Ode to a bar

A Farewell (sort of) to Oshawa's iconic Buster Rhino's

As the great Scottish bard Robbie Burns once said, "the best laid plans of mice, men and beer bloggers oft go awry."

I'm paraphrasing slightly, as he was writing in the Scots dialect so translation is sketchy at best. But the point here is that we writers - like every other damn person - have to adapt from time to time when the narrative of the tale we're trying to tell changes.

Case in point? The story of the closing of Buster Rhino's, my cherished local in downtown Oshawa.

Darryl Koster, that prosperous, pared-down and problem-solving publican, announced on October 7 that the downtown Buster Rhino's location would be shut down, with the last night scheduled for Tuesday, October 16.

I had heard the news the day before when Alex, the former general manager, had pulled me aside to tell me the sad truth. I won't say I cried - because it wouldn't be true - but I was certainly gob-smacked.

Buster Rhino's owner
Darryl Koster

I was also certain I had to write about it, and after getting some advice from my pal Don - who had to pen a goodbye piece after his cherished Rib-Eye Jacks in Burlington closed its doors just shy of a year ago - I set about trying to interview as many people as I could find who had ties to Buster's.

I had spoken to a half-dozen people  - with more stories on the way - when I heard whispers that the staff had offered Darryl a proposal: they would run the place while Darryl negotiated with a few parties interested in buying the restaurant.

The fact the lease is paid until July was probably an excellent selling point.

By Tuesday, the final night for Buster Rhino's in Oshawa, the rumours were privately confirmed, though it wasn't until the next day that it was made official.

"The staff of our downtown location is ecstatic to announce they will be taking over the management of this location and will remain open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 4 pm to midnight. Profits from this arrangement will be shared amongst the new management team."

The first night under the new deal was Thursday, October 18. Just in time for comedy night. And yeah, I was there.

In the meantime I had all those interviews to sift through. There was a lot of heart-felt emotion in the stories I heard, and even a few tears. And with this new arrangement being only a short term solution - probably until the end of the Christmas season - the future of Buster Rhino's in downtown Oshawa is still very much in the air.

Mrs. Buster Rhino's herself, Beth Koster

So I decided those stories deserved to be told.

This, then, is a look at the 'final' week of Buster Rhino's in Oshawa.

Wednesday, October 10

This is the night shit actually got real for me. I dropped in just before the end of Beer Sessions, the monthly 'beer club' run by Sheila Mazur, a certified BJCP judge and a dear friend.

Sheila, who has been into craft beer since way back in 2002, started coming to the bar initially for the tap takeovers - "a great way to meet the brewers and try new beers" - and stayed because of the support she and her wife Tracy received from Darryl. "I felt I had a warrior at my back."

The news of the bar's closing hit her hard. "This is the Oshawa Cheers for me. This is the place where everyone knows my name. I know I can come here and bullshit and I always know somebody. And," she said with her trademark huge smile, "I can get out of my wife's hair."

Willow Parker has known Darryl since they were both 17 and she remembers the place even before it opened. "My first memory here is (Darryl's son) Jackson, who was about three, riding a pump truck through the bar."

"There are so many memories here," she added. "I'm incredibly sad it's closing. I can walk home from here - this is my local."

"Darryl is one of my very best friends and I understand it's a business decision. But I thought this would last forever."

Thursday, October 11

The next night - Comedy Night at the club - I popped into the bar after my delivery shift and immediately ran into the dangerously awesome Sarah, an original employee, a long time favourite of this blog (her first appearance was September 26, 2014 in Not a normal beer festival) and former manager who made a triumphant return to the bar earlier this year.

The incomparable Sheila Mazur

Sarah Healy wasn't in a memory sharing mood - "you're not writing about my best memories here," she said before breaking out in that laugh of hers that was voted #1 Laugh in Craft Beer three years running. "I worked the first shift here, and I'm going to work the last."

The lovely Brittni was also working this night, and promised me some words of wisdom the next time I saw her, so there wasn't much quotable this night. But there was a melancholy mood to the evening, as many of the comedy regulars were thinking it was the last time they would see funny people at Buster Rhino's.

My pal Lincoln Trudeau (the most historically political name ever), was performing that night and sent me a message a couple of days later after he heard the news.

"Always liked the place," said the actor/stand up comic, who was a high school intern at the Bay News, the Ajax-Pickering newspaper I worked at in the early 90s. A former intern who is now 40. Way to make me feel old, Lincoln.

He was surprised when he heard the news - "Damn! It just seemed to come out of nowhere" - and a little ticked he wouldn't get to perform there again.

"I'll be out of the area until it's closed. I had no idea this past Thursday would be my last."

