Address: 1523 Niagara Stone Road Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1T0
Next up on our Canada brew tour (eatingwithlittlemariii) and I hit up Silversmith Brewing Company!
This was a DOPE brewery because it was built inside of an old church! As you enter through the doors, you basically feel like you’re walking through a time portal to the past!
Matt & Chris co-founded this lovely brewery back in 2011. Their flagship beer that they first started brewing was their Black Lager – black in colour but crisp and refreshing as a good lager should be.
The church that the brewery was built in dates back to the 1890s; what I loved most about the church was the exposed beams and brick walls (that’s the engineer in me). Their bar was handmade from reclaimed barn wood from around the corner; one word that can describe this brewery is “local,” It gives you a hometown feel and welcomes locals and travelers alike to make them feel like family.
They had 7 beers on tap, so we bought one flight and three extra 5 oz glasses.
Here are the explanations from the brewery:
Smoky & the Bandit [( 5.5% Alc/ 16 IBU) LIMITED RELEASE]—This German style lager is inspired by Oktoberfest with it’s flavour driven by a rich Munich & Vienna malt background. Beech-smoked barley gives it a modest smokey character and light, floral German hops round things out.
Virgil Tea [(5% Alc/ 24 IBU) LIMITED RELEASE]: Vienna Lager was originally brewed last year, in honour of the 200th anniversary of the Niagara-on-the-Lake volunteer fire department, the oldest in Ontario. This amber coloured Vienna Lager is full of toasted malt flavour and finishes dry. Its slight bitterness and earthy, floral hop flavours are typical of this historical style. Raise a glass to the men and women who have served and continue to serve the communities that they call home.
Broken Valve (LIMITED RELEASE): A stronger Black Lager as described by our server; No other description available.
The Black Lager (5% Alc/ 10 IBU): Silversmith’s The Black Lager is a multi award-winning beer, and has been since inception in 2012. Brewed with a classic interpretation of the Schwarzbier style. It conforms to the Bavarian Beer Purity Standards of 1516 (only 4 ingredients). It has a bold and complex malty aroma. It’s remarkably light-bodied with mild, toasted malt flavours reminiscent of coffee & chocolate. It’s finishes like a classic lager; crisp, clean and dry. It’s bold appearance and easygoing character put it in a category all its own. Best served cold (4ºC). 4 ingredients: malt, hops, yeast & water; All natural malts imported from Germany; No filtration or pasteurization; Pairs well with grilled meats, burger & fries, spicy food, aged cheeses.
Info
- Category: Lager
- % Alc.: 5%
- IBU: 10/~100
- Ingredients: Munich malts, water, hops & yeast
- Mouthfeel/Body: Light body, medium carbonation with a crisp, clean, dry finish typical of lagers
- Appearance: Black, with deep ruby hues. Persistent tan head
- Flavour: Mild, light roasted flavour. Bold, but easygoing
- Aroma: Very subtle light-malt notes
Hill 145 Golden Ale (4% Alc/ 15 IBU): Silversmith’s ‘Hill 145’ Golden Ale is a relatively low alcohol version of the style with bountiful tropical aromatics. There are hints of malt flavours, a subtle rye spiciness and a remarkably dry finish. True to style, this beer is easy-drinking and very approachable. April 9, 2017 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which included the capture of ‘Hill 145’ byWWI Canadian Forces. ‘Hill 145’ Golden Ale is brewed as a celebration of the Canadian spirit and a nod of gratitude to those Canadians who serve. Silversmith is proud to participate in the 2017 Vimy anniversary events. 4 ingredients; malt, hops, yeast & water; No filtration or pasteurization; Pairs well with white fish, poultry dishes
Info
- Category : Ale
- % Alc. : 4%
- IBU: 15/~100
- Ingredients: 2-Row, Munich & Canadian Rye malts, hops, yeast and water
- Mouthfeel/Body: Medium bodied ale with subtle carbonic bite
- Appearance: Deep gold/yellow with an ivory head, slight haziness and fine lacing
- Flavour: Distinctive rye spiciness and slight malt flavours
- Aroma: Fresh pineapple juice with subtle malt undertones, very tropical
Dam Buster English Pale Ale (5% Alc/ 30 IBU): Dam Buster is a true English Bitter, however, the term “bitter” tends to discourage unfamiliar consumers, so we refer to it by it’s broader category title of English Pale Ale. It is clear, has a deep copper colour, is lightly carbonated, with a slight head. It is beautifully balanced with slight hop bitterness and caramel sweetness with hints of fresh orange It is served in a standard pub glass. 4 ingredients; malt, hops, yeast & water; All natural ingredients; No filtration or pasteurization; Pairs well with fish & chips, pub fare
