Neil Young Pilgrimage!

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Clembo1957, Jul 14, 2012.

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  1. Clembo1957

    Clembo1957 Pundit (760) Jan 14, 2004 England

    Ii'm planning a Neil Young Pilgrimage in November to take in some of the great mans gigs with Crazy Horse. Along the way of course i aim to be taking in a few beers and visiting a few beer spots enroute. I'm heading from Vancouver to Calgary, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Toronto. I know there's plenty of info on BA but any local tips, info etc would be appreciated. i'm flying over from the UK on November 9.

    Cheers
    Alan
     
  2. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    Clembo:

    sign up to bartowel.ca and you'll get up-to-date info of Toronto events. Lots going on and some good local bars to hit (Volo, Barhop, The Only Cafe are the most known)

    i'm sure Hoser will fill you in on Calgary.

    Winnipeg: not much to say. no great bars for beer selection. Just stick to drinking the local microbrewery, Half Pints, and you'll be doing fine.
     
  3. kjyost

    kjyost Initiate (0) May 4, 2008 Canada (MB)

    Winnipeg: Yeah. Good luck. Luxelune has a bunch of imports that you can find at the MLCC. Seems like the most recent hipster hangout with decent beers (and now a patio) is the Lo Pub. King's Head is an Irish-Style bar and The Yellow Dog is a kinda cool place that hosts specialty casks. That said, everything is tap or bottle here. There is not a single bar in town that has a regular (or even monthly) cask. Sigh.

    Expect to find a few Half Pints taps and maybe a Russell / Fort Garry specialty tap. After that, good luck. The rest of the beers will be "imports" and "micros" distributed by the Big 3. Sometimes I see Okanagan Spring taps, but...

    That said, I have come to believe that the city has an awesome food scene will a billion different ethnicities cooking different stuff. Also you have to visit his house & Kelvin High School if you are making a true pilgrimage.
     
  4. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    That is a lot of time on the road. If you are coming to Calgary beermail me and I will give you the up to the minute on what the what. If you are here around 23rd of November there will be a pretty cool take over the taps event but more on this later.
     
  5. Howlader

    Howlader Maven (1,359) May 1, 2010 Canada (AB)

    For Winnipeg, the King's Head usually has all the Half Pints beers. As silly as it is, my preferred choice is Original Joe's at Kenaston and Grant, they've got all (usually?) the Half Pints beers without all the damn children ordering Standard Lager that the King's Head has.

    ...Yeah, I'm not bitter. :stuck_out_tongue:
     
  6. kjyost

    kjyost Initiate (0) May 4, 2008 Canada (MB)

    My issue is that OJ's doesn't have the actual kids... With a 9 month old, I can't go there for dinner, sigh. Does OJ's get special releases (Phil's Pils, Hum Lud, etc...)?
     
  7. Clembo1957

    Clembo1957 Pundit (760) Jan 14, 2004 England

    Thanks for the info guys, i'm starting off in B.C, i have 1 day in Calgary (13th November) a day in Saskatoon, a couple of days in Winnipeg (i aim to do the Neil landmarks) before a few days in Toronto. I drink plenty of Cask Ale here in the UK (i'm a CAMRA member) i'm looking to do as many Canadian brews as possible whatever the method of dispense!
     
  8. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Well in Saskatoon you can get a good rest from all your travel, there is only one place worth going to and it is called Winston's. Saying worth going to may be a little kind but occasionally there is interesting stuff there.
     
  9. Howlader

    Howlader Maven (1,359) May 1, 2010 Canada (AB)

    I highly doubt it. I haven't lived in Winnipeg in a few years, but whenever I'm home for Christmas they seem to have all the standard Half Pints beers.

    Hrrrrrm - the website PDF says they only have Little Scrapper IPA and St. James Pale Ale. I take it back - the King's Head (possibly for lunch?) is probably still the best choice.
     
  10. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    be nice to the poor lad. he doesn't need to hang out at bars that smell like old carpet and sad toilets.

    go to Segovia for dinner. you can drink Half Pints there and get some good food. for lunch, forgo the beer, get down and dirty and eat a Winnipeg burger (SUPERBOYS!!).
     
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  11. Howlader

    Howlader Maven (1,359) May 1, 2010 Canada (AB)

    Holy crap you're so right. Segovia's food is fantastic. I'm going to be in Winnipeg in August, I think that's an appropriate dinner.

    Last time I was there, they had trout tartare and it was incredibly good. They seem to have beef tartare on the menu right now, and I suspect it's also good.
     
  12. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,727) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Society

    You can also check out Earl Gray Junior High along with Kelvin where Neil went also, it's sort of in the same neighborhood.

    As for the beer, well it's tough, but what has been said has been said. enjoy the pilgrimage
     
  13. kjyost

    kjyost Initiate (0) May 4, 2008 Canada (MB)

    Bistro 7 1/4 now has some HP on tap ( and they get the irregulars like Queer Beer & Phil's Pils. Great food. Of you're in town for a couple of days, maybe try to do a meet-up at Yellow Dog or Lo Pub and maybe meet a few BAs.

     
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