United Nations of Beer

Bar Volo Cask Day

by Chris St. Mary
(Beer Delegate, NY, USA)

Bar Volo Cask Day 2007
Bar Volo, Toronto, ON, Canada

There's a saying that Life is something that gets in the way while you are trying to make plans. While it may be a little while since the event actually happened, the memories are still as fresh as the day I attended the Bar Volo Cask Day in Toronto back on Saturday, October 20th.

This was their third annual event and it supported their favorite charity, Sick Kids Foundation. There were three sessions that all sold out. After attending this event, I can well understand.

They had about 30 Ontario brewers on hand with quite an assortment of brews. If you couldn't find something to fit your taste, you just weren't trying. They also had two from Fuller's Brewery of London, Fuller's ESB and London Pride and a couple from Dieu de Ciel of Montreal.

I only got to taste one of them that I think was named something like Peche Mortel, but I'm not sure how it was spelled or what it translated to in English. ("Mortal Sin." Ed.) I only know that, if you like coffee flavor or coffee beers, then this was Beer Nirvana. It tasted of fresh espresso and ale and was excellently balanced between the two.

There were a few pumpkin ales and harvest ales that were to be expected at that time of year, but there wasn't a beer that I tasted that I wouldn't drink willingly if it was available locally to me. Unfortunately, Ontario craft brews on this side of the border are very few and far between.

The event also had some artisan cheeses and breads from Ontario, to taste and try and soak up a little bit of the amber nectars.

All in all, a good time was had by all and if you have any plans to be in the Toronto area next October, try and check out next year's Volo Cask Day festival. But I would suggest you check on the tickets in September. If this year's attendance was any indication, they will probably be as rare as hen's teeth.