The Toronto Star reports on the success of Ontario's independent beer breweries. Craft beers sales have "gone through the roof" across the province's Beer Stores and LCBOs. And Toronto is at the forefront of this local beer movement. Suds from Toronto's Mill Street brewery are consistently a top seller, while restaurants across the city (especially "traditionally non-beercentric" ones) are now waking up to the craft beer trend. Ossington avenue's
B�hmer and Wellington's
Le S�lect Bistro are two Toronto restaurants offering carefully selected local and international beers.
"Mill Street brewmaster Joel Manning, who's been part of the local brewing scene since 1986, believes part of the reason for craft beer's growing success is that it's simply being better made better."
"People doing the work have different skill-sets than they had back then when I started. Technically, the brewing is at a much higher standard, for the most part," says Manning, adding that drinkers are also becoming more savvy about different beer styles.
"Restaurants are also starting to realize there's good beer being made on their doorsteps. With the local food movement gaining strength, serving locally produced beers with locally grown food is a natural fit, says Brad Long, chef/owner at Veritas restaurant and My Place pub."
"Part of what's appealing about serving local food is being able to look the person in the eye who created it, and to see their passion. With these guys (local brewers), you can definitely see the passion,'' says Long during the recent Brewers Plate."
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Toronto Star