photo : kichesippi beer co . ( sean sisk ) best of beers bY Matt harrison
photo : kichesippi beer co . ( sean sisk ) best of beers bY Matt harrison
innovative , local brewmasters have the city and region positively hopping
It ’ s a golden age of sorts . Golden suds that is . Not confined to area pubs and bars , the area ' s microbreweries have become tourist destinations themselves . Case in point , Beau ’ s in nearby Vankleek Hill ( go for a tour , and come back for Beau ' s Oktoberfest !), or Les Brasseurs du Temps , a beautiful stone brewery located in Gatineau with patios overlooking — fittingly — Brewery Creek , an arm of the Ottawa River .
We asked some of the area ' s top brewers to steer us through Ottawa ' s frothy sea of microbrews :
beau ’ s brewing co . Steve Beauchesne , co-founder and CEO beaus . ca
What makes your brewery unique ? Our close-knit family and friends , company culture , and each of the beers we brew .
What is your favourite beer ? Bog Water . It started us on a path of experimentation , and has spawned so many interesting projects . When we decided to brew a Gruit beer [ beer brewed with herbs other than hops ], I don ’ t think we fully realized how much it would impact our brewery . Now with a full-time Gruit program , and as originators of International Gruit Day , it is something that
( Above ) Brewery Kichesippi Beer Co .; ( bottom ) Beau ' s Brewing Co .
many brewers [ worldwide ] look to us as experts on .
Best thing about Ottawa ? Ottawa supports local in a big way — from the restaurant owners who choose local food and drink , to customers who choose where to go out based on what ’ s on tap , to festival organizers , politicians , and others .
les brasseurs du temps Alain Geoffroy , president brasseursdutemps . com
What makes your brewery unique ? BDT is the first craft brewery established on the Quebec side of the Outaouais . It is literally a temple of beer brewing more than 35 different types of beer [ always 17 fresh beers on the menu ], located in a heritage centennial building and featuring a self-guided beer museum .
What are your most underrated and favourite beers ? Underrated : L ’ Allumante is our nut brown ale . It remains , to my point of view , one of the best American-style nut brown ales you can find : a subtle nutty flavour sustained by a long and smooth bitterness . Favourite : La Framboyante , our raspberry pale ale . Fruit beers tend to be oversweet to my taste . La Framboyante has a perfect balance of bitterness [ like biting into the raspberry seed ] and sweetness .
Best of Beers continues on page 32
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