Crushable Summer

 The very nature of beer has always been seasonal. The cycles of brewing were once dictated by environmental factors and availability of ingredients and without much change, we have leaned hard into these traditions even as modern farming and equipment make those notions obsolete. Saisons, dark beers and all the other styles and variations have their place on the timeline of brewing and while today we have available to us year round most IPAs, lagers and assorted ales, including porters and stouts, the summer seems particularly made for the low ABV or session beer. Call them crushable, patio pints or gone before you know it, these low alcohol beers have transformed from flavourless light lagers to a dazzling array of craft beer options in almost limitless styles and possibilities. It seems every brewery is tossing their hat into the ring as the temp goes up and people spend more time socializing outdoors with friends and family for our all to brief summer here north of the 49th parallel.

  While the term "crushable" is detested by many, toss "hoppy" and "crispy-boi" on that pile too, it is, to me, a proper term of endearment for these easy drinking pints of summer. Lighter in body, but not in flavour is the goal as craft beer has an opportunity outside of the traditional light lager style, although many release pilsners that are spot on technically and have that much desired lower alcohol content. Suffice it to say that if you have a style you love, you can generally find a version that will have a lower ABV without sacrificing any of the taste you've come to love from your favourite craft beer.
  There are a myriad of options available now at your local craft brewery, with many more already in stock at the LCBO and Beer Store. Wanting to be able to enjoy 3 or 4 pints on a hot summer night should mean enjoying it all, not getting hammered and I am all for this lovely low ABV option. Sometimes you want a slow sipper to contemplate or celebrate and other times you just want to crush a few and have a good time.
  I used to be a big consumer of light beer, Brava Light in fact. Barely registering on the scale of flavour, it was so light as to resemble barley water and I could down a six pack in minutes each day upon returning home from work.  That is part in parcel due to not wanting them to warm up in the summer heat, macro lagers do not do well if not ice cold, and also because you only drank them with one purpose, to get drunk quickly and cheaply. And while times have changed and I no longer down beer like I need it to survive, in the humid summer nights, a low ABV beer can be a godsend as you still don't want to drink a warm pale ale or pilsner. Not so much chugging as consuming a little faster than when drinking in winter, the availability of so many styles makes it an easy choice any day.
  The presence of so many craft breweries means that there is a local option available to almost everyone when it comes to finding your patio pint and while I would love to get into every one of them, I'll stick to recommending a few that I know are a little more accessible through the LCBO or Grocery store options. Depending on your own palate, sours or wild ale beers may not work as a summer crusher and perhaps a pale ale or pilsner would do the trick for that weekend BBQ or family party.

I'll undoubtedly miss a few, there are just so many options and even I can't keep track of them all. Under 5.0%, ready for the patio and available right now!

Nickel Brook Brewing Raspberry Uber has been a staple for many of us in Ontario for the last few years. Tart and full of berry deliciousness, it gives rise to the term dessert beer but is oh so good when poolside too. 4.0% ABV, 500ml Bottle, $5.95

Great Lakes Brewing Sunnyside Session IPA will surprise you with just how tropical this low ABV treat can be. Grapefruit and pineapple with a light pine and lemon finish. BBQ? Yep. Swimming? Hell yeah! 3.9%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.90

Collective Arts Brewing Lunch Money Blonde Ale is a pretty much straight up, easy drinking Dad beer. I like it, my dad likes it and they sell copious amounts of it at the taproom to the blue collar folks here in The Hammer. Simple yet elegant. 4.8%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.95

Great Lakes Brewery Over my Dad Body Pilsner continues the tradition of great and accessible styles of beer from GLB. Dry with a grassy, citrus hit of hops with a touch of noble spice. Made for hanging out all night, singing the songs we remember so well by the firepit. 5.0%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.90

Henderson Brewing's Food Truck Blonde Ale is a maltier take that lends itself well to meal time. Light citrus with a biscuit malt body is spot on for a little more flavour without getting boozier.
4.8%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.95

Lake of Bays Beach Break Lager with Lime will not blow the socks off anyone looking for a big beer but it is designed to be ready for the day long pool party and family BBQ. A simple lager with citrus punch, it's fine to drink out of the can and just enjoy. 3.5%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.95

Nickel Brook Brewing Cause & Effect Blonde Ale is a long standing fave here. Floral and citrusy orange and lemon with a touch of pine, its got a cracker malt and is a conversation beer that is there but doesn't take you down the garden path. 4.7%, 473ml Tall Boy, $2.95

Bench Brewing Strawberry Grove Sour Ale hits the tart note and delivers a strawberry knockout punch for that sunny, humid day spent outside with nothing to do but relax. 5.0%, 500ml Bottle, $7.50

Muddy York Brewing Switchboard Session IPA arrives in a shortie can that delivers a big citrus pineapple and grapefruit in droves. Cooler filling, patio livin'. 4.9%, 355ml Shortie can, $3.00

Amsterdam Brewery 3 Speed Lager is a bready but light floral and spice lager that comes in a big old can of beer that is the post work, swimming pool BBQ one you need. 4.2%, 568ml Super Tall Boy, $3.00

Sawdust City Brewing Little Norway Pale Lager is a bright citrus and lightly malty lager that means you don't have to do anything but sit on the deck and let the world go by. 4.5%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.10

Skeleton Crew Brewing Evil Genius Session IPA is the new kid on the block and it brings a west coast IPA vibe with a toasty malt body and citrus pith. New friends are summers greatest joy. 4.5%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.10

Muskoka Brewery Ebb & Flow Sour Ale is a lime and grapefruit intro sour that will be an easy choice on a sunny afternoon or as the waves crash on the beach and your life is resplendent in relaxation. 2.4%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.15

Black Oak Brewing Nut Brown Ale is an Ontario classic and delivers caramel, toffee and chocolate in an easily crushable body. Change of pace and that is a good thing. 5.0%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.15

Spearhead Brewing Summer Ale brings a unique blend of simple ale and wine together for a stone fruit and bright citrus patio pleaser. 4.3%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.15

Muskoka Brewery Detour Session IPA is a legendary crushable all season IPA that delivers pine and grapefruit to your glass as the sun shines and the pool beckons. 4.3%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.35



Wellington Brewery Helles Lager has become a patio go-to the last year or so. Crisp and toasty with a nice pinch of citrus, drink it from the can as you float around the pool if you like, it's a beauty either way. 4.5%, 473ml Tall Boy, $3.15

  If nothing else, this gives you a good start and hopefully you will find your cooler filled with great beer that lets you enjoy the memories you are making in the Crushable Summer of 2019.

