Is the Von Bugle experiment over?

It's all fun and games until your TV show gets canceled. Then
it's all "well, WTF happens now?" The word from the Evans
Avenue Von Bugle brewery in Etobicoke is that the brewery
has ceased production of the fledgling Munich Lager. Ooops!

I didn't think twice when my store got an email saying to yank our remaining Von Bugle Munich Lager stock and send it back with our Steam Whistle bottle returns.

Truthfully, it happens all the time. Breweries review their sales at each individual store and tend to yank their lowest-selling product. Why? Because individual shelf space costs them money, both where I work, as well as at the LCBO. So they yank the bottom performers and replace them with another beer or a brand new sku in the hopes that it will perform a little better sales-wise.

With Steam Whistle Pilsner being our largest selling craft beer (by a humongous margin) and the Steam Whistle Session Lager selling fairly well, Von Bugle, owned by Steam Whistle, was bound to have a, well, limited shelf life, so to speak. And that's why I wasn't the least bit surprised when I went into the cooler to grab the last of the Von Bugle for return.

Seeing this Jessie Milns photo of Von Bugle, taken for BlogTO, reminded me that
I've never actually visited the brewery. I was kinda, "So THAT'S what it looks
like!" That's odd because I'm in and around the area all the time, stopping at
places like Great Lakes Brewing and Black Oak Brewing. Now I HAVE to go
just to see what happens with this sign. And that car. Now a collector's item???

However, it didn't take long for me to hear that no, this wasn't simply a shift out of my store. It was a full movement out of all the stores and the LCBOs. In fact, according to a couple of folks inside the Etobicoke plant, they haven't brewed or canned Von Bugle since the beginning of the Summer. Geez, where will I get my Munich Lagers now, I cried??? This is seriously the kind of thing that keeps me up all night. Okay, call it indigestion if you wanna get all technical and medical about it.

Cecil!!!! I haven't seen this guy in probably six years when I was at a different
Beer Store in Oakville. Back then, he was filling in for someone on maternity
leave. This time, when he popped into my store in May, he was filling in for
someone... on maternity leave. But it's funny. When we first met, I was still
a clean-cut fellow (okay, certainly less hairy, sloth-like and disheveled) and
he had maybe four-inch dreads. Now I'm a hippie and he piles his foot-long
dreads into his cap. "What happened to us?" I laughed when we met again.
"We used to be so cut-clean and respectable!" Granted, Cecil still is. It's me.

So if Von Bugle has been discontinued (no official statement issued yet), does that mean its namesake brewery on Evans Avenue in Etobicoke is shutting down?

Well, no, it can't. You see, in that world that existed pre-plague (remember that - it was called 2018 and whoever thought we'd look back at that craptastic year with any sense of nostalgic joy?), the folks at Steam Whistle shifted most of their brewing equipment out of the historic Roundhouse and into the Evans Avenue facility. And why would they do that? I mean, that's the OG brewery. What's the dealio?

I apologize for the kaiser as everyone knows I much prefer
my super-famous roast beef and Swiss cheese sandwiches
on an onion bun. However, Metro was out, letting down
not just me but society itself. Anyhow, this past Summer,
Steam Whistle, under contract with New Belgium Brewing
out of Colorado, finally started brewing Voodoo Ranger
IPA. The malt level is under dispute within the Brew Crew.

Well, when founders Greg Taylor, Cam Heaps and Greg Cromwell all left the brewery (Cromwell quite early in the run though I believe Taylor is now back in the fold), the brewery became run by a Board of Directors. In the shrewd financial wisdom of a board filled with business minds, they realized they were sitting on - or rather, in - a cash cow. The Steam Whistle Roundhouse. Given its historical significance in Toronto and desirable on-the-lake location beside whatever the Sky Dome is called now, it seemed it was a preferred location for things such as wedding receptions and smallish business conventions. That's some Big Cheddar right there. Kahhh-ching!

So a couple years back, they shifted almost all brewing equipment to Evan Avenue, leaving just enough in the Roundhouse to fill kegs... for all those Toronto and area restaurants that are about to be shut down tight for the second time this year. The equipment shift opened up tons of new floor space and I think they now have four separate banquet spaces there... for all those weddings that aren't happening this year.

This would be Bryan serving me up a New
Belgian Fat Tire Amber Ale at The Golden
Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas back in
September 2019. The on-tap version was
so metallic, I had to return it instantly. But
Bryan graciously replaced it with a Stone
IPA (which tasted as fantastic as always...)

Just as Monty Python warned us that "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!" neither did we expect a massive global pandemic of this magnitude. (Anyone else suffering from Covid Fatigue because I sure am and I don't even think we're halfway through yet.)

So what happens with Von Bugle now? Well, we know the building stays put as it is a necessity to Steam Whistle. Actually, it pretty much is Steam Whistle minus the Roundhouse. The Munich Lager seems done but that doesn't preclude a new brew (Von Bugle Porter, anyone?) in the future. And Steam Whistle's licensing deal with Colorado's New Belgium Brewing likely means many more beers on top of Fat Tire Amber Ale and Voodoo Ranger IPA. (If I can suggest the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA? I've heard tell those hazy beers are popular up here. Outside the IPA genre, that Fat Tire Belgian White Ale would be cool and I think more than a few of my friends would enjoy their 8.5% Trippel Belgian Style Ale.)

But let's look back a bit at the release of the Fat Tire Amber Ale up here. Amidst much hoopla, Steam Whistle released the beer with a special party on May 7, 2019. Being super familiar with it through my Las Vegas trips, I was thrilled. It's my favourite American Red Ale. My morning routine down there is "coffee, a little breakie to pad the gut, a Fat Tire for a smooth transition into the drinking portion of the inevitable shit-show and then come the IPAs!"

This happy chap is noted Toronto Beer Historian Gary
Gillman. I got to meet Gary and his wife, Libby, in an
Oakville parking lot back in early June so that they
could give me some cans of a collaboration beer that
Gary did with Amsterdam Brewing. The result, using
a historic recipe, was the English Bitter 1870 AK . It
was brewed with all British ingredients. Lots of fun to
 try a beer from a 150 year old recipe. Old school cool.

Within a week or two, the Fat Tire landed in my store - six-pack bottles, identical to the ones used in America. Naturally, I was thrilled and dove in head-first. And in fact, I was so impressed with the Steam Whistle Fat Tire that I declared on Twitter that it might actually be superior to the one brewed in Colorado.

"Uhh, not so fast there, cowboy," said noted Toronto Beer Historian Gary Gillman (quote is not even remotely accurate), who's exceptionally well-travelled and incredibly knowledgeable about beer and other beverages. Food, too, now that I think of it, Basically, he's a Renaissance Man. Turns out Gary had the Fat Tire on tap at a Toronto pub and having enjoyed the American version many times, he wasn't wowed. A little acrid, I believe he said. I suggested that perhaps the lines weren't clean and that he should try the bottles. Eventually he did and while the bottles were a significant step-up in the direction of the original, he still preferred the American version.

