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
 




 

Growing Up Happy - Part 1

My Childhood

That hair!

My childhood was wholly unremearkable. Please don't try to misconstrue that in any way other than positive. I was lucky and privileged enough to be born in a time when one parent could stay home and manage the household on a single salary. My father worked at Stelco, the local steel mill, and my mother was the one who stayed with us, being on call for 4 kids whenever we needed her. Not wealthy, but decidedly middle class, we grew up never wanting for the basics and occasionally splurging on luxuries. Growing up in a large family and being the oldest meant I knew responsibility early and was always on the lookout for my brothers and sister.



So young and over 40 years later, still beautiful.

My earliest memories play around the edges of real or nostalgia. All day bike rides with our only connection to home being that it was our neighbourhood and the people who lived there looked out for one another. We had to be home for dinner, but lunch would often be some sandwiches and a precious can of pop tucked into your backpack. Out again as soon as the dishes were done, we would pause only when the streetlights came on and begrudgingly head home, with promises to meet up with our friends the next day.

Pictures were a luxury, as you had no idea if they turned out and getting the film produced cost money that would be better spent on groceries or the ever growing kids in our family. Yet we have album after album of smiling faces, family events and road trips that brought so much joy to our lives. We may have thousands of pictures on our computers now, but none of them compare to those dusty photos of 4 kids and their parents having fun. Smiling faces and happy eyes make me see just how much my parents gave us.

That time we met Gordie Howe!

Summer meant vacation and for my mom, that meant no rest from the demands of 4 busy kids. She always kept us moving, taking us on day trips, making sure we ate and engaging our obsessions, which would change from day to day as we found new and exciting things happening in the world. Our house was often the focal point for all of our friends as its joyful demeanour was a respite from their own chaotic lives. The pool was always full and one of the first outdoor responsibilities that we learned after gardening was if you wanted to have your friends over, you had to vacuum the pool. It prepared me for the many parties I would host over the decades. Always make the house ready and you can enjoy your time with friends. No one was ever turned away from that house on Glassco, the door swung open at all hours and even though I was a kid, I knew my parents were constantly helping those who needed it.

Still cute together and always up for an adventure

Occasionally and with great anticipation, we would go away for a vacation. I can't even begin to imagine the logistics of packing 4 kids, sometimes a dog and all their perceived needs into a car and either going camping or in later years to my Aunt Jennette's cottage in Wasaga Beach. These trips were extra special because it meant that Dad didn't have to work and we could spend some time with him away from the stress of his job. Like most kids whose mother stayed home and father worked, I didn't understand how hard they both worked and it is only with the wisdom of age that I see what they did. A vacation for us kids meant beaches, swimming and other sunny adventures. For my mom, it meant taking care of the 5 of us in another place with more dirt and less amenities. But we never knew or felt that. She always smiled and made sure we were taken care of first. I don't think she ate a hot meal for most of our trips and always put our enjoyment first. It was selfless then and I can't help but marvel at how we never knew she was working so hard to make our lives so much fun. 

Dad always manned the BBQ and of course the Pie - Irons (essentially a cast iron sandwich maker that you use in the hot coals of the fire). Perhaps a beer in hand, he loved to grill up whatever mom had brought and if you were lucky, he'd let you have a little taste of what was cooking. I know now how hard he worked to provide us with everything we needed and the skills he taught me have made me the man I am today. While I inherited his quick temper, I also heeded his wisdom on how to contain it. We were always the focus of his attention, the jokes, stories and he was an involved presence at everything we did. Being a father in the late 70's and early 80's was far different than it is now and his very attentive and sympathetic way of listening and offering advice was years ahead of its time.Our later conflicts brought on more by our similarities than our differences, but the bond forged in my childhood never let me doubt his love.

The boys are forever best friends.
We may not see each other often, but the love is always there.

