A not boring day

I had been talking up the coming weekend probably from Monday on.

I was boring my friends, in fact, about those two blessed days, telling them I was going to de-stress because I had exactly zero responsibilities. No J-Man to feed and no parental responsibilities back at the Toronto homestead.

The truth, of course, was that I was stressing over every little thing I wanted to accomplish on my two days off. In typical me fashion.

I had a blog to finish, for starters. A blog that should have written itself that was already nearly two weeks in the works. I needed a haircut. My apartment was a mess. I was running out of beer. The list went on.

And all I really wanted to do was sleep.

My day would begin dark and early at 5 am as I had to do my Saturday shift at my landscaping job, but I was okay with that because my pal Malcolm - an ex Brock landscaper - was dropping by for a visit after our three-hour shift.

Hugs all 'round when this boy shows up. He's just that kinda guy.

Meet Ricky. As he's eating breakfast (followed by a nap),
he'd prefer not to be disturbed

But the first thing that happened to make this a Not Boring Day was when I met Ricky.

Brandon and I were on our second mall (of three) of the morning when I approached the garbage bin in front of the Food Basics store on Westney Road in Ajax, with the intent of changing the bag.

And then the bag moved. WTF? So I peeked inside and there was this raccoon, as chill as the morning air and twice as adorable, nestled amongst the garbage, gnawing on something edible and staring up at me as if to say, "what's up bub? I'm trying to eat my breakfast here."

So naturally I called Brandon over for a look, and he offered the cautionary advice to send him on his way before he scares the hell out of the arriving shoppers.

"Nah, let him have his breakfast," I said. "We'll check up on him before we leave."

Thirty minutes later I peeked in to his bin and we found him fast asleep, and attracting a crowd to boot. Okay, it was one curious Food Basics staffer, but still, that makes three of us (plus Ricky) and three's a crowd, right?

So I tipped the bin over to coax Ricky out and he grudgingly left his bed to slowly make his way along the sidewalk in the direction of someplace other than the shopping plaza.

Two Brandons and a Malcolm. The (bearded)
Warriors Three

Brandon followed at a discreet distance behind, filming the event and looking for all to see like he was taking his pet raccoon for a walk. This 100-metre journey took some time, as Rickey's pace (and Brandon's) reached a top speed of amble, which was slower than a saunter and barely half as fast as mosey.

Understandable as the poor guy just got rudely woken up from a nap. Rickey; not Brandon.

But all good things must come to an end, including the adventures with Ricky, as well as a litter run at dawn on a Saturday morning, and our three crews eventually returned to the shop, where Malcolm (who actually took the bus in to see us) was waiting.

We caught up for a bit before I squeezed five of us in my little car - two Brandons, Malcolm, Dimitri and myself - to pop over to see another ex Brock guy, Kuda, who lived just a few minutes away.

All good people, and my friends, so we listened to tunes (mostly Rap and Kuda's Zimbabwean Dance Hall stuff), we blazed and we talked about the good times. And then we blazed some more.

All in all, a very good morning.

Dance Hall music. The soundtrack to
my friend Kuda's life

One of the Brandons had to go to another job before lunch so I packed the guys in my car again and headed to Oshawa, making drops along the way, before I hit up the local No Frills for some groceries.

That's when I saw the couple arguing in the produce section. He was early 30s; his wife a few years younger, and they were obviously from somewhere in the Middle East. She was clearly choosing the wrong vegetables, because he was jabbing a finger in her face and talking sharply to her.

And then he hit her. Just drew back in a crowded grocery store and hit his wife in the face with the side of his hand.

Now, I'm not now nor have ever been a tough guy, and my younger days were littered with moments when action was required but I stood frozen; unable to make a decision.

But I had to say something.

"Hey-Hey-Hey-HEY-HEY-HEY!

That's more or less what I shouted,  attracting the attention of everyone in the produce section, as well as the husband, who by this time was thirty feet away and almost around the corner.

We locked eyes and I gave him the evil stare-down for three or four seconds before he broke it off and they disappeared into the next aisle.

A woman approached me while I was standing there - still in shock at what I saw and still seething with anger - and said she saw what happened and was glad someone spoke up.

That made me feel good. But I'm not going to pretend I made much of a difference in the young woman's life. I hope what I did made her husband at least stop and think about his actions, and more importantly, if this incident empowers his wife in any way to understand that what happened in the grocery store that morning was abuse and is not accepted, then even better.

Still, I worry.

I spent the next few hours trying to calm down and write my blog but I made very little progress (I would finish it the next day) before shutting down my laptop and heading out to run my errands.

The legendary Four Corners APA and Brave New World IPA was in the fridge, so I hit up Town Brewery for the beer but the haircut would have to wait until the next day as every hair cut place in the city closed at 6 on Saturdays.

I guess I should have known that.

So shortly after six-thirty I stopped in at Buster's for a beer.

Shanice was behind the bar and Alex, the restaurant's general manager, was there as well, so we chatted for a few minutes while I sipped on a Karma Citra IPA. And then Alex asked me if I would join him outside for a smoke.

I don't smoke and Alex knows that so I figured something was up and when we were around the corner from the front doors he gave me the news.

"I wanted you to hear this before you see it on social media," he explained, as my ears and antennae both sprang to attention. "Buster Rhino's is closing."

