1860’ Beer Brewing - Part 3

Beer.... It's just always been here, we've been brewing beer since before we could write it down. So it only seems fitting that Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto, which gives us a glimpse into life in Ontario from the 1790's to the 1860's, now has a working brewery. This brewery replicates what the 1860's brewing experience could have been like. This is brewing at it's most basic, and probably most honest; a small copper kettle, with the beer fermented and aged in oak casks. Production was meant to be sustained by locally grown ingredients, and served to the local population. Over the three segments in this series we will talk with Ed the brewer, to learn about this early experience and to taste the beers that they are brewing. Black Creek Dark Ale is a full-bodied brown ale. This drink is characterized by a warm caramel chocolate flavour derived from the roasted malts used to make it. Black Creek Dark Ale is a perfect complement to sharp cheeses, meats or roasted vegetables at any time of the year. Black Creek Pale Ale uses predominantly pale or lightly-roasted malts. This beer has a full, airy taste with more hops than darker ales. Black Creek Pale Ale is a great choice with salads or spicy foods, or as a cool refreshment in warm weather. Black Creek Porter is a dark-coloured beer developed in the 1750s. Porter has a heavier flavour and aroma and a slightly sweet taste. Its name probably originates in the belief that this strong, nourishing drink was ideal for hard-working porters and labourers. Black Creek Porter is wonderful on its own, or with salty snacks. Black Creek India Pale Ale was first brewed in England in the 18th century and was much more heavily hopped than most ales to ensure it did not go bad on the long voyage to supply the British troops in India. Black Creek India Pale Ale has a crisp, noticeably hoppy flavour and is a delicious on warm summer days. Twice daily, visitors can join the Black Creek Historic Brewery Tour to learn the whole story of how beer was made, starting with how the ingredients are grown, right through to sampling the beer. You can see where grain was milled and how barrels were made at the Cooperage. They already have hops growing in their gardens and are working toward to having barley produced on site and developing their own malting operation.