I've skimmed through the first couple pages in the forums and haven't seen anything that really caught my eye so I apologize if this has been brought up before. I'm a resident of Toronto and in the past year have gotten a lot more into the craft beer scene here in Ontario. Ive been thinking about doing a private tasting with some friends at my house or someone elses but none of my friends really drink the kinds of beers I'd want to pour. They're still on the Canadian and Moosehead type of stuff. Im posting this here because I don't know where else I would, but does anybody in Toronto or the surrounding GTA have tastings with friends or other BA associates? Im very interested in this kind of thing and to meet more like minded people who have a similar interest in try new, interesting and rare beers. If anyone does this kind of thing or knows anyone else who does, post here and lets talk! I'm still learning more and more every day and would just like to start getting other peoples opinions on stuff while enjoying a nice tasting glass together. Cheers!
Although I've seen an awesome Waterloo tasting via this site, would also recommend you keep an eye on the discussion forum in bartowel.com = Toronto-centred... We don't visit Toronto as often as I'd like but Bellwoods, C'est What, Bar Volo, Bar Hop etc. are great places to start exploring. Cheers!
Going to be frank for a second: Any worthwhile tasting group in Toronto that is opening up "interesting and rare" beers will probably only be interested in having someone regularly join their tastings that can contribute equally "interesting and rare" beers. These tasting groups (a few come to mind) have ready access to almost anything brewed in Ontario, and for a better part, most sought-after beers in Canada. My advice: travel and/or trade. Develop relationships with people in the scene, brewers and other traders (ie. go to beer events and talk to people). Go to the States (Michigan, New York, Vermont etc) and hit up beer releases. Pick up new beers and bring them back to share at tastings. That's probably the easiest way to inject yourself into a regular tasting group.
kind of like what Liam said. it is a mix of comradery and snobbery. you want to drink with people that you know, but you also want to drink with people that you know will bring good stuff. you don't want to go to a tasting and have some dude all proud of his WHALE, which ends up being a Shock Top. I was at a beer group a few weeks ago and some of the beer that people brought were not that bad, but definitely not overly impressive. so when you're bringing your pride and joy over, you want to ensure that others have the same quality beer. but...that said, there is a group that you should sign up for. http://torontobottleshare.com/ . you get different levels of beer geeks coming. i don't think you have anyone bringing anything superelite (but at one meeting, someone did bring some Heady Toppers, which was nice of them) but it is a good chance to meet some beer geeks and drink beer.
You should also consider joining the next CANBIF - that was my introduction to trading here on BA. It was a safe and comfortable way to get started in the whole trading universe and I now have several regular trading partners because of it. It has also lead to me meeting with some BA's out east when I was out that way as well as joining several local BA's for tasting events.
