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We Are Ontario Beer2021-12-09T23:22:45-04:00

The Past and Present of Beer with Stephen Beaumont

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio we share a few beers and many beer memories with acclaimed beer writer Stephen Beaumont. Catching up at Toronto beer hall WVRST, we chat about how Stephen got into beer, the past and present state of the beer industry, his beer travel adventures crossing [...]

August 26, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Vote for the 2018 Golden Tap Awards

The Golden Tap Awards, Ontario's most democratic beer awards event, is back for 2018. From now until September 6th, 2018 you can vote for this year's awards, which recognizes your favourite beers, breweries, bars and more. The Golden Tap Awards have been recognizing the best in beer in Ontario since 2003. [...]

August 22, 2018|Categories: Feature, Golden Tap Awards|

Enjoying some Liquid Art with Ryan Morrow

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio we have a chat with Ryan Morrow, the award-winning head brewer of both Collective Arts Brewing and Nickel Brook Brewing. We share a beer at Collective Arts' recent Liquid Arts Fest, the new festival in Hamilton which featured a remarkable slate of beers from [...]

July 5, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Making a Connection with Red Thread

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio, recorded at our recent Collingwood Brewer's Backyard, we have a chat with longtime friend Carl Milroy, founder and partner of the Red Thread Brewing Co. We share a beer and discuss how Red Thread came to be, and what it's like to launch in Ontario [...]

June 10, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Wheat Beers and More with Michael Hancock

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio we have a beer and a chat with an good long-time friend of The Bar Towel, Michael Hancock. Michael was the brewer and owner at the legendary Denison's Brewing Company in Toronto, and has been for the past number of years the founding brewer and [...]

June 9, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Having a Pint with Pete Brown

Earlier in the year I was fortunate to have a beer and record this special podcast with famed beer writer Pete Brown. Pete and I met at the Camden Town Brewery in London, England and had a great chat about his background in marketing and beer, his latest book Miracle Brew, the Beer [...]

May 8, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Drink like it’s 1870 with Amsterdam and Gary Gillman’s AK

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio we have a chat with beer historian Gary Gillman and brewer Cody Noland about Amsterdam's 1870 AK Bitter, a special collaboration beer between Gary and Amsterdam that was a recreation of an historical recipe from nearly 150 years ago. Chatting at the Amsterdam Brewery [...]

May 2, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Legendary Microbrewery Upper Canada Returns with Repatriation

Cass Enright, Oliver Dawson & Steve Himel We're thrilled to take a walk down beer memory lane with our newest episode of Bar Towel Radio. This special episode was recorded live at the launch of Upper Canada Repatriation, a recreation of the original Rebellion Lager by the famed Upper [...]

March 28, 2018|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Golden Tap Awards 2017 Announced

Yesterday at a gala event at beerbistro, the 2017 Golden Tap Awards were announced. The Golden Tap Awards are Ontario's most democratic beer awards event, with all winners determined by public vote. The winners were as follows: Best brewery: Beau's All Natural Best bar for draught beer selection: Bar Hop Best [...]

September 21, 2017|Categories: Beer Events, Feature, Golden Tap Awards|

The Barrel Beer Festival That Rules Them All

Barrel-aging beer is a bit of a mystical science - there’s something alluring about putting beer into a barrel and let the wood infusion generate a result. One never quite knows what the flavour is going to be like when a beer is put into a barrel, which is all part [...]

September 18, 2017|Categories: Feature, On The Road Reports|

Kensington Brewing Company Comes Alive

A couple of weeks ago, just before the public taproom opening of the new Kensington Brewing Company, we recorded the latest episode of Bar Towel Radio with Mike Gurr, VP Operations and Johnny Briggs, KBC's Head Brewer. In this episode we chat about KBC's history and challenges in opening, their beers [...]

September 14, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Toronto Beer Week Begins Tomorrow!

Toronto Beer Week, a 10 day celebration of beer in the city, begins its 2017 edition tomorrow, September 15th. With 200+ events across 60+ venues and 30+ breweries, it truly is an amazing way to experience "The Best Beer City in Canada". The Bar Towel (a founding member of Toronto Beer [...]

September 14, 2017|Categories: Beer Awards, Beer Events, Feature, Golden Tap Awards|

Vote Now for the 2017 Golden Tap Awards

Voting for the 2017 Golden Tap Awards is now open, and you should vote now. The Golden Tap Awards, now in their fifteenth year, are Ontario's most democratic beer awards event, as all winners are determined by the drinkers and beer fans in the province. You can vote in as many of [...]

August 29, 2017|Categories: Feature, Golden Tap Awards|

A Visit To The New Goose Island Toronto Brewhouse

In our latest episode of Bar Towel Radio we visit the new Goose Island Toronto Brewhouse and have a chat with Head Brewer Bernard Priest and Assistant Brewer Marc Mammoliti. We have a great discussion about their backgrounds in the beer industry, all about the brewery and the beers they've developed for [...]

August 28, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Greg Koch of Stone Brewing on Bar Towel Radio

In this episode of Bar Towel Radio we have a beer with Greg Koch, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Stone Brewing of San Diego, California. With special guest host Jason Fisher, Founder of Indie Alehouse, we have a wide-ranging and lively conversation with Greg about his recent visit to Toronto and the [...]

July 28, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Chatting Buffalo Beer with Mike Shatzel

Last week I visited Thin Man Brewery, the great brewery and restaurant in Buffalo, New York and had a beer on Bar Towel Radio with owner Mike Shatzel. Mike, who could easily be nicknamed the "Beer King of Buffalo", oversees eight bars in the city, including the legendary Cole's, Moor Pat, Colter Bay, Allen Burger Venture [...]

July 15, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Great Lakes Brewery Reflects on 30 Years of Beer

Recently I sat down for a beer and a chat for Bar Towel Radio with Peter Bulut and Mike Lackey of Great Lakes Brewery, as they celebrate the 30th anniversary this year. In this episode we chat about their favourite GLB and collaboration beers from the past and present, some memorable [...]

June 27, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Talking German Craft Beer with Marc Rauschmann

In our newest episode of Bar Towel Radio, we go continental with a conversation with Marc Rauschmann, Master Brewer of BraufactuM in Frankfurt, Germany. Marc was recently in Toronto to launch a number of his beers at beerbistro, which will be available on draught in Ontario. During our chat we discussed his background [...]

June 13, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Elliott Brood on Bar Towel Radio

At Toronto's Festival of Beer Spring Sessions a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have a beer with the Juno Award-winning band Elliott Brood. In this episode of Bar Towel Radio I chat with band members Casey Laforet, Mark Sasso and Stephen Pitkin about their favourite beers and breweries, some [...]

June 3, 2017|Categories: Bar Towel Radio, Feature|

Introducing Santa Monica Yacht Club

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Santa Monica Yacht Club (SMYC), a boutique agency for the drinkers of Ontario, representing imported craft beers, wines and spirits. SMYC is a re-imagination of Bar Towel Imports, the agency brand created by The Bar Towel. SMYC is meant to be an open importing agency, one [...]

May 11, 2017|Categories: Feature, Importing|
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