Well, since I only take carry-ons when I go to Vegas, meaning no liquids, I decided when I returned to my favourite vacation destination, I would have to sample yet more Fat Tire to decide which version was better in my mind.

The only thing cooler than enjoying a New Belgium Fat Tire Amber
Ale on a slot machine in Las Vegas would be me actually being in
Las Vegas, like, right now!! Damn you Covid. You are stealing my
most simple joy!!! That said, I think Gary's right. The Colorado
version of Fat Tire might just have a wee step up on our version.

So I did. When I returned in September 2019, I landed at The Golden Nugget in Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street. Like many casinos, they happened to have Fat Tire on tap so on Night One, I ordered it.

My bartender, Bryan, who two days into my trip just started calling me "Canada" (as in "Hey, Canada, what's up?"), poured me a pint of the Fat Tire. Man, I wish it was just a little acrid. It was flat-out metallic. Nothing like it is in the bottle you see to the left. I quickly returned it and Bryan replaced it with a Stone IPA which was flat-out perfect. So, in conclusion there, both Gary and myself were 0-for-2 on the tap version.

Simple enough, mind you. On Day Two, I had it from the bottle and it was perfect. Better than our version?

When I arrived at the Downtown Grand just off Fremont Street in Downtown
Las Vegas for Birthday Week in mid-February 2020, the young fellow at the
check-in desk asked if I wanted a room fridge. I simply replied, "Mmmm K."
Whereas my friends Mark from London and Laura from El Paso need room
fridges for their diabetes medicine, I was left wondering what medicine I
could put in my fridge. Found a couple of high-ABV IPAs that could cure me.

Well now, I'm not gonna say Gary was right and I was wrong. But I will say this. Gary was right and I was wrong. But I was only marginally wrong. The Canadian version, I still maintain, is top-notch. But the American version is a little deeper and richer in flavour. Perhaps my often-stated love for Red Ales made me root for the home team a little more.

Anyways, that's all the latest Steam Whistle, New Belgium and Von Bugle news I have. So, Scooby Doo Gang, that's it, that's all and I am outta here! Until next time, I remain...

 

Hanging in the Hammer with Young Nick

For Stop #1 on our whirlwind Hamilton Brewery Tour, I took Nick
(well, actually, he was driving so I suppose he took me) to Clifford
Brewing in West Hamilton. It was an important stop because they are
the reigning Canadian Brewery of the Year. Also, owner Brad Clifford
was on hand (he's always there so I figured) to talk to us both and give
a little insight on the brewing world. So let's say the day started bigly.

The first time I ever worked with young Nick, it started with a chirp. That's right - the little bastard chirped me.

"I hear you're really horrible to work with," he grinned. "That's right," I replied in all seriousness. "I am literally the worst." (That's hyperbole. Working with Hitler was way worse. Probably.)

*Awkward pause* "Well," he sighed, "this is no fun if you don't play along..." (Rule #1: Let the newbies know their place in the hierarchy.)

Since that point, it has been one long series of chirps back and forth. Mostly me. (I know at my age I'm expected to be the mature one... but hey, man, he started it!!)

At one point during this pandemic, when my store opened back up to taking beer, wine and liquor bottles (in Ontario, you pre-pay your empty deposit at point of purchase), we divided the lobby into two zones. Two people with empties on the left, two people buying beer allowed on the right. I was usually the traffic cop at the door. Mostly because I'm loud. I like to say, "a voice that could command the gods." Perhaps my long-time co-worker, Trishan, would have the best measure of which. Whenever we get a new hire, they tend to start Mondays. I'm always off Mondays. He tells them, "Tomorrow, you'll meet Donny and realize just how quiet you've been all your life." Huh. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.

Stop #1 on the Nick and Donny Hamilton Brewery Tour
was our friend, Brad, at Clifford Brewery over there in
east Hamilton. (The elders still call it Stoney Creek.) So
anyway, here's young Nick enjoying a Fruition Fruited
Sour with coconut, pineapple and lime, something he said
was "interesting and unique." This kid enjoys his Sours.

So, anyway, Nick was usually on the selling beer side. And I started instructing people (with a smile, of course, blocked by a facemask) to go to the "ugly kid over there." Evil, yes, but once again in my defence, not exactly "Let's invade Poland."

Now because most beers upset his stomach, Nick started at my store as the guy who drank radlers - half beer, half fruit juice, usually grapefruit. It's not as severe as a gluten-allergy or anything but just enough to cause him discomfort. Eventually, though, he started trying Sour beers and found not only did they not irritate his gut, he quite enjoyed the taste. His father, Mike, who I've now met several times, is a little more like me in his beer tastes, enjoying his big IPAs though he's less keen on the stouts and porters. But Nick has a brother who drinks the dark beers (his favourite is Cameron's Ambear Red Ale so good on him!), as well as the lagers/pilsners. So the trio have most of the styles covered.

So for the past few months, Nick has submerged himself into the Sour Beer scene. And when we originally planned this little Brewery Getaway, he wanted to go to Toronto. Only West Toronto, I suggested, otherwise you're stuck in a huge headache of a traffic quagmire and trapped there for infinity... and beyond.

With Brad being at Clifford that day, we were
able to ask him: How exactly do you win Brewery
of the Year? Okay, say you enter eight beers at
the Canadian Brewing Awards in the various
categories, what brewers do is put four of them
forward as their competitors. Based solely on the
medals they win (with weighted points for gold
through bronze), they tally up your score and the
highest takes it all. Just like Clifford did in 2019.

Only it's not as funny and entertaining as Toy Story.

So a month ago, I threw out a half dozen brewery names and left it for Nick to decide. Basing his decision on the breweries with Sours he had not tried, he selected Rainhard Brewing, Junction Craft and Indie Alehouse. (Truth is he was driving so I left it up to him. Every brewery's got something for me.) Tough to argue those - all stellar choices. Except it turned out that two were closed Mondays. Earlier I had suggested Hamilton would be an easier run for us from Oakville so I threw all the Hamilton names at him, except Grain & Grit, which is closed Mondays and let him decide. My only caveat? Clifford Brewing, the 2019 Canadian Brewery of the Year, (I say that pretty much every time I mention them) had to be included.

Based on the Sours he saw from the list of Hamilton breweries, he decided we'd go to Clifford, Merit Brewing, Collective Arts Brewing and Fairweather Brewing. Again, all fine choices and certainly all brew beers I'm happy to buy!

