“It’s way more fun when you branch outside of the normal and that’s really when good things start to happen. The best things.” (Steve Beauchesne, Beau’s)
In this (fantastic) video Beau’s Brewery becomes a skate park, a brew master collaborates with a chef and something new is created. Check it:
Love it!
JVL and his Beau's
Justin Van Leeuwen is an Ottawa-based event and portrait photographer who, in his spare time, takes pictures without people in them.
When I moved to Ottawa four years ago, there was a common element that I’d run into when going out: Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company.
The beer was unfamiliar to me, but I always jump at the chance to try a new ale; it was slightly bitter, full in taste, and stronger than your average on-tap offerings. It quickly became my beer of choice at bars and taverns, and even at home when I could find it for sale. Beau’s isn’t distributed through the Beer Store – we all know they don’t offer the best selection anyway.
I’m sure complex distribution methods through the LCBO also don’t help keep this popular local brew on hand. Many a time I’ve visited hoping to to pick up their clever four pack (Four 600ml bottles instead of the standard six-pack of ~300ml… they give me porn hands too) only to find them sold out.
When in stock, I started buying them by the case – if you’re going to drink, drink the best, right?
JVL's porn hands
I’m clearly not the only one who has a passion for beer, or the local brewer, just check out my friend Travis Boisvenue’s short video documentary on the brewer:
An alternative is, of course, to buy the beer direct from the brewer in Vankleek Hill, which is an hour and a half drive from where I live – so that’s not an exciting prospect.
November saw the answer to all my troubles.
Beau’s launched their home-delivery service (currently in Ottawa only) at BYBO.ca and I was quick to place an *ahem* healthy order. Growlers were available (1.89L of yum) for “sharing” as well as cases of their classic Lug-Tread. Of course their seasonal “Bog Water” was also up for delivery; put them together and I had a great taster pack en route for the holidays!
A bit about the delivery. There’s an added altruistic bonus for those of us with a charitable edge: the delivery is provided by Operation Come Home, which employs at-risk youths and “prevents homeless youth from becoming homeless adults” – you can read more about the service here. So I get beer, delivered to my door for $15, that fee goes to help youth get out off the streets, gives them work *AND* I get a charitable tax receipt for $8.25?
Sorry, you had me at “Beer Delivery.”
It wasn’t all smooth for Beau’s and Operation Come home, as “acting on a complaint from another brewery ” the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario tried to shut down the service. But, in a surprisingly quick polictical move, the Ontario government made an exception for Beau’s and promised to look at the current laws. You can read a bit about the ordeal on their blog and I can promise you, I was equally distressed about the temporary shut-down as I was excited about the service in the first place.
Justin's beer has arrived! Thanks Beau's!
It’s all ended well, I’m receiving deliveries on a fairly regular basis, my wife has taken to drinking beer too – it’s a bonding experience. I’m also not wanting for variety, Beau’s specialty brews are distinct enough that I have the spice of life all in a one-stop shop.
BYBO currently takes Paypal. Of course I sometimes receive payment from my clients via Paypal – which means I have a beer-balance! Maybe Beau’s isn’t the taste of choice for everyone, but for me, and my house, it’s the only choice we offer now.
Wow, thanks for the great feature, JVL! Also, can we get a signed print of that fabulous feature photo?
Brian and Jordan of Project: Priceless
Jordan Kent-Baas is the co-creator of Project: Priceless, a social media experiment with the goal of getting Jordan and her new husband Brian married on August 22, 2011, as free-of-charge as possible.
As much of Ottawa knows, my sweetheart Brian and I were married about two weeks ago. If you’re unfamiliar with our blog, Project: Priceless, this may be a good time to check it out, as you’ll see why a nearly-free honeymoon was the best fit for us.
Photo Credit: Adam Pap (via Project Priceless)
In short, for those who don’t follow our blog yet: we managed to plan and execute a 140-person wedding for very nearly no cost. The trade off: a ton of extra hours, the construction of a viral blog, and lots of glue gun burns.
