beer for my next review.



Support Your Local Brewery!


Learn more about the Kensington Brewing Company at http://www.kensingtonbrewingcompany.com/the-beer/

The Mash

Here's a little video of me mashing grains in my kitchen.  For those of you not in the know, the mashing process is the first step in creating beer.  The focus of this stage is to extract the wort from malted barley grain.  The kit I used in this video is a Smoked Wheat Beer courtesy of The Brooklyn Brew Shop.

Enjoy!

Bartender Blues

I often refer to myself as a semi retired Bartender.


     In 2001, my Mom loaned me a few hundred dollars to pay for bartending school (Jabot Bartending) and I never looked back.  I graduated with honours (seriously) and I made 44 shots in 90 seconds on my final exam.  I thought it would be a great job that I could do alongside school requiring minimal hours and great pay.  As time went on it really became something so much more to me as I began building a passion for beer, cocktailing, and the industry.

   I've spent nearly 12 years of my life Bar-tending in pubs, nightclubs, restaurants and special events. Any position to do with running a bar, you name it, I've done it. It all started while I was attending Fanshawe College.  I was actually working at Radio Shack at the time.  I had sent in a resume to the Outback Shack (Fanshawe's pub) and to get a little attention, I wrote at the top of my resume:

Christopher B. Lee

(the B is for bartender)

     I soon found a voicemail on my phone stating that I had made the cut so I wrote a nasty resignation calling out how terrible the company was, faxed it to Radio Shack head office, and walked off in the middle of my shift.  I went in for a group interview at the Outback and when they were calling names, one of the managers stood up, pointed at me and yelled "That's the B for bartender guy!" I knew at that point that I had the job.

     Even though I had a bartending certificate, I was told I had to "work my way up"  and get my hands dirty bar backing first.  I took that challenge and put in my time.  By bar backing, I learned how to manage inventory, setup a bar, change kegs, flush taps, carry three 24's at a time, multitask, and work exceptionally fast while being efficient.   The money was decent too.

   Eventually, I started getting bartending shifts at lunch time and things really started to fall into place.  I had two shifts a week with mediocre paced lunch crowd.  I was finally making good money and finally doing what I intended on doing.  It was around this time that I started to realize that unless I was a blonde chick with big boobs, I was going to really have to wait to get the good night time shifts that paid the big bucks.  It did happen eventually and the money started coming easily.

   So I kept putting in my time.  I'd work my way up to bartending through bar backing at nearly every place that I worked at.  I worked at big venues like The Docks, small bars like The Fox & Fiddle, and even nightclubs in Scotland while I was in university.  I've even designed custom cocktail menus for a few lounges.  Every job was very much the same as I would lose out on a bartending position to an uncertified girl bartender that could barely make a rum and coke.  So here comes the crux of my rant.

Why are guys ALWAYS overlooked for bartending gigs?  

     I get the whole "pretty girls make guys spend money" and that is partially true. I'd like to think that men aren't all as stupid as that but there is some sort of method to the madness. A typical bar staff ratio is something close to 10 girls bartenders to 1 guy.  This is totally a reverse sexist industry.   Is this a case of natural talent for the position?  I've gone to places looking for a job, been FAR more qualified then the next person, but then I don't get the position simply because I'm not a hot blonde girl.  And if you honestly think I'm lying about this, ask any guy that works in the industry.  The speech is usually something like "You interview great and you have an impressive resume with a ton of experience, but we're only hiring girls."  The point here is that experience just does not count for much.  I'm not saying that girls are worse bartenders so don't read between the lines.  If you've never worked in this industry you may find this a difficult pill to swallow.

     I would think that an individual, like myself, that worked their way up and cut their teeth barbacking first, does in fact have a much deeper understanding of how to actually keep a bar functioning.  Its not just a position of stocking fridges, theres so much more to it.  Imagine having your license and also being a mechanic.  Now that's an interesting idea.  In my entire career of working in the service industry, I've never met one female barback.  Do girls just not want to be barbacks or do bar managers just not encourage them to?  Why don't girls have to climb the ladder like guys do?  In my experience, the majority of girl bartenders never have to prove their worth much more then just showing up on time with some pseudo revealing clothing and keeping a reasonably balanced till.  Have you ever had a job where you've been there for years and they hire a new boss instead of promoting internally?  That feeling is just part of this industry and it sucks.


   Now I'm not saying that one sex is superior to the other in this industry, that's not my point.  I think this really comes down to passion for what you do.  I've worked with some awesome girl bartenders and I've also worked with some crappy ones.  Guys have to work for it and girls tend to have the job handed to them.  The right person for any job should always be the one thats most qualified, fits best with the team, and brings something to the table that makes the entire place better.  Am I wrong?  Try me.

     A few months ago, I was in Stamford visiting my brother.  I stumbled upon a really cool place called Plan B.   While at this fine drinking establishment, I decided to go an try some local beers and have a little tasting with a good friend of mine.  This is where I met Will.  Now at first glance, Will appears pretty unconventional for a trendy restaurant.  He has scraggly hair, a rough beard, hanging earlobes ---where some spacers used to be, and he's got tattoo's covering both arms to his fingers.  If you passed this guy in the street you may think he's in a punk band or something.  However, looks were vastly misleading in this case.  Will is the most knowledgeable beer connoisseur that I have ever had the pleasure of serving me.  His proficiency in beer was astounding.  He knew the brewing process, yeast strains, meticulous factors that contribute to flavour, regions that beers came from and even recommended me some crazy stuff that blew my mind.  Will gave my friends and I the best experience that any of us had ever had.

     Was he a hot chick with big boobs?  No.  He was a guy that had a serious passion for his craft and learned about it by cutting his teeth on the little jobs to get him where he is now.  If I were to open a bar tomorrow, I'd want him to be the guy that trains my staff.  He was that awesome.

     In conclusion, passion and expertise trumps a good pair of boobs every time...in my book anyways. So I challenge you Mr. bar owner; go out and hire people who are awesome people.  Don't overlook someone just because they aren't a hot chick.  Hire a Will.


As for myself, I am always available to bring my expertise in cocktail making, beer knowledge, brewing, leadership and passion to your bar if you need me.  One great thing about bartending is that you can always come out of retirement for another go.  If anyone wants to hire a person who's got a resume the length of their arm, 12 years of bar experience, and someone who's passionate about what they do, then give me a shout.  I guarantee you'll be impressed.




Support your local bartender!