Big 5: Five craft adult beverage makers in York Region
YorkRegion.com
Oct. 24, 2016
By Adam Martin-Robbins
Ontario’s craft beer craze has seen micro-breweries popping up all over the province, including York Region. Beyond beer, there are a number of craft alcoholic beverages - from whisky to hard root beer - coming out of this region that are garnering praise from coast to coast.
- Arch Brewing Co.
Bill and Suzie King got their start in craft brewing, Dinner Jacket O’Red IPA, which sold well in the LCBO. The ruby coloured ale was a winner at the Ontario Brewing Awards in April. A couple of months earlier, the Kings opened a brewery in Newmarket, 110 Pony Dr., where they now produce an array of small-batch, handcrafted beers from ales to porters to stouts. You taste them at the brewery, which features a tap room and retail store. Tours are also available. For more, visit www.archbrewing.ca
- Lake Wilcox Brewing Co.
Founded by Richmond Hill residents Ray Nicolini and Dave DeCiantis, Lake Wilcox started with Mad Quacker Vienna Amber Lager, which saw brisk sales through The Beer Store. They followed with Black Hops Belgian style IPA, while building a brewery in Vaughan, at 1033 Edgeley Blvd., which opened earlier this month. Now, Lake Wilcox has expanded its lineup with plans to offer about six main brands plus seasonal brews. You can sample them at the brewery, which boasts a taproom and retail store. For more visit, www.lakewilcoxbrewing.com
- Magnotta Brewery
Magnotta is synonymous with wine, but the firm has been brewing beer under the True North label since 1996. Located at 271 Chrislea Rd. in Vaughan, Magnotta has garnered numerous awards at the provincial and national level including Brewery of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Its lineup includes a cream ale, blonde lager, an IPA and a German-style whet beer. Earlier this year, it released Magnotta Original Craft Lager. Magnotta's brews are available at its Vaughan retail store and in select Beer Store locations. Complimentary tours are available. For more, visit www.magnotta.com
- Still Waters Distillery
Friends Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein, considered pioneers in the craft-distilling movement, set up a micro-distillery and began production in March 2009. The pair honed their skills over the years to create a selection of spirits with Stalk & Barrel whiskies leading the charge. Their spirits are made on site at their Vaughan distillery at 150 Bradwick Dr. They also make single malt vodka and white rye. Still Waters has garnered a slew of awards including artisanal distiller of the year at the 2015 Canadian Whisky Awards. For more, visit www.stillwatersdistillery.com
- Crazy Uncle
Though Crazy Uncle’s ready-mix, culinary cocktails aren’t produced in York Region, they were created by Vaughan’s Bruno Codispoti and his brother Davide, of Toronto. Their newest offering, Crazy Uncle Hard Root Beer, took the LCBO by storm this summer. It features flavours of sarsaparilla, wintergreen and licorice root with a creamy vanilla finish and a 5 per cent alcohol kick. It’s available through the LCBO in 473 ml cans. Crazy Uncle’s lineup also includes Blood Orange Punch, Uber Caesar and Whisky, Cider & Chai, which come in one-litre, moonshine-type jugs. For more visit, www.crazyuncle.ca
With files from Chris Simon, Chris Traber, Torstar News Service
