| rev:text
| - Ok so I'm going to conduct a little interview with myself so bare with me, I promise this will go somewhere (hopefully).
Sami 1: So Sami how long have you been into craft beer?
Sami 2: For over 5 years now
Sami 1: wow that's a long time, how many beer types, styles and brands have you had?
Sami 2: Too many to count.
Sami 1: Wow! So what's the best Ontario brewed beer you have ever had?
Sami 2: Bellwood's Last Splash strong ale (Imperial IPA)
Sami 1: What is the best fruit beer you have had?
Sami 2: Well that would be Bellwood's Fruit Helmet (apricot and mango IPA).
Sami 1: Wow sounds amazing! What was the best smoked beer you have ever had?
Sami 2: Funny you should ask, that would be the smoked Berliner brewed by Bellwoods!
Are you sensing a trend?
I finally checked out this fairly new Toronto brewery before a concert last week and these guys are doing very special things. Their Last Splash strong ale (I believe it is technically an Imperial IPA) was the best Ontario beer I have ever tasted (it was a collaboration with former Dieu du Ciel brewer Luc Lafontaine). Their Fruit Helmet IPA was the best fruit beer I have EVER had, not too sweet with just enough hops and alcohol to balance it off, another masterpiece! I tried a sip of my friend's smoked Berliner and for a smoke beer (a style I don't like) it was ok. I had a sample of their Muggleweiss (sour beer) also and it was quite good, if I had a full pint I think I would have become a fan. My friend and I went to this place before a concert and it blew us away, so much so that we ran back immediately after the concert for a couple more beers! These guys are doing very special things and are willing to take risks by brewing more than your standard IPA/wheat beer/ stout. In that one visit they have truly become my favourite Ontario brewery.
The brewpub itself has an industrial feel, especially with the tanks in plain view. It is an intimate place with a large street patio, in the winter they will probably fit 50 people at a very tight squeeze. The upstairs bar is absolutely amazing, offers a great view of the restaurant and is good for people watching. They have about 8-9 of their own beers on tap (including a couple collaborations), 2 guest taps, and an extensive imported bottle list (mostly Belgian). Pints are in the $8 range; however the bottle menu looked quite pricey.
Food wise, I was not hungry at the time but still ordered their duck pâté, I have never had pâté before and can't say that I really enjoyed it; however being a pâté virgin I have no clue whether this particular one was good or atrocious (the bread it was served with was good).
If you are a craft beer nerd/snob you need to run to this place. They do not sell their product at the LCBO but they do distribute to some local bars and restaurants. My only complaint about this place is that the taps are rotating so I may not have another chance to try the Last Splash Strong Ale, but I am sure whatever beers they put out will be awesome. I cannot wait to try their upcoming Imperial stout! This place is easily in the top 3 to grab good beer in Toronto and quite possibly the best brewery this city (and province) have to offer.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)