Cheers!
Polk



 

Be a Better Beer Friend : 3 Things you can do

 Welcome back my friends, it's been a while. Life happens like that and while the last few weeks have seen my usual Instagram and Youtube posts going out daily, I've been struggling on my longer form thoughts. A not unusual phenomenon when you combine those long ass days at work with stretches between days off reaching 11 or more in a row. It makes it difficult to find inspiration when your only goal is that comfy chair and a few pints.

   I find myself going to the LCBO more than usual as I don't have time to visit the craft brewers I would like to and it was while I was looking for a bottle of wine the other day that it hit me. I know almost nothing of wine, looking for local Ontario brands and grasping my limited spectrum of experience, I fall into descriptors on the tags and cool looking artwork. I know I like full bodied reds and the occasional fruity white but I have no idea what is good, bad or indifferent. I imagined people wanting to get into craft beer and being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices that line the coolers and shelves at their local liquor store, most people new to it don't even realise how many breweries are close to them when they first start exploring the craft. For most of us who love talking beer, we get those questions from our friends all the time and try to help steer them into things they would like based on their preferences and maybe sharing some of the more adventurous stuff when we can. With the proliferation of pseudo craft and big beer buy outs that are inevitable, how can we help those who want to support local and honest to goodness craft beer. 

  Here's the 3 things you can do to make the world a better place for craft beer newbies
1) Take them to a Craft Brewery

  The first step is to help steer them to local breweries close to where they live. The amount of civic pride I've found as I travel all over the province is found at the taproom in small town Ontario and neighbourhoods in the big cities. People are only too happy to talk about why their particular local craft brewer is awesome, from the tiniest hole in the wall to the gleaming cathedrals and giants of the industry. The easiest way to help someone become a true believer is to show them that the taproom experience of craft beer is as important to the whole community as the beer is. Get them into that mind set and watch them become a big fan quickly.

2) Share the wealth

  Nothing better than being able to showcase your favourite beers and breweries by hosting a tasting or a bottle share. With a few pals who are into craft beer already or on your own with those new to it all, you can be a great ambassador of it all by simply sharing. Pick a theme, go wild with a whole bunch of styles or focus in on one in particular. Know your audience and try to deliver the journey in front of them with an eye to growing their palate, not scaring them off. Start with craft lagers, pilsners and cream ales before exploring the bigger and fruiter saisons or even the hoppy IPAs. Make it a fun evening by targeting the likes of those you are helping with some things to challenge their preconceived notions about craft beer.

3) Stop Beer Shaming

  Guilty of this one myself, I have come to see the light. There is a fine line between advocating for better beer and being an asshole about it. Talking down to or making fun of other people's beer choices does absolutely nothing but put up a wall that is tough to go around. Educate don't humiliate should be your mantra as people will defend their personal choices to the end. The very best thing you can do when it comes to showing people great craft beer is know what they like and give them an option that is similar. Someone who likes a light macro lager will most likely not like that Double Dry hopped Imperial IPA and all you will have done is turn another person off the path to a brighter future when it comes to beer. Be respectful of what someone else likes and at the end of the day, the most important thing isn't what's in your glasses, it's that you are spending time with the people you care about.
  A little simplistic but 3 things that could have a huge impact in the beer life of a friend who's ready to leave the macro brews behind. Lots of great beer loving folks, brewers included, still have PBR, MGD or any other acronym macro floating around their fridges and enjoy them for what they are. Be a better beer person and bring the love to everyone, it's a community that grows by being more open than we used to be to new things.


Cheers!
Polk

All my Polk's in Niagara - Polkapolooza Day 4

 

  Heading round the Golden Horseshoe and driving south east lies the Niagara Region, home to wine, The Falls and a burgeoning craft beer scene. We ventured this way to check in on many breweries we had visited before, but not for quite some time. The changes we encountered were at times admirable and applauded and in a one instance, just not worth the time and money we spent on our stop there. Focusing on the positives is what we try to do for the most part, but those of us who share our beer and the resulting adventures in it shouldn't shy away from when things aren't quite right. The exceptions to what we find as good experiences are not overshadowed by a few poor ones, but we have a duty to our friends and the truth to uphold at all times. Niagara Day begins with pints shared among friends and finishes with a surprise extra stop in a small town ready for it's own spot in the Ontario Craft beer spotlight.
  We were happy to be able to sleep in a bit as this day started at Brimstone Brewing around noon and we took advantage to enjoy a leisurely morning slowly recovering from the 600 plus kilometres we travelled the previous day. This day was going to prove to be much shorter but with the added bonus of my 'work daughter' Shyann, who is a student at a nearby college, joining us on our jaunt around the region. We wanted to show her what craft beer could be and were looking forward to sharing a few stops with her after our first one.

  Pulling up at Brimstone, we were struck by the huge glass and steel enclosure covering a part of their patio that wasn't there when we last visited. On a chilly March day, it was warm and inviting the moment we stepped inside and that was doubled when our pals Preston and Len were already hanging out waiting form our arrival. As good of an excuse as any, I grabbed a pint of the delicious Belgian IPA on tap and we sat down for a much longer visit than anticipated. Trading stories about fave beers, trips and festivals, we lingered a while as the brightly lit cube gave us a warm and happy place to hang out. Brimstone is located in Ridgeway and it is also the home of the annual Albino Rhino Beer Fest, put on by the legendary beer YouTube beer reviewer of the same name  and at which all proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House. We went for the first time in 2017 and would love to repeat that appearance again, as many of our favourite brewers and plain old beer nerds like us converge to enjoy and do some good at the same time. Parting is such sweet sorrow but we had a member of our extended family to pick up and show around, so we trundled off into the day with a smile and some beer for further examination.
 