 All of these memories come from that warm place inside my heart. I can feel the love I was given and the safe embrace of home still resonates today. The things we did as a family and the happiness it created are what saved me when I was at my lowest years later. I always joke that any mistakes I made in life are no ones fault but my own because I had such an easy going childhood and a set of parents who supported me even when I didn't deserve it. All of this happened in a simple house, on a suburban street with two people who gave everything they had to make sure their kids grew up with a sense of family and joy at being part of something bigger than yourself.

Thank you Mom and Dad for always making us your priority, then and now.

 Your dedication to your family is a big part of why I smile when I think back to those days on Glassco and the glory of my youth.

 

The family has grown and the love has multiplied.

 

Adventures in Quebec City at Tabernac 2016

#Tabernac 2016 Originals

It was sometime in March when the idea for Tabernac Quebec Craft Beer Throwdownapolooza (Here after known as #tabernac) started to percolate. Many of the online beer community had started to meet up locally, but some of us felt a larger calling to travel and discover even more of what this amazing country has to offer. We bandied several dates back and forth before settling on August 3rd to 6th in Quebec City, as it was about equal distance for the 6 people who could eventually make it.

Coming from Sept Iles in Northern Quebec was Craft Beer Pam, better known as, well, Pam. Nova Scotia's finest were led by the Keltic Devil, Phil Church and his pal, Rob, The Gardack. Riding in with The Polkaroo were the Big Canuck 1975 (Glen) and Mrs. Polkaroo (Kathryn). Nervous, excited and a little apprehensive, off we went.

Tuesday

 The three of us from Ontario left the confines of home at 8:30 in the morning on August 2nd so we could make a few stops on the way. Smooth sailing thanks to using the toll road 407 highway, we decided to stop at Stone City Ales in downtown Kingston for a flight and some snacks. Its a really great space that was hopping, even on an early Tuesday afternoon. Our service was impeccable and friendly. The beer was spot on and I left with 4 bottles for further "research".

 

Beauty flights with The Big Canuck

 

Next up was a brewery that I've been wanting to go to since I started trying craft beer. Beau's All Natural Brewing in VanKleek, Ontario has often been the recipient of all my fan boy love for a good reason. Their recent employee ownership plan, 10th anniversary celebrations, cross Canada expansion of sales and general quality and innovation in brewing are just a few of the reasons I am always going to try anything they make. The people at the brewery were not only welcoming, they made you feel excited to try everything on tap. I settled on the barley wine, but once again bought one of everything I hadn't tried and off we went to our finally destination of the day in St. Jerome, Quebec.

#beerbucketlist item checked off.

 

After dropping off our beer and luggage at the hotel, we drove on down the road to famed Quebec brewer Dieu de Ciel. We have tried their Aphrodisiac (Aphrodite here in puritanical Ontario) before and loved it enough to buy it regularly. Entering yet another busy place, we were greeted in French and after some fumbled attempts on our part, mercifully the staff took care of us in English for the rest of our visit. If I would have known I'd be searching for Craft Beer in Quebec 30 years later, I would have paid more attention in French class. Needless to say the food was super tasty and I will profess my love for their Moralite IPA, it was a citrusy bitter beauty. But we were now wiped out from our half completed journey and headed back for a swim and some shuteye before the final leg of our journey.



That sunset and my IPA make me smile.



 



Our Ontario (and a little US) contribution for #tabernac



 

 

Wednesday



Waking up in the morning, I could barely contain my excitement that it was finally the day for #tabernac. We set off and after an emotional stop for Kat at her Papa's gravesite in Montreal, we headed north to Quebec city and our friends in beer.

On a side note, I must tell you about how courteous and kindly we were treated through all of our travels. From their calm driving skills to their tolerance of my fractured attempts at speaking French, the Quebecois people were not at all what I had been led to believe. I loved every interaction I had and will encourage you to visit La Belle Province if you ever get the chance.

