craft beer festival

First of all for all those Europeans who think North American beer is bad - it's not true. The microbreweries make pretty decent stuff, which now actually ranks among my favourites!

Two weeks ago, I went with some folks to the Craft Beer Festival at Hart House, a beautiful 'old' building on campus. They served BBQed meats and tofu, and a huge veggie and fruit buffet in the patio. We managed to make a good basis for our eight beer tastings. There were 20 breweries, with in total 58 beers to select from....Luckily, some were well known (Mill Street Tankhouse and Organic and Creemore I got at home, Steamwhistle, Wellington, Big Rock, Wellington), so I went for some unkown ones.

Here's the list of my favorites: 1) FestivAle from Beau's All Natural Brewing (organic, it has something of Altbier, but is only seasonal and not sold at LCBO :( ), 2) Lu-Tread Lagered Ale (same brewery, got it in the fridge), 3) Pale Ale (Black Oak Brewing), 4) Equinox du Printemps Maple Scotch (Microbrasserie Dieu Du Ciel, strong stuff, Belgian style but has a nice sweeter flavor at the end). I would absolutely recommend to avoid Nickel Brook Green Apple pilsener: tastes like artificial apple flavoured chewing gum....The canadians still have to learn from the Germans (and Austrians), which combinations of pop is mixable with beer (for the record I love Stiegl Grapefruit Radler - there's nothing more refreshing on a summer day....if you can get hold of it outside of Austria, get it!). I tasted Mill Streets Lemon Tea beer the other day, gotta say an old fashioned Radler or Russe is better...

Quebequois beers are generally similar to Belgian beer, strong and yeasty. In general, I prefer flavourful ales. Now, I am trying to get some of my favourites in the store. Not so easy, at least got some Beau's Lager in my fridge right now - guess what I will get now :)