Enjoy Fall Colours Along Ontario's New
Craft Beer Route: Match Fall's Hearty Fare and Cooler Days with Delicious,
Full-Bodied Ontario Craft Beer North of Toronto
The Ontario Craft Brewers are providing information on a
number of scenic routes, and recipes for the fall season
Autumn in Ontario is the perfect time to explore north of Toronto, and
take in the fall colours and crisp weather. Fall daytrips to Ontario's
craft breweries on the new Craft Beer Route offer visitors the opportunity
to visit quaint communities, go on scenic drives, experience local culture,
sample handcrafted beer and tour breweries.
The Ontario Craft Beer Route features three craft beer regions north
of Toronto: the Capital Region (Ottawa and surrounding area), Lake Country
(King, Barrie, Muskoka and the Kawarthas), To download the craft beer
route map and for unique daytrip ideas, visit www.ontariocraftbrewers.ca.
The Ontario Craft Brewers latest brochure indicates it is made up of
31 small brewers. Aside from discovering a wide variety of award-winning,
handcrafted beers, visitors to Ontario's craft beer regions will encounter
beautiful scenery, historic architecture, and cultural activities such
as gallery and studio tours,
fall fairs and festivals, pick-your-own
farms and farmers' markets. At Ontario's
craft breweries, visitors can sample beer not available anywhere else,
explore historic buildings and meet passionate brew masters.
"We invite people to come visit our craft breweries, located in
beautiful regions and quaint communities throughout Ontario, to see first
hand how our beer is made, meet our passionate brew masters, and taste
and enjoy the fruits of our labours," said Jason Ellsmere of Cameron's
Brewing Company, one of the 25 Ontario Craft Brewers.
West of Toronto:
- After touring the five craft breweries of this region, head over
to Elora where you can lunch beside the falls and fall colours or travel
Highway 6 south to the Aberfoyle Antique Market with wares from over
100 vendors (open until October 30). The Saugeen River Country region
in the southern part of Grey/Bruce Counties is revered for its brilliant
red and gold colours. During harvest time, the apple district has Mennonite
fruit stands, small town festivals and events.
Lake Country North of Toronto:
- After experiencing the art of craft brewing at one of the four local
breweries, tour your way through King, Hockley Valley, Simcoe area or
the Muskoka region with its scenic lakes, galleries, parks and local
festivals.
- If you enjoy hiking, visit the Pickering area for a hike on the Oak
Ridges Moraine, and enjoy some relaxation and refreshment at a local
craft brewery.
Capital Region North East of Toronto:
- After taking in a tour and tasting at one of the Capital Region's
craft breweries, take advantage of the great outdoors with a hike and
visit a local market, gallery or festivals.
A One-Stop Guide to Fall Getaways
Available at breweries, provincial tourism information centres, LCBO
stores, hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts and key tourism attractions,
the Official Guide to Ontario Craft Beer Route is an in-depth guide to
daytrips to the 31Ontario Craft Brewers, including maps, tour information
and contact information for each brewer. Along with a wide selection of
day trip ideas, the Ontario Craft Beer Route is available online at www.ontariocraftbrewers.ca.
"Planning a day or weekend getaway to the craft beer regions is
easy, just visit our website at www.ontariocraftbrewers.ca
or pick up the Ontario Craft Beer Route map. All the information you need
is at your fingertips," said Ellsmere.
"With more than 110 beers, each one with its own distinctive style
and full flavour, Ontario craft beers are perfect for fall's crisp weather
and nourishing cuisine such as stews, meat pies, fowl and fresh vegetables.
There are so many great, unique Ontario craft beers for people to discover.
There is one to match each individual taste and the flavours of any dish,"
said Ellsmere.
Fall Beer and Food Matching Tips:
- Use ale as you would use a red wine, as a match with your choice of
red meat or in marinades with pork, poultry and beef. Cameron's Auburn
Ale or Neustadt 10w30 Brown Ale make a good base for marinades.
- Choose foods with a complementary character to your favourite beer
such as a robust stew with a full-bodied ale, such as Mill Street's
Tankhouse Ale or County Durham Signature Ale, or pizza and burgers with
amber lager, such as Walkerville Amber Lager and Great Lakes' Red Leaf
Smooth Red Lager.
- Broad, strong beer matches well with the flavour intensity of dark,
rich sauces and marinades. Try a dark lager such as Brick Waterloo Dark
or King Brewery Dark Lager.
- Just as wine with higher acidity goes well with spicy or oily dishes,
so will a more bitter or "hoppy" beer. Try Elora ESB from
Trafalgar Brewing Company, or a Steam Whistle Pilsner.
- When entertaining, try a 'beer and cheese' celebration. Since beer
clears the palate with each sip, beer, like wine, is compatible with
cheese. Here are some beer and cheese tips:
- A nutty, well-aged cheese is nicely complemented with a dark,
malty beer. Try Black Oak Nut Brown Ale or Amsterdam Nut Brown
Ale;
- A sharp, tart cheese matches perfectly with a hoppy, bitter
beer such as Granite Brewery's Best Bitter;
- A strong blue cheese goes well with a strong, sweet ale. Try
Keefe's Irish Stout from Granite Brewery or Wellington's Iron
Duke Strong Ale.
- Fine chocolate matches nicely with a dry stout, such as Wellington's
Imperial Russian Stout.
- Vienna Lager Roasted Pear and Squash Soup Courtesy of Chef Brian
Morin, The Beer Bistro
Pair this meal with: BLACK OAK NUT BROWN ALE
Ingredients:
1/4 cup (2 oz. vol.) butter
2 medium sweet onions, roughly diced
2 medium leeks diced, white ends only
4 pears, peeled and diced to 1" pieces
5 lb butternut squash, peeled and diced to 1" pieces
(approximately 2 to 3 large squash)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tbsp fresh ginger
1 tsp black pepper
4 cups chicken stock
2 bottles of Saint Andre Vienna Lager
1 cup (8 oz. vol.) 35% cream
Salt to taste
2/3 up (4 oz. vol.) blue cheese
1 bunch of chives, chopped
(Serves 16 10 oz. portions)
Directions:
1. In a large heavy pot melt butter and saute onions and leeks until
soft and translucent.
2. Add diced pear and squash to the pot and saute until squash looks like
it is starting to soften.
3. Add cinnamon, freshly grated ginger and pepper, saute for another minute
or two.
4. Add chicken stock and Saint Andre Vienna Lager.
5. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.
6. Remove from heat and puree in small batches, stain through a fine strainer.
7. Return to the stove, add cream and bring to a boil for 3-4 more minutes
adjust salt.
8. When serving, crumble a little chopped blue cheese on top with chives. |
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