Info
- Category : Ale
- % Alc. : 5%
- IBU: 30/~100
- Ingredients: 2-Row Pale Ale & Marris Otter malt, water, hops & yeast
- Mouthfeel/body: Medium to light body with relatively low carbonation
- Appearance: Deep copper with burnt orange hues at the edges & a short-lived head. The beer leaves behind delicate lacing on the glass
- Flavour: Slight bitterness balanced with toffee & caramel sweetness. Faint hints of orange and black tea round out the flavour
- Aroma: Reveals subtle hints of black tea intertwined with light toffee & caramel which are enhanced by an aroma of fresh orange zest
Bavarian Breakfast Wheat: Silversmith’s Bavarian Breakfast Wheat Beer is brewed with a classic interpretation of the Weissbier style. It has a light-golden hazy appearance, tall, persistent head and aromas of clove & banana. It is presented in a curvaceous glass to accentuate the beer’s unique characteristics. It is never served with orange or lemon slices. 4 ingredients; malt, hops, yeast & water; All natural ingredients; No filtration or pasteurization; Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pasta, light salads, sandwiches
Info
- Category: Wheat
- % Alc.: 5.2%
- IBU: 16/~100
- Ingredients: malt (wheat & barley), water, hops & yeast
- Mouthfeel/body: Medium body with a carbonic “bite” and a subtle mouth-coating quality
- Appearance: Golden to light orange in colour, thick, tall, long-lasting head, classic yellow/white haze
- Flavour: Hints of clove and banana. High carbonation with a slightly sweet finish. Well balanced between malt sweetness & hop bitterness neither of which linger
- Aroma: Hints of banana, clove and orange
Here’s what I thought:
Smoky & the Bandit: Is a strong wheat ale. left quite an impression on me. Smoky (but not over bearing) and light.
Virgil Tea: It was light and crisp, reminded me of a Heineken.
Broken Valve: Had notes of coffee & chocolate, but was a lot lighter than you would expect. Left a great aftertaste. Was the stronger version of the Black Lager.
The Black Lager: (As our server had told us) tasted like a lighter version of the “Broken Valve.” Definitely liked this one a lot and you can tell why it won Canada Gold in the World Beer Awards! Tasted like a lighter version of a Guinness.
Hill 145 Golden Ale: Tasted like a cold, light bourbon. There was a hint of rye with a great aftertaste. You can definitely sip on this one all day.
Dam Buster English Pale Ale: This was a surprising one to me; it was a pale ale, but more hoppy than you would expect. Leans more towards an IPA, extremely crisp and refreshing.
Bavarian Breakfast Wheat: Was extremely wheaty, you can definitely taste it; to me it tasted like a wheaty Corona!
So all in all with the food they offered, ambiance of the brewery and the beers we were served I would give Silversmith Brewing Company 4 out of 5 piggys!
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Be sure to check them out; they always have events going on!
(From their website):
Beer Hall:
Delicious hand-crafted beers, live music, brewery tours, great food, there’s always something happening at Silversmith. It’s no wonder that the local folk have adopted us as their home away from home.
Silversmith is a beer, food & entertainment destination in Niagara. We’re known for providing one of Niagara’s most unique experiences.
Our Beer Hall and Retail Shop is open daily 7 days a week from 10am, serving up an incredible selection of house-produced craft beer and delicious food.
We don’t take reservations, but we always do our best to accommodate groups.
Come and visit our production facility to check out what we’ve got brewing. Our tours happen on Saturdays and Sundays. They take about 45 mins and included a guided tasting of 4 beers in 6oz. samples. Our tours are extremely popular and fill-up quick – click the link below to book your reservation.
Cost: $20
The tour was 45 minutes long. Just the right amount of time. Our guide was great and kept everyone engaged. The tastings were generous portions and we really enjoyed the beer. I would go back again. Would definitely recommend going to the Silversmith Brewing Company!
They also have a shop where you can buy merch, bottles and fill your growlers!
Website: Silversmith Brewing Company
Facebook: Silversmith Brewing Company
Instagram: @silversmithbrewing
Twitter: @silversmithbrew
Samurai Piggy 