Since the early 80’s when Spinnakers opened in Victoria BC, microbreweries have been sprouting up all over Canada. The Ottawa area now has numerous craft breweries to choose from and if you aren’t familiar with small batch brewed beer; you may not know where to turn. Our friends from A Cook Not Mad share three micro-breweries in the Ottawa-Hill region worth trying:
Les 3 Brasseurs
Also known as The 3 Brewers, this brewery chain started in Lille France in 1986. Their philosophy is to brew non-filtered beer made from traditional recipes. Serving simple brasserie fare, the flammekueche is a house specialty. It would appear that their philosophy works because they now count 28 locations in France and several locations in Quebec and Ontario. If you’re new to microbreweries and craft beer, this is a good place to be initiated. Their beers are all brewed on site but compared to other, smaller microbreweries, they are geared more to the masses rather than the enthusiasts.
– White 4.7% refreshing taste with citrus/lemon notes, paired well with the Chevre Chaud Flammekueche
– Blonde 5.2% good for every day drinking, very mildly hopped, like an artisanal Budweiser
– IPA 6% hoppy bitterness with a light spruce taste
– Amber 6.2% smooth with a bitter aftertaste
– Brown 4.8% rich malt, chocolate and coffee taste
Open from 11 am 7 days a week, The 3 Brewers are at 240 Sparks St in Ottawa, ON
Ashton Brewing Company
Nestled in the Old Mill at Ashton, ABC, is a three year old venture that is making its mark. With 6 year round beers and a changing seasonal, there’s a beer for every taste. Enjoy a ”truck”, 4 tasters of your choice of beers. Their seasonal blueberry wheat beer is quite refreshing. Try a plate of the crispy perch with a jalapeno/dill tartar sauce, side of fries and coleslaw. Breaded and crispy perch, crunchy outside, moist and delicious inside.
Other beers we enjoyed were:
– Ashton Amber 5% most popular of their beers, citrus nose, full bodied with hints of caramel
– Ashton Cream Ale 5% lightly hopped and creamy finish
– Session Ale 4% a light, easy drinking beer
– HopStravaganza 5% traditional English style IPA, not too hoppy
-Vanilla Stout 5.5% smoky, subtle vanilla, if you like stouts, you’ll love this one
Open 7 days a week from 10:30 am, the Ashton Brewing Company is located at 113 Old Mill Rd in Ashton, ON 613-257-4423
Les Brasseurs du Temps
Philemon Wright, the city’s founder, brewed beer in this beautiful heritage building in the early 18th century. This is one of the facts you’ll learn if you visit the brewery museum situated inside BDT. Boasting fourteen beers on tap at any given time, this Quebecois brasserie is quickly becoming a local institution. Try the “horloge” (clock), 12 tasting sized beers and discover your favourite. Pair it with some pub fare, their menu holds favourites such as bangers and mash or flatiron steak with frites and daily chef’s specials you’re sure to enjoy.
A few of their many beers:
– La lumiere fut 5.5% Fresh tasting, slightly bitter, notes of honey
– Carpe Diem 6.5% Belgian blond with citrus aroma and yeasty finish
– La Nuit des Temps 5% Delicious, dark stout with distinct coffee and malt notes, hoppy finish
– L’Allumante 5.5% Nut brown ale with hints of caramel and fleeting acidity
– Blanche de Koralie 5.5% Very floral white beer, flavoured with chamomile and lavender, great summertime drinking.
Open 7 days a week from 11:30 am, Les Brasseurs du Temps is located at 170 rue Montcalm in Gatineau (Old Hull), QC 819-205-4999
Have you been to any of these microbreweries? What were some of your favourite beers?