Sessions Toronto #6 Craft Beer Festival

Tonight Teena and I were at the sixth annual Sessions Toronto Craft Beer Festival at Yonge and Dundas Square. We have not missed one year, and as far as I'm concerned, it is the best beer festival each year.

The first was held during the G20 at Sunnyside Pavilion, the next two were at 99 Sudbury Street (nicely close to home) then went up to Wychwood Barns, and last year started a run at Yonge and Dundas Square, which is a fabulous location.

Teena and I bought Princess Passes, their term for VIP, and it is well worth it. We had a place to sit, food, private washrooms and a runner who, if we asked, would go out and get the beer for you. I like to look around and talk to people so never used that service.

Surprisingly this festival is put on by The Griffin Gastropub, which is located in Bracebridge. They have do quite a bit to promote Ontario's craft beer industry. Here we are with Jed, one of the Griffin owners.

Teena and I met up with a bunch of friends who also bought the Princess passes. To my left in the tiara is one of the princesses who will run for beer, Christine (behind Teena), Darlene, Jen and Bruce.

Here are some of the breweries I visited.

Flying Monkeys.

Sawdust City.

Whitewater Brewery.

Muskoka Brewery.

Although the square looked crowded, it was very easy to get around.

There was a beer collaboration competition and the breweries were trying their best to promote their beer. Beau's All Natural collaborated with hip hop artist k-os, who sang a tune, to create Golden Vox, a rye pale lager.

Beau's gave away sunglasses to promote their beer and they won.

Toronto Roller Derby teamed up with Side Launch Brewery to create a Syrah Barrel Aged Wheat Beer.

But my favorite was Olympic Gold medalist in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for Skeleton and host of The Amazing Race Canada, Jon Montgomery. He worked the crowd and took pictures with everybody, including Teena and I. Of course this is now my FB picture!

Jon collaborated with Old Tomorrow for Monty's Golden Ryed Ale. It was delicious.

Try a beer, fill out your ballot and spin the wheel and you might win an Old Tomorrow tee shirt. I did!

More beer. I will be wrting about Session Gose from Sweetgrass Brewing in a future post.

Mill Street Brewery.

Oast House.

Big Rock Brewery had a white chocolate porter which was unusual and delicious.

An IPA from Junction Brewery.

The band, TooNice, was funky and great.

Teena and I made a new friend.

It was a great time and when tickets come up for next year's sessions, Teena and I will be right on it.

Session 99 Craft Beer Festival

Today was the third year for Sessions Craft Beer Festival, now called Sessions 99.

The first year it was held down at Sunnyside Beach Pavilion on a rainy day during the Toronto G20. Those who were there enjoyed it but between the rain and the riots in the city, the festival was not the success it was hoped to be. Happily Jed and Curt, owners of the Griffith Pub in Bracebridge, felt the idea was a good one and last year held it at 99 Sudbury. This was great for us as we live in the neighborhood.

Last year everyone paid an admission charge and then also paid for sample tickets. This year it was all you can eat and drink, but done in two three-hour sessions. We were at the afternoon session from 1pm to 4pm.

The gates did not open 'til 1pm and we were surprised to find a lineup. Thankfully the show was well organized and the line moved quickly. It took very little time for us to get in.It was hot afternoon, crowded, but not overcrowded. I never had to wait long for any beer sample. The food lines were slow, though.Teena and I met up with friends who also enjoy an excellent craft brewed beer.Teena was lucky. Beaus All Natural Brewing had a Vanscab Belgium Trippel. The description is below. There was not enough for a full sample as she go the last droplets available for that session. The fellow behind her was quite disappointd as that was what he was going for. Teena gave me a sip, and it was excellent!BF Soul were the entertainment. I loved their music. It's been a while since I have heard a horn section live.There was a first aid station which had a large supply of water for dehydration.Teena seemed focused on fruit beers. She tried strawberry, watermelon, grape, raspberry and her favorite the blueberry from Mill Street. Lucy from Mill Street always remembers us!Ken from Black Oak Brewery, one of my favorite breweries, was there. I loved their Black IPA.My favorite of the day was Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb IPA on cask with extra hops.It was a great afternoon but too short. I hope next year they go back to an entrance fee and buying beer samples. It is more expensive, but we wouldn't have to leave until we were done.

A Night at Sessions #7, Yonge and Dundas Square

Tonight was Sessions # 7. This year it was held again at Yonge and Dundas Square. Teena and I have been to all seven, starting with the original one at Sunnyside Pavilion. It is one of our favorite festivals of the year.

We always buy the Princess passes, as we get to sit in a private area with chairs (there is very little seating areas on the outside), a private bathroom, almost worth the price of admission, and catered food. The past few years have been very disappointing in that area, but still the Princess passes were worth it.

I started with an APA from Sextant Craft Brewing, which I really enjoyed.

Next I paid a visit to Elora Brewing. I love the town and want to go back again and stop into this brewery. I had a Lady Friendly IPA. It was citrusy and nice.

Black Oak Brewing had a Collaboration beer with Sam Cash & the Romantic Dogs as part of the collaboration contest Sessions holds, which was a citrus extra pale ale which I really enjoyed.

Bad Luck Woman and Her Misfortunes were the musical entertainment and were awesome. Drawing inspiration from the feistiest female singers of the 30s, 40s and 50s, Bad Luck Woman and Her Misfortunes bring you sassy, greasy blues tunes.

Our office is close to the 3 Brewers location on Adelaide and I go there often. I was given a whistle, a coupon for a free Flammekueche, which I just love, plus I got an Iron Tao Tea Saison. I loved it!

The Off the Leash IPA was enjoyable from High Park Brewery.

There was a stack board game that was played by many that passed by. It was fun to watch.

It was quite crowded at the end and those without the Princess passes had very little places to sit. I'm glad we bought them.

I forgot to record what I had from Red Line Brewery in Barrie. I do remember I liked it and that's not just lip service.

My friend, Darlene, love the collaboration beer from Big Rig Brewery, which was a Hefeweizen. I liked it.

My favorite of the night came at the end. It was a collaboration beer between Oast House Brewery and a brewery from the Netherlands. It is a Netherlands beer style I have never heard of called a Koyt. Apparently it is due out in the LCBO later this year and I am looking forward to it. After having many samples, I still found this beer to be wonderfully complex. Well done!

It was a fun night as always. The first year we had Princess passes, the food was more plentiful and the past two years, we were up in the shade on the stage. The passes are a lot extra and although you get many more beer tokens, the extras are what push it over the top.

Still, I am looking forward to next years event and would not hesitate to get the Princess pass again.