For 2012, the Sunday beer events have returned to The Stop Community Community Food Centre's Wychwood Barns home in the St. Clair and Christie neighbourhood. They are organised by a team different than the one behind last year's Brewery Market and is now called The Stop's Beer Garden.
Last weekend, I dropped by for the first event this year. The outdoor, garden-edged space that surrounds the wood-fired oven on the Barn's south side filled with a diverse crowd of the neighbourhood's beer drinkers. Muskoka was there pouring their Cream Ale, Mad Tom IPA, and the Summer Weiss.
The lineup for the food table featuring The Stop's own Hot Mess Hall was about twice as long as the one for beer. I imagine that's partly because it takes longer to put together an Indonesian pulled pork taco or mix up a michelada than it does to pour a beer. I expect the line will be even longer on July 8th and 15th when popup favourites Rock Lobster Co. and Fidel Gastro's make their appearances.
The organisers of last year's Brewery Market have moved their show to the Evergreen Brick Works and renamed it the Brewer's Backyard. The first event featuring Great Lakes Beer and Fidel Gastro's was held on May 21st. Later this summer and into the fall June 17th, July 2nd, August 12th, September 23rd, and October 8th are the slated future dates.
The combination of Ontario craft beer, innovative food pairings, and a great cause like supporting The Stop's essential programming is definitely one worth supporting.