On our way over to Clifford, our Stop #1, he was curious as to why I was so insistent on them. Couple of reasons, I said. First, owner Brad is bound to be there (he was) and second, they were Canada's reigning Brewery of the Year. Nick was startled. "Really?" Yupper do, man! To young Nick, his big brewery tour was starting perfectly. (To an old salt like me, ALL brewery tours start perfectly because of "I'm at a brewery, what else could you ever need?" reasons.)

Just want my Vegas buddies to know that they were
very well represented in Hamilton as I wore my buddy
Mark's Pennys4Vegas shirt, as well as my Bud-themed,
Modern Gothic-style Hogand2cent face-mask. Stylin'!

Well, very much NOT to my surprise, Nick seriously loved it there. Brad had plenty of time to talk to us. He dug Nick's 2019 burnt orange Dodge Challenger (the kid's got a pretty sweet little road-rocket) and asked him all about it. While the brewing area is fenced off, Nick got a chance to really see the vats, tanks and the inner workings of a legit Best-in-Canada brewery. Great spot, great fun and as always, great to see Brad. Missed his father, though. Next time, Barc... we'll talk some more Vegas another day since neither of us is getting there any time soon.

Okay, from there, Nick had booked a lunch slot at Hambrgr, a well-known (though not to me) backyard burger place in Hamilton, whose secondary appeal is that it's a five-minute walk from Merit Brewing.

I guess they've been open for a little while under Phase 3 (being an essential worker who hasn't stopped, I don't even remember when that started) because they've got their social distancing thing down between the tables, both inside where we sat and out on the patio.

Forgot to take a picture of the cheeseburger, which is a shame
because it was fantastic but I didn't forget to take a picture of
the beer! The craft selection at Hambrgr is outstanding so I
got myself a Junction Craft Brewing Hazy IPA, which is ironic
because it was set to be one of our stops in Toronto. Some
plum on the nose, all tropical and orange in the mouth, 6.2%
and seriously just a solid example of the East Coast style!

No one but no one does a backyard burger as well as places like this. Yeah, costs more than Burger King and worth every penny. Fantastic outfit!

But their craft beer selection was as stellar as their eats. High Grade IPA by Fairweather Brewing, Shawn & Ed Lagershed Lager, Great Lakes October Wants to Fight IPA, as well as two from Junction Craft Brewing, their Junction Stout and New England IPA. And that's what was just on tap. In bottles and cans, Steam Whistle Pilsner, Clifford Brewing Porter, Phillips Brewing (Victoria, BC) Tiger Shark Pale Ale, Forked River Capital Blonde and Muddy York Gaslight Helles.

Shit, I could have sat there all afternoon (and well into the evening) and had plenty of drinking options! That said, brewing tours involve movement so after Hambrgr, we wandered on over to Merit Brewing.

Poor Nick. Every time we went to a new brewery, I made
him point up to the sign. Why? Because every time, I
take my son, David, to a brewery, that's his job. Point
at the sign. David loves having his picture taken. Nick?
Not so much. Tough shit. Yeah, he bitched but meh...

Now this is where I was very lucky to be riding shotgun with Nick. Ever since he dove into the Craft Beer Pond, he meticulously researches everything - new Sours releases for himself, new IPA releases for me and his Dad.

My sole purpose in visiting Merit was to grab a bottle of their Black Is Beautiful Stout, as well as a couple of their Young Rival IPA for "because I'm there anyway" reasons. But Nick remembered there was a secondary interest for me while we were in their Bottle Shop. "Didn't you also want that 10.2% Coffee Cake Imperial Stout? Remember they have that collaboration one with Sawdust City?" he asked me. Geezuz, what a memory on that kid because yes... yes, I did say exactly that. Like, hours previously. Uncanny. So, yeah, because of Nick, I grabbed a one-litre howler of What Friends Are For Coffee Cake Stout and geezuz, it was exactly as advertised. Coffee, vanilla, cinnamon - it was a liquid coffee cake. So bloody delicious! The ultimate dessert beer.

Okay, because Merit was a quick stop-and-shop destination, next we were off to Collective Arts Brewing because they had a couple of Sours Nick wanted and let's be frank, they'll ALWAYS have IPAs for me and Mike.

Of all the breweries I have visited (a small handful) since their
retail reopenings during this pandemic, I have to admit that
Collective Arts seems to have the best combo of protective
shields and proper social distancing. They are completely
contactless, as the sign says, with safety measures in place.

It's Collective Arts. That's what they do.

Now I gotta say in these pandemic times, the way that Collective has set up their retail is pretty damn impressive. Plexi-glass screens everywhere, strong safe distance measures in place, absolutely contact-less in every way possible. Even a sign that basically says, "For gawd sake, don't touch anything!!" THIS is a brewery that is taking Covid seriously - as all should be - as well as being fully committed to protecting their staff from those coming in from the outside. So Toni, Matt and Bob, take a bow. People from any business across the board in Ontario could take a lesson from you! 

While there, we both bought a Mix-Six, which we tucked into Nick's trunk and promptly returned to enjoy a bevvie in the sunshine on the patio. We both chuckled at the fact that the very same beers we bought for four bucks and change at retail were eight bucks at a patio just 15 feet away.

That's right, Monkey Boy, you pose under that damn sign. I'll
tell you when you can stop. Like I said, David wasn't available
so Young Nicky was my surrogate sign son for the day. Lucky!

Hey, man, tasty beer and sweet, sweet sunshine come at a price and frankly, we were happy to pay it.

Our last stop, Fairweather Brewing, turned out to be a bust. Despite being posted as open on their website, when we arrived, there was a sign on their door that said (something like), "Gone Fishing - Open Again on Wednesday." Whoa, bummer. Made for a long ride home as that put us directly into rush-hour traffic. That said, had we gone the Toronto route, it would have been worse. At least the Hamilton breweries are closer to Oakville.

But some interesting chat during the car-ride. Nick was curious about David's functioning levels (as many people are - I get asked that a lot) and if there's one thing I'm always happy to talk about, it's my boy. So I gave him the run-down. Exceptional memory (far superior to mine), strong social skills, extensive vocabulary compared to his peers growing up.

Of all of the Brew Crew, I told Nick to pay a lot of attention
to anything Graeme, right, has to say. A proficient home-
brewer, strong knowledge of Ontario's craft brewing past
and capable of breaking down any beer at practically a
molecular level, he's the guy you want on your Beer Reach
For The Top team. Here, he's chatting with Kimmy, the
one informally responsible for keeping us yahoos in check.

On the other side of the coin, because he's deaf in one ear, his enunciation can be tricky to comprehend though he shows tons of patience repeating himself until you understand. And while he can be adult in some situations, rebellious teen in others, at heart he is still a young boy driven hard with his fascination of DC and Marvel superheroes, as well as other trappings usually left behind by adulthood.

