The 2017 Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Fesitval

Here I was, sitting at a picnic table, outside in the cold and snow, with a beer in hand, watching others playing games, drinking beer, and listening to a Tragically Hip song blasting out from huge speakers. Just how Canadian is that?

Where were we? Teena and I were at the 2017 edition of the Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival down in a park beside Steam Whistle Brewery.

It was a great day for it. Although it wasn't sunny, there was snow on the ground and there was a nice chill to the air. We were dressed for it and also received free toques!

There were more than 40 breweries from all over at the festival. So much variety to taste! My first beer was a spiced stout from Brock Street Brewing.

I followed that up with a Skull Rock Stout from Sleeping Giant Brewing from way up in Thunder Bay.

Then it was over to Black Oak Brewing, a brewery that has been around since 1999. Here I had a Snowbird Black Mojito. I had no idea what to expect but it was a much lighter tasting beer than the darkness suggested and was quite complex and enjoyable. It was my second favorite beer of the day.

Next stop was for a Raspberry Uber-sour from Nickel Brook Brewery.

Coffin Ridge Cider was there. I love the little coffin.

Royal City Brewing had a Earl Grey Porter made with real earl grey tea.

We met up with friends. Here I am with Christine, Darlene and Teena

This man worked without a break until he got that ice sculpture out of these blocks of ice.

There was a row of breweries from Alberta in attendance. Two Sergeants Brewing from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, had my favorite beer of the day, a Bangalore Torpedo IPA.

Teena really enjoyed the sweetness and full flavour of the Aprikat from Alley Kat Brewing located in Edmonton, Alberta.

There were games

We bumped into more friends. Here I am with Denyse, Jessica and Dea.

I had an excellent tasting Grisette, which is a French style saison, from Dandy Brewing in Calgary. I loved the name, Old Mattress.

We met Gillian last year at the Craft Beer Awards at the Royal Winter Fair and had a fun time talking with her. Now she is working for Lost Craft Beer. Teena liked their Lagered ale and I enjoyed their Sirius APA.

 People were dressed up in different kinds of gear.

I had a delicious Chocolate Milk Stout from Wellington Brewery.

Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery offered an excellent IPA both in taste and name, Juicy Ass IPA

With hundreds of people trudging through the snow and the weather warming, the snow melted and it became a little muddy. That never stopped the fun. It was still cold enough though to enjoy the warmth of the heaters that were spread around the park.

Despite having a couple of cans on Barn Raiser Pale Ale from Oast House Brewers in my fridge at home, I had one here.

More mud, beer and fun.

I see this fella at many beer festivals running the Barnstormer Brewing tent. He like to pose. I always enjoy their Flight Delay IPA.

I enjoyed the Cranberry Festive Lager from Railway City Brewing.

It was another fun day at the Roundhouse Winter Festival. For Teena and I, it is always a definite "go to" event every year. Looking forward to next year's, hopefully with more snow.

The Craft Beer Awards at the Royal

Tonight Teena and I were at the Craft Beer Awards at the Royal Winter Fair. It was an excellent deal. The ticket for the show was the same price as entrance to the fair and came with 10 free beer tickets.

Cool!

We wondered where it would be taking place and it turned out it was in the Ring of Excellence, the same place that cows and horses are judged. Nobody had to worry about spilling as we were on super absorbent wood chips. There was a little left over manure from the afternoon show but that just added to the ambiance.

About 300 people were expected. It was never crowded and everybody had time to talk to the brewers and reps. The awards in four categories, Lager, Ale, Porter and Seasonal, were to be voted on by the people.

There was lots of cheese put out and refilled during night.

Teena and I met Gill from Broadhead Brewing before the festival. She told us about the Bodacious Blueberry Blonde Ale which we both looked forward to trying. It was terrific and Teena and I both both voted for it as our favorite seasonal.

I turn my nose up at pumpkin ales but really enjoyed the one from McAuslan Brewing.

The Tracklayers Kolsch from Junction Brewery was full of flavour.

Best pose of the night goes to this fella here with Barnstormer Brewing Flocking Fokker Octoberfest Bier.

I always think of Thornbury as a cider house but they also operate Thornbury Village Craft Brewing. I had a nice Pickup Truck Pilsner from them.

Ransack the Universe from Collective Arts was my favorite ale.

I had a doppelbock from Waterloo Brewery.

I had a Winterweiss, which is a dunkle style ale, from Muskoka Brewery.

A Shagbark Export Stout from Sweetgrass Brewing.

I tried a Big Rock Brewing Citradelic Single Hop IPA.

Awards time!

Medal winners for the Seasonal Category.

Side Launch Brewery won gold for their Dark Lager.

Broadhead won Gold for their Bodacious Blueberry in the Seasonal Category. No picture but Collective Arts took the Gold in the Ale category for their Ransack the Universe.

We are at the Royal which means, as they do with the animals, there is an award for the Best in Show.

The Best in Show award as decided by the attendees was the Bodacious Blueberry. Congrats!

It was an excellent festival. Lots of fun and priced well. I hope the Royal does the same thing again next year.