Collaboration Nation at Session Toronto

What do you get when you're handed a half-pint goblet, a sunny day, and 40+ tents full of unlimited beer? An awesome good time! That's exactly what Session Toronto offered last weekend. The amazing people of Session Toronto brought all the craft beers from around Toronto and the GTA and collaborated with local artists and celebrities to create one of the coolest events in the city. As a conclusion to Craft Beer Week, local celebrities like 102.1 The Edge's Fearless Fred, City and Colour's Dallas Green and Canadian Comedian Tom Green lent their fame and beer expertise to local breweries such as Flying Monkey's Craft Brewery, Steamwhistle, Muskoka Brewery and Amsterdam Brewery to create special limited edition craft beers in a competition to be featured in the fall at the LCBO. All guests at the event were given a sheet listing all the breweries and their spot on the map with the idea that, after sampling all the beers, everyone would vote for their favourite to feature all over Ontario - that is if they could remember to by the end of the night. It was an extremely hot summer day and the humidity made it feel like we were in a sauna, so the ice cold beer was refreshing and flowing. There were a couple booths set up inside and a big seating area for those wishing to escape the scorching heat outside. It was a great way to socialize with everyone there, meet some great people and compare favourites.

The event started at 4pm and ran until around 9pm. I managed to make it to 6pm with the help of the savoury food trucks/stands scattered throughout. Thanks to Bacon Nation, I sobered up (slightly) with their mouthwatering BBLT; a bacon, peameal bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with choice of - brace yourselves - BACON MAYONNAISE or NUTELLA!!! Me, being the girl that I am, couldn't resist the concept of chocolate with my bacon, and went with the Nutella. Judge all you want, it was heaven in my mouth and I recommend that everyone tries it at least once! Some of the other food options included Gourmet Bitches and Hogtown Smoke food trucks, and The Sassy Lamb Bakery and Cheesewerks food stands.

It was an amazing day full of thirst quenching beers, and mouth watering food. Probably one of the coolest events I've been to, and am looking forward to next year's! The winner of the collaboration contest was announced on Monday and Beau's All Natural Brewing Company's The Tom Green Beer was voted Toronto's Best Collaboration Beer. Be sure to look for it in top-selling craft beer LCBOs in the fall. For more information on all the beers featured at Session Toronto and where to find them, be sure to check out sessiontoronto.ca

Cheers to staying local!

Brought to you by Celia Schepp