We knew we wouldn’t be in a position to afford a big honeymoon, but we also knew it would still be beautiful weather in the Ottawa area with two weeks left of August. We decided we’d spend a week off together travelling no further than a car ride from home, using social coupons whenever possible, and to our utter amazement, it was a pleasant and busy week, indeed.
We started off on our wedding night, and the night following, staying at the Hilton Lac Leamy on the Hull side. It’s easy to forget what a beautiful hotel we have just minutes from our doorstep, but Brian and I had the pleasure to stay here once before, in January. This two-night stay was a wedding gift from my parents—and a great one that we looked forward to in the months of stressful planning. We arrived late on our wedding night; as always, I was mesmerized by the beautiful blown glass that adorns the ceilings and walls of the regal lobby.
Photo Credit: Mike Foote (via Flickr)
We hadn’t told anyone we were getting married, so the front desk staff looked a bit surprised to find a bride in white dress and a groom in orange vest standing in their lobby at midnight; but the staff were wonderful and a porter escorted us, and our luggage, to our room. The porter was fairly adorable, barely managing to rein in his excitement and clearly wishing he could inundate us with questions about our big day.
We settled into our room but found that the proximity of the elevator shafts meant that we could hear the zipping of the gears, and we called downstairs. I said we understood if they were booked for the night, but for the second night we’d love to be moved to a different room; the desk staff immediately offered us a new room, and sent the porter up to help us. All smiles again, he escorted us to a full suite, with living area, a bathroom the size of my kitchen decked out with a jacuzzi tub, and a giant flat screen TV. A call from downstairs informed us that there was a special delivery headed to our room, and moments later our grinning porter brought us a bottle of champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries.
Strawberry surprise from the Hilton Lac Lemy (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)
We slept in that day, enjoying the view of downtown Ottawa’s glowing lights as we fell asleep, then the pinkish morning skies when we woke. After a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Arome, (where Brian discovered a waffle machine and stuff himself to painful proportions with eggs Benedict), we headed out to Wakefield for the afternoon.
A quick stop into the Wakefield Bakery for butter tarts was followed by a leisurely walk along the Wakefield Train tracks and the river, stopping into various country craft-style shops along the strip.
We renewed our commitment to make it out to the Black Sheep Inn for a concert soon. We finished our trip with tapas at the Wakefield Mill; it was our first time trying it, so I’m not sure if all tapas involves such a serious amount of uncooked meat (tartare, ceviche, and fumée), but it wasn’t our favourite thing. As an Irish girl raised on steak and potatoes, Brian had a bit of a surprised chuckle at the end of the meal; when I asked what was funny, he said he hadn’t actually expected me to eat the food! Delectable or not, it was an adventure and we enjoyed it.
Sunflowers in Wakefield, Quebec (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)
Our evening was spent in the outdoor heated saltwater pool at the hotel, and the next day saw us head home for 48 hours of quiet time before heading out into the world again. We spent time hanging out in our own ‘hood, Westboro, eating awesome sushi at Naked Fish; having tasty pub fare at Corner Bar and Grill; and tearing apart a ham and gruyere croissant at Bridgehead while planning the decorating process for our apartment—a major project that will be chronicled on the Project: Priceless Newlywed blog we’re launching…and relying heavily on UsedOttawa and local rummage sales for ‘priceless’ treasures, of course.
The end of the week saw us on the road again, this time using a social coupon (read: a groupon-like coupon, from which company I cannot recall) to visit a Bed & Breakfast in L’Orignal near Hawkesbury. We checked in to the B&B, a very new establishment nestled unexpectedly at the end of a cul de sac of suburban-style homes. Our room, while small, was prettily decorated, though very modern—the owners are German expats who veered far left of the usual Victoriana and went for a cutting-edge look and feel.
Hitting up the Harley Davidson dealership in Hawkesbury (Photo Credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)
Brian particularly loved the half-sphere of glass that served as the bathroom sink. My personal taste runs more towards the kitschy gingerbread-home type of place, but our stay was comfortable, the owner was very amiable, and the breakfast—whole wheat German waffles with endless other goodies—was delicious. Hawkesbury itself was (I’m sorry, Hawkesbury) boring as sin, with the exception of the enormous Harley Davidson dealership, where we found a shirt for Brian, and a hat for me, on super-sale.