My local, my second home (almost), my former place of employment and the home base for most of my friends in this world, was shutting down. In two weeks.

I was gobsmacked.

Buster Rhino's boss Darryl Koster

Alex said Darryl, that polished, profound and pragmatic proprietor of Buster's, had decided to consolidate his efforts in Whitby, home of the original Buster Rhino's and the site of his production facility, where the meat is smoked and his other products - rubs and spices, jerky, pig candy, pork rinds, etc - are created and marketed for his retail customers.

I would see Darryl the next day and a few other times over this past week and he would provide more details on his decision - fodder for a future blog - but the shock still hasn't worn off.

It was a business decision and I understand it was Darryl's right to make that decision, and I also know there will be a few parties before the bar closes its doors for good on October 14.

Still. Gobsmacked.

And a capper on a not at all boring day.

Cheers!

Polk, Erin & John and Mark highlight OBAs

After getting to know Robert Arseneault, AKA Drunk Polkeroo, for the better part of two years there's one thing I have learned: he wanted to win the Golden Tap Award for Ontario's Best Beer Writer more than anything.

Okay, maybe not more than delivering straight-up honesty every day in his videos, his poetry, his blogs and his numerous posts on various social media platforms.

But after that, he really, really loved the idea of winning a Golden Tap.

Now that I think about it, I realize Polk would rather be known for spreading the message that  you should drink - and do - whatever makes you happy, and not be shamed by other people's opinions on what  'good' beer is.

When you win a Golden Tap Award,
you never let it go, even if it
means cuddling with it at night.
Wouldn't you?

After that, his desire to win that elusive Golden Tap is at the top. For sure.

Though there is his love for the craft beer community as well, not to mention his passion for telling his stories about that community. There's also his willingness to talk openly about his own foibles.

And I haven't even mentioned his love for Kathryn, AKA Mrs. Polkeroo, his partner in life and in beer and an amazing soul herself.

But after that ...

Never mind. I think was ME who really, really wanted Polk to win the Golden Tap for Best Beer Writer in Ontario. Polk? He's just happy spreading the good word about craft beer.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that after four years of ironclad control of the award by Ben Johnson, the 2018 Golden Tap winner for Best Beer Writer in Ontario - as voted by fans - was awarded to my pal Robert, forever known in Ontario's craft beer community as the Drunk Polkeroo.

I wish I was there that night, but my Beer Bro Don was in attendance, and he said the place "went ballistic" when Polk's name was announced. "People went absolutely nuts."

Polk was an absolutely deserving winner, and that's no slight to Ben, who is a communications specialist by day and a damn good journalist all the other hours.

Robin LeBlanc (The Thirsty Wench) with
Erin and John

Both writers are not afraid to delve into subjects others dare to tread, but while Ben is more of a hard-hitting, angry beer writer type, Polk takes us on a journey to the dark places of his past and to the happy places that make up his present and future in the world of craft beer.

We are all the better for it.

Congratulations to Polk, my brother in beer.

*

Speaking of awesome and amazing people in the craft beer community, I bring you Erin Broadfoot and John Henley, the people behind Little Beasts Brewing in Whitby.

They've been up and running less than a year but have already built up a solid fan base with their eclectic lineup of Sours, Saisons, Stouts and super tasty IPAs.

No doubt the popularity of the little brewery in Whitby's industrial south-east corner is also due to the personalities of the operators. Erin is - and I've said this before - one of the nicest people in beer, with her ever-present smile and positive attitude attracting plenty of love from her customers.

Just for fun she likes to climb obstacles and crawl through mud as a Tough Mudder competitor (and spokesperson), so she has that going for her too.

John, the quieter of the two, is cut from the same cloth - except for the crawling through the mud part. But both have overcome obstacles to get Little Beasts off the ground and they were rewarded with two gold medals - only Wellington and Cameron's breweries won more - at the Ontario Brewing Awards (held in conjunction with the Golden Taps).

The judges determined Changeling (Peach and Apricot), a delicious fruit Sour; and La Saison d'hiver, their winter seasonal Saison; were the most deserving winners in the Fruit Beer and Belgian-style Dubbel categories, respectively.

Polk, Mark and my pal Don at the 2018 OBAs

Cooler still, Little Beasts took home a Golden Tap Award: Best New Brewery.

Erin said she was "blown away" by all the awards and the support from Ontario beer drinkers. It's a lot of hard work in running a brewery, she pointed out, but recognition from brewers and beer drinkers alike "definitely makes it a little more worth it."

Honours very much deserved.

*

Brock Street Brewing, the Best Newcomer winner at the 2016 OBAs, had a pretty big night as well, earning three medals, including one of each colour.

Their Bohemian Pilsner took top top honours in the ... uh ...Bohemian Pilsner category, while the judges deemed the brewery's Chocolate Milk Stout the second best Milk Stout in Ontario. Bronze in the Herb/Spice Beer category was awarded to Brock Street's Hibiscus Belgian Wit.

I don't get out to Brock Street very often - something that could be said about a lot of excellent breweries - but I'll never forget the VIP treatment we received from brewery co-owner Mark Woitzik during our Whitby Brewery Takeover last December.

