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The poll has closed – thank you so much to all who have voted. Here are the top 5 beers that I will be featuring in a blind taste test for the title of Ottawa’s Best Beer!
Cheers!
In order of their votes:
5. Kichesippi Natural Blonde – 787 votes
4. Broadhead Long Shot White – 826 votes
3. Broadhead Gignerstone Amber – 854 votes
2. Mill Street Ambre de la Chaudiere – 896 votes
1. Broadhead Underdog Pale Ale – 1049 votes
May the best brew win!
Ok all – so it’s time to get serious about finding Ottawa’s best brew. I’m keeping it strictly Ottawa this time and going to let popular opinion shape the vote. The top 5 votes cast here by the end of the week will participate in a blind taste test with me and several others. I’ll then be crowning a winner. Is it scientific… no. Is it tasty. Hells yeah.
So what do I need from you?? Just click your favorite beers below. You can vote as often as you wish and for as many of the options as you like. It would also be great if you could spread the word. The more Ottawa opinions I capture the better chance this has of being actually true! Thanks for helping!
One of the items on my bucket list was to find Ottawa’s Best…. something. I started out by attempting to find Ottawa’s best taco. That’s when I a) realized how many places do tacos in Ottawa; b) couldn’t decide on what qualified as ‘the best’ when it came to tacos, I had an amazing fusion taco, a fantabulous authentic taco and some great value meals… what was ‘the best’?? and c) saw another post about Ottawa’s best taco thus squashing my enthusiasm for the project.
So I picked myself up and dusted myself off and set out in search of Ottawa’s best brew. I sampled many but decided to compare apples to apples if at all possible and focus my search to Ale’s. Otherwise we’d be here a while as I tried beer after beer… hmmm…. maybe I should have gone ahead with that.
Anyway… I narrowed it down to three on my own and set up a blind taste test to get the opinions of my friends. Sampling a selection from Beaus, Kichisippi and Mill Street, the winner was…
Ta da!!!!!
The Millstreet Tankhouse Ale. They loved the flavour! That’s not to say they didn’t love all the other beers too… but when push comes to shove and they were forced to choose this is what the ‘panel’ came up with. As my friend Shaun pointed out, weather might have influenced some votes. It was a cooler night and that might have had some going for a bolder flavoured beer. If I had this taste test in the middle of summer a lighter ale might have fared better. I think we should try this again this summer… in the name of science.
What do you think?? What is your favorite local brew?
*** Updated ***
Ok… one of my readers got me on a wording technicality and Jeff, you are so totally right. He pointed out that Ottawa has dozens of great beers and beer styles so really this is Ottawa’s Best ALE. Not brew, beer or anything else. He also pointed out that Tankhouse isn’t brewed in Ottawa. But I decided that with the Ottawa Brew Pub in town I will let it slide and welcome all Mill Street products into our big happy Ottawa beer family. At least for this taste test.
I should also point out that this is just the opinion of a handful no need to get panties in a knot. Though I’m sure to one day have my own award show for great food and drink in Ottawa… that day is not yet here. But rest assured that when I do they will be based on personal preference as well… because hell… that’s what I’m all about.
*** Updated x2***
Alright kids, while I still totally stand by the results of my blind taste test. It really isn’t fair to the other beers. Tankhouse is really more of a Toronto expat so I can’t really call it Ottawa’s best anything. Sigh… guess I’m just going to have to try this again in a do over! But this time I’m going to do it right. A little more research BEFORE I start drinking the beers and writing posts. This calls for: ANOTHER TASTE TEST. Hmmm… was this all a part of my scheme to drink more beer?? No. I don’t plan that far ahead.
I may just be getting the hang of this ‘professionalism’ thing. Not likely.
Ok. So here is where I need your help. I can’t drink every Ottawa beer. I mean… I say I can but my doctor disagrees. Pfft. So what I need are suggestions on which Ottawa beer’s to try. Any style. Go nuts. What should I drink?? I’ll get a few people together, we’ll sample and get back to you with the results in a post I’m calling for the time being “Ottawa’s Best Brew 2: Electric Boogaloo”. Top 5 suggestions will be part of my second blind taste test.
Man alive! There is nothing Ottawa likes better than a pub. Unless it’s a pub that is brewing its own beer and serving up some pretty decent food. Though we will also take a pub that sells regular beer and the only food is potato chips but you are allowed to bring in your own meal from the burger place next door.
Mill Street Brew Pub is one of the newest shiny additions to the Ottawa Pub scene. I checked it out the other night with some friends and I dare say I’m a fan. It’s a pretty big place, nicely decorated but no need to get too gussied up. We went in our after work attire – read jeans and t-shirt/sweater and fit right in. They’ve got TV’s to watch the game, but they are easy enough to ignore if that’s not why you are there.