We did, of course, make a stop in Vankleek Hill to see Beau’s Brewery, where Beau’s All Natural Beer is brewed (say that five times fast). Brian, an aficionado of anything you imbibe, was enthralled with the tour that showed us the giant vats, the bottling area, and the various behind-the-scenes areas. Brian bought himself a souvenir beer glass, and when I got home he presented me with my own: a tiny one about the size of a juice glass. Brian says it’s for beer tastings, but it’s absolutely perfect for me and holds exactly the right amount of ale. We also brought home a couple bottles of Beau’s Lug Tread, and I loved it, as did my Mom and Dad, who had us over that night for a fantastic dinner made entirely of local produce purchased from (local only) vendors in the Byward and Parkdale markets.
We actually ran out of time before running out of activities; we still have a social coupon for paintball, and a lesson at the Ottawa Fencing Club to attend. We did, however, make time to go for a two-week-anniversary dinner at Vineyards with yet another social coupon we’d procured. It was a nice chance to sit in the Vineyard’s cozy atmosphere, with its wine cellar feel, and enjoy just staring at each other like total nitwits. Brian had a wine flight and steak au poivre while I opted for a plate of scallops and shrimp with rice and veggies, sautéed in garlic and herbs. We wrapped up the evening by—and this is why I am the luckiest girl in the world—watching You’ve Got Mail in bed while Brian rubbed my back ‘til I fell asleep and he had to carry me to the bathroom to brush my teeth.
Our beautiful National Capital Region (Photo credit: Jordan Kent-Baas)
We do want, one day, to take that long-distance honeymoon, ideally when the weather here sucks…ideally mid-January, once all the fun of the holidays has passed and all we’re left with around here is brown gritty snow. And because of our clever use of local free fun combined with deal coupons, this staycation didn’t put a dent in any travel savings we may start. But after planning one of the craziest weddings of all time, and all the running around we did for months, it was really wonderful to stay close to home, enjoy some Ottawa Valley treasures, and focus on what a honeymoon is really all about: the new sheets we got as a wedding present!
Wow, great post Jordan! Congratulations to you both!
Travis Boisvenue is a king of communications: A writer, blogger, radio host, photographer and producer of videos. He’s also a regular contributor to MediaStyle and Open File Ottawa. Now, he’s made a very cool, eight-minute documentary on the family success story that is Beau’s All-Natural Brewing Co.
Most Ottawa natives know the story behind Beau’s: Founded five years ago by father-and-son team Tim and Steve Beauchene, the brewery uses all natural, organic ingredients to make their award-winning Lug-Tread Lager in Vankleek Hill, about an hour’s drive east of Ottawa.
But don’t take our word for it: Watch on to learn more!
The company produces a number of other beers seasonally throughout the year, but it’s Lug Tread that’s in heavy demand around the Ottawa region and beyond. In fact, Beau’s had to cut its sales to the high-volume LCBO stores of Toronto because they simply couldn’t keep up production. (Beau’s is currently 100 per cent DIY — meaning the company brews, sells, markets and delivers its own beer.)
To get your hand on a pint, Beau’s website offers a full list of where their suds are on sale and on tap.
And if you love Beau’s as much as Travis does, grab your Early Bird tickets to the brewery’s annual Oktoberfest party starting THIS FRIDAY.
Wild boar sausage wood-oven pizza from Tennessy Willems
Geneviève Brisson is a master’s student in communication at the University of Ottawa, working on a thesis on gastronomic tourism. An Ottawa native, she has an appetite for discovering everything the National Capital Region has to offer, especially its burgeoning food scene.
Pizza. A quintessential food of the Canadian diet – for better or for worse. I recently decided to embark on an exploration of gourmet/specialty pizza restaurants in the National Capital Region to discover pizzas that have character…and pizzazz!