Grabbing Shyann after her classes for the day were done, we headed next to Fonthill and Kame and Kettle Beer Works in a new and improved space. As soon as we entered, we were greeted warmly and grabbed a couple of flights to try out everything on the tap list. Walking Shyann through how we try to work our way through the beer, I had her start with the kolsch and cider/beer hybrid to ease her into the larger flavour profiles. We encouraged her to try everything and then let her finish whichever ones she enjoyed the most. Not easy for a 20 year old to learn moderation but a skill much needed at any age. The beer was much improved from our visit of over a year ago and while they still have a ways to go, it serves the community well and that is exactly what matters as they grow and mature as a brewery. Nothing stood out but we also enjoyed the atmosphere which enhances any visit to a brewery and can play a large part in repeat business. We had many more stops to make and we bid farewell to Kame and Kettle to head to one of Canada's premier tourist attractions at Niagara Falls proper and the brewery staged on its' busiest street, Clifton Hill.
 

We had been to the Niagara Brewing Company once before in January of 2017 and wanted to come back primarily to see what had changed as the beer had been serviceable if not decent with the Ice Wine beer being our most sought after repeat. A busy joint on a Wednesday as it was March Break, harried parents looking for a break, excited kids and a bright and airy taproom with food, live music and the brew house taking center stage at the far end. We grabbed a table and order a flight with one of every beer on tap, even paying the extra for that premium Ice Wine beer just because. The service was quick and friendly and we were quite happy despite many warnings from beer friends to avoid this obvious tourist destination. That all changed once we had our fist sips of the beer put before us. Kat noticed it first on the Ice wine beer and commented that it tasted buttery, a sure sign of the off flavour diacetyl and a big no no when it comes to any brewery we've visited. Taking a sip, I noticed it as well and found myself trying to keep a happy demeanour as we explained what we found to Shyann and why it was so rare. I'll share what I posted on Instagram when I had some time to calm down and truly think about what we had experienced as I think I captured our reaction bang on :
  "Family flights Niagara Brewing Company on Clifton Hill. Taking my work daughter for her first mini tour of Ontario and I wanted her to see all sides of craft beer. While I'm not one to say an unkind word, my $28 flight had some issues with diacetyl or buttery flavours and that was unfortunate. I don't want to be an asshole but it was supremely disappointing to spend that kind of money of 8 samples that would run maybe $20 in most craft breweries. I'm not mad so much as upset, but let's face it, I'm not the target audience anyway...that's what the unsuspecting tourists and novice drinkers are for.
I appreciate seeing craft beer in one of Canada's premier travel destinations but shudder to think international or Canadian tourists will view this as indicative of our craft beer scene. It isn't our best foot forward and I know it can be better. If you know me you know how hard I struggle when I don't like something or feel misled by a Brewery but this tour is about the truth through exploration and someone else shouldn't have to experience this kind of off flavoured and over priced beer. I'm sad to say we won't be back anytime soon, there are just too many options and they deserve our dollars and our support. Hopefully one day I can return and report back wonderful things, but I highly doubt that. This is the first time I've come away saddened by my experience on a beer tour. Hope lies within our next stops and that drives me on."
 

At this point we needed some food and because I had never stopped in there before, despite us spending many nights in The Falls, we hit up Taps on Queen and grabbed some grub to fuel the rest of our day. Not fancy at all, but with the feel of a neighbourhood bar, we arrived on 20 cent wing night and that was just fine by me. Traditional bar wings are kind of my jam and these were right in that wheelhouse. Not gourmet but rather reminiscent of my old time hangouts, the ladies grabbed a burger each and I settled in for a flight and a few dozen wings. The beer is brewed in house and is fine to passable with the IPA being the most true to style and easily my favourite of the bunch. Our stops had been wholly uninspired so far and our next one was where true redemption of Niagara was to begin.
 

The Exchange Brewery is located smack in the middle of downtown Niagara on the Lake, one of Ontario's prettiest towns and we wandered in looking for some true innovation and adventure to give our young friend. We were not disappointed as they delivered some tasty beer that had us smiling and finally enjoying what was in our flights. A Peach pie and then a cherry beer made the biggest splashes with us and we marvelled at the sleek and lovely taproom that has the feel of a high end bar with fantastic beer. This was a solid choice for showcasing what wine country and craft beer makers can come together with and we left with a better feeling than we arrived.
 

For all the time we spent at less than stellar breweries earlier, we missed our chance to visit Oast House brewers just up the road and sadly drove past cursing our luck on this midweek winter trip. We will return in the summer no doubt for another go at the Strawberry Rhubarb Ale if it returns. Such a delightful beer it was...
 

What was supposed to be our final stop, but was ultimately the penultimate one, Virgil's own Silversmith Brewing was the very first Ontario Craft brewery I wrote about on this blog 2 years ago and I was stoked because I had a pint waiting for me on their "Buy Someone a Pint Wall" and who doesn't love that! Grabbing a glass of The Black Lager...yes it is indeed The Black Lager in my humble opinion...we settled in for our last stop as the ladies shared a flight of some one offs that were on tap that night. This former church now houses a beautifully appointed brewery that is in the process of a massive expansion to keep up with the demand for their on point beers. A community hub and tourist destination, I have always been partial to visiting here for both the beer and atmosphere where all things feel a little more like home. We dawdled a bit as after this stop we would be returning Shyann to her dorm before heading home, making plans for a summer trip around Hamilton now that she had the bug about trying all the styles and flavours craft beer had to offer. It has been my pleasure on more than one occasion to help someone discover this amazing scene and all it has in it and when its someone who has become part of your extended family, that's pure gold.

  Our tale should have ended here but for the Ontario Bev Net Map (found here) that popped up when I tried to plot our way home. I am a fan of this website and their map, having shared it many times and extolling it's virtues to anyone who is looking to do a road trip in Ontario. Just 15 minutes from the college, in the small town of Port Colborne lies Breakwall Brewing, opened less than a month at that point and we headed up the road laughing at ourselves because this is what we do now. Let the fates take us where they may and hope for some good beer at the end of the road.
 

