Established in 2017, Fairweather Brewing Company is tucked away on Ofield Road off Hamilton's Main Street. It's crisp white interior accented with macrame plant holders, vintage finds and eclectic seating offers a beauteous backdrop in which to enjoy some amazing brews.
On offer I opted for a flight, including:
1. Grisette 3.9% l Rustic, yeast forward Franco-Belgian style.
2. Session IPA 4.5% l Hop forward American-style session ale.
3. Silky 5.5% l American Oat Porter, defined by a soft chocolate mouthfeel and light roast.
4. Peach 5.5% l A kettle-soured American-style ale, conditioned on Niagara peaches and dry-hopped with Hallertau Blanc.
Topped this drink sampling off with a Pretzel from the local neighbourhood bakery Cake & Loaf.
Located in the heart of downtown Hamilton, Merit Brewing Co. has a spacious public hall, hearty menu offerings and a fully stocked bottle shop.
As 5-ingredient brewers they like to add an extra layer of flavour to their beers like fruits, herbs and spice. There's always a healthy offering of in-house brews, local beers and interesting collabs to sample. A couple of my favourites right now:
Young Rival 6% ABV l The Flagship IPA features El Dorado, Mosaic, and Amarillo hops and bursts with the flavours and aromas of stone fruit, papaya, mango, and ripe pineapple. Low bitterness with amplified juiciness.
Between Us 4.3% ABV l Wheat-based German style ale is kettle soured with lactobacillus, resulting in a lightly acidic citrus flavour. Beautiful aromas of strawberry and rhubarb with a very subtle saline character common to the style.
With close proximity to FirstOntario Centre (org. Copps Coliseum) Merit is a great pit stop before or after a show. Prepare for standing room only before the opening band but the energy is a buzz, basking in the glow of Merit's giant neon lightbulb logo. As part of the on-going James Street revival, this brewery embodies the resurgent vibe happening in Hamilton. It's a must stop.
The mysterious older brother you look-up to because he's got the best secret hang out spot, great stories and effortless style. Situated in the Wallace Emerson neighborhood of Toronto on the low-key, super cool Geary Street, Blood Brothers Brewing has been open since 2015.
Rolling up to their corner spot, expect the garage door to be open extending the tasting room out onto the patio space. With a steady flow of locals cruising through, xennial neighbours, curious beer enthusiasts, and de facto family. I recommend making some time to stop for a snifter, find a seat at the brass wrapped bar and take a few minutes to unwind. No rushing, no hassle, just some straight up, easy going sipping. You may start to ponder over the literary & mythical inspired beer names, get lost in the people watching or catch up with friends. Either way, once you decide to head back out into the world you'll leave refreshed and satisfied.
Some recent batches sampled :
1. 'Paradise Lost', a golden sour ale series either with 'Guava' or 'White Lies' featuring Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Also picked up the Razzle Dazzle a few weeks back which was tart and refreshing.
2. 'Love Trip Mango Guava' double hopped IPA, fermented with mango and guava.
3. 'Inner Eye Pale Ale', hopped pale ale balances bitter hoppy and tropical flavour.
Lots of exciting things are to come from Blood Brothers, you can taste it in the beer. The bottle shop is a constant rotation of new options as they focus on unique and experimental brew pairings and fermentations. Simultaneously, they're materializing onto the menu at Toronto's best craft beer bars. Like a great older brother they're teaching us a lot through their process and are welcoming us to join like we're family.
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