Where to go (and not) in Prince Edward County.

I thoroughly enjoyed a bicycle ride into Wellington. On the way, I made a stop at ‘Garage Time Brewing’, a nano brewery just north of the village. Bernard the brew-master has crafted fabulously unique blends. I tried a ‘Hodge Podge’ ale brewed with strawberries and rhubarb. A delicious combo, most refreshing on a hot summers day. And priced quite reasonably at $5.52 a glass. (To their credit, this is the 15% locals discount price offered to regulars!) The venue itself is as unique as the beers. Garage Time literally has been built inside the garage! Gorgeous wood slab bar and impeccably clean. There is also an outside seating area under sun shielding sail tarps. Highly recommend if you are seeking an authentic County craft brew in an environment that welcomes you.

Off I went to downtown Wellington to check out the Drake Devonshire which has its own unique charm. The Drake is definitely not intended to appeal to ‘locals’, in fact I would venture to say their business philosophy is to shun locals. The price of beer is about double what you pay at Garage Time. And there is an air of superiority there, a kind of vibe that makes me a tad uncomfortable. I did not feel like this in the past, but a change has come over this place. Or maybe it’s me. Maybe it is the never ending staff turnover. Or perhaps the cliché mandatory black attire worn by the staff. Or maybe it was this.

The picture shows a charming little A-frame structure perched on a little knoll just outside the usual patio seating. When I inquired from the bartender whether that had to be booked in advance, he blithely noted there was a $100 per person minimum charge to sit there! I kid you not. $100 per person, so a casual couple of pints with your date will end up costing you $200. Plus tax no doubt. I’m striking that joint off my route of quaffing places. If you are a ‘cityot’, perhaps you will enjoy this chi-chi venue. If you want to experience the real Prince Edward County, I recommend ‘Garage Time’ and its neigbouring nano-brewer ‘Strange Brew Studio’ just up the road. These places know how to make guests feel at home in the County.

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Strange Brew Studio in PEC.

Here’s what a double vax Pandemic bar party looks like! This at Strange Brew Studio, a nano brewery in Prince Edward County where brewmaster/owner Dave Fredericks is fast becoming renown for the unique and excellent alchemy he brings to the craft of brewing. Dave uses local ingredients and infuses his beers with herbs, wine and other magical stuff to create very personal yet quaff-able beer. I highly recommend a visit, he’s located in the swamp off Chase Rd. If you get lost just ask about him, everybody knows Dave!

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Dark Side of the Dune. Best stout ever!

I’m sitting at the corner suite of my rental, looking out through a large pocket between the trees. The lake shimmers in front of me. A glass of ‘Dark Side of the Dune’ catches the evening sun. This beer, a Stout, is almost removed from the lexicon of beer, it is more like a carbonated liqueur. ‘Dark Side of the Dune’ from Prince Eddy’s Brewery is the finest stout I have enjoyed. Bourbon barrel aged. I’m sure I have reviewed it before, but indulge me again. A fine Dominican cigar complements this very rich beer. Nuggets of caramel. Some acorn/hazelnut flavour. Chocolate. Not just any chocolate, but big dark cocoa. My Son called this the Cabernet Sauvignon of beer. It is that delicious. And the marvelous background ambiance? Schubert on a local radio station. The colour of this beer! Such a coffee colored deep brown. Like Guinness, but the flavour is so far beyond that standard stout. This is almost like a glass of wine. 12.0% alc. Wow. This beer is that good. Kudos to the beer makers at Prince Eddy’s. I am thankful that I have one more bottle to enjoy. It’s the last one in existence, I cleaned them out when I bought this stash! The beer makers of PEC are innovative and risk taking. Highly recommended!

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