Walking into this sleepy burg we were struck by the full and lively Wednesday night crowd at Breakwall. Still feeling the vibe of opening, the locals were buzzing with excitement over both food and beer while we stopped to try a sample of one or two of their beers before heading home. Again we were wrong, as the friendly conversation with founder Fred Davies turned into a full tasting and a preview of their next version of the 9 O'clock Whistle IPA (deliciously hazy and citrusy I might add) on this mid week capper to a very odd day. They are taking recipes from the original Port Colborne brewery and bringing them back to life as well and the honey ale was simply beautiful. Reinforcing the growing narrative of all beer being local once again, it was evident that this town had not only embraced Breakwall but damn near took all the beer in the fridge! Lucky for us, some of their Sailor Saison was still available in tall boys and we grabbed a few to take home. We left with the promise to return for dinner sometime soon so we could get the whole experience of what they were trying to bring to the community they live in and love so much.
  To say the least, Niagara is a dichotomy of clashing styles, goals and cultures when it comes to beer. The solid wine tourism industry is a good model for what can happen in this area, albeit with a little more blue collar crowd and a whole lot more collaboration between the breweries. We saw some of the finest examples of what good beer is and some of the worst. Craft beer has a long way to go in some aspects and it is up to us to help hold that mirror up and call out things that are less than stellar. If a beer does what the brewer tells you it will, that's all you can ask for. When it falls short or your experience is just not right, we have obligation as members of the community to ask questions or let our friends and family know when things aren't on the level. Never talking about things that aren't pleasant not only brings the whole industry low, it allows for creeping mediocrity to take hold and that is something I am passionate about not letting happen. We will be back to revisit most of these places, but our dollars must go to supporting those who value quality over everything.
  Next up was our annual overnight trip and this time we headed southwest to visit a town coming into it's own when it comes to Ontario Craft beer.


Cheers!
Polk




Niagara in a Snapshot!


1. Brimstone Brewing
Website - http://www.brimstonebrewing.ca/
1st Impression - sunny and bright
Favourite Beer - A Mountie and a Buffalo Walk into a Bar Belgian IPA
2. Kame and Kettle Beer Works
Website - http://www.kameandkettle.ca/
1st Impression - Improving
Favourite Beer - Schwarzbier
3. Niagara Brewing Company
Website - https://niagarabrewingcompany.com/
1st Impression - Nope
Favourite Beer - Water
4. Taps on Queen
Website - http://tapsbeer.ca/
1st Impression - Norm!
Favourite beer - IPA
5. The Exchange Brewery
Website - http://exchangebrewery.com/
1st Impression - Fancy
Favourite beer - Belgian IPA
6. Oast House Brewers
Website - https://oasthousebrewers.com/
1st Impression - Big Red!
Favourite Beer - Grandma's Strawberry Rhubarb Ale
7. Silversmith Brewing
Website - http://www.silversmithbrewing.com/
1st Impression - Beer Church
Favourite Beer - The Black Lager
8. Breakwall Brewing
Website - http://www.breakwallbrewery.com/
1st Impression - Rocking!
Favourite Beer - 9 O'clock Whistle IPA

On Christmas

  Another year has come and gone and the Christmas season rushes at us ever faster with each passing day. We make jokes about how quickly December goes but the truth is with everything we try to do for other people, it leaves little time to sit down and just enjoy the moments as they happen. I watch from afar as people push through trying to do too much with too little money and time. I see the stress and anger build as they rush to do everything for everyone. I hear the laments about how it used to be and think "Did it really?"
  The truth is Christmas was infinitely easier when you were a kid but do not think your parents and their parents before them didn't stress about what to get the kids, make the dinner and do all the things to create memories that you do in hopes they will last a lifetime. It wasn't better back then, it was just better for you because you weren't in charge. My memories of Christmas morning are magical but I also know my parents stayed up until 4 a.m. making it like that and worked hard to be able to afford all those wonderful presents. They made it look effortless and I know you all do the same for your families, never letting them peek behind the curtain because we all are just giving our best Wizard of Oz impression and keeping secret the whirling machinations of making Christmas happen. That is what so many people have and will do in perpetuity, make the season about everyone else in order to create something they think needs to be perfect and social media picture worthy without pausing and asking what do we really need to be happy. We are trying to be something we think we need to be and missing the mark on just being there and enjoying it all.
  The guilt we feel or we let others impose on us around Christmas is another thing that has run its' course. The time when anyone can make you feel obligated to do anything is done. Why should you suffer toxic people or uncomfortable relationships just because you share an ancestor or parent? There isn't a rule that just because you are related to someone or it's a tradition that you need to expose you or the people you love to things that make all of you unhappy. I know it's not a popular thing to say but you do not have to go to a Christmas dinner/party if you don't want to. Being compelled to feel guilty isn't a reason to do anything and if someone is trying to do that maybe it's time to re-examine your relationship with that person. Why anyone who loves you would want you to feel displaced or forced to do something is a serious breach of being a loving partner or friend. You don't need anyone's permission to say "No."
  The entire holiday season is supposed to be about spending time with people you love and enjoying them being happy as well as yourself. That's what we strive for and make so many Facebook status' about. The underlying stress and anxiety bubbles up in odd moments of clarity after your second pint but we work hard to appear perfect and normal to the world. It's time to step back a little and make time for yourself. The work you put into an amazing Christmas experience is awesome but if you can't enjoy any of it then what is the point. Less is more never meant so much as now when you need to slow it down and soak it all in. Stop trying to have everything and see what you have. Money buys great gifts but the time we spend with the people who make our lives better is indeed worth more. So let go and move on, say no more and focus on the things that matter most. The clock ticks for all of us and one day it will all just be memories, make them happy ones, for yourself and the people you love.
  Make time for you this year, it will help you be a better person. Let go of toxic and harmful relationships, they do not have any claim on your time or life. Be there for the important moments for the people you want to be, make your presence felt and your love known. Learn to say no, let other people's guilt wash away and never look back when they try to make you feel bad. Christmas is supposed to be fun and filled with joy, you deserve it and it is time to make it happen.


Merry Christmas to all of you from me, thank you for your support and being a part of this crazy ride for the last 3 holiday seasons. May your family enjoy whatever you choose to do and may it bring you joy and happiness.


Cheers.