That could have been because we had my pal Josh (who was part of Brock Street's entourage at the OBAs) with us on the trip, as my carpenter son from another father (Hey Tim!) has worked on a bunch of projects for Mark and Brock Street, notably the pop-up bar the brewery operated at the Oshawa Centre last Christmas season.

Josh, who shares a birthday with me,
shows off Brock Street Brewing's
medal haul

Or we got the treatment because Mark is an absolute peach of a guy, one who has even bigger things in store for 2019 with the opening of their brand new 17,000 square-foot production facility, tap room and banquet facility that I expect will transform downtown Whitby.

Look for big things from these guys.

*

Brock Street wasn't the only local brewery to medal at the OBAs. Second Wedge of Uxbridge scored a gold medal for Rain maker, their excellent Porter, and a bronze in the Altbier category for Monday Night Piper.

Newcomer Chronicle Brewing of Bowmanville won gold as well (in the Dark IPA category), wowing the judges with their brilliantly named Super Dank Osborne Black IPA. Old Flame, meanwhile scored three medals - all bronze - for their Blonde (Standard Lager), Red (Amber Lager) and for Scary Mary, which earned a third place plaque in the highly prestigious (to me) Imperial IPA category.

For the record, the top IPA was Hazed and Confused from Muskoka, while Immodest (Nickel Brook) was the top Imperial IPA and Elora Brewing's Borealis Citra Pale Ale took the top prize for American Pale Ales.

Rounding out the rest of the Golden Taps, Beau's was named Best Brewery and their Lug Tread was named top regularly produced beer. Karma Citra (Great Lakes) was voted as the best seasonal beer, while Collective Arts won for best label art and was awarded an Editor's Circle Award for their Liquid Arts Festival.

Bellwoods was named Best Brewpub.

Cheers!

Crashing in on the Cambridge brew scene

My hands shook, my head pounded and my legs wobbled, but I had a singular focus on that swanky roof top patio while I drank in the views of historic Hespeler Village.

Don't drop the phone.

I was so hungover from an epic night of brewery-hopping in Cambridge the night before that I had to take my pictures from behind the glass partition for fear that I would drop my phone if I leaned over.

Still got some great shots, but oh did my head hurt.

The occasion was the Oshawa takeover of Wave Maker Brewery in Cambridge's Preston neighbourhood, except we never made it to Wave Maker (as it was still under construction) and had to make do by drinking at five other breweries in the city, as well as a neighbourhood bar in Hespeler within walking distance of that super slick roof top patio.

Matt & Jess

It was a road trip to remember (which is good because I didn't take many notes) and a night of drinking great beer with even better friends that I won't forget.

We had started planning this trip - or at least talking about it - soon after Jessica (everyone's favourite bar manager ) - announced she was leaving Buster Rhino's and Oshawa to move to Cambridge in June.

Matt, the other half of this craft beer power couple and Durham's Brewing Mercenary, had taken a job with his pal Scott at the still under construction Wave Maker Brewery in Cambridge and he was taking Jess with him.

Hence the road trip to see them.

Five of us made the 140 kilometre trip on August 18 - Candice, Ashley, (Mayor-Elect) Adam, Brian and myself. The trip was supposed to be much bigger in scope, with enough staffers, ex-staffers and regulars from Buster's expressing interest to fill a tour bus.

But a date change and a few other complications trimmed the roster to just the five amigos, and while I am a big believer in the more the merrier - especially when it comes to beer and friends - five was fine with me.

So we all met up at lunch time on the Buster's patio, where we agreed on two vehicles (more room for the beer) and I agreed to ride shotgun for Candice, who was driving a 12-litre, 10,000 hp V-24 truck with devil horns on the front and a live dragon at the back.

We were there in seven minutes.

Candice, myself and Ashley. Beauties and the ...

Just kidding. It was a regular V-8 truck and Candice's driving skills were top-notch and the ride smooth as silk, once I got used to her lively banter - "why are you in this lane Gramps?" and "move it or lose it!" - with other drivers.

My responsibilities at the Shotgun position were nearly non-existent, as Candice had her trusty traffic app to alert us to problems, and I know I was completely comfortable with her driving style by the ride home because I slept for most of it.

That could have been because I was hungover (see the top of this blog), but whatever works, because I think we really did make the return trip in seven minutes.

Anyway, we made it to Cambridge in pretty good time for a late summer Saturday afternoon, with Barncat Artisian Ales our first stop because we had heard so many great things about them and because they closed at four.

Barncat had seven beers on tap when we arrived but with limited bottle sales, as most of their product went out the door in growlers, a trend we would discover at many of our Cambridge stops.

The gang at Rhythm & Brews

We also discovered that (almost) every brewery and bar we frequented had someone named Matt working it. At Barncat, it was owners Matt & Jeremy serving up the pints, and I went straight to the Imperial IPAs, sampling their Catland Cara Cara Orange as well as Dayz of Wayback, a west coast double. A Baby Mosaic Little IPA also made it in to a glass for me and between the five of us we managed to taste all the brews.

I left with a growler of the Cara Cara.

Matt (our Matt) was supposed to meet us at Barncat but he was running late so he caught up with us at our second stop, one of three breweries we visited on this day that opened in 2018:  Rhythm & Brews.

This place, which was just down the street from Barncat (and right across the road from a Frito-Lay potato chip factory) came highly recommended by Matt, and it was easy to see why, with its open concept design and its rock 'n roll and blues inspiration.

