On Tap in Ontario
Head north to sample a few new brews, including one made from farm-foraged ingredients.
When you think of Canadian beer, Moosehead and Molson probably come to mind. But craft breweries are beginning to take over the landscape. In 2016,
Ontario had 140 operating breweries, with even more in the startup phase. About a dozen of those are scattered along the northern shore of Lake Erie, making them
a perfect weekend destination. Here are four of the best.
• Ramblin’ Road Brew Farm in La Salette grows its own hops. It also marries beer and potatoes for the benefit of both. They bathe uncooked potato slices in beer. Then,
they cook the potatoes and finish the beer to make Dakota Pearl Pale. 519-582-1444, ramblinroad.ca
• Last Castle Brewing Co. in Port Stanley is going native with small-batch brews using ingredients foraged at the farm, including wild berries, spruce tips, autumn olives
and more. Its latest brew, made from chaga mushrooms, is Dark Mushroom Saison. 519-782-3636, lastcastlebrewing.com
• Bayside Brewing Co. opened in Erieau last year as a small brewery, but demand for the beer — and views of Rondeau Bay — quickly grew the business into a pub with a full menu, wood-fired pizza oven and live music. 519-676-1888, baysidebrewing.com
• Brimstone Brewing Co. in Ridgeway serves beer in a repurposed church. It will tempt you with names like Sinister Minister IPA, Enlightenment Blonde Ale and Midnight
Mass Stout. 289-876-8657, brimstonebrewing.ca
Ontario had 140 operating breweries, with even more in the startup phase. About a dozen of those are scattered along the northern shore of Lake Erie, making them
a perfect weekend destination. Here are four of the best.
• Ramblin’ Road Brew Farm in La Salette grows its own hops. It also marries beer and potatoes for the benefit of both. They bathe uncooked potato slices in beer. Then,
they cook the potatoes and finish the beer to make Dakota Pearl Pale. 519-582-1444, ramblinroad.ca
• Last Castle Brewing Co. in Port Stanley is going native with small-batch brews using ingredients foraged at the farm, including wild berries, spruce tips, autumn olives
and more. Its latest brew, made from chaga mushrooms, is Dark Mushroom Saison. 519-782-3636, lastcastlebrewing.com
• Bayside Brewing Co. opened in Erieau last year as a small brewery, but demand for the beer — and views of Rondeau Bay — quickly grew the business into a pub with a full menu, wood-fired pizza oven and live music. 519-676-1888, baysidebrewing.com
• Brimstone Brewing Co. in Ridgeway serves beer in a repurposed church. It will tempt you with names like Sinister Minister IPA, Enlightenment Blonde Ale and Midnight
Mass Stout. 289-876-8657, brimstonebrewing.ca
Story:
Laura Watilo Blake
2017 March