I visited Tennessy Willems with my boyfriend a couple of weeks ago. This Hintonburg wood-oven pizza place just opened in December of last year.
When we came in from the cold on a Tuesday night of this month, the place was full, so we were offered a spot at the bar. Sitting at the bar turned out to be a really nice and casual way to spend dinner, not to mention that we had a good view of the mesmerizing pizza making techniques of the chef. Great entertainment!
The focus of the menu here is of course the pizzas, with about a dozen on offer ranging from $10 to 18$, but you will also find interesting appetizers, a few salads and other entrées, and three desserts. I also saw a soup being brought out of the kitchen during the evening, but none was listed on the menu (I questioned if the staff forgot to mention it to us).
We started our meal with a nice cheese plate of three Canadian cheeses, crostini, chutney, and caramelized nuts. My only complaint is that we could have used more crostini to finish the cheeses.
Cheese plate from Tennessy Willems
We then split the wild boar sausage pizza with caramelized apples, sage and old cheddar, which was brought with a bottle of chilli oil and a small bowl of chilli peppers to use at our pleasure. The pizza’s thin crust had slightly charred edges and a pleasant smokiness from the wood-burning oven. Delightful!
To accompany the pizza, I had a glass of full-bodied Italian red wine from the short but interesting wine list, which went beautifully with the pizza. My boyfriend, excited by the local beer offerings on tap, went with a Beau’s.
For dessert, I couldn’t resist ordering the lemon tart. It was fresh and tangy, and the crust had a good texture (not too crumbly). Simply fabulous.
Lemon tart from Tennessy Willems
The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and cozy.
Light strands decorate the windows, colourful art adorns the white walls, and the wood planks serving as table tops give off a sleek but warm feel. And I just love the wood pile by the kitchen.
Service is perhaps the slight low point of the place; it’s familiar and friendly, but still working out some kinks.
Given that I was there on a Tuesday night and the place was packed from the time we got there to the time we left about two hours later, I would maybe suggest making a reservation, especially on the weekend. You can also get pizza to go, but I would recommend eating at the restaurant for the nice atmosphere.
So, in the coming months, I hope to visit and revisit some of the gourmet pizza restaurants in the National Capital Region. Don’t hesitate to give me your recommendations!
Do you have a pizza place suggestion for Geneviève? Leave a comment below!
For more info on Beau's All Natural Brewing Company visit: http://www.beaus.ca
Conor (a soon be lawyer) and Renée (a dedicated public servant) have lived in Ottawa their whole lives and couldn’t imagine living in a better city. Their love affair with Ottawa stems from the serene calm that seems to surround the city, the camaraderie of the Ottawa Trivia League (they’re both on the team Spoiler Alert) and by trying new local things.
Conor was first introduced to Beau’s in the summer of 2008 when a friend gave him one of those easily recognizable ceramic bottles.
The Lugtread was delicious, local, and family brewed. So when we heard that another rising local institution was teaming up with Beau’s we had to make it out to Bridgehead to celebrate Winterlude with Winterbrew, a coffee infused beer.
Bridgehead
The event took place at Bridgehead’s newest location on Sparks Street. The place was jammed with all types. Who knew so many people liked beer and coffee! While we joked that The Drew Carrey Show had this idea years ago, Beau’s and Bridgehead put a little more thought into this beer’s recipe than getting buzzed on beer and coffee.
According to a press release from Beau’s, they “wanted to go with a medium altitude Central or South American coffee, because they tend to be very clean with flavours [they] thought would be complementary to the beer – nuts, cocoa powder and warm spices. There were a few coffees that would have done the trick, but we settled upon a coffee from around the town of San Juan del Rio Coco in Madriz, Nicaragua because of the pronounced Dutch-processed cocoa aromas.”
Bridgehead
The beer did not disappoint.
We were warned that the first sip would be strange and it was. But half way through it became really tasty. Peter and Conor, both heavy coffee drinkers, appreciated the sensation of getting pretty buzzed and compared it to an iced Americano. Renee and Kristen, who do not often drink coffee, didn’t enjoy it as much but finished their drinks in true Winterbrew style.