Arriving at our hotel, we dealt with a small booking error (our fault) and settled into our room. Being a few hours ahead of the others, we went for a short walk to a little hole in the wall bar near the  hotel called Red Lounge and downed a pint of local beer to kill a little time. While not a huge spot, it was perfect for a hot afternoon and the Red Ale from Boreale was decent. 

Drank a little before I remembered to take a pic!

Getting back to the Nord, I grabbed a Ceres Gose from Nickel Brook Brewing in B

urlington and headed out for a little review time in the back of the hotel. This was the beer I had been waiting for with its refreshingly sour and crisp lime, cucumber combination. I brought some of these to share and was glad I did.

Repping Ontario Craft Beer in the QC

 When Pam arrived and we knew Phil and Rob would still be a while, we headed out to Brasserie Griendel for some dinner and of course a pint or two. Located about 15 minutes walk from the hotel, this Qubec microbrewer had a respectable 20 + beers on tap and I started with a Double IPA that was juicy, dank and had a whole lotta citrus.



Food, Craft Beer and good company



 



Happy Polkaroo with a wheat beer.



The picture at the top of this post is the six #tabernac OG's settling in for the first time. It was taken after Rob and Phil finally joined us just after 7 p.m. I was nervous and excited to finally raise pints with these folks, but quickly found that their online personas were not a façade and we fell into easy conversation. The rest of the evening found us sitting in the breakfast room at the hotel, sharing the fresh growlers of beer we had brought from some of our favourite local brewers and even more conversation, beer, as well as life related.

Thursday

Waking up Thursday morning was like opening my eyes after a great dream. I was pinching myself that this was really happening and when I saw that Phil was having a breakfast beer, I just had to join in. Stranger than Fiction Porter from Collective Arts is a staple for me and a wonderful way to start my day that involved 10 kilometers of walking, beer and some of the most beautiful views in Canada.



Breakfast of Champions



 We decided to walk to the Old City of Quebec and while I am not known for my love of physical activity, I was actually looking forward to seeing the neighbourhoods and shops that dot the trip to Historic Quebec City. After climbing a lot of stairs, hills and what seemed like a never ending vista of old buildings, we found ourselves sitting at Saint-Alexandre Pub with an $18 bottle of Golden Draak 9000, a Belgian Quadrapel that was among the best beers I've ever had in my life. Caramel, candied fruits, dark plums and a warming alcohol punch made me glad I plunked down that much cash on this one of a kind brew.

$18? Worth every penny.

 Having reached the Hotel Frontenac, St. Lawrence seaway and the battlegrounds of the Plains of Abraham, I was taken aback at the sheer size of everything. The beauty of this area of Quebec cannot be captured, but we tried and as I walked around, I was a little overwhelmed at being smack in the centre of where this country all began. Of course I brought an Ontario Craft beer to celebrate with and even drank my Canuck pale ale from Great Lakes brewing on top of the hill while we took a break from all the walking. It might not be 100% legal to drink a beer at a national historic place, but it was just what I needed to make my day complete. As the afternoon headed to evening, some of us headed back to hotel for a swim and a rest while others stayed and perused the shops and artisans. Beauty day and it got better after dinner.

Gordie and I at the top of Quebec City

 

 When we reconvened in the breakfast room later that night, we shared even more growlers and squealers of fresh beer and met a new friend from the Netherlands, Michel, who quickly became part of #tabernac and spent the next 4 hours swapping life stories and sharing in our love of great beer. We even brought some of our home made Amber ale with us and it was a hit with all our beer friends. It is fun to share not only your favourite provincial beer, but something you've created with other people who've never had it before, it's like opening a part of your soul to the world. I enjoyed all the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick beer Phil brought out and was happy to share a few of our mutual favourite IPAs fresh from the source. Headstock from Nickel Brook and Ransack the Universe were well received by everyone at our rowdy little table. Late bedtime and I was smiling as the day faded into my memory.

 

Growlers of our faves meant a late night and lots of laughs.

