Beers in Hamilton are Excellent

The Beer and Walking Tour of Hamilton in 2019

Merit, The Brain, Collective Arts, Brux Brothers,

Grit and Grain, Fairweathers and More...

Harrison 'family history' Files: My dad marches with others in RCNVR, 1941.

In Hamilton, before going to Halifax for more training. Photo - Doug Harrison

Introduction:

Collective Arts Brewing Co. is not too far from Hamilton's current Navy base, HMCS Star. I have been to the base in the past (my father's book of Navy memoirs is on sale in their bookstore : ) so I did not suggest to my sons that we tour HMCS Haida, a Canadian destroyer, parked in Hamilton Harbour. However, we did drive up and down several streets near James St. North to see if we could find the house in which my Dad boarded while in initial training for RCNVR.

No luck!

But, we sure had good luck sampling several of the city's fine breweries, tap rooms and hearty restaurants.

The photos below, taken w a GoPro (thus the less than encouraging results while indoors) tell part of the tale. A few captions here and there fill in some necessary details.

We walked downtown from our hotel, west of Highway 403, to James Street North:

Walking north on James Street North, north of King Street, toward Merit Brewing Co.

Looking south, for contrast

We land safely inside Merit Brewing Co., and survey the clean interior:

Ten taps or more. I've got a bright idea... let's try a few samples!

David surveys the wood work and beer list.

Paul likes to talk about beer, 'cause he works at a London brewery

I tried two or three different pints, and loved the SVP farmhouse ale at 3.2% A/V.

Really, the boys were positive on the beers and surroundings...

Farther north on James Street we found The Brain, recommended to us by people at West Avenue Cidery, a spot we had visited outside Hamilton before getting to our beer tour:

Note the sign below. Brain. Or, Sponge Bicycle Seat.

Very cozy inside, with extensive (and eclectic) beer and shots lists:

Dave and Paul examine the can, and the beer, from 'Half Hours on Earth'.

I examine my empty glass, see previous photo : )

Later in the evening we really enjoyed our dinner at Brux House,

with more good beers on an excellent food menu

The next day we stopped at Pier 4 Pub on James Street North before landing at Collective Arts parking lot, below:

Collective Arts tap room is a great hangout;

Below are Collective Arts 'art collection' of cans and labels : )

Opposite Merit Brewing Co. is a small plaza, home to Noodle Me and a fantastic array of fresh, meaty, spicy noodle dishes. One of our favourite stops:

After parking our car at the hotel in west Ham., we walked 2 - 3 miles west (past McMaster University) toward Grain and Grit, and Fairweathers breweries. Both fine stops.

At Fairweathers:

I love the beer at Fairweathers, but the taproom is pretty small in size and can get downright noisy! (Well, fer an ol' guy anyways : )

Hear fer yerself, I say:

Noisy and artsy and tasty, all at the same time! Cheers!

FYI - We walked to Grain and Grit, found one block north of Fairweathers, before or after the above sit down. It was one of our favourite stops. No photos of the spot in this array.

Other photos from the same trip, including repeats (some of the above), can be found elsewhere on It Strikes Me Funny.

More 'family fun' is also in the offing. Paul and I visit Charlotteville Brewery, near Simcoe ONT, tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Please link to Harrison Hop Farm Fotos (1)

Photos by GH