Live music and great beer are the hallmarks of Rhythm & Brews and we enjoyed both. One of the staffers was on stage providing the entertainment and our server, who happened to be the bar manager (and a Prudhomme Master Sommelier), provided the beer.

And yes, his name was Matt.

Lots to choose from, so we all had flights. I enjoyed NW x NE Hazy IPA, Singles Pacific Jade and Self-Titled (both American Pale Ales) and Mixtape - Apricot, one of at least a half-dozen Sours on tap.

Candice, Ashley and Adam drank the rest of the Mixtape Sours - damn near cleaned the place out, in fact - while Brian is a firm believer in the philosophy that when in a great brewery he should drink ALL THE BEERS.

He tried anyway.

I made sure to grab some NW x NE before we left to make our third stop at Jackass Brewery; yet another brand new brewery.

Co-owner Wayne was behind the bar when we arrived and it seemed he was in a partying mood. He had five beers on tap and as soon as we arrived he started dishing out flights.

Adam and I sidled up the the bar first and we quickly had a couple of samples in front of us. "I can't remember which is is #1 and which is #2, so you guys drink these and I'll just start over," he said.

My kind of bartender.

The wall at North Works. Oshawa was here!

Wayne had Sun Kiss Juicy IPA (my favourite), Honey Bee Blonde, Jack IPA, S'wheat Pineapple Heffe and Hoparillo APA and we whiled away a half-hour sampling them all.

I left with some of that delicious Sun Kiss.

North Works Brewing, veterans of the Cambridge craft beer scene - having opened more than 14 whole months ago -  was up next on our ambitious agenda. Owner-operators Mike and, um, Matt, were on hand to give us the VIP treatment.

I suppose it's possible that everyone who walked in through the doors of this nano brewery got the same stellar treatment, but I am comfortable with my delusion so I'm going with it.

Matt & Mike were engaging, we were thirsty and we even got a little tour of the place as we sampled their beers - Collision American Pale Ale was my choice - and wrote on their walls.

The Shwa was definitely here.

Most of the beer sold here comes fresher than fresh, as the boys will fill a crowler - a one-litre aluminum can - right from the tap and cap it for you on the spot.

Matt & Mike from North Works

By this time our two drivers had slowed down their consumption as we had one more stop before we could park the cars for the night: Four Fathers.

This was the first Cambridge brewery we had visited that changed the narrative from small and hands-on to big and bar-like. Because it was big. And it was a bar.

Started by four hockey dads with some deep pockets in Rockwood - 25 kilometres west - Four Fathers moved to Hespeler Village (you can see it from Matt & Jess' kick-ass roof top patio) earlier this year. So we grabbed beers and headed to the back of this cavernous room to play a few games of ping pong, because that's what drunk people do, right?

For the record, despite our rallies lasting a maximum of three seconds, I think I still won, though Matt and Ashley told me the next day they disagreed with my assessment.

In any event, we stumbled out of there at some point (me with a bunch of The Starter, an India Session Ale, in my to-go pack) and headed to a local bar a few hundred feet from the apartment called Ernie's for a nightcap.

We hoped to meet up with Jess there, as she had to work at the Tannery, a downtown Kitchener bar, until 10 or so. The Tannery was on our agenda, but you know what they say about mice and beer drinkers, so I didn't actually see Jess until the next morning.

Or, more accurately, I don't remember seeing Jessica until the next morning. She was with us when we walked from Ernie's to the apartment, but the details of this journey are somewhat sketchy in my mind.

The view from the kick-ass balcony

Ernie's is a popular craft beer restaurant in beautiful downtown Hespeler - the number of century-plus buildings preserved in this little town is astounding - and we stayed for a beer or two and a bite to eat.

I remember going for a stumble walk around the building to see where Ashley had disappeared to (she was searching for better Wi-Fi reception to video chat her boyfriend Eddie in England); which resulted in a chat with a couple of cops:

"You all right?
No worries. Thanks for asking.
"You look like you're looking for your car."
Nah. No driving tonight for this guy.

And then we all stumbled off to the apartment - Adam and Brian would later Uber to their hotel a few miles away - where some of us enjoyed a final drink up on that kick-ass patio.

Me? I was told that as soon as the apartment door opened I took a couple of steps inside and face-planted on the couch, not to be seen until the next day.

But what an awesome night.

The take-home haul

It was nearly noon before everyone assembled and we hit up Beertown, an amazing restaurant out by the highway that boasted a 30-tap selection of craft beer, for lunch and a bit of the hair of the dog.

But not before we paid a visit to that kick-ass patio and those gorgeous views of historic Hespeler - hometown of my pal Mark - and the Grand River.

I'll be back before long for another look. We'll be back.

Maybe we'll wait until Wave Maker is open first.

Cheers!

Durham Craft Beer Festival:

The people. The beer. The chafing

The 5th Annual Durham Craft Beer Festival was all about the incredible people I met along the way.

Just like it is at every festival, I reckon.

The beer these wonderful people brewed, served or had served to them (lucky you) was great and all, but the beauty of beer fests is in the relations we make from our love of craft beer.

That and the chafing. Oh, the chafing.

