F&M Stonehammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout

GUELPH, ON – F&M Brewery will soon be releasing its first seasonal beer, Stonehammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout. Concocted by brewmaster George Eagleson, it will be about 5.5% abv and available in keg and cask form only starting in mid-January, just in time for the Victory Winter Cask Festival (Saturday, January 31st at the Victory Cafe in Toronto). The beer was brewed using a fair trade, organic coffee blend from the Planet Bean roastery in Guelph.

F&M will also be holding a Brewersfeast at the Borealis Grille & Bar in Guelph on January 13th at 7:00pm. The final list of beers to be featured as pairings is yet to be confirmed, but it will definitely include the Harvest Ale and Harvest Lager that F&M brews for the Arrow Pub Group, as well as one or two Stonehammer beers and possibly Maclean’s Pale Ale.

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Pepperwood Beers of the Month for January

BURLINGTON, ON –Pepperwood Bistro & Brewpub in Burlington will be releasing January’s Feature Beer of the Month on Friday, January 2nd, and a Cask Ale of the Month later in January on a date t.b.a.

The Feature Beer is Scottish Export 80 Shilling brewed in honour of Robbie Burns. Brewmaster Paul Dickey provides the following notes: “Malt is the primary flavor, but isn’t overly strong. Hop bitterness is low, but the balance is towards the malt. Has a grainy, dry toasty finish.”

The Cask Ale will be a Pale Ale brewed with Centennial hops.

Also, the annual Pepperwood Beer Festival will take place on Sunday, February 22nd. More details will be announced soon.

Dieu du Ciel Solstice d’Hiver now in Bottles

ST-JÉRÔME, QC – Dieu du Ciel! microbrewery has started distibuting bottles of their Solstice d’Hiver barley wine to stores in Quebec. This 9.5% dark winter warmer has been a seasonal favourite at the Dieu du Ciel! brewpub in Montreal for a decade, and bottles have been available in Sweden and the US for several weeks.

The next addition to the brewery’s bottle line-up will be Rigor Mortis ABT, a 10.5% abbey brown ale which is planned to be available early in the new year.

Square Timber Brewing to Open Next Year

PEMBROKE, ON – Square Timber Brewing will become Ontario’s newest craft brewery when it opens its doors next summer.

To be located in the Ottawa Valley city of Pembroke, 15 km southeast of Petawawa, Square Timber Brewing is being founded by Marc Bru. Details of the construction and development of the brewery will be posted to Marc’s blog in the months leading up the the opening, which is planned for June, 2009.

[source: Great Canadian Pubs & Beer]

Half Pints Hits Alberta

WINNIPEG, MB – After concentrating on its home province of Manitoba for its first couple of years, Half Pints Brewing Company is now shipping to Alberta.

Several pallets of Half Pints Phils Pils and Little Scrapper IPA arrived in Alberta this week, and are now available at Willow Park in Calgary and other locations.

Great White North Craft Brewery Closes

THUNDER BAY, ON – The Thunder Bay Source newspaper reports that Great White North Craft Brewery, the city’s only brewery, closed its doors on Monday.

Opened in 2007 by Geoff Schmidt, Great White North brewed a single beer, Port Arthur Pale Ale. Schmidt told the Source that “there just wasn’t enough sales to support the business”.

beerbistro Cookbook

TORONTO, ON – Stephen Beaumont and Brian Morin, partners in Toronto beer-cuisine restaurant beerbistro, are currently authouring The beerbistro Cookbook, to be released by Key Porter Books on April 10, 2009.

The book will retail for $42, but can currently be pre-ordered at Amazon.ca for $25.20.

(Note that the cover image on Amazon.ca, which was previously displayed here, is not the final cover. According to Stephen Beaumont, “It’s still way too early for cover art”.)

Pump House Baltic Storm

MONCTON, NB – Pump House Brewery brewmaster Greg Nash reported on his blog last week that his new Baltic Porter, Baltic Storm, is now available at the Pump House brewpub.

The next Pump House seasonal, Spiced Winter Warmer, is currently conditioning for an early 2009 release.

YellowBelly St. John’s Stout

ST. JOHN’S, NL – YellowBelly Brewery & Public House have launched the newest addition to their beer line-up, St. John’s Stout.

On the Great Canadian Pubs & Beer blog, a reader describes it as follows:

The rumors are true, Liam Mckenna makes an excellent stout! Thick creamy head, full body, low carbonated inky black stuff with a lovely roasted bitterness. Its just what we need for the cold nights ahead. Liam says that it comes in at 4.5%.

Grand River Brewing Beer Club

CAMBRIDGE, ON – Starting in January, Grand River Brewing will host several comparative beer tastings discussing different styles of craft beers.

Tuesday January 13, 2009 will feature Winter Warmers
Tuesday February 10, 2009 will showcase India Pale Ales
Tuesday March 10, 2009 will present Stouts and Porters

The meetings will be co-hosted by Rob Creighton, Grand River’s brewer, and Bob Hanenberg, Grand River’s president. Guest brewers will also be invited (more details to come).

Price $15 per session. No charge for designated drivers.
Time 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location: Grand River Brewing, 295 Ainslie Street S., Cambridge, Ontario.
Please call 519-620-3233, email jsouthgate@grandriverbrewing.com or drop into the store to reserve a spot. Each session will be limited to 25.

Grand River is also launching the Grand River Growler, a quarterly newsletter to keep craft beer drinkers informed about new Grand River beers, events that the brewery will be participating in, and beer and food recipes. Email jsouthgate@grandriverbrewing.com with ‘Newsletter’ in the subject line to be added to the newsletter list.