Monday 29 August 2011

August 29, 2011

The Golden Tap Awards, as voted by ordinary beer drinkers, were announced this weekend.  Courtesy the Canadian Beer News the winners are:

Best Microbrewery in Ontario:  Beau's All-Natural Brewing Company, Vankleek Hill
Best Brewery for Cask-Conditioned Ale:  Granite Brewery, Toronto
Best Bar for Draught Beer Selection in Ontario:  Bar Volo, Toronto
Best Bar for Bottled Beer Selection in Ontario:  Bar Volo, Toronto
Best Bar for Cask Ale in Ontario:  Bar Volo, Toronto
Best Brewpub or Tied House in Ontario:  Granite Brewery, Toronto
Best Regularly-Produced Beer in Ontario:  Beau's Lug-Tread Lagered Ale, Van Kleek Hill
Best Seasonal or Specialty Beer in Ontario:  Black Oak Ten Bitter Years, Toronto
Best Cask Ale in Ontario:  Granite Hopping Mad, Toronto

Clearly, Toronto is the centre of the known universe. 

It was a bit of a surprise to see the Volo win for best draught selection, though that is how I have voted in the past.  C'est What used to own that award what with more than thirty taps on the go.  Where the Volo has an advantage is that C'est What limits their taps to Canadian brewers only (their wine list is also entirely Canadian, but not their Scotch list...).  While it's great to have thirty some taps to choose from, one can only consume so many beers in one sitting and the fact is the Volo has enough taps that a reasonable individual wouldn't attempt them all and what's more you can find beers from the Netherlands, Belgium and other nations there.  I could say much the same of Sin and Redemption but it gets crowded enough there already.

For bottled beer an honorable mention must go out to the Beer Bistro and in the tied house category the Mill Street Brewpub deserves a mention.

It's a shame more Toronto beer drinkers have not experienced Gambrinus or they would have made some noise here, too.

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