I volunteered this year, so that meant I was on my feet for ten hours straight and it wasn't long before the physical ailments started cropping up. First it was my feet, and I was wearing my best $25 Walmart runners so I thought I'd be good.

Then my back started to go about four hours in, followed shortly after with the chafing, which got so bad I could barely walk by the end of the night. In fact, when it was all over and I was sitting on the patio enjoying a couple of pints and some chicken fingers - the reward for the staff and volunteers for a job well done - it hurt just to move my chair so others could get by.

Oh, the goddamn chafing.

But there was a bright side to volunteering at the festival, which took over Ontario Street and Buster Rhino's in downtown Oshawa July 14: free beer!

Now I may not have been getting paid to be there - unlike last year, when my three or four taster afternoon drew the wrath of my boss Darryl, that garrulous, generous and thoroughly gentrified publican who is the host of the festival.

This year I traded a salary for free stuff, though I was still representing, so I limited my sampling to about nine through the course of the day. And my sample glass was smaller than the official festival stemware, at about four ounces. so that's like ... not so much.

My duties this year were also far less taxing then the previous festival. In fact, other than delivering a few bags of ice to a couple of brewers - my pal Jeff had that job well in hand so I wasn't called upon too often - and lugging a few other heavy items when asked I didn't have to do that much, leaving me plenty of time to chat with the brew folk.

Bobby and the Cowbell gang celebrate
People's Choice gold 

Really, they are some of my favourite people.

And I was told by Beth, our co-host for the festival, to "make myself useful," so I took those instructions to heart. Technically I visited the booths and the people repping our awesome local beer to see if there was anything I could do to make their lives easier, but I was really there just to shoot the breeze and catch up with friends.

Dave and the boys at Falcon Brewery of Ajax was a regular stop and so was Second Wedge of Uxbridge, with Garret and Stephanie behind the taps. Garret even asked me to fetch them a bag of ice, which is the first time in two years that happened.

The lovely Dana at Town Brewery (Whitby) was another regular on my circuit, but as they were right beside the ice truck I was really just there to say hey. So hey Dana!

I made sure Cowbell was on my itinerary as well. Cowbell, from far away Blythe (240 kilometres to the west), debuted last year and went home with a bronze medal in the People's Choice Awards and plenty of respect from us folk on the other side of the province.

The crowds were pretty consistent at this year's festival,
despite the threat of rain

This year Cowbell earned the top prize (I sampled both their Abbey Braggot and Boxing Bruin) and I caught up to Bobby after the prestigious award ceremony to hear him call it "a win for the little people."

I may have suggested that line and Bobby may have just laughed, but six of one and half a dozen of the other, right?

The brewery stands I visited most often were right next to each other; Great Lakes and Little Beasts.

Great Lakes has always had a presence at this festival, though Troy Burtch is usually front and centre repping the GLB line of fine ales. This year, with Troy earning a promotion to Official Documentary Film Maker or some such, the baton was passed to Alex Whitlow, who is known as the "best looking, hardest working and most modest" GLB employee.

And Joe. Joe was there too.

It was at this booth that I sampled my favourite beer of the festival: a Tropical Pale Ale (packed with mango and pineapple puree and love, the can says) called Electric Circus.

So damn good I went back for seconds a little while later, and then thirds except there wasn't thirds because it sold out.

"What the hell," I demanded of Alex when he told me it was all gone, both at the festival and back at the brewery. "Tell Mike to make more!"

Joe and Alex bringing the GLB vibe to the festival

Which, yet again, illustrates my love/hate relationship with GLB Brewmaster Mike Lackey. As I wrote about a couple of years ago in Just make more, Mike, the man can be pretty cruel in the way he just up and stops the production of so many fantastic beers.

I was in the middle of my tirade when I heard a voice behind me join in the attack on poor Alex.

"Do you know who he is?"

It was Town Brewery Brewmaster Tim Ferriman, and he was definitely throwing some shade my way. So I went with it. "Yeah, do you know who I am?" and we all had a good laugh, but I still didn't get any more Electric Circus.

Garret from Second Wedge wandered over a few minutes later and someone (probably me) remarked that this must be where the cool people hang out and we laughed some more.

And then I asked for an Octopus Wants to Fight (which was at least some consolation as it was my Beer of the Year for 2016), and moved next door to chat with the team from Little Beasts.

No Erin at this festival, but the new 'A' team for the brewery - co-owner John and the always smiling Sheila, who is kinda like the 5th Beatle for Little Beasts at events (because that sounds better than the 3rd Beast) - were more than capable of bringing the love of great beer to the party.

Sheila showing off the People's Choice
Bronze awarded to Little Beasts

Little Beasts opened late last year so this was their first Durham Craft Beer Festival, and it seems it was a  big success as they went home with a bronze from the People's Choice Awards, missing silver by one vote to Port Perry's Old Flame - who were only the three-time defending champs.

I delivered them some ice at one point in the day, which made me thirsty so I stayed for a chat and a sample of Changeling (like a tart glass of cherry pie!) and Really Good Friends, a Saison brewed in support of PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

So many excellent Saisons from Little Beasts this year.

I visited Rouge River for their Blueberry Sour and even had a gin cooler - a Gin Smash from Georgian Bay Spirit Company - just to show that I'm capable of drinking something that isn't craft beer.