Polk


 

Polk's Guide to Surviving Thanksgiving

 

Ah Thanksgiving. That time of year when you either enjoy a wonderful meal with loved ones or a hellish time with unloved ones. There is nothing like seeing people you've missed and perhaps a few of the ones you've been avoiding. I hope it's a lot of the former and none of the latter but we all know there's one in every family...If you don't know who it is, it's probably you. There's a slippery slope when we get together and the booze starts flowing, so it is my pleasure to present you with a little guide to help you navigate your way through the evening. Every one needs a little help and with some wonderful Ontario Craft beer that you can find at the LCBO, you just might survive the weekend!
 (Feel free to substitute something you can get at your local brewery, it's the thought that counts.)


Pre-Drinking - Not a great idea  to get hammered before you even leave the house, but it doesn't hurt to loosen up with a crisp lager, ale or pilsner. Just remember not to drink and drive, get a cab or your funny Uncle Larry to pick you up on the way. Either way, these can be a good choice to start the day.

Side Launch Mountain Lager - ($3.00/473ml) - Easily one of the best lagers in Ontario, crisp clean and your father won't ask if you're going to finally drink a real beer when he sees you.

Steamwhistle - ($3.00/473ml) - Iconic and easy going, this one is probably the only craft beer most people in your family know. Buy a 6 pack of bottles ($14.15) and be a hero to your cousin who forgot to buy his own and was looking forlornly at your green bottle of grassy, Czech inspired brilliance.

Collective Arts Stash - ($2.75/473ml) - An almost crushable and retro feel to this ale from the Hammer. It'll impress your brother who thinks all craft beers have fruit in them. Easy there Justin, have another Coors.

Beau's All Natural Lug Tread - ($9.95/4x355ml) - This one is made for taking in your purse for the Uber ride over while you try to come up with a way to deflect from all the "Why haven't you settled down yet?" questions from your aunt. If there are a lot of those types of questions coming, maybe go bigger with the 600 ml bottles (4/$16.65)


Before Dinner - Arriving finds you perhaps exchanging hugs and kisses with people you love and missed or maybe it's an icy hello and a turn of the heel. Either way, it's time to step it up a bit with some pale ales, slightly bitter...like your sister.

Great Lake's Brewery Canuck Pale Ale - ($2.80/473ml) - Gordie is rugged, outdoorsy and a good bargain. All things your Grandma likes. Ask her to tell you a story about when she was little, the beer tastes even better when your talking to someone you love.

Maclean's Pale Ale - ($2.90/473ml.) - It's a classic Pale in a red can that may throw off your annoying uncle who likes to "tease" you but really is a jackass with a sadistic side. Sip it slowly and walk away when you can.

Descendant's Brewing Harbinger Pale Ale - (3.15/473) - The wicked label can be used to illustrate what wonderful opportunities there are in the world when the questions about what you are going to do with that fines arts degree start.

Collingwood Brewing Downhill Pale Ale - (3.00/473ml) - Remember that one time your parents took you to a resort and you got sick on the slide...they do and now your new girlfriend will too.


Dinner Time - At least now you can either A) Enjoy a warm meal made with love and shared with those you enjoy spending time with or B) Stare at your plate while that weird silence and the scrapping of utensils fills the air as everyone secretly wishes they'd stayed home plays out over the kinda dry turkey. Either way, it's time to start bringing out the big IPA guns.

Railway City Double Dead Elephant - ($4.25/473ml) - A maltier kick in the ass, but still better than listening to your uncle tell that joke that used to seem funny but now you know is just sexist and/or racist.

Collective Arts Ransack the Universe - ($3.35/473ml) - The beer from Hamilton that you can use as you try to explain why working on your Master's degree isn't like trying to avoid getting a real job.

Amsterdam Brewing Fracture - ($4.00/473ml) - The skull on the can could serve as a cool conversation starter about how much craft beer has changed your life or an apt metaphor for how your family is really getting along now...

Flying Monkey's Brewery Juicy Ass - ($3.25/473ml) - A great beer and a sure fire way to start an argument with your mother about table manners.

Muskoka Brewing Twice As Mad Tom - ($3.50/473ml) - Yes there's 5 on this list, dinner time makes me thirsty. Plus it's not like anyone's counting my beers and are going to send me a DM on Facebook with the number to AA in it...are they?


Dessert - The dinner is done and either the laughter has continued and the stories along with them or you're looking at the clock as it feels like it's started going backwards. You deserve a treat either way, time for some dark beers.


Innocente Brewing Charcoal Porter - ($4.35/500ml) - The moment your pour this, someone will ask you if it's Guinness. Sigh.

Collective Arts Stranger Than Fiction - ($3.25/473ml) - The ever changing art on your CA cans catches the eye of your quiet nephew and he saunters over to talk about art, life and why you're his favourite family member.

Clifford Brewing Porter - ($2.95/473ml) - Another can that harkens back to a simpler time...but don't let Grandpa get started about how things all changed when woman started wearing pants. We're trying to have a nice family moment Robert.

Hockley Brewing Dark - ($2.75/473ml) - Because you like living where you do and yes you know about the weird people that live in that part of town...you're one of them.

After the dishes are done - Now we can all relax in the den or family room and tell stories about days gone by. This is a good time to break out a stout, slow sipping while you either follow along or inch your way toward the door after calling a cab while everyone thought you were going to the bathroom. If you're making a break for it, this is the only time I suggest perhaps a little crusher instead so you can chug it as you mumble your goodbyes.

Sawdust City Brewing Skinny Dippin' Stout - ($3.25/473ml) - It looks black as night and prompts your aunt's new friend who seems a little too into you and does that weird hand on yours every time he talks to you to try and discuss that time he went to England and how you should totally come over and see his glass collection. WTF Linda?

Muskoka Brewery Shinnicked Stout - ($3.25/473ml) - "Yes the guy on the can is cold Nana. No I don't think he died, they probably got him a sweater or something. I don't know what kids are thinking these days."

Walkerville Brewing Easy Stout - ($2.95/473ml) - Time for the easy questions of the night. "Why no, we haven't thought of adopting, what a great idea."

Beau's All Natural Brewing Tom Green Cherry Milk Stout - ($5.45/600ml) - This should spark a conversation about your sister's husband's Gambling problem, terrible movies your dad likes or why you just have to drink so much every time you come to a family event. Either way, delicious.


