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!