That time of week again where we return to the blockchain with findings from a week of beer exploration. You are invited to leave a huge upvote and join our friend @detlev to create your own #beersaturday post with the gang!
For week 436, I am thinking about the great beer exchange of '24 and scouting for this year's edition.
Chugs on the Run
For those who have just started following this year, https://hive.blog/beersaturday/@zekepickleman/beersaturday-chugs-on-the-run will tell you the tale of 6 breweries in a single day leading to a 60-person party. In the end, 24 of us left with a beer advent calendar from across the continent and a big hangover the next morning. Sounds simple but only because we plan the route in advance and today was our dry run for this year's Chugs on the Run!
Which city to choose?
Guelph?
This is our first choice as there is a great craft brewery scene in this town the lies between the big city and what used to be Canada's silicon valley. It is the place we purchase many of the ingredients for the beer we brew, and home to large and small breweries that would make great stops on our tour.
Wellington Brewery
Way back when, I pushed through college where you drink beer as a sport and quantity is what counts. Eventually, I grew out of the macro Molson/Labbatt brands to discover what was called micro breweries long before they were come to be known as craft breweries. Wellington Brewery was one of the first regional breweries I discovered on my path into craft beer obsession. That being the case, I have never had the chance to visit the brewery in these many years!
A nice, bright and inviting tap room for such a storied brewery that was empty but primarily because we were visiting at 11 am, freshly opened to the public for the day. They are game to host our crew on the brewery tour but informed us that our date is also the same as the immensely popular Guelph Beer Bus Might have to choose a different weekend or maybe another town?
Since we are here, might as well sample a pint! What will it be? Plenty of selection and variety. Even a Mango Habanero IPA which would have been wild.
Brewmaster opted for an amber/marzen lager as he is all about the malt and fest beers. In search of something new and hoppy, I went for the Hazy Pale Ale collab between a few of the local breweries working together.
One little peek into the production area for a little stainless steel porn for the brewers here. How much fun would we have in this playground?! So glad to have finally visited Wellington Brewery in person.
Maybe Cambridge?
Since Guelph may be too busy for our big group in brewery terms with the Beer Bus going on that weekend, we decided to change course and head to Cambridge. Brewmaster has a soft spot for Jackass Brewing Company so that was naturally our first stop. Potentially the first stop for Chugs on the Run.
Smaller operation and tap room than Wellington but unique and damn good.
PINT TIME! On-brand, I opted for the hazy NEIPA and Brewmaster went with his all time favourite Irish Red. Both sweet and nice but I trade the malt for the hops and citrus flavour of this one.
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A quick stop at the bottle shop for some road sodas and new beer for the fridge at home, we run into Uncle Steve! You can see the sign behind him with Uncle Steve's Irish Red which is brewed under his inspiration. Thanks for the pints Steve and maybe we will see you next week!
We visited a few more brewweries this day but I will save them for another #beersaturday.
#BEERSaturday!
NOOOOOOooooooooooooookay then.
Now it is time for you to join me, @detlev , and these other beerologists because there is always room for more beer bloggers at this week's Beer Saturday gathering... https://hive.blog/hive-187719/@detlev/beersaturday-436 Lets drink to Beer Season!
