101372 Fri Nov 12 12:59:13 -0800 2004 4 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 548677 Things are getting a bit better in Toronto for lovers of real, cask-conditioned beers. The Yonge and Eglinton area is a great visit, with the Granite Brewery at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton, the Blue Meaney and the Bow and Arrow and the Duke of Kent on Yonge. Further south there’s the great bar, C’est What? Great beers too … Granite’s EBS (dry hopped) and IPA, County Durham’s ESB and XXX (IPA), a terrific entry from the Ottawa area, Scotch Irish Brewing (a superb Dogbolter and a very, very hoppy IPA). I keep looking around for F&M’s MacLean’s Pale Ale on cask. There are rumours around about it, but I’ve had trouble locating it. Any recommendations on where to find this. The only disappointment for me has been Wellington’s Arkell Bitter – a lot of inconsistency. Also, are there any other pubs around Toronto where a real ale lover can get a decent pint? Fri Nov 12 12:59:13 -0800 2004 0 Matt from downtown 1 548682 Not a pub per se, but there's a terrific beer selection at Volo Caffe. It's a casual place serving decent Italian fare. The owners are real beer lovers, so they have a very extensive list of beers of all types. I'm inclined to think that they're most partial to Belgian brews (as am I) but they do have a lengthy list of beers from the British Isles, as well as American and Cdn microbrews. And the markup seems quite reasonable (best I've seen in T.O.). Recommend starting with a tasting sampler of 3 beers from a list of around 10 microbrews on tap for 5$. Had Al's cask condition ale at C'est What recently - quite nice. Finally, Smokeless Joe's is reputed to have the best beer selection in the city but I haven't gotten there yet. Link: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beerfly/user_reviews/8446/ Fri Nov 12 14:49:52 -0800 2004 548677 0 Ben Reiner 1 548684 I'm not a massive beer guy, but I recognize most of the beers mentioned above from time spent at The Only Cafe on the Danforth and Donlands, so it may be worth trying for that elusive beer you are looking for. I'll give it a check, as I land there once every couple of weeks or so, once the weather hits BRRR on the scale. Fri Nov 12 16:56:24 -0800 2004 548677 0 Deco 1 548748 I come to mourn the passing of a once great Bitter. Wellington's Arkell was the first local real Bitter I tasted in Toronto, almost 10 years ago. I had just returned from a trip to the UK and was feeling very nostalgic and missing it terribly. I happened to stumble into the Bow and Arrow by chance and sat down to a pint of Arkell and a meal of Lamb Shanks. I was instantly transported back to London and felt as though I had discovered a second home. I ended up moving into the neighborhood and became a frequent patron, but lamented the inconsistency of the Wellington beers and the eventual disappearance of Arkell from the taps. Durham's ESB is now my pint of choice. I remember back in the day trying Wellington beers in the bottle. What a disappointment - I suppose it was a taste of things to come from the brewery. In other Beer news of interest to Torontonians, if you don't know it, pick up the Wells I.P.A. at the LCBO (LCBO 356840) - the 2 liter bottle. Keep it in your cellar or someplace cool and out of the way (read: not the fridge). No need to finish the bottle in one go. Come back days later and it will have that familiar level of carbonation and temperature loved by real beer lovers round the world. Also, if you happen to be traveling to Nova Scotia, try and make it to the Spitfire Arms (Link Below) in Windsor. A shockingly good menu (near legendary chowder) and the first pub to carry the Granite Brewery's cask conditioned ales (other than the brew pubs obviously). Troy Kirkby, the publican, is a super guy (an Upper Canadian originally - but shh - don't tell the locals) and he has created a spot that must be visited if you are on the way to the Valley, or are in Halifax and in the mood for a Sunday drive. Link: http://www.frogspad.ca/articles/june2004.html Mon Nov 15 17:59:44 -0800 2004 548677 0 Yermum 1 548761 You might also inquire at La Palette, 256 Augusta Ave (west of spadina, south of college). They're a french bistro with some yummy fare, and the owner/ sommelier/ front of house guy is Shamez (formerly of Le Select Bistro) who has strong opinions on beers and ales, and carries a nice, quality selection. BUT... no draft for pints, so far as I know: just a bottled selection. I would second Smokeless Joes (very large selection, knowledgeable servers, many on draft but don't know offhand which ones... I'm sure they'd list them if they have a website), and I'd third C'est What, a very serious beer joint. They'll kick you out if you ask for a Blue, I suspect. [a] Tue Nov 16 11:12:40 -0800 2004 548677 0 Schmal