What We Did on my Friday in Toronto

Friday February 12th, 2010

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Yes, that is the CN Tower behind me.

So I know what some of you are thinking....Julie you skipped Friday in your last post. You are right I did. Friday was….a non-driving day (YEAH!!!!!). I was going to head to Albany later in the afternoon but decided I wanted to watch the Opening Ceremony (you know, the Olympics…..in Vancouver….YAAYYYY!!!!!) in Canada with family. So really we just had the early part of the day to kill. After lunch we eventually headed into downtown Toronto (Steve and Heather are actually staying in a hotel by the airport which is technically in Mississauga before they move to Milton). There we took a tour of the Steam Whistle Brewery.

In terms of Brewery tours, we didn’t actually see that much, but our tour guide Jiv, had more information about all kinds of beer related stuff, than any brewery tour guide should have….and he was funny, so it was good. Plus they give lots of free samples. The price of the tour was either $10 or the purchase of a Steam Whistle product (mugs, hats, shirts, bottle openers...whatever). It really was worth it.

Not sure what free sample this was but I have a memory of there being 3 of them.

The Brewery is located just across the street from the CN Tower and Skydome…..oops I mean Rogers Centre (of course home of my beloved Blue Jays….and the Argos play there too). It makes it's home in the very historic John St. Roundhouse which use to function as a Canadian Pacific Rail steam locomotive repair facility. Lucky for us it is a Heritage site so it can't be torn down, the outside appearance cannot be altered and all it's inhabitants can do is improve the the structure. The other half of the Roundhouse is now a Leon's furniture store.

A shot of the Steam Whistle side of the Roundhouse. As you can see there are a few old Steam engines around too.

Once we put our hardhats on (safety first) we were able to head to the brewery floor where we learned all kinds of things about beer and Steam Whistle beer and the making of beer.

With my hard hat.

Steam Whistle Brewery has been making beer since 2000. The originally planned name for the brewery was 3 Fired Guys. The 3 men who started the brewery had recently been fired from another local microbrewery and on a camping trip decided they wanted to make their own beer. Of course before they opened the brewery they decided that maybe that wasn't the best name for a brewery and eventually settled on Steam Whistle. The name comes from the whistle that use to sound to signal the end of the work day. If you look closely at a Steam Whistle beer bottle you will still see 3FG for 3 Fired Guys.

Steam Whistle only makes one beer....but they make that one beer really, really well. They make a Premium Pilsner using traditional brewing techniques and only four natural ingredients including spring water, malted barley, hops and yeast. I can't lie....I enjoyed it. Oh and side note.....did you know that hops is a member of the cannabis family? I did not before this tour.....but I know now.

See it even says it on their cars.

Yes, I took this picture because I do find Mash Tun amusing. This is of course the location of the mashing. It is the mashing that breaks down starch into sugars and as I understand it, this is an important step in the beer making process (well in my opinion, all the steps are important in the beer making process). I am sure there is more to it than this but I don't really have time to explain the whole beer making process.

There are a few great things about Steam Whistle as well. One of them is that they are a very green company.....and I don't just mean the colour of their beer bottles. Their bottles use about 30% more glass than the average beer bottle which means they can be washed and reused up to 50 times (more than the average beer bottle). Bottles just need to be returned to a beer store in Ontario and they will be sent back to the brewery.

Also the Brewery is a big time supporter of locals arts in the Toronto area. They decided that some of the bigger companies ignore the local art scene so they have decided to step up and help them out. So drink a Steam Whistle and support the arts.

Now some of you may be wondering....where can I buy a Steam Whistle? Well an Ontario Beer Store is your best bet but they are now shipping to Alberta and British Columbia so keep an eye out for it on your liquor store shelves.

Outside the Brewery.

Yes, this is a giant woodpecker. You will find this in downtown Toronto as well.

Of course we didn't spend all day at Steam Whistle. We wandered into the Leon's store (Steve and Heather looked at furniture......I looked at I-beams. We then found the mall, grabbed some dinner and then headed back to the hotel for the start of the Olympics. I think it is safe to say Heather and I really enjoyed the show.......along with a lot of other people around the world.

Steve and Heather enjoying the show.......and a couple Steam Whistle beers.

You're right.....that isn't a Steam Whistle....that's a Keith's. I think we all love those Canada Mitts!!!

Julie