Friday, October 12

I made only a brief appearance this evening, as I was working and close to flat broke. When I chose to visit my local every day for a week (for professional purposes) I forgot to factor in the expense required for that (professional) dedication.

Amber Knapp and her mother
Shannon Lahaye. Two amazing women

So a half-hour gab while I waited for my next call would have to do on this night. Darryl was there, so I extracted another tidbit or two about the closing, and so was my union enforcer pal Joe, fresh from dishing out the elbows (*disclaimer: there were no actual elbows dished*) to union-busters in Gander, Newfoundland. It was nice to catch up with Joe, who joined our motley crew for the Whitby Craft Brewery Invasion 2017 last December.

And Shannon Lahaye was there. Shannon, a former employee (at both ends of the house), is my technical troubleshooter (I so need help), my confidante and occasional life coach and a cherished friend, so it's always super cool to spend time with her.

She's also my accountant and knows all my financial secrets, so I have to say nice things about her.

Saturday, October 13

I was expecting this to be the big party - I said no to an offer to do a brewery tour of Prince Edward County with Willow and her friends to be here - and while the place wasn't jammed, it was busy and most of the regulars - my friends - were in attendance.

It's also when I had a chance to talk at length with Darryl about his decision.

"I've just been too busy in Whitby," he said. He also discovered the more time he spent at the Wentworth Street location - where he produces rubs, spices, beef jerky, pig candy (and other tasty stuff) for the retail industry, as well as all the smoked meat for the two restaurants - the more he could accomplish. "I wanted to focus my efforts on the retail business, which really has no limits."

"I would love to see this continue," he said, waving his hands around the restaurant, noting there were several serious bidders looking to buy the business.

A foodie first, Darryl opened the downtown Oshawa Buster Rhino's to "teach Oshawa customers about good southern barbecue," but it ended up being a destination for craft beer, whisky and a good laugh as well.

"It was the right move at that time. It was one of the great corners in downtown Oshawa and we realized it could work."

Our pugnacious, pixelated and pork rind-loving publican said he was proud of some of the things he and his staff were able to accomplish in the six-plus years Buster's has been in Oshawa, from barbecuing a whole alligator outside the restaurant to introducing craft beer and comedy to the city's downtown.

Shannon Clancy and Brittni Morgan. Two of my very
favourite peoples

"I've met some incredible people," he said. "I was also able to feed a lot of people and that makes me happy."

Perhaps the biggest legacy started by Darryl and his team - and one that is expected to continue - is the Durham Craft Beer Festival, which was introduced to downtown Oshawa in 2014.

I've been to all six incarnations of the event, with the last two as either an employee or a volunteer, so I have many fond memories - yes, I remember everything - of this annual party.

So does Riley Burnett, a Vet Tech student who spends most summers back in Oshawa working the kitchen at Buster's.

"The best memories always involve the beer festival," he said. "I think it was the third festival and it was an absolute blast. After working like mad all day in the kitchen ... I was happy to be done with work that day."

"I remember sitting down and having a fantastic night drinking and laughing all the way to close with Shannon, Jessica and many others. It had to be one of the best nights I've ever had at Buster's."

"There was another time we were celebrating Shannon's birthday," he continued. "Lots of old faces came out to celebrate and it was made even better as we had live music that night from Troy and Bernie, who sang 'Asshole' by Denis Leary while taking hits of helium. To cap it off they sang 'Stacy's Mom' but they modified it for Shannon and instead sang about Amber's Mom. It was a great night. We had many laughs and made memories that will last a lifetime."

Adam (Almost The Mayor) Kunz

Speaking of Shannons, the second Shannon (Clancy) in my life was in attendance Saturday and she said she would miss Buster's plenty.

She had a brief run as a server at the bar - "when Darryl found out I worked at a bank and could count change he was thrilled" - and remembered a first date at Buster Rhino's that didn't go so well.

"It was an awful first date and my server saved me," she said smiling.

Quite a few regulars were here on the final Saturday, including my friends Jeff Davis and Adam Kunz, who both gave me quotes not fit for a family blog.

Not that this is a family blog.

But Brittni Morgan was there, and as she wasn't working she was in a talkative mood.

"I wouldn't have met all the people here if it wasn't for this place," she said, her flashing dimples perfectly punctuating her thoughts. "I wouldn't have met you or Jeff or Cal and everyone else. And I'll always cherish that."

"Darryl took a chance on me - I had never served before," she added. "He asked why I wanted to work here if I was a teacher. 'Cause I want a house,' I told him. He said 'You know, I like you. You're hired.'"

"And we kinda have similar personalities so we've butted heads ever since."


Sunday, October 14

Aahh, this was the night the @BrewCrue gang - a five-seventh share of it, anyway - assembled at Buster's for a goodbye drink.

