Top 10 New Ontario Beers of 2010

It's the time of the year where people like to post lists. The arbitrary dividing line of changing your calender seems like as good time as any to post my top 10 list for new Ontario beers of the past year.

The rules for my list:
- Debuted in 2010 (or at least pretty close to it)
- Was at least a semi-regular offering. Specifically, one-off casks at places such as Volo, C'est What? or Great Lakes Project X do not count.
- A seasonal beer brewed once is fine, as long as it made it into bottles or pubs outside the brewery.

You may disagree with my list, but I assure you I didn't leave anything off due to ignorance. Other than the Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout (getting to it!), I have tried essentially every new beer in Ontario this year that fits my criteria for this list and would likely have a chance to make it - which says a little bit about me (I'm a beer geek) and the Ontario beer community (way too small). On with the list.

10. Beau's Vrienden
I'm totally stealing the description of this from Beau's website: "To commemmorate the 65th anniversary of liberation of The Netherlands by Canadian troops, this special beer was commissioned by the Dutch embassy. A collaborative effort with De Koningshoeven brewery, this cloudy wheat beer uses organic juniper berries and maple syrup as a way to feature traditional ingredients from both countries." All I need to add is this was delicious.

9. Great Lakes Miami Weisse
This is essentially a hoppy wheat beer. I heard this was modelled after 3 Floyds Gumballhead (Indiana), which makes sense because Gumballhead immediately jumped into my mind when I had my first sip of this. I had pints of this at several places around Toronto and I believe bottles were available at the brewery's Project X event, though I wasn't able to make it that month. Hopefully this will be back next year.

8. Muskoka Harvest Ale
This is a malty, hoppy pale ale, made with all local ingredients. Yes, this was made last year as well, but this year's is different enough for me to include it as a new beer (I actually forgot it was made previously). A few bottles are still kicking around at LCBO's. This beer made it into all the Duke pubs in Toronto at least, while being in several other known beer bars. I hope next year's is just as good as this one.

7. Grand River Plowman's Anniversary Ale
Possibly the most consistent Ontario brewery made a stronger, and hoppier, version of their Plowman's Ale for their 3rd anniversary. This is a nice amber ale, that is hopped up closer to some of the American ambers that you can buy in Buffalo (but not Ontario). Bottles of this were available at the brewery and this was on tap several places. I hope this is brought back again.

6. Great Lakes Lackey's Casky
As the name would imply this beer is available on cask only and has been at several places in Toronto, including currently at The Burger Bar (at least at the time I type this). This is a hop forward pale ale. Great fresh hop flavour with pleasant bitterness. Possibly my favourite Ontario made American Pale Ale.

5. Duggan's #5 Asian/Sorachi Lager (thought it would be fun to put at 5)
Technically this debuted in December 2009, but the brewpub only had essentially a soft opening then, with their grand opening in January 2010. This beer is one of the standouts at Duggan's. It uses rice not as an adjunct, but as a flavour enhancer. While being only 4% abv, this is not your typical light lager. If you think Asian style is limited to Asahi and Sapporo, you need to try this beer. It is typically always available at Duggan's, though I've seen it on tap at a few other places. This beer was renamed from Asian Lager to Sorachi Lager it seems.

4. Taps Belgian IPA
I first tried this at the Volo's Cask Days in October 2010, but it has since been popping up on beer lists, as well as at the brewpub in Niagara Falls. A Belgian IPA is essentially a cross between a Belgian tripel and an American IPA. This beer is probably closer in bitterness to a double IPA, huge citrus hops with the dry Belgian yeast. I hope they have this on tap in a few days so I can pick up a growler for my family Christmas in St. Catharines.

3. Flying Monkeys Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale
This originally debuted (I believe) at Volo's Cask Days in 2009 as a hoppy imperial porter. Later in 2010, the recipe was tweaked to make it hoppier and the name changed to calling it a Cascadian Dark Ale (or Black IPA, or American Style India Black Ale, or...). The style name causes debate, but it is essentially a beer made with the roast that you typically find in a porter or stout, combined with big American hops. This beer recently made it to the LCBO.

2. Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic IPA
This came 2nd place in Volo's cask IPA competition (Greak Lakes My Bitter Wife won), though I don't understand how it didn't win. Part of the reason was I was drunk and forgot to vote. My excuse - $4 pint night during the finals to kick off Toronto Beer Week. The beer is a west coast style hoppy IPA. Really nicely balanced, with a citrus hop kick. I'm excited for this beer to reach the Control Board.

1. Black Oak Ten Bitter Years
This technically did get released near the end of 2009, but it was very limited on tap/cask only. Bottles were released in spring 2010 at the brewery only. The release was announced on The Bar Towel forums, with the brewer saying they expected it to last a month. It only lasted a few days - I'm glad I convinced a friend to drive me on a lunch break the 2nd day of sales! The beer is a big double IPA, the first Ontario one that could actually hang with some of its American competition. Not necessarily the hoppiest in the world, but has a really fresh, fruity hop bite.