The trouble with Ontario is really expressed in its beer distribution system: it is too big. Half the nation lives here, half the office space and half the bears as well. It goes from the arctic to the Carolinian forest, from the western prairie to a few miles from Montreal. The effect on beer distribution is a focus on localization so that if you want to find one of the beer from the handful of brewers in the province you have to drive. Driving on the weekend for other reasons, I took the opportunity to test the LCBO stocks in Guelph, north on highway 6 just past the Sleemans Brewery, four hours drive to my west.
This beer was worth the drive. A dark ale that actually tries to be something other than a darkened lager like the quite foul Waterloo Dark. Dark ale is not really a style so much as a place there by brown on the lighter side and porter on the richer. It is a small place and this beer settles there well. The body is heavier than the average Canadian ale – as the automotive oil name would imply. It is however fairly fresh with bright, if twiggy, hops cutting quite a sweet rich malt profile. Within the malts there are grainy pale malt flavours as well as some chocolate. Amongst those there is also a treacle note and perhaps a little hint of licorice. A brighter and lighter Theaksons’s Old Peculier? Here is what the advocates say.
Perhaps not the most amazing ale but – for those named dark – the best I have had from Canada.
[Original comments…]
Steve Poteet – September 14, 2005 9:48 PM
I have a 1937 MGTA,1953MGTDand1962MGA2.I would love to buy some of your beer to drink and add to my MG collection!Do you have any signage for sell?
Thank you
Steve Poteet
380 College Ave
Clemson,SC 29631
Phone 864-654-4484
Ed – May 11, 2006 2:22 PM
You may want to contact Andrew directly for the signage request…
It’s pretty much just him and his wife that run the operation.
Brewer: Andrew Stimpson
Neustadt Springs Brewery
456 Jacob Street
Neustadt ON
+1 519-799-5790
10:00am-6:00pm.
Cheers
Alan – December 23, 2006 2:16 PM
Beer alert. Beer alert.
Alert! Now in the Kingston LCBO! Alert! Now in the Kingston LCBO at Barrack Street and King!
This has been a beer alert.
Dave – December 23, 2007 2:14 PM
I had to try the beer just because of the name. I’ve been accused many times – over the years of drinking “crankcase oil”…
Damn! I really like it!
Shaine – July 10, 2008 4:38 PM
I bought this beer on a trip east last May (07). I look forward to my trips just to try out new beers. I bought this one as a bit of a gag on my father-in-law. But what a great beer – I have tried to find it here in southern Alberta… but if it isn’t Big Rock or Bud we don’t seem to have it.
snow – July 25, 2009 3:37 PM
Anybody know where to buy this in Toronto? i asked an LCBO clerk and she told me they don’t carry it to often because is doesn’t sell to well and it doesn’t have a long shelve life.
Dave 291rcr – July 27, 2009 4:37 AM
I purchase this beer when it first came onto the market as I reside close to Neustadt, Ontario. It was terrible first 6 pack was my last 6 pack. Introduced same to friends and their reaction was the same. Very disappointed.
Andy – September 4, 2009 1:12 AM
I really like this stuff. Ran into it a few years back and I’ve been a fan ever since. Unfortunately, it’s getting increasingly difficult to find it in the Tillsonburg/Simcoe area; any thoughts on where I might try my luck? The last time I had any I picked it up directly from the brewery, but that’s way too far out of the way for any kind of regular trip.
fred – September 22, 2009 4:10 PM
Great Beear had it on tap from taps inNiagara Falls . this is a great addidtion to there great beers made on site.
P.S. to Dave 291: Go back to drinking watery imports and us drink real beer that is “strong and free”.
Erik – November 2, 2009 9:28 PM
In Toronto, I get it at St. Clair and Keele, by the can, along with Neustadt’s IPA. I found it with this handy tool:
http://lcbosearch.com/
Erik – November 2, 2009 9:31 PM
Scottish Pale Ale, rather. Not IPA.
Kelly – January 22, 2010 4:24 PM
We head up to the Bruce every summer for a week or so and always stop in Neustadt for a couple of cases of 10 W 30. I find it’s the best beer on the market. We live near Tillsonburg I found they sell it now at the L C B O. See you next August.
Bob – March 25, 2010 6:42 PM
you can grab it at queen and coxwell lcbo location in tall cans
Trelard – September 4, 2010 9:39 PM
You can also now get it at the LCBO on the Hazledean Road in Ottawa. Literally had only a few mouthfulls but i’m happy with the taste. If I don’t have any adverse reactions tomorrow I’d buy it again.
Troy – September 26, 2010 7:29 PM
I first tried it on tap at a bar in the actual town of Neusadt, blocks from the brewery.I thought that was kinda cool, and just about the frshest beer you could ever drink.
But anyways, the beer was amazing on tap, really rich and malty, blows away your average macro dark beer ie rickards dark, waterloo dark, Keiths, etc…
The flavour reminded me of Porter I have tried, but maybe not as rich. Great beer if you can find it,
Tom – September 26, 2010 7:39 PM
I had the fortune of buying a pint from a bar in Nuestadt, Ontario, blocks from the brewery. I thought that was kinda cool,
Anyways, the beer is dark, rich and malty, and nothing like the macro dark beers (Rickards, Keiths, Waterloo). A wonderful beer if you can find it, and it can be hard to find. I have seen it in LCBOs in a hundred mile radius of the brewery, and have heard that it is in some bars and LCBOs in Toronto. If you ever get the chance to travel to the brewery, do it. They have an outlet store, and also sell kegs and such, and the owners are really nice. The brewery is the oldest brewery in Ontario, and is a remarkable old stone building, originally built and operated by Mr. Huether, the same one who built Waterloo’s Heuther Hotel…
Alan – September 26, 2010 10:35 PM
Kinda cool, eh? Odd that I wonder if there are PR interns at play.