But it wasn't all standing around and doing nothing for this volunteer. I had to work for my free beer and swag (I got a t-shirt) and one of my toughest jobs was to bring a few beers to 94.9 The Rock's Mike Luck, who was broadcasting live at the festival.

The poor man - better known as Lucky of Rock Mornings with Craig Venn & Lucky - was trapped at the booth and getting thirsty, so I ventured out into the throngs of people to fetch him a few drinks.

There was Easy Times from his pals at Falcon, Elgin Blonde from Second Wedge (I sampled  a 3 Rocks IPA while I was there) and a Canadian Amber Ale from Big Rig.  Maybe a Dangit Bobby from Chronicle too; I can't be sure.

Mike Luck (left) and his 94.9 The Rock partner, Craig Venn.
I may have fed Lucky too many beers

Lucky (who is also the play-by-play voice of our beloved Oshawa Generals) was working so I wasn't going to give him too many, though he does work in radio so how many is too many anyway?

Real nice guy, and he said he thanked me for my yeoman's service on the air. Twice, he said.

Never heard it, so I'm going to have to take his word on it.

I was also busy for a while as a runner for my friend Riley, who was working the poutine and sandwich station for Buster Rhino's and needed fries from the kitchen on a regular basis.

That gave me a chance to see how the kitchen - which is completely different, both in design and staff, from when I worked there last year - operated under pressure.

Smoothly, I discovered, with a bigger emphasis on formality (with "yes, Chef" and "kitchen, may I?" sprinkled into the chatter) and less on the swearing.

I miss the swearing.

As the festival neared closing I was given the perfect job for someone who was now suffering from Full-Blown Chafing: walk around the site multiple times sweeping up garbage and broken glass from dropped sample glasses.

Funny how the frequency of the dropsies increased the more beers people drank. Must be a correlation.

My pal Adam. He's running for Mayor of Oshawa,
so vote for Pedro. I mean Adam

If I was taking a break from my painful walkabouts the sound of breaking glass would be the trigger to get me back on my feet, and if I didn't hear the sound of smashed glass the cries of "Opa!" that followed would guide me to the disaster zone.

Not for the first time in my life I was called a hero.

Eventually the crowds left, we got the street cleaned up and I got to drag my painfullness out to the patio so I could sit down for a spell. I stayed long enough for a couple of pints and some food and to spend some time with the staff, other volunteers and assorted brewery folk who stuck around.

In other words, my friends.

But when Candice started heading for her truck I wangled a ride a home. It was only a five block walk but I knew it would be a very uncomfortable journey.

The beer at the 2018 Durham Craft Beer Festival was amazing and the people were even better.

But oh, the chafing.

Deadpool with the Redmond boys

As a Marvel comics guy, I try to keep up with all the movies the entertainment giant puts out.

But my usual movie watching partner is my youngest son and the J Man has lost interest in going to the movies these days, so I've fallen behind. I still haven't seen Black Panther and I ended up watching the latest Avengers blockbuster alone.

So when Deadpool 2 was released last month I was determined to find a date for the movie. First up was Jake but his response was predictable: "No thanks Dad, but thanks for asking."

Imma go with that response anyway.

I moved on to women next, but their responses weren't any more promising: "Sorry, I'm too busy this week," and "I'm washing my hair that night," and "That'll be $1.75 sir. Next customer please."

Deadpool!

I figured I might be seeing Deadpool solo until I happened on a Twitter thread where my friend Hago - also know as the World's Greatest Beer Videographer - was thanking Beer Bro Don for the awesome U.S. beers he received from his recent visit with Don for the Liquid Arts Festival.

And I remembered Donny Vegas had promised me some American IPAs when he touched down from his latest trip from, well, Vegas.

"I hope you have some left," I asked him, thinking it had been a couple of weeks and Don, being much older than I, might have forgot to set a few aside.

"No worries dude. I have lots left for you. When are you coming down to get it?"
"How about this weekend," I offered. "What are you doing Sunday?"

Daddy and David. I told you
he was a great hugger

As it turned out, he had his son David over for the weekend and Sunday's schedule had but one item circled in red on their itinerary: Deadpool 2. "You are welcome to come," he said.

I'm in.

I see my old college chum a bunch of times through the year but I don't get to see David often enough. He's just about the coolest kid around - though, at 27 he's not really a kid anymore - and he might just be the best hugger on the planet. I'm not going to say no to this invitation.

So after visiting my folks in west end Toronto, and after a stop at Bellwoods-Hafis to pad out my mini-case of tasties from Town, Little Beasts and Manantler, I headed to Oakville and Falgarwood Estates.

We didn't waste much time after my arrival before we piled into my whip for the short drive to the Cineplex theatres on Winston Churchill.

I didn't think it was that funny, but
David clearly did

The movie was amazing - no spoilers here for those who haven't seen it, but it was incredibly funny - and the company was excellent, and we followed up the movie with dinner and beers (for Don and I) at 3 Brewers, a regular meeting place for our beer sharing.

It's also where I learned there is one thing you can do to wipe the perpetual smile off David's face: steal his fries. I snuck one fry away from him, which elicited a pause and a raised eyebrow. The second stolen beer-battered fry, however, earned me the 'look' and an unspoken message that I should keep my eyes on my own fries.

Sorry buddy.

