Stoney Dark Wins again and Chachi loves Pilsner!

I love my job! And I love beer, so I am very grateful that the two kinda coincide!

Friday night was a big night for the crew at StoneHammer as we created a new beer for the C'est What beer festival and left our mark at the Canadian Brewing Awards.

In recognition of Scott Baio's 50th Birthday, we brewed what we affectionately named "Chachi loves Pilsner", a dry-hopped version of our award winning StoneHammer Pilsner...speaking of award winning...

Friday night was also spent at the Canadian Brewing Awards, our industry's take on the Grammy's, scratch that...the Juno's! StoneHammer Dark did us proud in bringing home the Bronze Medal for Canada's besk Brown Ale, coming third only to The Cannery Brewery in BC and our neighbours, The Wellington Brewery who won the Gold for their County Dark! Our Dark had previously won the Gold Medal in 2003 and 2007, while last year our Pilsner won the Gold Medal for you guessed it...Pilsner!

Side note: Have you seen a sexier group of guys!

All in all, it was a great weekend, and now to another week of beer!

Cheers,

StoneHammer Bill

Drink Craft Beer...it just tastes better!

Oh yeah!...We have a blog, I should write something!

It has been a good amount of time since I've had time to blog. The summer, needless to say, has been craaazy busy!

I dont' want to go over our entire summer at the brewery except to say that it was a blast from Hart House Beer Fests, to the Toronto Beer Fests and smaller festivals in between, and now the inaugural Toronto Beer Week which began yesterday! Mmmm, a whole week dedicated to the consumption and appreciation of one of lifes greatest pleasures....BEER!

If you haven't already heard about it, check Toronto Beer Week out for all the many events going on throughout the GTA. Friday you can check out a cask of our dry-hopped gold medal winning StoneHammer Pilsner at C'est What during their own little beer fest!

And wish us luck as the Canadian Brewing Awards are being held at Cool Brewery Friday night, we won the Gold Medal last year for our Pilsner, and have fared very well in previous years. I am currently knocking on wood and crossing my fingers! I will let you know how that goes in what I hope will be our new weekly blog! T'was the intent the whole time, but alas, the beer business keeps me busy!

So, go out, have a pint of craft beer...it just tastes better!

Til next time,

StoneHammer Bill

Whoa! What a Weekend!

What a phenomenal weekend! The weather was fantastic, I mean, if you like the warm weather with a little breeze, no clouds in sight and very little humidity. Can you say patio weather!?

My 'weekend' started on Wednesday with a fantastic fundraiser, The Brewers Plate, for Green Enterprise Ontario where great beer was paired with great chefs, including Chefs Jamie Kennedy, Mark Cutrara and Brad Long. It was a fantastic event raising funds for a good cause, how could one complain.

Friday night was the Spring Beer Festival at C'est What, where there were 42 different beers to try, a night of imbibing was to be had by all. StoneHammer's very own IPA made it's debut to much fanfare, I too, had the opportunity to try it for the first time, and oh yeah, tasty! George Eagleson, brewer extraordinaire, did us all proud. The stars of the night, in my opinion, were the StoneHammer IPA, Great Lakes Imperial HefeWeissen, Duggan's Porter #8 and Flying Monkey's Atomic SmashBomb.

Saturday was a quiet day for the brewery as we all recovered from the night prior.

Sunday our StoneHammer IPA put its boxing gloves on and duked it out with Sgt. Major IPA from the Scotch Irish Brewing Company and Trafalgar's IPA in an IPA Challenge hosted by Volo.
I will keep you posted as the results are not yet in. Mmmmm, IPA!

In non-beer related activities, much packing was done as my family is moving, my ball team was somewhat humiliated on the diamond but most importantly, Matt Arnold, not this weekend, but a couple weeks ago added a little baby boy to his family. Welcome to the world little Duncan!

'Til next time.

Bill, The Toronto Guy

A Man Down

We're down a man at the Brewery...

Spencer Shewen, The Guelph Guy, has decided to get his hands dirty instead of relishing in the glamourous position that is The Beer Rep. Spencer has decided to try his hand at entrepreneurship and we wish him luck in all of his very many endeavours, Spencer, no doubt, is one of the busiest men I know. Bringing great music to our little town, helping organize the Hillside Festival among other festivals, DJing on Campus Radio (you can check him out on CFRU 93.3 in Guelph), and now...landscaping!

So to Spencer we say good luck, we had fun, you did good...and if you see him on the street, buy the man a beer, 'cause he no longer has staff privileges!

We'll miss you at the Brewery buddy...

Bill, The Toronto Guy

Planet Smashers - Never Going to Drink Again

Launching the StoneHammer Maple Red!

It's that time of year again! The air is getting warmer, the birds are chirping, squirrels are chasing each other up and down trees and the sap is flowing!

To mark this wonderful time of year, we are launching our StoneHammer Maple Red Ale on Saturday April 3 at the eBar in downtown Guelph from 7-9:30 PM! There will be live music, beer and good times!

Come celebrate spring with us!

St. Partrick's Day! Come send off the StoneHammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout with us!

This Wednesday we will be celebrating St. Patty's and the last of this season's StoneHammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout by throwing a party at the eBar in downtown Guelph!

So come on down! Dance your butt off and have a nice refreshing Stoney Stout!

It all starts at 8pm!