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craft beer

Second Draught: Granville Island’s Winter Beer

Jan 14th, 2013
by David Ort.
2 comments

For craft breweries identity is important–and occasionally controversial. A central question in that debate is: Can a craft brewery keep that label after it is bought by a large, multinational brewing company? For instance, Ontario’s Creemore Springs Brewery was bought by Molson is 2005 and then B.C.’s  Granville Island Brewing was in turn purchased by Creemore in 2009.

Both companies have kept many of their fans despite the takeover by Molson Coors. I think this is especially true when it comes to special or seasonal releases. Granville Island’s Lions Winter Ale is a typical example.  (more…)

New Loblaws, Bulk Barn, and Matt Kantor at Longo’s

Dec 1st, 2011
by David Ort.
2 comments

Maple Leaf Gardens restored awning and the lineup for the new Loblaws.

Yesterday grocery stores were front page news in Toronto. Loblaws has bought Maple Leaf Gardens and turned it into a massive store with wide aisles and separate wall-sized displays of cheese, prosciutto and other goods.

Mural of Leafs heroes at new Loblaws.

Mural of Leafs heroes at new Loblaws.

I joined the lineup under the restored, retro awning on Carlton to get into the Gardens and only scalpers shouting “who’s buying, who’s selling” could have made that more nostalgic. There are some touches like the large mural pictured above, tables topped with posting posters from when Ali was still Clay, and the art installation made from old blue seats above the escalator that are definite nod to the building that was the setting for millions of hours of frost-bitten boyhood fantasies. (more…)