Capital Pint by Travis Persaud is generally published every second Thursday at OttawaMagazine.com. Follow Travis on Twitter @tpersaud.
Leave the tie on the rack, put the pen back in the display case, and for the love of everyone’s sanity just leave that shirt where it is. Yes, you, put it down! Now! Dad doesn’t want it. He won’t tell you that to your face, but it’s true. All he wants for Father’s Day is a few hours to enjoy a couple of pints. (And he’ll probably be happy to do it on his own.
Thankfully, Ontario Craft Beer Week kicks off June 16 and runs until the 24th, with plenty of great options for Dad. We highlight some of the top happenings in the capital region during the weeklong celebration of the province’s craft beer scene, with a few road trip-worthy dates for the adventurous.
Ontario Craft Beer Week: June 16
Beau’s All Natural Brewing celebrates three years of Pan Ontario — its collaborative barrel-aged brew that’s a blend of beer from Beau’s, Flying Monkeys, Great Lakes Brewery, Amsterdam Brewery, and Wellington Brewery — in Vankleek Hill from noon to 6 p.m. A percentage of all beer sales will go towards prostate cancer research. It’s a win-win!
Ontario Craft Beer Week: June 18
Brothers Beer Bistro hosts Crafters of the Brewniverse. Beyond the Pale, Nickel Brook Brewery, Spearhead, Muskoka Brewery, and Beau’s invade the ByWard Market bistro and overtake their bar. Each brewery has three taps to showcase their best and latest, and chef Darren Flowers will serve a beer-inspired menu. Advance tickets are $30 ($35 at the door), which includes your first pint, canapés, and a $5 donation to The Cedars Cancer Institute. Additional pints cost $6.
Ontario Craft Beer Week: June 23
Get Chef-Faced at the Hintonburg Public House with Muskoka Brewery. A bartender and chef from HPH, Brothers Beer Bistro, and Mellos Supper Club compete to create the greatest bar snacks and beer cocktails, with seven Muskoka beers at their disposal. Admission is free; pricing for each pairing varies. But there will be free samples of Muskoka brews after 9 p.m.
Ontario Craft Beer Week Road Trip: June 18
Battle of the Brew Bands! The Only Café in Toronto’s east end is the setting for this year’s Idol-style competition that features eight bands (with at least one member who works for a brewery), and special tap features. Audio, featuring Steve Beauchesne of Beau’s, is our capital region entry!
Ontario Craft Beer Week Road Trip: June 22
Session Toronto is the official last call of OCB Week. Over 20 breweries convene at the Artscape Wynchwood Barns in uptown Toronto for an overflow of beer (including a number of collaborations!), music, food, and lots more. Tickets are $50, which includes everything but your food (yes, that means all of your beer samples)!
Visit www.ocbweek.ca for a full list of events happening during OCB Week.