Turns out Nick's curiosity was partially-based on a TV show he had been watching called Love On The Spectrum, an Australian-based (picked up here by Netflix) reality show that followed young Autistic adults through scenarios such as dating and relationships. It was a fascinating watch, Nick noted, as some handled the perils and pitfalls of dating remarkably well while others literally needed a parent along as a chaperone for coaching. (It sounds pretty damn interesting to me.)

I suspect Nick's interest was piqued because as a teen, he admitted, his social anxiety was so high that he couldn't even attend a party with friends. "What we are doing today (touring breweries) would have been impossible for me then."

When Brew Crew member Greg first met Nick at the Beer
Store, his greeting was, "Hey, it's Sour Nick," a nod, of
course, to Nick's preferred beer style. In that, he also has
a friend in Greg, the Brew Crew's most adventurous guy
when it comes to Sours. I'll try the odd one but IPAs are
more my things. But all of our interests are pretty wide.

Mike, I am happy to tell you that your son has conquered it and in fact, never shuts the hell up at work. Obviously, joking but lemme tell you, Nick is hard into watching every release in all of Ontario. If there's a new IPA released anywhere, trust me, I hear about it.

Nick was also deeply interested in the loose collection of no-good-niks we call the Brew Crew. First of all, I told him to pay close attention to Graeme. Our resident homebrewer's knowledge of beers and their mechanics runs so deep, if he says a beer tastes like a fish fart, guess what? It tastes like a fish fart. Told him to watch both Curtis and Paulie G for their exceptional photos, as well as Paulie G's phenomenal descriptions of beers. Follow Glenn for the bad jokes, follow Greg for the Dad jokes. Kimmy has an eclectic taste in beer styles, scattered across the board. If you wanna brush up on your French, Joel's the man. Danny, up there in Sudbury, is also a homebrewer and a solid pro at picking out subtle flavours. Like Nick, Paul "The Big Peezy" has FOMO - fear of missing out and has amassed such a huge collection of beer that the rest of us are staggered by its enormity. And, of course, follow Drunk Polkaroo... simply because he's Polk. Anyways, a fun day, I thank you, Nick but Scooby Doo Gang, that's it, that's all and I am outta here. Until next time, I remain, as always...

Kingston #BeerFam 2020 Brewery Tour 3.0

The Host and Hostess with the Mostest. This would
be Josh Hayter, co-owner of Spearhead Brewing and
his marketing manager Amanda Richardson gave
the Brewery Tour of a Lifetime back in February and
I have been dragging my ass over reporting about it.

Okay, time to wrap this bad boy up. Wayyyy back on February 22, Josh Hayter, co-owner of Spearhead Brewing, along with his trusty hella-great marketing manager, Amanda Richardson, gave us the Kingston Brewery Tour of a Lifetime on the surprisingly beautiful day of February 22. (February. In Kingston. And it was gorgeous out. Chilly but sunny. No way any of us expected that.)

Okay, to recap, Part One dealt with three-week-old Daft Brewing (fun and colourful) and Stone City Ales (enjoyed their product before, enjoyed them even more now.) Part Two dealt with Kingston Brewing Company (my favourite and host to a fantastic lunch) and Riverhead Brewing (where our passionate King City homebrewer Graeme kicked off a lively discussion with brewmaster-part owner Aaron Martin over yeast styles. Yes, yeast.)

That would bring us to Stop #5, Skeleton Park Brewing. Okay, much like the brewers before him on this day, Trevor Lehoux, owner-brewmaster there, would prove to be an engaging fellow with more than a few stories.

And the first one that came out was the origins of the brewery's name. Noting that they were named after a nearby park, he asked us all if we could guess why it was named that.

Owner-CEO-brewmaster Trevor Lehoux of Skeleton Park Brewing has
a captive audience with our crowd. Afterwards, Oakville Brew Crew
Greg told me the variety we saw was a big memory for him. "The
difference between (the breweries.) We visited six and each had their
own niche. (And) the passion each brewer/owner had when we spoke." 

Beer Bro Glenn was quick off the mark (y'know, for an old fart) asking, "Is it because they found a lot of bones there when they were making the park?"

Bingo. That was the exact reason. Turns out it was a bunch of kids playing at the park, while under construction, who found the bones. Which is pretty much the coolest thing ever if you're a kid.

To Guelph Curtis, that was a lasting memory. "I thought the creepy stories about Skeleton Park and the kids finding the bones in the area was pretty cool." He added, "And of course, Glenn found the St Lawrence River." (A nod to Glenn repeatedly asking where the river was. When we were in Ottawa?)

Once again, Graeme resumed the spirited "Which yeast do you favour?" discussion with Trevor, just as he had with Aaron at Riverhead. Graeme's like the Brew Crew's Beast of Yeast or something.

Okay, the three on the right are the Skeleton Park Brewing's Heritage
Series - the Bohemian Pilsner, the Proper English Ale (called Best Bitter
when we were there in February) and the Amber 6.6. The Brew Crew by
and large all favoured the Best Bitter/Proper English Ale while, I, of
course was loyal(ist) to the delicious Amber 6.6. On the far left is their
seasonal Sol Juice IPA, which wasn't available when we arrived there.

Sidebar: Actually what Graeme is best known for is his unique ability to track any beer you are scouting for in your vicinity. Because of that, we call him "The Beer Whisperer." An American posted a pic of a Triple IPA from Sierra Nevada on Twitter and when I noted I had yet to see it in Las Vegas, Graeme answered, "Wineland, south strip." Seriously? How?

But it was Trevor's story about how their Heritage Series started that got the most attention from the Brew Crew. I'll let Hamilton artist-cartoonist David pick it up from here. "I loved the stories told at Skeleton Park of them finding old records in the Kingston Archives to try and recreate old recipes (hence, the Heritage Series) and even harvesting an old hop found in the area that they are now the only one who use it." As I recall, the brewery then locked it in as a proprietary hop, now called the Loyalist Hop. Cool name.

Keep in mind this was late February. Yes, February 2020 - this year - and
in this photo, taken by Greg, there are no facemasks. There is no social
distancing. Hugs were freely exchanged. Doesn't seem possible that this
was six short months ago. Anyway, on the left side we see Chuck and
April Thibert (both of Ottawa's Waller St Brewing), Candice and Jamie,
and The Big Peezy Paul. On the right, Nichole and Curtis, me a few rows
back not paying attention and behind me, Graeme, also playing on his
phone. Ever notice how the worst kids gravitate to the back of the bus?

But I got a chance to chat one-on-one with Trevor after a chance meeting at the retail counter. I asked him why when they now have a full-fledged, brick-and-mortars brewery would they still maintain an office that they rented when they were contract-brewing?