Home - It's late and you're tired, full and perhaps even a little tipsy. Have some water and hit the hay if that's the case. But if you want to have just one more, I'm thinking its time to go to the cellar or fridge and break out something special. You survived/enjoyed another family event and there's only 77 days till Christmas!


Happy Polksgiving everyone!


Cheers!


Polk

The Front Porch

When I was a kid, we played outside, a lot. My mom would shoo us out on warm summer days, cool fall or snowing winter ones and we'd head off on adventures not possible today. We wandered all over the neighbourhood, climbed trees and played in places we thought only we knew about. Riding our bikes everywhere with lunches tucked into our back packs, we would return home dirty and tired but oh so happy with stories and excitement from a day of freedom. We had the life but little did we know that there were always eyes on us and our parents knew where we were more than we thought.
 Growing up in the late 70's and early 80's was a time when people still sat on their front porches and neighbours looked out for each other and their own with the same care. We didn't hide in our yards like today, closed off and independent of the world. We were connected to those around us by a network of phones, open doors and hellos. The people who lived next to you were an extension of your parents and you were respectful of them just because. We would feel like we ruled the neighbourhood and felt safe without even knowing it.
  I think back to those days and wonder if that transition from sitting out front to the secluded fenced-in back yard has done some real harm to how we live our lives. I feel less connected to my current town and I've lived here longer than anywhere else in my life. When we first moved in I tried to emulate the memories of my youth and sat on the front porch most days after work, trying to connect with the people around me. I'd say hello to the neighbours as they hurried from their cars to the front doors of their homes, busy with their lives and routines. I found the street empty most days, despite the presence of young families, most stayed in their yards or at structured play at an indoor play place. Kids don't wander free despite the fact that the world around us, at least theoretically, has never been safer. Connected by cell phone, we should be encouraging more outside time not less. As the years went on, I would spend fewer nights out front and the ubiquitous back deck was built. I love what my Grotto has become, the refuge from the world and a place of great happiness for me, but I still lament the passing of that community feeling the front porch gave us.
  We didn't know that as we rode around the streets of East Hamilton the network of Mom's, Granny's and others at home was at work. Looking for fun, we would spin around the school yard, creek and fields, having fun and creating our own worlds wherever we went. From building forts to racing down dangerously steep hills, we didn't think anyone was watching and were thrilled to be so free. But the reality is that we were always just one door away from help if trouble arose, you knew who you could run to when you needed it. It's probably a bit of nostalgia but a whole lot of reality as we see the elaborate yards people have built, hiding and cocooning away from the world. We don't reach out like we used to, no one would dare dream discipline or yell at kids today like was done when I was young. You knew if you did something wrong and got caught by the neighbour, your parents would come down on you with a vengeance. We had a connection that belied anything but giving a shit about where you lived. They did it because it was right and made the world a better place.
  I'm not sure when it all went south, but I know in my heart that part of the transformation was the building of monster houses with tiny backyards that were almost all deck. High fences to keep out prying eyes, we turned inward at the expense of community and we are poorer for it. I wish I could say if we had kids I would be different but I am probably kidding myself because that infection of perceived danger has made its' way into my life as well. I have become the guy who comes home, gets comfy and lives for the routine life lived in the yard. Devoid of a connection, our world has shrunk and we are poorer for it.
 I am sure there are great neighbourhoods out there, awesome neighbours who hang out and have fun, but in the larger picture, this is becoming an anomaly. I observe how people interact and see the closed doors and fences becoming more prevalent not less. We trust fewer people and hold closer the small nuclear family, leaving the world to others. Scared by the media and perceived threats, the leash of childhood freedom has been choked back to the yard and other supervised places, never to return. It makes me sad and I don't know what to do about it.
  Can we ever go back? Am I just pining for "the Good Old days"? Or am I really seeing the future as it is. Have we retreated to our castles, drawn the bridge and filled the moat. Protecting kids from harm is what we say, but are we depriving them of experiences that would help them grow as people by hiding from the world and not being part of the larger community. I wave to everyone I meet and say hello, I have long been taught to make the small talk required to build friendship and that came from how I was raised. We wanted to know our neighbours because they were part of our lives, celebrating the highs and coming together for support when things weren't so good. Is it different now? Ithink it is and I know we are lessened because of it. Maybe it's time I start sitting on the front stoop again, at least then I'm trying to do something positive and maybe I'll make a new friend or two. See you out there, stop in for a coffee, I've got the time.