Flavourful and succulent, it may not be the best taco in Ottawa but it makes a good companion to my beer!
And why would you go?? The food is pretty decent. I took advantage of a great Monday deal that saw your choice of one of five appetizers for $5 (after 8pm) to try the Carnitas, sweet potato fries and calamari. The regular menu is good. Upscale bar food – think Clocktower Brew Pub. A good variety and average prices. Appetizers between $6-$18 (if you aren’t there on Monday) and most mains hover around the $13-$16 range. The food is good – but it’s the price, quantity, quality and variety that I can find in most pubs in Ottawa. What makes this place special is the beer.
The real star of the Mill Street show… beer. They have a store on site, so if you aren’t interested in sitting down for a pint, or just want a keepsake, you can take some to go. They have three varieties that they only make and serve at this Ottawa location including a lovely little Irish Red Ale. They also serve several varieties not found in the LCBO.
Decisions, decisions.
Can’t decide what to try? Not to worry – 6oz and 8oz beer flights are available so that you can try up to 4 different kinds at a time.
All in all, the Mill St. Brew Pub makes a wonderful addition to our collection of pubs and I look forward to my next visit! 4 out of 5 stars.
Festival season is starting up here in Ottawa and one of the biggest, Bluesfest, is making a major change to the way we buy beer. Yes, Millstreet will still be the official beer supplier, but now you will no longer be paying cash at the register.
Bluesfest is moving to a cash-free bracelet system this year. Think a loadable gift card that you wear.
When you are ID’d for the first time, you’ll be given a bracelet that you can then add money to. Great for those of us who don’t usually carry cash and have always wanted to pay for our beer purchases via debit or credit, though as far as I know cash will still be taken to load up the bracelet.
Yeah buddy…
This can be a bit annoying if you only plan to check out one or two shows, but overall I think it’s a pretty good change.
I’m hoping that after the festival any money still on your bracelet will be returned, because who wants to hold on to a bracelet until next year?? But I haven’t heard how they are planning to deal with this.
What do you think?
Just a few words on this wordless Wednesday. This was my first year at Beau’s Oktoberfest in Vankleek hill and I have to say I was so impressed. Of course the food was amazing, and the beer just fab but the volunteers and planning of this event was stellar. Everything was running so smoothly, everyone working that day was so helpful and kind. It was a fantastic event. The kid zone had great acts that kept ‘the kid’ entertained, the contests were great fun for everyone and the music was awesome. Congratulations to everyone who was involved. I can’t wait until next year! Here is hoping the weather will co-operate just a touch more.
Ontario Craft Breweries are brewing some delicious beers these days and beer drinkers are taking notice. The LCBO’s sales of Ontario Craft Beer have increased by almost 53% over last year. That’s pretty amazing considering the sale of Ontario wine only increased a still very respectable 15% over last year.
Now that fall is here and many local breweries are launching fall seasonal beers I thought I’d recommend some Ontario brewed beers that are perfectly suited to sipping this pre-winter.
What makes a good fall beer?
As an avid beer drinker and lover of all things brew my idea of a good autumn beer are typically:
- Amber, copper or brown coloured beers which usually impart a sweeter or more malty flavour
- Ales as opposed to Lagers are typically a better fit to our chilly fall weather for their
- Slightly higher in alcohol content than a lighter coloured summer beer or lager
All the beers mentioned below are beers that I have personally tasted on several occasions. These are tried and tested brews I believe will match up perfectly with your thanksgiving dinner, watching hockey or just watching the leaves fall.
Mill Street Tankhouse Ale – This is one of my favourite everyday brews but this copper ale is perfectly suited to the fall season. Tankhouse Ale is quite a hoppy or bitter beer but it’s perfectly balanced by sweet malts. This is definitely a great session beer where one is just not enough.
Beau’s Night Marzen – This Oktoberfest beer from Beau’s is a beautiful amber/almost ruby colour. It has a really nice sweet biscuit like flavour up front and then ends with some dried fruit flavour and a nice slightly floral hoppy finish. This is a very drinkable beer.
Kichesippi 1855 – Ottawa’s own Kichessippi has been brewing this dark ale since this summer but this is a fantastic autumn ale. Visually it’s a more of a brown when compared to the Beau’s Night Marzen’s ruby hue. The flavour is sweet with a hint of roasted malt up front and more of a dry finish and less fruity notes when compared to the Beau’s.
Special Mention:
St. Ambroise Pumpkin Ale – While this beer is from Quebec I still felt compelled to mention it as it’s a perfect fall beer and might be a revelation to some less experienced beer drinkers. This light amber ale is brewed with pumpkin and spices (nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon) and is a wonderful beer to enjoy with Thanksgiving dinner.
**
Thanks to my friend Shaun Desjardins for this wonderful post! Shaun is an an avid beer drinker and lover of all things brew. Cheers!
