Love beer will travel...how far is too far???

It has been a tradition of mine to visit places with good beer to offer.Few years ago it meant driving from Prague to Brussels to savour as much lambics as possible before they disappear.Earlier this week, it was just a little road trip to visit few Ontario craft brewers. My friend Adil became an integral part of these trips over last little while, too.So we got in a borrowed Buick and took off for Toronto. First stop Black Oak Brewery. We arrived mid morning to find Ken, Adrian and Paul getting ready to start the day. Of course one of the first things that came up in conversation was the legendary "10 Bitter Years" ale. Adrian poured some of the bright tank and while we sampled this heavenly liquid we learned that perhaps sometimes next week the second batch should be bottled and kegged!!! I can only imagine the mayhem when it will finally be released. 

They are all excited about newly acquired bottling station which should speed up bottling and make it easier.Great little visit. You need to stop by and visit, too. And while visiting, buy some beer! 

All of their beers are on my list of top beers in Ontario. If you can have just one, get some Pale Ale!

Great Lakes Brewery just around the corner was our second stop. Ever since Simon brought the project X to Chancey Smith's, we wanted to visit and see where all those great casks and beers are coming from. Simon's little test kit is quite simple, yet impressinve. This tiny little thing has brought so much pleasure to so many. No, we're still talking beer you dirty people!! In business since 1987, you can almost hear the heartbeat of the place ticking away in a steady marathon pace. The building, the brew-house and people all seem to emanate confidence and peace of mind.
Pay them a visit, you will be glad you did. Buy some beer, support local, and if you're lucky, there might be some of the Project X ales available in bottles, too. The new version of 666 Devil's Ale will make you want some more. Stay tuned for an off center summer draught one off coming to Chancey Smith's soon. Great visit. Thanks for the tour Simon.

Next off to Bracebridge to visit Lakes of Muskoka Cottage Brewery. It is not a short little trip to make. According to Google maps, from my house to the brewery covers 388 kilometers. As we are heading north on #11 the question keeps popping up in my mind: Are we mad? Are we really driving almost 400 km to have a sip of new beer and visit the brewery?

We parked in front and eagerly entered. Warm welcome from Mike, Gary, Aleksandra (sp?) and many other people. Something in their eyes changed slightly after learning we did drive that distance just to try their beer and perhaps buy some for our tap.

"Are you really putting those kegs in that little Buick? Hmm...I wonder if those guys from London got a little "breeze" going under the shingles? Let's get them out of here before anybody gets hurt!!" I am sure some thought like that were going through their minds. We picked up a keg of Hefe Weisse and Cream Ale. They are both worth drinking.

Since it was lunch time,  Mike was able to lure us safely away from the premises to The Griffin. Local Gastropub owned by Curt an Jed. Two guys with a great passion for everything local. We had a great lunch, fresh beer and most of all we met Jed. If you are anywhere close to Bracebridge, make a point of checking them out. You will be glad you did!! Mike was good enough to give us a quick tour of the brewery before we had to leave.
It would be so great to stay right there! Relax, have few more brews, meet locals, talk some more with Mike and Jed, share the passion.
Reality is, we have to get going back. One more stop before heading home.

To our surprise Flying Monkeys Brewery is right in the middle of busy downtown street with a magnificent lake view.
This is our fourth brewery visit today. Each one totally different from the other three. To say that "Monkey brew-house" took us by a surprise would be an understatement. Sample of freshly bottled new batch of Netherworld was heavenly and the view of brewery added to the feeling of awe. Add Peter to the mix, stir in Adil, step back and observe. That's more less what happened. Those two were like two long lost lovers reunited. While they are deeply in conversation about intricacies of dry-hoping and other parts of brewers life, I am being the "proper" visitor, snapping pictures, checking it all out.
Every vessel, every piece of equipment  in house is named. When you look at Peter in his denims and ball cap, you'd never guess hi might be a mad scientist. Once you listen to him, you can almost picture his features transforming: shoulder lenght unruly hair, long white coat with many mysterious stains and burn holes, humongous thick glassed held together with wire twist or cloth pin.
His vision of great new beers and unwavering pursuit to bring them to us is remarkable. While those two are deeply in their debate about different hops, grains and visions of new beer styles, one could easily miss what is to me as important. Under all of the facade resides good humble man.

If I were aspiring to enter the world of literary giants, I would speak about feeling a sense of foreboding. Years later this might the one the chance moments that changed lives.
The truth is, I do not dream about being a literary giant nor I presume foresee the future. I will just try to do my part and support Flying Monkeys by buying their brews and spreading their message

So if you missed it: get out of bed, come down to Chancey Smith's and drink few of the beers from these remarkable breweries.
We are getting in the car now to return home. We left  before 7am this morning and by the time we get home to London, it will be 9:30pm and the car trip meter will add up to close to 900 km.  It will take few cups of strong black coffe and a chocolate bar to stay awake.
We did travel quite a bit today and tasted some great beer and brought a couple of kegs back to London for you to try. Was if worth the travel? Was it too far? Was it a day in our life we will never get back? If it was just for the beer, I would tend to agree. We had a chance to meet so many interesting people and spent some time with them (not enough time if you ask me!) while enjoying good food and beer.
My life has been enriched by meeting all these great people. And for that it would not be too far if I had to go to the end of the world!!!

So many beers and so little time!

More pictures from the trip