5th Annual Spring Festival Of Craft Breweries

Friday May 22, 5 to 10 p.m.

The snow is gone, the tulips are blooming, and it's time for our 5th Annual Spring Festival of Craft Breweries.

While we don't have the entire line-up confirmed as of yet, we should have around forty interesting flavours available to try in sample sizes.

For those with BADD (Beer Attention Deficit Disorder) notable newcomers for the festival are: Amsterdam Spring Bock, Barley Days German Bock and Summer Light Ale, Black Oak Chocolate Cherry Stout (oak cask), Creemore Keller Beer, Durham Hop Addict (cask), F&M Maple Red Ale, Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion, Grand River Russian Imperial Stout, Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale (cask), King Unfiltered Pilsner, MacLean's Bitter (cask), McAuslan Vintage Ale, Mill Street Hefe Weiss and Milk Stout, Muskoka Hefe Weiss, Neustadt 300 (cask) and Texas Tea (nitro), Nicklebrook Juniper Saute and Pale Ale, Okanagan 1516, and Unibroue Chambly Noire.

As usual, there is no admission charge. Samples are a loonie each.

Chardonn-eh?

Results from the Challenge

Which wine region is making the best value Chardonnay? We put this challenge to you in a blind tasting between the two Ontario products that we carry on our list and well known examples of comparable price from France, California, Argentina, and Australia on April 28, 2009.

Our tasters gave the thumbs up to the Santa Rita Reserve, which finished first. It showed delicate, nuanced winemaking without any excessive oak aging or over-ripe fruit. The runners up were the two Chardonnays from our own backyard the Silver Peak and the unoaked Henry Of Pelham. The French example finished a disappointing last. Although these results may be no surprise to the growing legion of people who appreciate new world wines, it may still shock the Euro-centric traditionalists. The new millennium would seem to call for new attitudes towards wine.

Full table of results.

return to top

What's Hanging

Lindsay Vey Returns

return to top

Jarod Parlee + Guests

Jarod Parlee grew up in a musical New Brunswick family and focuses on acoustic instruments and honest lyrics in his music. He is currently touring in support of 2008's "Winter Take All", which tells the story of the Canadian winter. The mood of the songs range from Fall to Spring; from nostalgic looks at the past to desperate and haunting songs about loss and frustration and finally to the more hopeful optimism that comes with Spring.
Since the album's independent release in April 2008, Jarod has been playing live shows all over Southern Ontario and New Brunswick. In the past couple of months, long time collaborator Jason Moir has appeared regularly with Jarod to provide bass and lead guitar parts to some of the WTA songs. Recently, Jarod has been working hard to complete the last couple of songs for his next album and is planning a return to the studio in late 2009.

Saturday May 9, Doors 10:00 p.m., Show time 10:30 p.m., Advance tickets are available for $8.00

return to top

Nancy Silverman + Guests

Nancy Silverman first gained recognition as a top 12 finalist on Season IV of Canadian Idol, but her creative passion led her toward song writing three years ago. Classically trained in voice and music theatre, the drama of Nancy's sound has been compared to the likes of Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, India Arie and Jason Mraz.

A delicious cocktail of jazz, soul, funk and folk, Nancy and her band came together by a twist of fate in early 2008 to share in their love of honest, real music. With songs focused on true storytelling, they pride themselves in high-energy, interactive performances that leave the listener feeling connected and excited about the music. A combined 50 years of musical history between them, Nancy and the guys bring an eclectic, original sound to the stage blending their varied musical influences.

Saturday May 23, Doors 10:00 p.m., Show time 10:30 p.m., Advance tickets are available for $8.00

return to top