When it comes to my two favourite palate sensations, say no more than craft beer and artisinal chocolate! While working at a brewery provides me with countless opportunities to stay up-to-date on Ontario’s finest craft brews, my friends at Chocosol have been keeping my chocolate cravings under control with cookies, cocao nibs and other goodies. [...]

Ontario is a cornucopia! An abundant diversity of tasty produce is inspiring food artisans and craft beer producers to provide curious eaters with new food experiences.  That’s why we’re partnering with the World Crop Project to bring you a unique culinary event: East meets West, Bringing Ontario Craft Beer, Indian Cuisine and locally-grown World Crops [...]

Yes, craft beer is in the air. From the Canadian Brewery Awards hosted by TAPS Magazine, to the wide-variety of Oktoberfest festivities in the works, there is no better time to be a craft beer drinker in our fair city! And Toronto’s premier craft beer event is right around the corner – The 2nd annual Toronto [...]

Do you want to host a party that sparks your guests’ interests, keeps them laughing and is easy for you to plan? Put that wine bottle back in the cellar and host a guided Ontario craft beer tasting in the comfort of your own living room. After doing several guided tastings with friends, I’ve got [...]

Nothing says summer in Canada quite like that summer BBQ. Locally-raised meat and freshly farmed veggies sizzle away while your close friends and family laugh away the heat – and don’t forget to wash it down with a craft beer. Next Saturday August 6th, my friends at Meal Exchange are organizing National BBQ Day, calling [...]

A few weeks ago I gave a guided beer tasting for members of the Toronto Food Policy Council.  And I’m happy to report that the mission was accomplished – my friend and Indian chef extraordinaire Preena Chauhan turned from a into an occasional beer sipper into a  craft beer connoisseur! Check out her blog, it will [...]

It’s happened to everyone. You’re throwing a summer BBQ complete with a carefully selected roster of Ontario Craft Beer, when your well-intentioned friend surprises you with nothing other than a 6-pack of mass-produced beer (the company name shall remain anonymous to protect the massive).  Do not fret my craft beer lovin’ friend, I’ve got a [...]

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The verdict is in. And, according the jury (consisting of me, my boyfriend James and bestie Stewart), my first attempt at home brewing – aka The Wandering Badger – is “not thaaaat bad”. In fact, not only is it not “thaaat bad”, it’s actually drinkable! Over the [...]

My good friend and food policy guru Dr. Wayne Roberts has taught me many things over the years… For example, citizens can make a positive change in creating an ethical food system AND retired, wine-drinkin’ men can transition from occasionally sipping on an imported lager to becoming a real Ontario craft beer aficionado. Wayne and [...]

Time to hop into your time machine. The year is 1860, and you and your immigrant family are traveling by stage-coach between the farming community of Dunbarton and the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto.  You’re just starting to think about refreshments when you arrive at the “Half Way House” on Kingston Road in Scarborough. You [...]

What better way to celebrate the long weekend than with some good-ole-fashioned bottling (followed by leisurely drinking)? A few weeks ago, I introduced you to The Wandering Badger a.k.a., my new brew.  Just like Wisconsin’s stead-fast state animal, my curiosity for the science of fermentation was sparked a fortnight ago when I began my adventures [...]

What’s your first memory of beer? Well yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 20 years old, living in Dublin Ireland and trying my best to become a “beer drinker”.  Every night I would go to the local pub and hesitantly order a gin & tonic.  Finally, the trusty barkeep leaned over [...]

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” – Benjamin Franklin I never knew the magnitude of that quote until pairing craft beer with chocolate. Tonight my friend Sasha and I joined 20 other beer-lovin’ women for a night of sensory exploration.  As part of Ontario’s Craft Beer Week, Barley’s [...]

Drum Roll Please…… May I introduce to you, The Wandering Badger! That’s right, my first home brew. You’re all familiar with the plethora of breweries named after animals (Flying Monkey, Dog Fish Head, Moosehead to name a few). However, no animals is as inspiring as the Badger, the fearless state-animal of my home – Wisconsin.  While I’m continually reminded that I’m a [...]

Cider…. It’s that ambiguous beverage that’s “not really a beer” yet it will quench the thirst of so many Canadians this summer. True, according to Reinheitsgebot of 1516, which states that beer must be made of 4 ingredients – water, yeast, hops and malted barley, cider is not a “beer” since it does not contain the [...]

From the early taverns by which entire towns would conduct business, to the German-influenced lagers of the early prairies, beer has been Canada’s beverage of choice since the seventeenth century. In fact, throughout 1700 and 1800 beer was often drunk in lieu of water at every meal, and enjoyed by man, woman and child. As [...]

Hi, my name is Tracy and I’m a lover of craft beer. Formally speaking, I’m a recognized graduate of the Beer Judging Certification Program (BJCP), which is a fancy way of saying I’m one of the world’s 3,611 lucky beer lovers who gets to judge beer competitions. I am also a columnist for TAPS Magazine, [...]