His answer. The brewery is the brewery and retail but all that oh-so-fun paperwork of running a business is still done in the initial office. Separating, well, business from pleasure, if you will. However, he added that outside money people had approached him on occasion, asking if he'd like investors. While outside interest is obviously a good sign for any business, simply because it means others see your potential and would like a piece of that pie, there's also a downside. Silent partners never stay silent. In fact, they tend to forget what the word 'silent' actually means.

Oshawa's Jeff and Spearhead Head Brewer Jacob Schmidt share a laugh
when we landed at our final destination - Spearhead Brewing. I think the
operation was far larger than any of us anticipated and was a fantastic
capper on a even better day in Kingston. While Josh was, of course, our
host for the day, Jacob gave us all an outstanding tour of the brewery.

And since they would like to see the best return on their investment, it isn't long before they start suggesting cost-cutting measures. I truly hope Trevor has been able to continue resisting that through these trying financial times. He seemed like a pretty genuine and resolute fellow so I'd guess yes. The Brew Crew all loved his stories and even moreso, his beers. In many ways, the most interesting and informative stop of the day.

Okay, final destination (though not in that scary Final Destination movie way) was, of course, Spearhead Brewing because Josh sure as hell wasn't going to start the tour there. It had to be the big finale and it, indeed, was. Okay, right off the top, I think this operation was far larger than any of us thought it would be.

Well, what can I tell ya? The sign says it all! Here's me,
Curtis and Glenn all goofing around once we landed at
Spearhead. I suspect photographer Nichole was hoping
for a more civilized photo but given the subject matter,
that wasn't gonna happen, was it? Great day, great fun!

Back in May 2017, the Spearhead gang took over an old air-brake factory, located at 675 Development Drive, gutting it entirely and began building their brewery from the ground up. It was a lot of ground. Some 16,000 square feet to be precise.

While Josh originally envisioned a Fall 2017 opening, the usual hiccups and burps associated with envisioning and then actually building something of this large scale happened. However, in the end, the doors finally opened to the public on April 2018 - less than a year after they began. (That's actually damn good.)

At the time of the original announcement in May 2017, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation said in a release, "(We are) so excited to welcome Spearhead Brewing President and CEO Josh Hayter to Kingston." You know, I attended Queen's University for a half year decades ago and all I got was a note from the Penitentiary saying, "See you soon." But hey, funny story, guess who footed the tab for our dinner at Spearhead? Yup, the KEDC. Thanks, gang. Most of us were still working off that huge lunch but hey, believe me, we noshed. Great spread!

Exactly one week after our Kingston Brewery Tour, Spearhead was the
official beer partner to the 2020 Tim Horton's Brier Canadian Men's
National Curling Championship. Beers available at the bonspiel? Well,
their Hawaiian Style Pale Ale, Sam Robert Band Ale and Decoy Lager.
Here, our man, David, captured both Jacob and Josh lining up a shot.
Guessing the bar was as close to the ice as these two actually made it.

But back to Head Brewer Jacob and his insightful and laugh-filled tour of Spearhead. Like I said, our final stop of the day and I think we hit it around 6 pm or so? Due to a huge lunch, everyone was quite well behaved, especially after visiting five breweries but we were definitely loose and lively.

When Spearhead started in Kingston, Josh lured Tomas Schmidt out of retirement. Tomas had worked for big (Labatt) and small breweries alike. Jacob came along with his father, who he fully acknowledged had taught him well. So while Tomas is the official Spearhead Brewmaster, Jacob admitted as Head Brewer, well, pretty much all the day-to-day responsibility fell onto his shoulders now. And he made it clear that was happily so. With countless tanks at his and the crew's disposal, it was "kid in a candy store" time for a guy like him. And at this point, with a well-lubricated Brew Crew, he was fielding questions like he was the Brewers' Golden Glove winner.

Glenn thinks that he caught a Josh Hayter "unicorn" photo here. That
meaning, Josh is actually smiling. No. Josh smiles all the time. The real
trick is to catch him laughing!! A beer rep, who once worked with
Josh, told me he had never once seen him laugh. Oh, I will capture his
laugh. This I swear. And that bowling shirt from Sin City Brewing
in Las Vegas? I had to tell him they were a casualty of COVID-19 as
they shuttered their operations in May. Pandemics are a real bitch...

And I would relate those questions if I could remember even one. Truth is as entertaining and informative as Jacob was, I was only half-listening and then, well, just wandered away during the whole thing to see if I could discover what brewing was in their many tanks. Holding my attention after five breweries? You'd have better luck with a goldfish. But man, the Brew Crew loved it, each getting some one-on-one time with Jacob.

"One of the best parts (of the day) was the tour at Spearhead and seeing that operation," said Graeme.

"Chatting with (Jacob) at Spearhead was really interesting," added Curtis. "He knows a lot of efficiency."

But for me, our cartoonist David kinda nailed it. "Sitting at Spearhead and having a chance to talk with everyone was great." Yeah, the relaxing part at the end of the day where we just drank and chilled with new and old friends.

The thing about that is Josh arranged two rides for us on the bus back to the hotel. One at 8 pm, one at 9 pm. The bus never moved at 8 pm because nobody got on it. Absolutely no one was willing to call it a night that early. And we didn't. You see, on the bus-ride back, April and Chuck Thibert announced there was a Waller St Brewing After Party in their room at the hotel. With, of course, their beer.

Okay, pretty much the best Sour I have ever had in my life
and I know Curtis agrees wholeheartedly. The Waller St
Brewing Imperial Scotch River Sour was smooth, sweet,
woody and the most deceptive beer in the world at a huge
ABV of 11.8%. Honestly, it tasted like it was 3% or 4%. If
you see it, buy it. Might be pricey at that ABV. Worth it!!

Game on. Actually, 'game on' in two ways. You see, February 22 was the night that the Leafs were playing Carolina. After the Canes lost both goalies to injury, Toronto Marlies' zamboni driver David Ayres was thrust into duty as the Carolina goalie. After the Leafs scored on their first two shots against him, the Canes defence came out huge in the third, China Walled him, won the game 6-3 and the 42-year-old became the oldest goalie in NHL history to record a win in his debut. Every Leafs fan in the room, myself included, was cheering him on. His wife Sarah's reaction on Twitter when her hubby came onto the ice in a Canes jersey? A very honest "F**K ME!!!!"

But anyway, what a crazy capper to an insanely fun and meticulously-organized day by Josh and Amanda. I'm sorry it took me so long to write this, you two, but truth to tell, I thought I already had. Like months ago. It wasn't until I pulled up my blogs that I realized it was still just a draft. Perhaps that's a testament to how much fun I - and we - had that six months later, I still remember it like it was yesterday. Great job! But Scooby Doo Gang, that's it, that's all and I am outta here. Until next time, I remain...

Hangin' with Tiiu and Steve....

