I think this was something of a kick off event for Toronto Beer Week. I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into heading into this one. The Berkely Street Church turned out to be a veritable maze of a building. With breweries and few other things like a cigar stand and some food tables set up all over. Up and down the stairs a few outside on the patio. It’s quite the space and I encourage attending  an event there just to see the building. With a DJ in the main space upstairs and dim lighting it was definitely a chill laid back atmosphere. Slightly different the downstairs area had live folk music and was more about mingling and chatting with people.

I had a heck of a time finding the Toronto Beer Lovers in attendance. Though I think we had fun mingling and wandering and finding each other again. A lot of the beer was either new or a one off for the event. It was my favourite form of event where a ticket gets you a sample giving you the chance to try many different things. I did my best to indulge.

Flying Monkeys Orange Mungus I had tried this before at the Roundhouse Beer Fest in the summer. It tastes like old fashioned orange pop.

Black Oak Brewing Fengreek cask based around the incredibly versatile nut brown ale. I’ll agree with Black Oak proprietor Ken Woods and say it does give he impression of an oatmeal cookie.

Nickelbrook Bolshevic Bastard Stout Cask quite the jump from oatmeal cookies and orange soda. The Bolshevic bastard was a deceitfully smooth with a bit of a kick.

Great Lakes Brewing’s Toasted Coconut Porter. Subtle coconut flavour. I could have been quite happy sipping a pint of this all night.

Kensington Brewing’s Augusta Ale cask. Translated really well. A fine versatile beer.

Sawdust City German Style wheat beer. What ever these guys make comes out really well.

Beer Academy Cascadian Dark. These guys have outdone themselves. I’ve tried three of their beers now and all are greatly quaffable.

Beer Academy Kolsh style - see comment for Cascadian Dark.

Great Lakes Brewing Crazy Cannuck. You have to make time or your favourites. A great pale ale for people who love hoppy beer.

Black Oak Brewing Pale Ale. Also, there is always room for the classics. One of the most balanced pale ales around.

Wellington Imperial Milk Chocolate Stout. Velvety smoothness in the chocolate with the kick of an imperial stout.

Mill St. Harvest Ale Cask. Pleasant fall ale. With an earthy nose. Quite pleasant attempt at a fall ale.

Hogtown Brewers Ale. Always good to see these guys out at an event.

At this point in the night I’d tired myself out and haven’t much to say about the individual beer as I’d had a few. The night carried on. Lots of interesting people around and it seemed like a good night overall.

I did jot down the rest of what I tried through the rest of the night.

Amsterdam Calm Before The Storm English mild

Flying Monkeys Smashbomb Spearhead Morocan Brown, this is a new offering from Spearhead.

Spearhead Hawaiian Style Pale Ale Black Oak Brewing Summer Saison

Great Lakes Brewing Pumpkin Ale

Kensington Brewing Augusta Ale

St. Ambroise Pumpkin Ale

I finished up at Beer Academy and some more of both their Cascadian Dark and Kolsh style. The Premium Beer Experience might the most exciting Toronto Beer Week event for the casual beer fan. All kinds of different beer and space to mingle and wander and chat with people rather than a tap take over of or a focus one any one type of beer. A good eclectic beer filled night.

http://www.beerexperience.ca/