United Nations of Beer

Beer and Cocktail Show

by Sam Corbeil
(Beer Delegate, ON, Canada)

Beer and Cocktail Show 2007
Toronto, ON, Canada

The May 24 weekend is for all intents and purposes the unofficial kickoff to the summer season. And what better way to usher in the summer than by getting fall down drunk at the Distillery District's Beer and Cocktail Show?

Located just east of the core in downtown Toronto, the Distillery District is the perfect blend of historic ambiance and trendy downtown chic. The original cobblestone streets still flow through the beautifully preserved Victorian industrial buildings, which are still standing since its heyday back in the 1830s. The area was a great choice to hold this ambitious three-in-one event.

Touted as an event to showcase all things booze, from the Art of the Cocktail to the fascinating world of Craft beers, the Beer and Cocktail Show was a bargain, with advance tickets costing just $10 and on-site samples tokens only $0.50 each.

The show was separated into three distinct areas. An outdoor beer garden littered with beer tents from some of Ontario's best craft breweries, where you could sample some great beers alongside other beer lovers. A stage housed live music along with scheduled events and seminars, where you could learn more about the art of beer and cooking with beer from some of Canada's most revered beer men.

Across the courtyard was the indoor Cocktail Lounge, where you could experience all things cocktail, from flair bartending to the art of mixology. Again there were scheduled events where you could learn about cocktails from mixology masters and some of the continent's top barmen.

The third event was held throughout the streets and shops of the Distillery District: live entertainment and street sales from many of the area's vendors and shops.

With so much going on at the Beer and Cocktail Show, there was certainly a lot of fun to be had and it would be difficult to see and do everything there. So, being a beer lover myself I spent the lion's share of my time at the beer garden. And by "lion's share of my time", I mean to say that I spent my entire day there!

Along with ten of my favourite drinking cohorts, we hit the festival with the best of intentions. We would sample responsibly, only drink until we had our limit and then leave graciously with a doff of our cap and gentle bow.

This of course didn't happen. Within ten minutes of being in the beer garden, one of our crew was under the tap at the Nicklebrook tent, sucking back a mouthful of their delightfully tart Apple Pilsner. The mood in the Beer and Cocktail Show's beer garden was jovial, to say the least.

We moved quickly and with surgical precision we cut through the crowds and non-beer related vendors and made our way from beer tent to beer tent.

We sampled as much of the beer as we could, from the smaller breweries such as County Durham, who were there showcasing their over-the-top hoppy ales; Hop Addict and Hop Head, along with another cask ale which for some reason I can't seem to recall.

The big breweries were also at the Beer and Cocktail Show, like Molson, who were there displaying the newest beer in their Rickard's line, Rickard's White. It's a wonderfully easy to drink Belgian white that should be a big seller for them this summer. (For those in the know, you may have had this beer in the past down in the States, where it is known as Blue Moon beer).

Like I said, there were many tents and many samples at the Beer and Cocktail Show, so my memory for the evening is spotty at best. And unfortunately I have no pictures to share. I've learned the hard way that its best I leave the camera at home when heading out on a bender. I'm not overly cautious and things tend to find themselves broken when left in my care. Like my well-meaning promises.

Next time you get a chance, visit the Beer and Cocktail Show. You won't be disappointed.