What to bring to a party (hint: it’s not wine)
It’s easy and generally expected to show up at a holiday party with a bottle of wine. For the longest time, anything else tended to look somewhat gauche. A bottle of vodka might raise eyebrows, and a 12-pack of beer tended to appear self-serving since it usually came with a shrug and a mumbling admission (“I don’t drink wine”).
Furthermore, the selection of wine far outweighed that of other spirits, ensuring the party host didn’t end up with the same twenty bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon by night’s end. Thanks to the proliferation of craft breweries in recent years, the bottle of wine no longer need be the go-to choice for party guests.
The LCBO now offers a wide array of ales, lagers and ciders from all corners of the globe. And, to make your gift more personal, there’s nothing like gifting a brew that is crafted locally – another advantage over wines that hail from wine regions versus local cities. For Hamiltonians, selecting a locally brewed beverage is easy.
Downtown Hamilton is home to Merit Brewing – a brewery, kitchen and bottle shop. Its selection ranges from four to seven styles of beer, with new beers released almost every week for the discerning and adventurous beer drinker. As with wines, beer aficionados rely on rich descriptions to select the perfect ale. Consider Three String, the company’s version of a classic Porter; it is described as showcasing subtle notes of espresso crema and semi sweet chocolate, topped with an off-white foam. A far cry from your granddad’s Labatt 50 stubby.
As with breweries, craft cideries are popping up across Canada, and certainly locally. For holiday parties, the fermented fruit beverage may feel a touch more festive considering its close relative, mulled cider, has long been a traditional holiday drink. As with craft breweries, it’s not too hard to find a locally produced cider.
West Avenue Cider, located in Carlisle, is a family-run business that describes itself as the place where country tradition meets big city lights. As small-batch producers of hard cider, they release new ciders every month. Its cider was awarded Best Cider in Ontario in 2014, 2015 and 2016. To get your own batch, you’ll have to make the trek to its Cider House in Carlisle.
These breweries, as well as others in Hamilton and surrounding areas, offer unique gift ideas to delight your host when you arrive on the doorstep of the next holiday party. Just don’t be surprised if your gift is the first to be polished off. (Better bring your own stash too, just to be safe.)