 Friday

Awaking on Friday was a little foggy, but the smile never left my face. After a light breakfast, Kat and Pam went off for a little retail therapy, Rob had some work to accomplish and Phil settled in for a little refresher nap. Glen and I decided to take advantage of both the free time and my new found love of walking to hit up one or two microbrewers for flights while we had the chance. First up was Koriganne and yet another great experience with the Quebecois people. We were always a little apologetic about our lack of French, but the staff embraced us like locals and extolled the virtue of their many great beers. My standout in this one was the oak aged strong ale with a smooth warming punch to it. I almost ordered a pint and stayed the rest of the day, that is how awesome they made us feel. but we had more things to see and do and once again, my feet hit the floor in search of beer,.



Flight at Koriganne



 Up next was perhaps my most surreal moment on the entire trip. Walking into Noctem, we were again greeted happily in English but this time it came with a question...

"Don't I know you?" the bartender asked.

"I don't think so, we're not from around here."

"You're the Drunk Polkaroo, I follow you on Instagram! Love your stories and pictures!"

 

Mic Drop.

Seriously, it was pretty funny a we gladly enjoyed one of everything they had with a promise to return for dinner if we could. But there was one more stop to make and it was one of the older places that makes craft beer in the province and a must see according to everywhere we had visited.

Beauty brews at a young Noctem

 La Barberie was another klick and a half walk, which now meant we had traversed a little under 5 kilometers in search of beer, but we felt awesome. They brought each of us a wheel of 5 oz. flights with one of each of their 8 beers. The hit for me was the sour. It was mouth puckering and I was so impressed, I grabbed a pint to slow sip while Glen finished his samples. The terrace was beautiful with a bring your own food policy that I think would be nice to see at those breweries here in Ontario that don't serve food in their tap rooms.  

Wheel of beer at La Barberie

 

Pints with Polk on the Patio.

 

After taking an Uber back to the hotel, because it seemed prudent to not test our balance after so many flights, we grabbed Kat and headed to the underground pool for a swim. I brought along a little Ontario treat in my Cameron's brewing One Eyed Grouse to savour while I floated around the warm, salt water pool. All that walking and "beer research" made me a little tired, so off for a nap and then our last night in QC. 

Always a fave in my house.

 Heading back out to reconnect with our #tabernac pals, we first enetered La Bateau de Nuit, a craft beer bar in the Old City. Dark, a little dank and wholly full of characters, including the brewer from the Noctem brewery we had visited earlier in the day. We enjoyed some fine Quebec beers and even more laughs at our mutual and separate adventures the week had brought us. It was then time to once again walk back to the lower city and a wonderful final dinner at Noctem. The food was divine, the beer young, but with great potential and the company was the stuff that makes my heart happy. Getting back to the hotel, I had nothing left to give and had to say goodnight. It had been the kind of day I dreamed of having when I planned this trip and I drifted off to sleep with a smile that stayed till I awoke in the morning.

Championship of the world at bateau De Nuit

 Saturday

When we got up Saturday, we began to gather our things and prepare for the journey home. But first we had to distribute our treasures to our friends. I was proud to be able to send some of my favourite Ontario Craft beers on their way to Northern Quebec and Nova Scotia and even more excited to receive the gift of beer from my Beer Saint compatriots. It was bittersweet and we made one last stop at a bottle shop called Le Monde de Bieres for a few more Quebec craft beers to take home and enjoy.

#beersaint done right.

We have decided to continue with #tabernac and next year it will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Mark your calenders with the dates August 9th to 12th and stay tuned for more details in the coming months on our plans to take this craft beer meetup into the stratosphere in the next few years. Nothing would make me happier than to see more of those people I already know and those of you I haven't met yet joining us on Canada's East coast next year to raise our glasses to celebrate all things Craft beer! What a great time to be alive!

Cheers!

See you all next year!

Travels with Mrs. Polkaroo are always the highlight of anything I do

One last photo of an amazing group of people. Until Next year!