Polk

An Odd Morning

Driving home from work and I was looking forward, as is usual for me, to a few pints in the Grotto with the next day being my first off in a week. I had missed many dinners with the late nights and overtime but since we don't have kids, it didn't really impact us that much. Kat and I spend a few hours together and then she heads to bed while I stay up a little later for some quality time alone with a beer to settle my mind. I started thinking about how different our life would be with kids, how the hell people afford them and what I would be doing if we did have them. I pretty sure I'd be different too and chances are I would but I also started to wonder about what I want to do with the back half of my life.
  Life without kids isn't really something people like to talk about. Some give their time to charitable and community organisations. Others concentrate on their extended families, becoming integral to nieces and nephews and involved in their lives to contribute something. I thought about some of these things, but my work schedule sees me home long after most everything that would like my help or on the weekends when I almost never am off. It crossed my mind to go back to coaching but in reality, with my schedule I would miss almost every game and practice, rendering me at best an ineffective assistant who would be missing 80 percent of the time.
  So where does that leave me? I ponder what I am doing, working so hard and despite the financial rewards, do I need to pursue money for the sake of money? When you have children, your focus obviously shifts to making sure they have a better life than you did. You strive to give them the best you can and  sacrifice to ensure that happens. I don't have to do that, the only people I have to worry about is Kathryn and myself if you get right down to it. I love my extended and immediate family but through the combination of lifestyle, work and just plain neglect, I have become a peripheral member at best. I wish them only the best things, but I am not involved enough to be considered anything but a member in name only it feels sometime. Perhaps as we get older, things will change with a little more effort on both sides.
  I used to be involved in all sorts of family events, hosting and planning them because I wanted to ensure a strong bond and a history of family traditions for my future children. Not having them means that any tradition becomes moot after I die, perhaps the memory of what I did carried for a generation but then I become a picture in an album that eventually finds its way to that dusty attic. A little dark but not untrue. I can tell stories of long ago relatives, but do the children of my cousins and brothers know them? How long before they are left to the past and a world that goes on regardless? Its a weird way to look at life I will agree, but it's where I am right now.  The best thing about writing down my thoughts is to help me see what is bothering me and when I am finished, they tend to recede to the past.
 With holiday season approaching, I become more introspective about what they mean and how I want to deal with them. Thanksgiving has long been avoided, along with easter, because they never felt like fun. Having to choose which side to go to makes it a minefield and I am not even going to get into Christmas, that mess isn't made better by hosting. I see nothing of value in forced bonhomie with anyone and since we really don't celebrate any of them with the verve of those around us, I am always left with nothing to say when we get together. We don't exchange gifts or have anything near a traditional holiday. It isn't necessary to perpetuate the myths of the santa or the rush of presents and family time when it is just two people, we buy the stuff we need and occasionally what we want when we can afford it. Just because it's December doesn't mean we suddenly have more money for things we don't need. So not being part of that and stepping out of the larger family gift giving takes us further afield. It's not the season of my youth obviously and while I do enjoy the trappings of the season, the specials on TV, the beer and the food, I cannot get excited about something I no longer participate in. I don't hate Christmas or anything like that, it's just different for me now and I don't know if I like that or not.
 It's not a "pity party" as one wonderful member of my family said of my work last week, I just write what I am thinking to help me understand it. None of this is ever intended to ask for sympathy, it is and has always been a way for me to convey my feelings, work out the problems I am having and maybe help someone who is suffering in silence to realise that they are not alone. I don't want anyone to think I hate my life or how it has turned out. I write because it works for me, no one has to read it if it bothers them, I would never want that. My social life has shrunk but thanks to my online friends I can always find someone to talk to and that has added value to my life that I can't measure. Do I want to go out more? Sure I do and I hope we will as my work life returns to a more normal pace.
  It is easy to become inward looking when you don't have to look outward and you see the march of time ending with your own demise. I get a little maudlin when I realise all this comes to an end when I go and no one carries on the lessons I would teach. But it isn't all doom and gloom, I intend to squeeze every moment of enjoyment I can out of whatever time I have left. I will do what I want to and make decisions about my life that enhance it wherever I can. It's been a weird way to arrive at this conclusion, but that is what this process has always been for me. Write and understand my own mind, it's taken me far and I don't want to stop now. The depression and low feelings are a thing of the past and it is though this medium that I have found peace with who I am. I'll be as surprised as you where this all ends up,

Never a Dad 2.0

  I still wonder what my life would be like if we had been able to have kids. The vision of being a father is fading fast in the rear view mirror of my life and the empty canvas of the unplanned back half is unknown. I often find my connections to other people can be difficult because we don't have children. The shared experience of having a family as a parent is lost on me in absolute terms; I understand it but I don't really "get" it. That undying love that a parent feels isn't something I can pull from my life and to be honest, I find myself leaning inward and becoming more withdrawn sometimes as we pass further from this time in our lives. It's not depression anymore, more a numbness on an old wound that never healed properly.
 We still get the adoption question and while I know people are well meaning, the process is something we looked into and for our own reasons feel like it isn't for us. Our lives are careening toward a future we couldn't envision and our options have been exhausted. It can be frustrating when you know the barriers to your reproductive health are both medical and financial and there is nothing you can do about either. We contemplated IVF with the announcement of Ontario's funding increase but it became apparent that even with that help it was beyond our means to afford, emotionally or otherwise. To know you came up short and are leaving an important part of the human experience in the dust is unsettling some days, despite an overall happiness with our lives.
    The great unknown of what could have been is what will always linger in the back of my mind. Having been raised by parents who did everything they could to give us a good life, I envisioned being a very involved Dad. Coaching sports, helping with school projects, playing made up games, healing hurts and all the other million things a parent does. Late nights caring for a sick kid aren't high on my list, but I would have done it because I would have loved my child more than anything in the world. That kind of love transcends anything I have experienced and knowing that I will miss out on that is probably what kills me the most. I wanted to feel that kind of joy when I looked down at my sleeping child, heard a first word, watched a first step or even shared their first beer.
   Long term, life will go on, joy will be present in other forms but I know that I will never get to hold my child in my arms. That one is tough to take, I have had loss and disappointment in my life but I never saw being childless as a possible outcome. It's not that there is no value without kids, many of our friends and family have gone through this and live rich and fulfilling lives. I love what I have built with Kathryn and have no wish to be anywhere but here. I have a good job and am almost at the point where the mistakes of the past, financially anyway, are behind me and repaired. I get to drink amazing beers all the time and am constantly meeting new people who quickly become friends. But there are going to be quiet moments when I will be caught off guard and feel that longing to be more than I am. Dad is one title I shall never acquire and that will always be the saddest thing I can imagine.


Polk

Polkapolooza Craft Beer Tour 2017 Review - Day 1 in Ottawa

Lady Polk and her Drunk kick Polkapolooza off with a trip to Ottawa!

This year's Polkapolooza tour started on a beautiful Sunday morning as the sun crept into the day. Up and on the road before it crested the dawn, we loaded up for the first leg of the journey, which would encompass almost half of our drive for the week. The purpose of everywhere we went in the next seven days was to meet up with fellow Ontario Craft beer supporters and highlight different regions to encourage people to step outside their normal beer routine and explore all there is to offer in this beautiful province. My mantra has always been "Drink Local" and while it is always best to support your local brewer, it does you a world of good to see all the amazing things and meet the awesome people that make up the larger craft beer community.
  Trying to decide what breweries to visit and which to skip was probably the hardest part of planning this epic odyssey but rest assured that the places we missed will stay on my radar until I visit them in the future. Heading east to begin, today's post will be all about our day in Ottawa...

  Driving down the highway towards our goal that was 5 hours distant, Kat and I enjoyed the changing winter scene, the peace of being on vacation and of course, the rather eclectic music choices of local radio stations ( I now know all the words to Ed Sheerhan's Shape of You?!?) (Don't judge, it's a good song). Stopping as little as possible, we rolled into the Nation's Capital almost on time and our first stop, Beyond the Pale Brewing.

