Bicycle Craft Brewery

For my final brewery visit, I went to Bicycle Craft Brewery with my boyfriend, Matt. The brewery opened in September 2014 on Industrial Avenue near St. Laurent Boulevard. It is a beer-lover’s gem amongst the row of drab industrial supply stores.

Bicycle Craft Brewery is housed in an open-concept space, with a living/dining room seating area, a bar/bottle shop, and brewing facilities in the back. The living/dining room has a comfy retro couch and chair, a coffee table with plants and magazines, a long wooden dining table, art, photographs, and of course, a bicycle, with a leather bicycle growler carrier.

While we drank from our flights of beer, we sat on the comfy green couch, chatted, listened to great music, and read issues of Taps Magazine. It felt almost like we were at home, except that we could watch the brewers at work bottling their beers, and we’re also not fortunate enough to have kegs and giant vats of beer at home.

Since this is a small batch brewery, they quickly sell out of their seasonal brews. But we were able to try most of their mainstay brews, and a new winter brew that was released that day. The names of many of their brews relate to bicycle adventures. The brews we tried are:

• Crimson Cascade Red – an American Amber Ale, slightly bitter, with hints of caramel (Matt’s favourite)
• Base Camp Oatmeal Porter – smooth with hints of chocolate and coffee (one of my favourites)
• Velocipede IPA – tasty, hoppy, and refreshing with hints of citrus (Matt’s other favourite)
• Vinternät Liquorice Stout – a collaboration seasonal brew with Jacobsons Gourmet Concepts; delicious and smooth, with hints of sweet liquorice and chocolate (another favourite)

When we chose a few growlers to take home, the bartender sold us on the one remaining growler of Mr. Templeton’s Wee Heavy, a popular seasonal brew. As we tasted it back at home, we were blown away. For a strong beer (7.5%) it was smooth, sweet, and tasty, with hints of caramel. If only they had more!

I've enjoyed these visits to local craft breweries. I’ve been able to catch up with friends and family in warm settings, with good vibes and tasty brews. I will definitely be visiting these breweries again, along with some of my other favourites (Broadhead Brewing Company, Kichesippi Beer Company), and other Ottawa craft breweries that I've yet to discover.

---

DAPHNE MACDONALD

Daphne is an aspiring writer from Ottawa. After completing a B.A. in Psychology at Carleton University, she decided to pursue her life-long passion for writing with the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College.  Aside from reading, writing, and drinking beer, she also enjoys movies, cats, and wine. 

 Facebook | Instagram

Tooth and Nail Brewing Company

During our Reading Week, I took a break from “reading” and went to Tooth and Nail Brewing Company with my friend and fellow classmate, Monique. Tooth and Nail opened its doors in September 2015, making it the newest craft brewery in Ottawa. The brewery is located in trendy Hintonburg on Irving Avenue, near the corner of Wellington Street West.

Tooth and Nail has a small beer shop near the entrance, where a continuous flow of people lined up to buy beers by the can. We sat in the modern open brewpub, at a candlelit table. The candles were surrounded by hops, which added a nice touch and smell to the place.

The pub started filling up with people of all ages (including a baby) for a post-work pint. The dim lighting, classic rock, and good conversations made for a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

There are large windows at the back end of the brewpub looking into the shiny brewery. I was able to watch the brew masters at work while enjoying the delicious fruits of their labour. We were given two menus: a drink menu, and a tapas menu, which was paired with their beers.  

The beer menu offers:

• Housewarmer – a multi-grain ale, slightly bitter with citrus, brewed in collaboration with Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company.
• Stamina – a delicious Belgian Session Pale Ale (a favourite).
• Vim and Vigor – a hoppy German Pilsner.
• Tenacity – a tasty English Pale Ale.
• Rabble-Rouser – a strong, hoppy American IPA (a favourite).
• Fortitude – a delicious oatmeal stout, with hints of chocolate (a favourite).

With so many great beers to choose from, and a bit of a buzz, I decided to only buy 2 ‘crowlers’— of Stamina and Rabble-Rouser— on my way out. The crowlers are giant 946 mL cans filled by the order with a beer tap, and then sealed with a canning machine. The next time I visit, I’ll make sure to bring a backpack so I can carry more cans home.

At the end of our beer-tasting evening, Monique and I walked across the street to SuzyQ Doughnuts and indulged in post-beer munchies. Nothing beats sharing a doughnut with a friend after drinking great beer. 

---

DAPHNE MACDONALD

Daphne is an aspiring writer from Ottawa. After completing a B.A. in Psychology at Carleton University, she decided to pursue her life-long passion for writing with the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College.  Aside from reading, writing, and drinking beer, she also enjoys movies, cats, and wine. 

 Facebook | Instagram

Waller St. Brewing

This past weekend my friend, Kayla, and I went to Waller Street Brewing, located downtown near the corner of Rideau and Waller Street. An exterior staircase, framed with a cast-iron fence, led us down to the basement of the stone heritage building, built in 1868.

The brewery opened its doors in August 2015, and boasts a Prohibition-era style with a speakeasy bar at the centre of the brewery. Large wooden barrels of beer are stored on one side of the bar. On the other side are sacks of malt, a retro hops and grain sifter, and a montage of Prohibition-era photos mounted on the wall.

As we sat at the intimate bar with the other patrons, I felt I was part of a warm, neighbourly underground community. We had a hidden escape from hectic Rideau Street, as if we had stepped into another time. The speakeasy atmosphere brought a new excitement to the beer-tasting experience.

The friendly bartender, dressed in the classic style of years long past, chatted up the patrons, providing a welcome environment. People young and old gathered around the cozy bar. The room continuously filled up with new patrons, excited to try the neighbourhood’s newest craft beer. A group of exchange students came in for a brewery tour, and then joined us at the bar for the popular flight of beers.

Kayla and I each ordered a flight - for cheap! We tasted:

• Bootleg Blonde – tasty, slightly bitter and hoppy.
• Hideaway Hefe – German wheat Hefeweizen, fruity, a favourite.
• Moonlight Porter – delicious chocolate and coffee flavour, another favourite.
• Speakeasy Red – tasty, Rye Session ale.

The Speakeasy Red had many flavours to ponder. A small glass wasn’t enough, so I had to buy a bottle to take home and enjoy it further. The beers are sold in “The Bomber” 750 ml bottles. The cost of the bottle includes a deposit to encourage patrons to return their empties. The bottle alone is worth the purchase, with its moonshine-jug style. But the beer is even better. I will definitely be returning the bottle for a refill. 

For further reading on Waller St. Brewing, check out this article from the Ottawa Citizen. 

---

DAPHNE MACDONALD

Daphne is an aspiring writer from Ottawa. After completing a B.A. in Psychology at Carleton University, she decided to pursue her life-long passion for writing with the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College.  Aside from reading, writing, and drinking beer, she also enjoys movies, cats, and wine. 

 Facebook | Instagram