And so Tiiu gets her glass. I didn't realize it but Tiiu has long coveted
my HopCat (Detroit craft beer bar) Shaker Pint glass. Why? Because
no one covets a Shaker Pint. It's the most basic bar glass ever. But she
did. And why? She and hubby Steve are Detroit fans (yes, they exist)
but they also have a black cat. All the pieces were dropping into place
now. I had two of them so yeah, of course, no problem sharing one.

This is the story of a patio meeting at a craft beer brewery in Brantford. Now with that reveal, you're likely thinking, "Well, that's not exactly revolutionary, is it? People meet on patios all that time." And they do... or at least did. Until 2020. The year that changed the rules about, well, everything. How you socialize. Hell, should you even socialize?

As Ontario enters Phase 3 (with regards to opening more and more public facilities during the pandemic), a lot of us are still treading very, very carefully.

I have not been on a public patio since February 2020. Neither have my met-for-the-first-time friends, Tiiu and Steve (@SteveTiiu), who, like me, are very big Vegas fans and regular YouTube Vegas vloggers (okay, that part's not like me - just a Vegas drinker). In fact, the last time any of us was on a patio was February 2020 in Vegas. Three of us and not one has seen a public patio in five months. Mostly because they've been shut down. Here and in America. And around the world. Pretty much everywhere.

Tiiu, myself and Steve at our first social outing since February. We hit
the patio at Mash Paddle Brewing last weekend. Despite the fact the pair
lives just five minutes away, they had never been there. Turned out
Steve's a bit of a hophead just like me while Tiiu opted for the milder
styles. Who drank what? Well, you gotta read on and I'll get to that...

Apparently, there's a nasty little bug going on. I think I saw it mentioned in passing a couple of times on the internet. Corona-something. Maybe it was Heineken-something. Can't recall.

Anyway, before we continue, lemme explain how we all got together on a sunny and sizzling hot Sunday. A month or so ago, I posted a beer picture using that HopCat (Detroit location) shaker pint glass seen in the top picture. It's a fall-back glass I use when I don't have a branded glass for the brewery that made the beer. Tiiu commented on the picture, saying how much she loved the glass and was wishing she had one. I didn't know what the attraction was but said, hey, I have two if you want one. Turns out she very much did.

Going to Mash Paddle Brewing in Brantford was the first time
Steve, Tiiu and myself had engaged in a social outing since the
Coronavirus shit hit the fan back in March. Actually, make that
mid-February when we were all in Vegas, though in different
locations. The couple loves the strip while I am now a Fremont
Street kind of guy. I'll lure them Downtown somehow some way
but as a digital marketer, Steve might already know it's the best!

Long story short, Tiiu has a black cat that looks identical to the one on the glass. In fact, the cat appears at the cartoon beginning of their travel vlog. (Search Tiiu & Steve on YouTube.) There you go. So some time back in mid-June, she suggested a meet-up at a local Brantford brewery, suggesting Bell City, Mash Paddle or Steel Wheel. Either of the last two, I replied as I've been to Bell City many times. Steel Wheel took itself out of the equation as reservations are needed for their patio and they were booked up so Mash Paddle it was. In the end, we were all pretty happy with the choice. For me, a new brewery that was unfamiliar. For them, just five minutes from their house. Win-win.

So we connected on Sunday afternoon (July 26th). First off, what a cool couple. Super genuine. Like me, plenty of Vegas stories to share and between us three, just easy, fun and lively conversation all afternoon about our favourite travel destination. Fantastic for a first outing in five months, especially with new friends. (*Scottish brogue* Take that, ya wee shitty virus thingy!)

The beers that were available to us on the
patio. Steve and I both opted to drink the
Citranatti Bengal Session IPA as our first,
followed by the Vancouver Maneuver IPA
second. Tiiu went with the I Don't Practise
Sangria Boysenberry Blonde Ale as her
starter followed by a Bixel's Lager. We all
very much enjoyed our selections. Perfect.

Then the similarities started popping up left, right and centre. The last time we were all there - them on the strip, me at the Downtown Grand just off Fremont Street - was mid-February, as mentioned. I was there for my annual Vegas Birthday Week. So, too, was Steve. My birthday is February 14th. So, too, is Steve's. My next trip was booked for a March 16 arrival before Vegas - and all of Nevada -was shut down by Governor Steve Sisolak. Theirs was booked for that exact same day - first day of March Break.

"Without saying anything to each other, we both knew the trip would be cancelled by the middle of the previous week," Tiiu noted. I told them that I was still in it right up until that Friday. Both Vegas Value Vlogger, Mark (@pennys4vegas) out of London and I were resolute about our trips. By mid-Friday, I was ready to throw in the towel but confessed to them, I was waiting for Mark to pull that trigger first. He finally did and I immediately followed suit. No way I was droppin' trou' first, I chuckled.

But I had a Mark story for them from my Birthday Week. We met for the first time on February 9 at Banger Brewing on Fremont. Mark had some Group-on offer for the place so we split a taster flight to start (with pints to follow.) But because Mark's a Bud drinker, I started him with their Coffee Kolsch figuring it would be mild enough while I opted for their spicy El Hefe Hefeweizen. Mark quickly blanched at the Kolsch so I suggested he try my El Hefe. Now that he genuinely liked so we simply switched beers. After each of us had actually drank some of our own.

A very cool Mash Paddle pint glass (none available in the
retail) behind my Hog and 2cent "Scientific Fact" Bud-
themed facemask. The mask is great but that Citranatti
Bengal Session IPA was even better on a sunny, hot day!

"Can you imagine doing that now?" I laughed.

Tiiu is a health care professional (I don't really know who reads these so that's as much as I'll say) and she felt safe going to the patio. I found that in itself reassuring. Granted, Mash Paddle did it right. There was only three groups of us, at least 15 feet apart. As for indoor seating? One table and it was just 10 feet back from the wide open garage door. You arrived wearing a facemask (or no go) and were only allowed to take it off while drinking. Stand up to stretch your legs or go to the washroom, mask back on. When I arrived, (Steve and Tiiu were already there) the guy at the front asked for my full name, writing it beside Steve and Tiiu's.

I didn't know why but Steve explained, "In case someone there turns up having the virus, they have call us for contact tracing." Meaning, of course, we'd all need tests, too. And since both Tiiu and I have been essential workers since it all began, as much as I'm sure we'd both enjoy 14 days off, we'd prefer that wasn't the reason. (Although, in my case, there have been days... just sayin'...)

Inside seating? Yup. One table distanced from the patio by
about 20 feet. I tell you Mash Paddle hit all the right safety
notes when they opened things up to the public. Again, as I
said, if Tiiu, a medical health professional, felt safe there,
well, then Steve and I felt safe there. Good to have a pro!

