Four northern Ontario breweries earn awards for craft beer

Ontario Brewing Awards (Full Beard Brewing)

Ontario Brewing Awards were handed out to the best craft beer in the province Friday and four breweries from the northeast took home hardware.

Full Beard Brewing in Timmins won four awards, winning silver in amber and brown American beer category for ‘On the Banks of the Mattagami’ and the fruit beer category for ‘Scrumdidlyumptious.’

It also won both silver and bronze in the historical beer category for ‘Madder Than a Wet Hen’ and for ‘Bearded Prospector.’

From Sault Ste. Marie, OutSpoken Brewing took home three awards.

Its Mile Hill Lager won first place in the standard american beer category.

“Mile Hill Lager, known for its crisp, clean finish and balanced flavor profile, embodies the spirit of OutSpoken Brewing’s approach to beer-making - where tradition meets creativity,” the company said in a news release Saturday.

“This award-winning lager has quickly become a favorite among beer enthusiasts for its refreshing taste and dedication to quality.”

Its ‘Precambrian’ porter earned second place in the American porter and stout category and its Italian pilsner ‘Maglia Rosa’ placed third in the international category.

“We are extremely honored to receive this recognition from the Ontario Brewing Awards,” said Reg Peer, brewmaster at OutSpoken Brewing.

“Mile Hill Lager represents our philosophy of crafting beers that not only meet but exceed the expectations of our customers. This award is not just for us, but for the entire community that supports local craft beer. Representing the Soo against such established breweries was a great challenge”

OutSpoken’s tap room is open from Wednesday to Sunday and its beer can be found in several Sault bars and restaurants.

“Our range of beers caters to all palates, from the classic to the experimental, ensuring there’s something for every beer lover,” the company said.

Two cottage country breweries round out the northeastern representation.

Canvas Brewing in Huntsville won bronze in the strong American ale category for ‘Sundog’ and silver in the Belgian ale category for ‘White Birch.’

Finally, Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge won both silver and bronze in the no to low-alcohol beer category for ‘Veer Lager with Lime’ and ‘Veer Hazy IPA.’

"We are thrilled to share the news of our alcohol-free beer taking home the top spot," Muskoka Brewery said in a social media post.

“Congratulations to our amazing team for this huge win! We entered the alcohol-free beer category just this year and we have big plans to grow the availability of Veer!”