Spearhead "beer of the summer" proclaims self-deprecating dufus.

Good beer should take us places in our minds. But in a good way (I'm looking squarely at you, Mr. Colt 45).

It should also take us back in time, dig up old memories, hopefully fond. And help us enjoy the present, root us where we are. It should also allow us to look forward, and imagine a better and brighter future for ourselves.

For me, Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale does all of these things.

First: the past. About a year ago, Hawaiian Pale Ale (HPA) was all over town on draft. Spearhead was the new kid in town. A small, brash upstart Toronto brewing company with cool marketing and branding shelling a pineapple tinged india pale ale. The beer itself was brash too - hoppy. boozy. 6.5% alcohol that felt like both a whole lot more and a whole lot less at the same time.

I liked it a lot. In fact, I converted more than one person to craft beer with it. It was my secret weapon.

And then, I'm embarrassed to admit, I let myself get swayed by the anti-marketing whisper campaign. More than one "beer folk" I spoke to rolled their eyes when they mentioned Spearhead. I'd no idea why. But I took on the same attitude. When some beer newbie mentioned that they liked Spearhead, I judged them in my brain-space. "Aren't they cute," I condescended to myself.

But here's the catch about Spearhead, and here's what I realized one day as I was judging others: It's a very good beer. Forget the hype. Forget the brand. Forget the marketing. It doesn't matter. Spearhead HPA is a very good beer. And it's worth a try.

In fact, here's my fearless prediction: Spearhead Hawaiian Pale Ale will be my beer of the summer.

Now to the present: It's coming to the lcbo. Like, soon. If not in time for the coming long weekend (probably not) then soon afterwards. The version coming to the lcbo, to my palate, tastes less boozy, with a bit more pineapple up front, than the version I had on tap last year. It's also listed at 6%, down from last year's 6.5%. It's less big, but it's more summer-worthy. More refreshing. If you haven't tried it: It's an American Pale Ale, bordering on an India Pale Ale (remember those bitter citrus hops balanced with caramel/cookie malts I'm always going on about, but with a twist of pineapple.)

And to the future...

To me, it's as simple as this: Spearhead makes good beer. And that's what we need in Ontario: more good beer. And the more good beer we have, the more good beer we will have. And if we encourage this brash upstart, and help them to be successful, then that will hopefully encourage others to brashly get upstarted. After all, status quo begets status quo. And in Ontario, for too long, status quo has been pretty damn boring. And you can't have too much good beer, that's for sure.

Picture this: Craft Beer Heaven: The Highly Anticipated Sequel.

Hi.

It’s been awhile. Sorry.

To be honest, I’ve been pretty uninspired on the beer front lately. The lcbo summer feature arrived but, as expected, it didn’t really push any of my many buttons (in a good way.) It underwhelmed me. In fact, it whelmed well under my already very modest expectations.

The Phillips Ginger Beer is good. Very ginger (but in a good, not creepy, way). Not complex, but straightforwardly refreshing on the hot, hot days, or the steamy sushi nights.

Also: the Tree Brewing Feature arrived. My favourite there is the Deviator Doppelbock (Unfortunately I haven’t seen their Double Hop Head IPA make a comeback as part of this release.)

Anyhoo – still some cool things happening. Hops and Robbers is here, apparently, but I haven’t come across it yet, so I can’t vouch. And Spearhead is coming soon. woot.

I was thinking the other day (for the millionth time) of beers that aren’t in the lcbo but that I wish were. Here was my quick list:

Sawdust City Long Dark Voyage to Uranus Imperial Stout

Amsterdam Tempest Imperial Stout

Black Oak 10 Bitter Years Double IPA

Cameron’s Rye Pale Ale

Great Lakes No Chance with Miranda Saison (or, really, any of their farmhouse ales.)

Great Lakes Lake Effect or Karma Citra IPA (And, I’ll take this opportunity to ask how, in the name of Gambrinus, does Great Lakes, makers of some of the best IPAs I’ve ever had, not make a year round, lcbo available IPA. HOW?)

Anyway, reading over this list makes me thirsty, and a little teary eyed with glee and pride at our luck in Ontario. 

It also infuriates me. Imagine what COULD be. Imagine a liquor store with local imperial stouts and double IPAs and saisons, etc. Want. Want. Want.      

But, for now, we’ll have to settle for buying these at pubs. Which brings me to my next point. It’s father’s day this weekend, and also the kickoff to Ontario Craft Beer Week. What will you all be up to? I think I’ll be hitting up the East Side Toronto beer crawl. Starts on Tuesday at 7 pm at Sarah’s on the Danforth, then off to Morgan’s, the Only Café and Brass Taps. The first three I frequent often, the fourth I’ve yet to visit. Should be lots of fun – Beau’s, Muskoka and Great Lakes will be participating.

BREAKING: Oh yeah, almost forgot: A little birdie told me that there’s a Black Oak mixed pack coming to the lcbo sometime soon. Dunno when. But it will have one 10 Bitter Years, one Summer Saison, one Pale Ale, and one Nut Brown. THIS is big news. Maybe my dream isn’t so far off after all. Please, take my word for it, and buy this when it comes out. The Saison and 10 Bitter Years are 2 of my faves, and if we scoop em all up, people will see there’s a market for them.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY:

So, folks, what Ontario craft beers would YOU like to see in the lcbo that aren't there already? And what are you all up to for fathers day and OCB week? Beer dads unite!