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Craft Beer Lifestyle Blog

Tag: ontario craft beer (Page 1 of 3)

The Gift of Craft Beer for Christmas

December 4, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Giving the gift of craft beer for Christmas: Indie Ale House sets an example of the type of craft brewery you should focus your efforts on when creating Christmas gift of beer.
Giving the gift of craft beer for Christmas: Indie Ale House sets an example of the type of craft brewery you should focus your efforts on when creating Christmas gift of beer.

New strategy: an Indie-roused Christmas gift idea

Last year around this time, I published an article about Christmas gifts for the craft beer lover. I focused the article on items that were connected to the craft beer scene, but were not beer themselves. The logic was simply that purchasing beer for a craft beer drinker can be easy to get wrong: avoid that possibility by focusing on beer swag, fashion, learning aids, and other beer-related accessories.

But what do you do if you really don’t know anything about craft beer, but are stubbornly keen to purchase your craft beer-obsessed friend or family member beer that they are really going to be happy and surprised to receive?

I recently received a package from Indie Ale House with a nice selection of craft beer. Receiving it suggested to me (given the season and what was on my mind – answering the above question) a way to create a Christmas gift of beer for the craft beer lover I hadn’t really considered previously, and I quite like it.

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Common Good Brewing Company

April 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments
The large sign that hangs over the entrance to Common Good Brewing Company.
The large sign that hangs over the entrance to Common Good Brewing Company.

“It’s a conduit or mechanism…

It was different sort of interview with Ajeet Grover, VP of business development and community relations at Common Good Brewing Company, when we sat down only days after the NBA had shut down its season, triggering the shutdown of much of North America due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While we could not avoid speaking about the pandemic (which we will get to below), I was still also interested to hear his response to my favourite question: Is there such a thing as a craft beer lifestyle, and, if so, how would you define it?

Ajeet was quick to respond: “Ya, I definitely think there is such a thing as a craft beer lifestyle. I think it really centres around the notion of ‘community’… About using craft beer as a conduit or a mechanism to bring people together.

“To us, craft beer is about people, about our relationships – which makes this current crisis so frustrating and challenging, because, you know, craft beer is something to be shared and enjoyed with others. It’s not the same when you’re drinking a beer by yourself at home – it’s ok, but…

“To us it’s all about community – and that’s also what Common Good is about: we’re a partnership-driven business, we’re about working with everyone – other businesses, charities, other breweries… Our unique business model [Common Good produces its own beer, as well as other beer for contract brewers] puts us central into the craft beer community because we’re on the ground working with so many other people in our industry.

“And that’s a big part of what the craft beer community is, is other people who are working in it and doing their best to make great products and get it out there to share it with all the great beer lovers in Scarborough, Toronto, and beyond.”

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Beer Delivery during COVID-19

March 26, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Henderson Brewing Company is one of numerous local, Ontario breweries offering beer delivery during COVID-19.
Henderson Brewing Company is one of numerous local, Ontario breweries offering beer delivery during COVID-19.

Ontario Craft Beer Delivery During COVID-19: Support Local

With a pandemic, it’s time to hunker down, maintain social-distancing, and wash our hands thoroughly and regularly. It’s time to STAY HOME. And, while we’re home, there’s thankfully many Ontario craft breweries offering beer delivery during COVID-19.

It’s convenient to take advantage of, for sure, but it’s also important to note how difficult these times are for small, independent businesses. Your purchase will be one that helps the brewery through turbulent waters.

We’re only at the beginning here, and I, for one, am already missing places like local breweries, places where we can get together with friends and family, unwind in the atmosphere, and enjoy a pint. Certainly, we’ll need these places more than ever when we get through to the other side of this.

So, take advantage of beer delivery during COVID-19, and support your local, craft brewery, while, most importantly, staying safe and healthy in the comfort of your home.

NOTE: While many breweries are shipping beer deliveries across the province, not all are, so be sure to check the brewery’s delivery area before ordering your local craft beer.

If you’re an Ontario brewery offering beer delivery during COVID-19 and you do not find yourself listed here, please contact me, and I will happily add your brewery to the list!

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Granite Brewery

February 7, 2020 / / 0 Comments
Welcome to Granite Brewery, established in 1991, making it one of Toronto's original craft breweries.
Welcome to Granite Brewery, established in 1991, making it one of Toronto’s original craft breweries.

From one family’s love…

When I sat down with Mary Beth Keefe, head brewer at Granite Brewery, I asked her whether she believed there was a ‘craft beer lifestyle,’ and, if so, what that might mean to her. Being a part of a family business with a history, like Granite Brewery, means that she’s been on payroll since she was 11 years old. If anyone might have a hint at what a craft beer lifestyle is then, it’s got to be Mary.

“The way that I’m interpreting that question is – well, I pretty much only exclusively drink Ontario craft beer. I just love the idea of supporting local and the people in my local industry.

“And that’s something that I’m blown away by on a daily basis almost: if you need help from another brewery, like Amsterdam for instance, I’ve gone to them many times, because I’m known for being last minute,” which we chuckle together about before she continues, “And, so – I’m going to brew a beer tomorrow, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I don’t have any of this grain!’ There’s no way of getting it in time, so I’ll ask Ian at Amsterdam if he happens to have any. He’s always like, ‘Oh ya, for sure – just take it.’ And he’ll just give me the grain.

“Or hops – that’s happened before – I couldn’t find Azacca hops, and Great Lakes just gave me the hops. It’s always like this. Just everyone always willing to help; if you have any questions, they’re always willing to give you the answers or give you their advice or whatever. So just being like that, as well, being helpful and doing what you can for the people – that’s the craft beer industry…

“I don’t know – just, I love my job… I don’t know, it’s just such a great industry to be a part of.”

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