We headed back to Falgarwood Estates after dinner for a quick pint before I had to turn the car in the direction of Oshawa and head home. Don's offer to stay and drink was tempting, but, you know, work in the morning and all that.

Which just left the beer exchange. Don got his four-pack and then he gave me his care package, which included - just for starters - a foursome of wicked beers from the south of the border.

There was Sierra Nevada's Hop Hunter - a hop oil-infused IPA - and Lagunitas Little Sumpin'. There was also Squatter's Hop Rising (nine per cent) and Left Coast Hop Juice, a ten per cent Triple IPA.

Holy shit!

But there was more. Don also included a variety eight-pack from Wellington Brewery, Canada's oldest independently owned microbrewery and one that is enjoying a renaissance of late, with some new recipes and fresh artwork.

I've had just three of the beers so far - Upside IPA, Against the Current (a blackcurrant Kettle Sour) and Bewitched Belgian IPA - and you can colour me very much impressed.

Thanks Don. And thank David, too. Let's do this again some time soon.

Patio time (and a Brittni's Mom update)

I had a loverly time on the patio at Buster's Sunday night, chilling with friends and enjoying the cool breezes.

But this time I just closed one bar down.

I think there is some symbolism
in this photo but I'll be damned
if I can figure out what it is

Brittni was there and so was Cal and Jeff, and we enjoyed some nachos, a few beers - I finally tried a Brut IPA (Great Lake's Brutalism) - and we even got in a couple of games of euchre, with Jesse arriving after the first game to learn a few tricks.

Brittni and I (did you doubt us?) won both games. .

We also swapped stories, and in Brittni's case, that meant an update on her mom and my quest to get a date with the very beautiful Brenda.

I learned that Brenda has now been told about the blog - Blame Brittni - and while seemingly amused someone who had never met her would put her in a blog, had not yet actually read it.

Now you have something else to read Brenda.

Cheers!

Durham Craft Beer Festival returns to downtown Oshawa

If you love great beer and chilling with awesome people, the place you need to be on July 14 is Ontario Street in the heart of Oshawa's downtown for the 5th Annual Durham Craft Beer Festival.

This event has been a smash hit since its inception in 2014 and this year should be even bigger with 14 breweries (with a possible 15th) and one craft distillery coming to town for the party.

I've been to all five so far (there were two in 2014, including a Ciders and Seasonals in the fall - Not a Normal Beer Festival) and I worked last year's fest (Behind the Scenes), so I know first hand how amazing these festivals are.

It's billed as a "Celebration of talent, local ingredients and passion" and I'm on board with that.

We're expecting about 1,500 craft beer fans throughout the day so it's a pretty big deal.

This year I am volunteering, which will be a new experience for me - it should be a lot of fun, but I'm more looking forward to seeing you there. You, however, should be most excited about the lineup.

Six local breweries will be there, including three-time defending People's Choice winner Old Flame Brewery (can anyone dethrone them this year?) and returnees Falcon (Ajax) and Second Wedge (Uxbridge). A trio of new Durham Region breweries will be there as well, including Little Beasts and Town (Whitby) and just opened Chronicle Brewing of Bowmanville.

Rouge River, last year's People's Choice runner-up will be here, and they're practically Durham (they're in Markham) as well as a favourite at Buster Rhino's, the host for this event.

Great Lakes, one of Ontario's OG breweries and one of this country's finest IPA producers, will be returning, along with Muskoka, Big Rig and Cowbell. Newcomers include Collingwood, Bobcaygeon and Shacklands.

A  look at the festivities from the second festival
in the fall of 2014. Photo credit above

Also new to the festival is Georgian Bay Spirits, who will be bringing their popular Gin Smash and Vodka Smash coolers.

The Gin Smash is something I have to try.

So yeah, ya gotta go.

General Admission tickets are available for $25 ($30 at the door), which gives you a five-ounce sample glass and five tokens. Extra tokens are available for $2.

The gate opens at 12:30 for general admission ticket holders but those who want a little extra can purchase VIP tickets, which gives your early entrance at 11 am, 25 tokens, the glass, bottled water throughout the day and a VIP lunch at your leisure.

To purchase tickets, visit durhamcraftbeer.com

You want a couple of free tickets? Like and share this post and tell me why Ontario craft beer is better than chocolate. It is better, you know.

Hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Dave's Beer, sexist branding and more Bellwoods love

I have been a fan of Falcon Brewing since they opened their doors in Ajax just over a year ago.

I have been a bigger of fan of Dave, Falcon's Brewmaster, for the same length of time.

But I haven't found a Falcon brew that I could call my own in that time. There have been plenty of good ales, but with the recent explosion of breweries in Durham - there are now 13 that now call the region home - it has been tough for Falcon to stand out in a sea of excellence.

That's all changed now and for me, it started when I had my first sip of Beyond the Pail IPA. I was at my local - big surprise - and I was staring at the tap list trying to decide which of the mostly new beers listed I was going to try.

I saw Beyond the Pail IPA at the very bottom of the board and asked for #12. "Give me a pint of Dave's beer," I said to Shanice, who was working the bar.

One sip and I knew I found my Falcon beer. So fruity - tropical fruit, mostly - and so smooth and delicious. "This is really good," I said, and when my pal Danny walked past - having heard our conversation - I said the same thing to him.

