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| - I first attended The Roundhouse Craft Beer Fest. 4 years ago, in Aug. 2013. With the continuing craft beer explosion here in Ontario, the Fest. - not surprisingly - has changed a lot since then. I attended (as I did 4 years ago) with a social Group that I help organize and as usual at this and other beer fests, there were a number of others from my Group there as well. The 1st time I attended in 2013 the overall area at The Roundhouse within which the Fest. took place was considerably smaller/more contained, due to there having been a lot less Breweries present - but likely around the same no. of food trucks - 4 years ago compared to this year's Fest. According to a 2013 review there were 14 Breweries present at that year's Fest., while this year there were 40 Breweries there. Four years ago access to the Fest. was a lot more controlled as only those who had paid and therefore wore a wristband and had a sampling glass could get in. This year they still - as they always have - had wristbands and the sampling glass, but people who hadn't paid to attend could wander freely through at least some of the areas where the Fest. was taking place.
At this year's Fest. I tried beers from quite a few Breweries I was familiar with, such as Big Rock, Flying Monkeys, Black Oak and Wellington as well as beers from several Breweries I hadn't previously heard of: Second Wedge, Walkerville and Shawn & Ed Brewery. In total I tried 11 beers of which 7 I hadn't had before and 1 was a cask selection. I ate beforehand this time so can't comment on the food quality but many of the others in my social Group who came ordered food, i.e. mac & cheese and a burrito which looked quite good; I also saw someone else with a funnel cake which also looked appetizing.
As I did 4 years ago when I attended, I very much enjoyed myself at the Fest. and found it to be very well organized and executed. So I hope to attend for my 3rd time next year.
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