Polk's in the window

  While we had hoped to meet up with some enthusiasts like ourselves at some point on the tour, Ottawa represented right off the bat when we arrived. Online friends Kevin, Lorie, Mikey and soon after we walked in the door, Nathan, made us feel at home even before our first beer. What a happy surprise to have some local, and not so local, friends to join us for our trip around the beer scene in this quickly growing craft region. Brewer and owner Shane joined us and we sampled our way through their offerings. He pulled out a rare bottle of their Pink Funk and it was a universal hit with all of us. Talking about BTP's move to a larger facility in the coming months, Shane also extolled the burgeoning scene in Ottawa and gave us some ideas on our stops as the day went on. Nathan had to say his goodbye's but put 4 beers from Kichesippi Brewing in my hands as he left to make him the first beer saint of the tour. 

Shane from BTP and the Polkapolooza Ottawa Crew

A delicious and surprising treat from Shane!

  Mike, Lorie and Kevin stayed with us as we made our way just around the corner for stop 2, Tooth and Nail Brewing. Long held by many people I know as the best Ottawa brewery, their 355 ml. cans are a hit with everyone, not to mention the delicious beer contained within. 

Stop 2/50 at Tooth and Nail. Sweet storefront.

When we arrived at this chic craft beer store front, we were greeted by even more virtual friends turned real life drinking companions. The Crafty Couple and Brad from Brew Donkey sat down as we got a flight and a bite in the very cool pub setting and kept the conversation full with stories from the scene in their town. It was a pleasant surprise to receive even more beer saint gifts as we parted ways, the community continues to shock even me with it's generosity.  As we were heading out the door, I stopped to buy some beer and with all of their choices I was wondering if I could by any one I wanted or if they only sold in 4's or 6's, like some other breweries do. I was told that I could buy one of anything, no requirement to by multiples at all. Not only a great beer, but a solid business plan to allow us to buy what we like, in the quantities we want. Cheers to Tooth and Nail for their decision to allow freedom of choice in this area...also, amazing beer to boot.

Hanging with the Ottawa crew at Brew Donkey!

A quick walk across the street to the Brew Donkey storefront and Brad did likewise with a few beers from his stash and we talked about the future of his very fine Beer tour company. I made a promise that next time we head east we will reach out ahead of time so he can join us and make our trip even better. Thanks to Brad and the Crafty couple for making the second stop of our tour so memorable.



Getting moving at Bicycle Craft. Stop 3!

   A trip across town found us at one of the newer craft breweries in town, Bicycle Craft. An IPA heavy board made me smile and think of all my hop head friends back in the west. Instagram friend Bughee and his lady joined us for this stop and we flighted up and talked of our experiences so far. This bright and airy location seemed like a cool place to hang for a bit and the beer was solid.

   A young brewery, its offerings were fresh and hoppy. The Velocepide IPA made its way into my hands thanks to Beer Saint Kevin and we left for the last stop our friends would be making with us.

Nice lineup. Grabbed a sample of everything and a howler of DIPA to go!



Flights on flights...on bicycles.

A renovation underway and a great place for a pint!

   Dominion City brewing had been a strong recommendation from everyone we met and while our company had dwindled to just Kevin, Lorie, Kat and I (Mikey had to head out), we were still full of excitement over a great day. The taproom at the brewery was under some construction, but the service was beauty. Trying a flight and some delicious snacks, I was struck by how every brewery was putting its own spin on Ottawa beer while bringing a small town local feel to the room. The east coast IPA, sadly only on tap, was a huge hit with Kevin and I, while the porter was making Mrs. Polk smile. Saying our goodbyes with promises of future adventures as the year goes on, we made our way to the hotel to freshen up before our final stop in town and dinner with some of Kat's family, who happened to be in town on vacation at the same time.

Can you see the haze in number 3? Beauty!

   It was a pleasant surprise to find Kat's sister Jenn, brother in law Cam and the kids in Ottawa, so we made plans to meet at Big Rig Kitchen Brewery for a pint and some dinner. A fan of their offerings already in the LCBO, I looked forward to trying the food and perhaps a few beers not available elsewhere.

heading into Ottawa Senators territory! Good food and beer to come!

   I recommended Cam get a flight so he could figure out which beer best suited his palate and he went with their solid and crushable Brown ale after trying a little of everything. Kat went with the Midnight Kissed the Cow stout and I couldn't help but order the Alpha Bomb to kick off this final stop.

Starting with a pint of Alpha Bomb, a hoppy gem

Baltic Porter and Shepherd's Pie was a great combo

  Dinner was delicious, with the Shepherd's Pie going down with a relish into my belly. We even took a shot at the intriguing beer cocktail flight on the menu. Not usually a huge fan of mixing beer with anything but other beer, I must admit I enjoyed the citrus vodka/IPA mix, as well as the Hefe/Gin concoction. Kat really liked the combo of a stout and Amaretto, two of her favourite libations in one glass. Give it a shot, but maybe share with a friend, that's a lot of ABV in one flight.

Not sure about the beer cocktails before but was sold on the IPA with citrus vodka and the Hefe with gin .

Good portion sizes, quick and friendly service and once again, excellent beer, make this Ottawa institution a fine way to end our day. Besides, we had the longest and most distant drive the next day. Sleep was a precious commodity this week and we knew when it was time to say goodnight.

Solid Tap list with something for everyone

   It was a real eye opener to the scene in Ottawa and while it isn't a day trip for most, it would be a great way to spend a weekend. We missed quite a few breweries due to them being closed and the fact that I didn't think we would be spending so much time at each stop. I did not expect to have people show up and want to hang out with us and that was the biggest surprise of all. We will make our way back here in the summer to revisit a few of these spots and also to hit up so many of the ones we missed. Thank you to everyone who made the kickoff to Polkapolooza 2 such a great day.
  The goal of exploring Ontario Craft beer was off to a rousing start and day 2 was going to prove to be an eventful one as well. More on that another day...


Make your next beer run a little more epic
Break your routine and Explore everything Ontario Craft Beer has to offer.
You will be happy you did.




Cheers!




Polk