Because they are an awesome brewery, doing awesome awesomeness.
End of blog.
Okay, I’m told I need to say more.
So on Monday, a kindly gentleman wandered into Castro’s and took a seat at table 101. I always like people who choose 101, as it was my preferred table, back when I was just a regular. Also, he asked to see the beer menu. And he looked like a beer rep. And he ordered a Schneider-Weisse, and used the glass.
So all-in-all, he was looking like my kind of chap. Anthony served him and chatted a while, then came over and told me that he was from Beau’s. I got all excited and grabbed the single bottle of Lug-Tread Ale we had left over from December’s tasting, and went over to gush. Rob was indeed my kind of chap, knowledgable and friendly. We had a slightly abbreviated conversation, as I was working, but during our few minutes, he reminded me why I love Beau’s so darn much.
A touch of background: Beau’s is a family run micro near Ottawa. They started out making a kolsch, or a lagered ale, which is to say, an ale (ale yeast, top-fermenting), that gets aged (lagered). They called it “Lug-Tread Ale”. They now are also making four seasonals, and a yearly special brew that I will discuss shortly. Their full story is one that proves that good guys don’t finish last, passion matters, and also demonstrates the beauty and siblinghood of craft brewing in Ontario. Check out their site (http://www.Beaus.ca) and blog for the whole shebang.
So here’s the deal. I had stumbled across their blog three summers ago, while fighting off boredom in a not so isolated one-room cabin in the woods of Muskoka. At that point I decided finding a way to drink their beer was a pretty damn good idea. It happened more then a year later, and I confess, I can’t remember where it was. But I liked it, and have continued liking it since. Their Nightmarzen (fall seasonal) was one of my top three picks at Cask Days 2008. But here’s the thing: Ottawa is a long way from Toronto. I’ve driven it, so I’m an authority. I think Vankleek Hill is even further. So how to get beer here? This brings us to point number one (yes this was quite a long intro, I know).
Beau’s takes their time, and gets it right the first time. They have had the production capacity for a while to add Toronto to their business. But most publicans who deal with micros that are from distant lands like Pickering, know the pain of having to wait on a weekly truck. “You sent us two kegs of IPA instead of one IPA and one stout”, “really sorry about that, we’ll send the correction on the truck, a week today…” or having to show up at the bar at some ungodly hour like 1pm to receive the keg because that’s the only time the truck will be by. The good folks at Beau’s knew this only worked at bars in Toronto that really desperately wanted to see small Ontario craft breweries succeed. Or about 5 of them, to be clearer. Something needed to be done, and something was. They procured a cold-storage space in the city, which they stock from Siberia, I mean, Ottawa, then distribute to the LCBO and licensees as (and when) needed. Sound simple? Sure. Did it mean it took them longer to crack the Toronto market? Absolutely. Why don’t more people do it? Don’t know. But Beau’s gets a hardy clap on the shoulder, and adds another drop in my “ardent supporter” bucket.
If that was a drop, here’s a pint:
Remember way back in this post when I mentioned they were making another brew that I would discuss shortly? Well I lied. They aren’t making it. Somebody else is. But they’re using the Beau’s brewhouse. Beau’s is calling it their CABA CABA HEY line, and here’s the deal: every year they are offering the winner of the Canadian Amature Brewer’s Association (CABA), Great Canadian Homebrewer’s Conference Best of Show winner the chance to come into the Beau’s brewery and brew their winning beer. Beau’s will give them the space, help publicise and distribute it, and everybody wins. This year it was the Tommy Gun APA from Beer Shack. Did I drink it a while back at Volo? Yes. Was it incredible? Yes. Did I nearly shed a tear when Tom told me the story about it? Oh yes. That kind of creative thinking, as well as an openness to help worthy brewers advance their craft is beyond cool. It’s saintly.
Oh yeah, and just to top things off nicely, they’re a certified organic brewery (this means having to source all certified organic ingredients for projects like CABA CABA HEY, no small feat). I’m surprised Rob doesn’t deliver the beer on a bicycle, handing out fresh fruit to children he passes on the way (perhaps it’s in the works).
Some questions to close:
Can we expect to see some more Beau’s brews at future tastings? Oh yes, I would assume so.
Why was this blog labeled “part one”? I have a sneaking suspicion Beau’s is going to continue to impress the hell out of me.
Is Beau’s awesome? I’ll leave you, dear reader, to decide for yourself.
http://www.Beaus.ca
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