Cynical curmudgeon, Conor, scoffed at both Beau’s and Bridgehead who pride themselves on natural and organic as well as fair trade means of crafting their brews, for serving the Winterbrew in plastic cups until Peter realized that the cups were compostable. Nice touch.
Running with the local and organic theme of the night, we headed to Hintonburger on Wellington for dinner.
Hintonburger is located at 991 Wellington Street West
From the outside, it looks like a dive, but you should never judge a book by it’s cover because within is pure deliciousness.
The beef comes from Ottawa O’Brien Farms and are filled with herbs and seasoning. No pictures of the burger themselves because we were too busy eating them and/or they were so delicious we ate them too fast. We haven’t ventured away from the burger, but I hear they’re corn dog is delicious (and can’t wait to try it).
If you’re in Hintonburg you really need to stop in and try anything on their menu, but make sure to have money on hand as it’s cash only.
Thanks for the post you two! We hope to see more of you here…and in person!
Don Chow is a local foodie and one of the hosts of the wonderful local blog foodiePrints, a great space to read about food, drink, cooking, and eating in Canada’s capital.
Every Friday, a downtown Irish pub holds an event to celebrate the end of the work week. The pub is named after a father of confederation, who has the dubious distinction of being the only Canadian victim of political assassination at the federal level. The event is called Oyster Friday (@OysterFriday).
D’Arcy McGee’s, at the corner of Sparks and Elgin has been open 13 years, ostensibly under the same general manager, Jeff O’Reilly. Jeff goes by @pintinhand on Twitter.
The pub serves Guiness, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny, Harp, Creemore Spring, Alexander Keith’s, and Spaten on tap. Spaten happens to be exclusive to the Prime Pubs chain to which D’Arcy McGee’s belongs. What sets downtown’s D’Arcy McGee’s apart is the pub also serving local beers on tap, both Beau’s and Kichissippi.
Fridays, you will find the pub’s tables filled with people discussing current events, arguing politics, meeting friends, and sharing jokes. Both locals and downtown office workers boisterously chatter, with hearty laughter interspersed. At D’Arcy McGee’s everyone is welcome: the young professional, dressed down for Friday; political staff, still dressed in shirts and ties; and retirees, wanting to share a pint.
Happy hour starts at 4:00 pm (ending at 6:00 pm) with two Irish pints (Guinness, Smithwick’s, Kilkenny, and Harp) for $10. At 5:00 pm complimentary oysters are served on the basement floor until they run out.
Complimentary oysters
Here is how one week’s Oyster Friday started:
Tray of ice and three sauces from left to right: a mixture of jalapeno juice, chopped jalapenos, and red current jelly; classic cocktail sauce; and red wine vinegar with chopped onions
Then, oysters, freshly purchased from The Sustainable Oyster & Fish Supply were brought in.
For the past seven years, Lindsay Sinclair has been shucking oysters for Oyster Friday.
According to Jeff, Lindsay is the Oyster Chick
Oysters with jalapeno juice
Oysters with classic cocktail sauce
If oysters don’t meet your fancy, D’Arcy McGee’s has a “tastefully Irish” menu, including a Guinness steak and mushroom boxty for platter $9.99 (potato pancake filled with beef and button mushrooms braised in Guinness), a chicken tikka boxty platter for $11.99 (potato pancake filled with chicken and onions simmered in a medium curry sauce), grilled breads from $10.99, steak frites for $22.99, and a “market” sandwich for $12.99 (peameal bacon, lettuce, tomato, breaded cheese on dark rye with red pepper mayo).
So, after a long week, you could do worse than gathering up some friends, doing a search for the #oysterfriday hash tag on Twitter, and dropping by D’Arcy McGee’s for a pint and some oysters. Trust me, it’s a lot of fun!
If you go for the oysters, go early. They move fast…
Particulars:
D’Arcy McGee’s
44 Sparks Street
(613)230-4433
Thanks for the awesome post Don! Heading out to Oyster Friday tonight? Tell us how it went!