Candice being Candice after a hot day
volunteering at the Durham Craft Beer Festival

Paul put the call out first for a Sunday meet-up on Facebook and got quick responses from Candice, Joe and Josh. As I had pledged (professionally) to be at Buster's every night until it closed, I didn't think it required me to respond. But I did anyway because I am not nothing if not polite.

The only people missing from the reunion of the Whitby Craft Brewery Invasion, a truly memorable brewery tour (there was a limo!) that took place last December, was the videographer extraordinaire Hago and my old college chum Don. As they live in Barrie and Oakville, respectively, I suppose they can be excused.

Josh and I naturally talked about our shared birthday coming up in a week, and we all shared memories of last year's party (there was a limo!) and started making plans for an encore.

Candice Lootsma, clearly bored by all our birthday talk, said she had been coming to Buster's at least as long as I have (probably longer) and remembers being introduced to the place by her flyboy boyfriend, Chris, who had met Darryl earlier at an aviation event. She remembers birthday parties here ("surprise!") and volunteering shenanigans at the festival most of all.

And us too, I suggested. "Yes. You too," she agreed.

Shannon (Clancy) was there as well and I would discover (five minutes after Josh left) that she was also born on October 22.

What are the odds?

My favourite bank teller (and now birthday friend for life) was sitting at the bar with Adam, who was showing no signs of nervousness despite being in the middle of the municipal election campaign and therefore the final week in his quest to be Mayor of Oshawa.

The @BrewCrue reunited (most of 'em) from last December's
Whitby Craft Brewery Invasion

Less than a week later we would learn my pal - who didn't put up a single sign - would convince 1,057 people that he was worthy of running our city, based solely on scientific logic, common sense and dashing good looks.

I voted for Adam, which proves why voting is so important. If I hadn't cast my ballot? 1,056.

That's power, people.

Monday, October 15

I had just time (and cash) for a half-pint, which was good because I just snuck in at last call and only got my beer - Double Clutch from Redline, which I'd been drinking all week - because Shanice Hart loves me or took pity on me. Either way, I got my beer.

Shanice, along with Sarah and Brittni and Andrew in the kitchen, make up the foursome that will be managing Buster Rhino's going forward, but it wasn't official - or even well known - on the second-last day of the bar's scheduled life.

Still, the whispers were getting louder and the regulars there this night - Shannon (Lahaye), Adam, Willow and others - all knew the score by this time, which made the vibe a little weird.

Weirder than normal, that is.

Tuesday, October 16

Shanice Hart. A Super Woman who continues to work despite
blowing her ACL, MCL and all her other CLs

Full house tonight for the last night. Most of the people I've talked about over this last week were there. Some knew the closing would be for just one day; others had no idea and were feeling a bit nostalgic.

Cal, who until recently was Darryl's #1 customer, was here this night, which was cool because I hadn't seen him in weeks. Work, he said, citing plenty of lucrative overtime lately at GM as his excuse.

I resisted the urge to get him to buy me a beer.

Dave, the Mad Brewer from Falcon, was at the bar as well, and we chatted a bit about all things beer with Darryl, and even clarified rumours about Falcon's expansion plans.

Darryl, meanwhile, confirmed that staff was looking to take over management of the bar, with the first night scheduled for Thursday night, but said it was not a done deal, noting that the contract had yet to be signed.

Strange vibes indeed. But most of us ignored the chatter for one last night and we stayed well past close to say goodbye anyway.

Open for business

Sarah Healy with former manager
(best boss ever!) Jessica Billingham

Two nights later, as promised, Buster Rhino's was back slinging suds and serving up barbecue goodness. Sarah was behind the bar when I walked in just before nine and I asked her what the short-term future of the new management structure was going to look like.

Is being open just three nights a week viable?

"We will see," she said, adding that they were looking at opening on other nights as well. "I'd like to open once a month on Wednesdays for Beer Sessions and we're looking to do private functions too."

"Like Christmas parties?" I asked.

"Exactly like Christmas parties," she answered.

Sarah has already been reaching out to brewers like Rainhard and Blood Brothers of Toronto to get some new beers in, so I'm feeling upbeat that this team will make this work.

All three women at the front of the house have already accomplished great things: Sarah, just 28, has travelled half the world and is in the middle of the nursing program at Durham College; Brittni is a teacher and dreams big (the house thing was just the start); and Shanice is a personal trainer, a kinesiology student and someone who just generally kicks ass. Andrew is a top notch cook as well with a wealth of experience running busy kitchens.

They're also super awesome people and my friends, so if anyone can do this up right, they can.

I will, of course, do my share by drinking their fine ales and eating their delicious food as frequently as economically possible.

For professional purposes.

Cheers!

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!