Okay, so Tiiu and Steve are travel vloggers who just so happen to have a number of Vegas posts because, let's face it, it's a helluva lot more interesting than, say, Butte, Montana. I don't really gamble but I constantly plug into Vegas vlogs, which get guaranteed likes and subscribers because... Vegas!

Their vlog, Tiiu And Steve Hit The Road, (featuring that aforementioned black cat in cartoon form) is always a fun ride but when I clicked on it, I realized two things. One, I wasn't even a subscriber (don't panic - meet subscriber #295!) and two, way back in April, Steve had called me out to do the Three-Shot Challenge. Liquor and I have a hate-hate relationship so I deferred. But I do (now) remember Steve's challenge. I was one of the very few non-Vegas-vloggers nominated, I suspect. And I assumed I was already a subscriber because their vlogs kept showing up on my "recommended" You-Tube list.

But vlogging Vegas is not for slackers (such as myself), they noted. It's a lot of work, a lot of filming and a lot of editing. "We're kind of perfectionists," Steve admitted so yeah, they don't just slap stuff together and say, "Finished!"

Yanked off their Facebook page, here's a Mash
Paddle server having some fun at the brewery in
the pre-COVID days. Turns out the brewery has
been around for five years. I gotta admit - that
really surprised me. Well, I know where they are
now so they'll likely see me (and Steve and Tiiu)
again. It was a great afternoon of talking and fun!

But it was hilarious to hear that when they review their footage, there's a whole lot of "Oh, right, that's where we were. That's what we ate. That's what we drank." I suspect that is the case for many, if not ALL Vegas vloggers. I don't even vlog and my first two days of every week-long visit is a blur of slamming down fantastic American craft beer. By Day Three, my body's like, "Simmer down there, Hoss. You ain't 25 anymore." So I post pictures on Twitter that remind me during those bleary-eyed, foggy "Dafuq did I do yesterday?" mornings with my coffee. So far I haven't embarrassed myself but well, that takes a lot for me. Perhaps waking up in jail, missing a kidney or something.

It was interesting because Tiiu and Steve have always stayed on the Vegas strip as had I for my first 13 trips. That said, I am a recent but fiercely loyal convert to the scene in Downtown Vegas on Fremont Street because, well, it's just old-school Vegas nuts down there. But I think they may check out Fremont soon. Steve has mobility issues (wonky knees) so he boots around on a rented scooter. So many Vegas vlogs have been Fremont-centric recently, featuring prominent You-Tubers such as Hog and 2cent, Pennys4Vegas, Ace of Vegas, super-host Richard Wilk and Little Miss Hot Mess Express herself, Cinamon Hall, (I so have to party with this lady) that it's slowly becoming a desired destination.

I've circled the table where Tiiu, Steve and I enjoyed some
wobbly-pops last Sunday on a sizzling hot day. Trust me, those
beers went down mighty fine. Great little brewery, fantastic
company and well, you gotta start Phase Three somewhere, eh?

I suggested with the proximity of the hotel-casinos (less than a hundred feet apart, rather than miles on the strip) that they would love it there. Less walking for Tiiu, less scooting for Steve.

Okay, this is a beer blog so let's get that down for prosperity. Each of us had two beers. Like me, Steve is a hophead who loves his Lagunitas IPA. Being 100% owned by Heineken, there's plenty of that on tap in Vegas. So we both started with their session IPA, Citranatti Bengal. But when our friend Justin (@J_NO_LIFE) from Langley, B.C. (not a real place) saw Vancouver Maneuver IPA, well, he was pretty insistent we try that, as well. "Somebody has to try the Vancouver Maneuver for me," Justin said, "(Because) 6.6%, that's how we roll!!" I posted my pictures when I got home but, Justin, I am happy to report that's exactly what we had and it was damn solid. Unfortunately, it was also completely sold out at their retail. Tiiu prefers the maltier styles so she opted for the I Don't Practise Sangria, a boysenberry-infused Blonde Ale.

Cheers to all of our friends missing Las Vegas right now!
We will get back some day. Steve, Tiiu and myself are so
hoping for October but mine and Steve's Birthday Week
in February 2021 may be a little more realistic, I think.

She followed with their flagship beer, Bixel's Lager, which has a very strong following among the locals.

Okay, so Tiiu and I talked about meeting mid-June. Why did it take until the end of July until we finally did connect? Life. Work. A long-awaited visit from my son, David. Name it. So how did we eventually get together? Funny story. Turns out we were watching Colorado's coolest cat, Eric (@AceofVegas) livestream interview Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (yes, it's a real place!) couple Tamara and Gord (@VegasBestIdeas) about whether Canadians could go back to Vegas. Turn out we absolutely can but they actually did. On Canada Day, no less! But every livestream has a live chat section off to the right and hey, Tiiu reminded me about getting together. So we did. The next day. Gawd bless YouTube. So there you go. We'll be doing it again at a Hamilton brewery in the near-future but until then Scooby Doo Gang, that's it, that's all and I am outta here! As always, I remain...

Tears are not enough...

An early member of the Antifa movement was my Uncle
Don, the handsome chap on the left. He was a navigator
for the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII. You
see, he also fought fascism and Nazis and as such, was an
anti-fascist. He didn't survive the war but I'm glad to see
the Antifa movement carried on in his name. Well done!!
So when exactly did anti-fascism become bad in the US?

I wasn't certain I wanted to write about this. Actually, to be clear, I didn't. Honestly, it's not the first time I've been in that quandary, either.

The subject matter is, of course, the explosive protests in America at the moment that followed the death of African-American George Floyd at the hands - or rather, knee - of a white Minnesota cop (who I'm not going to name because it's not worth uttering.) It was all caught on video right down to Floyd's physical distress, saying he couldn't breathe. The cop didn't care that he was being filmed. Neither did his partner nor two more cops not on the video. For nine minutes that cop kneeled on Floyd's neck in front of us all until he was unconscious and quite likely, not breathing. He was also handcuffed, by the way.

It was one of the most disgusting and heart-wrenching displays of sickening smug white privilege I have ever witnessed in my 62 years. In essence, "I can kill a black man in broad daylight, while being filmed. No one and nothing can stop me." Except, that's not privilege. That's murder, which is 10, if not 20 gigantic steps beyond privilege.

There were a couple of incidents against the black community prior to this that I will get into, as well. But first, why was I avoiding writing about this? There's a couple of reasons.

I suggested on both Facebook and Twitter that if anyone
found the kneeling on the left more offensive, they were
welcome to unfriend or unfollow me. This is precisely why
Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the playing of the
National Anthem. Protesting police brutality against black
Americans. He lost his job because of it but this is fine?

Number one, I didn't wanna be THAT white guy. The hippie dude who says, "Hey, man, just know that I love and support the black community." (Actually, I love and support all communities but let's just concentrate on one at a time. I'm as ADD as shit.) To me, it just seemed more self-indulgent than, you know, actually helpful in this situation.