Dave Draper - Falcon Brewing's Madman Brewmaster

"This is it Danny," I said. "You gotta try Dave's beer."

And who should happen to walk in at that very moment? Why Dave, the Madman Brewer himself.

An Oshawa resident, Dave is a frequent visitor to Buster Rhino's, so his appearance was no surprise but oh, the timing!

So we sat at the bar and talked about the process he used to make Beyond the Pail - it's all Citra hops - while I checked the beer in on Untappd. We talked about Salem's Stout as well, and I congratulated him on the brewery's gold medal win in the Dry Stout category at the recent Canadian Brewing Awards.

I ended up drinking Beyond the Pail every chance I got over the next week or so until I (okay, I did have plenty of help) drained the keg.

The first day I walked in and Beyond the Pail was not on the board ("What? No Dave's Beer?") was also the next time I saw Dave and I told him again how much I liked the beer.

"I thought you liked it. But why did you give us such a low score on Untapped?"

That got me scrambling to my phone and the Untapped app, while Alex (the newly promoted Manager at Buster's) defended my honour ("he's been drinking it all week!") and Dave just laughed.

I sometimes write full reviews and sometimes just 'check-in' beers on the app, but I always rate the beer using a sliding scale that is not exactly very precise. Not the way I do it anyway - if I like a beer it gets a score on the positive side of the scale but I don't pay any more attention than that.

But it seems my 2.75 score out of 5 was the lowest they had received and considering how much I had been talking up the beer; well, that just won't do.

So I changed my score to 4.25. "Happy now Dave?"

Dave just laughed again.

I would recommend trying Beyond the Pail but I think it's all gone now. But if you get a chance to try Salem's Stout don't hesitate. The beer is a national gold medallist for a reason - it's really, really good.

Mostly because it's Dave's Beer.

Sex sells beer - but it doesn't have to

There has been a lot of attention lately to sexist marketing in craft beer, notably in the can or bottle art.

And Nickel Brook Brewing of Burlington, one of Ontario craft brewing's OGs and a long time favourite of mine, was front and centre in that debate.

The culprits also happen to be two of my favourite beers: Naughty Neighbour American Pale Ale and Immodest, a super delicious Imperial IPA. I love Naughty Neighbour so much, in fact, I made it my Beer of the Year for 2015.

The art for both beers was old school burlesque-themed, and while not as overtly sexist as some beer names in the craft beer world, it was still something that needed to be changed. This is 2018 and the beer scene is filled with awesome woman, both making and drinking the stuff, and it was time brewers reflected that fact in their marketing.

The re-designed Immodest IIPA from Nickel Brook

Nickel Brook was listening. My Beer Bro Don posted a pic of an Immodest can on Twitter recently and the fish-net stockings are gone in favour of some simple but cool stylized writing. It looked awesome, actually, and I jumped on the thread quickly.

I see the packaging on Immodest has changed (for the better). When did this happen? Is Naughty Neighbour next?

The question was really put to Don, who lived for many years a stone's throw from the brewery. But it was Nickel Brook - likely Matt Gibson, Nickel Brook's Marketing Manager - who responded.

The new cans launched just last week. And a revamp of our Naughty Neighbour can design is in the works.

That was fast. And some nice PR work too, which is what I told him.

Excellent to hear. Two of my all-time favourite beers so I'm happy.

It's true. I am happy, Now to go the LCBO and get some in me. It's been too long.

More Bellwoods love

I've written before about my love of Bellwoods Brewery before; especially the Hafis Road location on the southern edge of Downview, my home turf.

I've written about the beer, of course, which is world class, and includes IPAs like Ghost Orchid, my 2017 Beer of the Year, and the outstanding Jelly King line of dry-hopped Sours. But mostly I raved about the location.

It's like they were thinking of me when they opened the second Bellwoods site on Hafis Road just before Christmas in 2016. I make regular trips to my childhood home - especially in the summer when I cut the grass and do other good son chores - and Hafis Road is ten minutes or less off the 401 from the homestead.

There are even connecting highways for me - Black Creek on the west and the Allen Expressway on the east. Perfect.

Gord with Bellwoods' brand
new - and super huge - foeders

But I think it's time I rave about the people at the brewery as well. I got to know Gord, the Retail Supervisor, a bit last year, and when my weekend visiting day got switched to Sunday (Gord's day off) I got acquainted with Ashley, who is one of the coolest cats in the craft beer business.

Right near the top of my list for sure.

This past weekend was Canada Day, so I went on the Monday and I stopped by on the way home to Oshawa to find both of them working, so double my pleasure.

I had a nice chat with Ashley while I sampled the 100 Pale Ale (it was so good I had to add a bottle of it to my take-home case) and then Gord took me on a quick tour of the brewery to show off the nine American White Oak 30 bbl Foeders - giant wooden barrels that allow beers such as Sours to age with a slower infusion of oxygen - that were delivered three days before.

These things are massive (seriously - they are huge!) and they don't come cheap either, a testament to the brewery's commitment to funky beers and their barrel-age program.

And then, with my $71 box of fun under my arm (Ghost Orchid is back!) I was on my way back to the Shwa and in time to make my gym's last call to boot.

As Arnie would say, "I'll be returning." I think that's what he said anyway.

In two weeks, I reckon, just in case you kids are counting the days.

Cheers!