Number two, who the hell cares what I think? I'm old, white and male. I bring nothing of value or relevance in this particular situation to the table. I have no idea what it's like to grow up black in North America. I mean, I can guess but that's all it is - guessing. That said, I understand with pin-point precision the advantages I have been afforded because I'm white. I'm not rich. Quite the opposite, in fact. I have no real influence. If I did, I'd lock every old, white politician in a metal box. Those asshats bug me.

Not sure which protest this is but if you cannot see
the pain in this man's eyes, please consult your local
optometrist. I wish ALL law enforcement agencies
in America were this empathetic right now. Many
are, don't get me wrong. But in a time like this, it
would be much nice if they ALL were. Could use it.

So anyway, here's what changed my mind on this whole thing. A few days after Floyd's murder (as a former journalist, I should feel obliged to preface murder with "alleged" but you know what? Nope) my buddy, Steve, in a very meaningful way, snapped on Facebook. As a black man, he had had enough.

I am condensing this to the most salient points but Steve said: "Today is a struggle for me... I have spent so far a large part of my day teary-eyed, trying to comprehend WTF is going on. (Showing a photo of two protests) Protestors in Minnesota last night (the George Floyd protests) and protestors in Michigan a few weeks back (the white assholes who stormed the Legislative Assembly loaded with assault weapons because their right to roam the street like rabid dogs had been taken away), there was a huge difference in the way the police dealt with it." (The Floyd protestors are being met with tear gas and worse. The Michigan protesters, despite being heavily-armed, marched in, screamed and yelled because they couldn't go to the barber or nail salon. And eventually just walked out. Like nothing had happened.)

Back to Steve's point - the current riots. "The predominantly black protesters aggressively protesting on the street. Now I've read and seen the comments. 'Why can't black people just protest peacefully?'"

Camden County (New Jersey) Police Chief
Joseph Wysocki marched with protesters this
past week. This is an excellent example of the
police doing the right thing. That said, there
are many more examples of them doing the
opposite. I am simply posting these pictures
for one reason. To show it truly can be done.

"My perspective? I don't condone looting and stealing. It's wrong and it plays right into the white privileged mentality that says, 'See? Look how they are!' But I understand it. When you are subjected to systemic injustice constantly, it wears you down until you want to act out! That's from first-hand experience." 

He added in America, white men can walk down the street, heavily armed and nothing happens. "If I loaded myself up and walked down any street, I would not get very far!" (My guess? Maybe 10 feet - 20 if he runs.)

As for why "blacks can't protest peacefully?" Steve has a response. "A few years ago, Colin Kaepernick took to his knee to peacefully protest what he felt was systemic violence towards black men in America." Beside it, Steve posted the picture of White Murder Cop kneeling on George Floyd's head. "My perspective? Even if the black guy broke the law, he should still be alive today! The cop looks pretty comfortable in his actions. When Colin K peacefully protested, he was labelled anti-American. Black-balled from working. Have those white guys fully-loaded in Michigan been labelled anti-American? His peaceful protest was not taken seriously. (Why?) 'Because he did it wrong!' (So) another black man dies. Message: Sure, black people, we want you to protest peacefully... but not like that! And if you protest in aggression, you see, that's how you people are. Dangerous!"

This photo, taken by Gary Coronado of the Los Angeles Times, speaks
louder than words. George Floyd's last words were "I can't breathe."
And then he stopped doing precisely that. Because some damn white cop
decided he had the power over life and death that day. It's so sickening.

As for Canada, well, Steve's not gonna dress America as the lecherous uncle and put Canada in a pretty party dress. We are no better. We are simply one-ninth the US population so you only see it one-ninth as much. But to be certain, if you're black, you do see it. Back to Steve's words now.

"I get this question enough and it concerns me. 'Have you experienced racism in Canada?' So that's a resounding yes! It's (as) systemic as it is in the USA. Having lived in three countries where the systems are run and governed by the white population mostly, (I think) white privilege is rampant!"

I know that I'm livid. I like to think I am listening. But
it's gonna take a lot more. We need - and more likely -
our black brothers and sisters need us to not only be
listening but to be speaking out loudly. When the white
community joins the black community in solidarity,
well, then that voice gets pretty damn loud. Trying to
do my part here. Maybe I'm succeeding. Maybe I'm
not. But I want my son to know that I tried very hard.

"And it's a concept that a large majority, one, don't understand and two, would never admits it exists. How many white people whined to me when Affirmative Action was seriously prevalent and jobs were going to visible minorities. Yeah, that must have been a tough go for you!"

As for support from his white friends (which, of course, includes me), "It's mildly comforting to hear from white people, 'Oh, that's just disgusting and how awful.' My perspective (is) you will never understand and at this point, we don't expect you to. After all, it's 'just playing the race card'."

Okay, lemme say something here. Steve is not my only black friend. But he was the first. Growing up in white-bread Oakville, I was not afforded much face-to-face with the black community. I met Steve in Grade 9. He became a friend then. He has become an even better, closer friend since. Sometimes, old friendships grow. Sometimes, they disappear. It's organic. Nothing you can control. This one, for whatever reason, grew. And frankly, I feel like I am a better man for it.

Because now, I am invited to see the world through another man's eyes. What he has seen is vastly different than what I have seen. And I'm way older than Steve. By seven months.

So, anyway, here's the man whose words you just
read with his baby girl, Hannah. Hannah is now
in her 20s and can no longer sleep on her daddy,
Steve, like this. It's pretty much my favourite
picture of them and like David and me, there
have been hundred of photos. But I love this one.

But he has seen the world for what it truly is. The worst it can be. I have not simply by virtue of my pale skin. (Seriously, I am so white. I'm Oakville white which is the whitest of all whites.)

But my friend, Renee Navarro, (who I've never actually met) is best known for her efforts with diversity in craft beer. It's seen as kind of a fully-bearded white dudes' territory. (I only have an ugly stache so I'm kinda half-assing it.) She's trying to change that. Working damn hard at it, too. She'll succeed. Gonna take a while but she will. Anyway, like the pesky little sister she is (such a pain-in-the-ass), she challenged me to write about my favourite POC, a.k.a. person of colour. (Translating that for white Oakville people.)

You see this handsome fellow here? Steve. He's my favourite. Yeah, he's better looking than me. And yeah, he's more athletic. Won Male Athlete of the Year once when we were in high school. And yeah, he's better with the ladies than I am. And yeah, the dude's smooth as silk. And yeah, people just naturally are drawn to him whereas I...

Wait, why do I like this guy again? He's pretty much kicking my ass at everything. Oh, right. Now I remember. Sometimes, you want your friends to do better than you. Especially if they really deserve it. Steve does. Peace out, brother. I will always stand beside you.