Sunny brews from Sonnen Hill

You can’t really have a pub crawl without beer so I thought I’d introduce you to one of my favourite breweries.

Sonnen Hill is based in Caledon, north of Toronto. The brewmaster and brewery owner, Calum Hill, comes from a long line of brewers dating back to early 1800s Bavaria.

In the late ‘80s, after almost 180 years, the Sonnen Brauerei in Bavaria closed its doors. Then, in 2018, a new incarnation sprang to life. Having gone to school in Caledon, it was a sort of homecoming for Calum.

Over the years, the beer he brews has changed a little, with a few core products such as his excellent lager remaining in the line-up. The lager is bright and easy-drinking yet with a surprising depth of character. 

I was excited to see Zwickel (aka Kellerbier- a rustic type of lager from the province of Franconia) as it's long been a personal favourite. It was true to type. It’s a style seldom seen, but if you love a German lager with toasted, bready malt notes backed by a citrus bitterness, it’s worth stocking up.

While the focus is on Germanic styles of beer, he has a quaffable West Coast IPA in the mix, and some dark lagers, such as Shoo Bee Do, lean quietly into a stout profile.

While the beer is very approachable for most palates, beer aficionados will recognize the quality of the brewmaster’s art here.

Sonnen Hill beers show as flawless, superb examples of the styles they are meant to represent. The magic to me is in the lightness of their colouring (other than the dark brews) relative to the flavours they deliver. If you're a beer aficionado, you'll likely find they defy expectations. In my view, these are sophisticated beer products that conjure ideas for food pairing.

You can order directly from the brewery with free delivery on orders over $75. For delivery to Ottawa, it’s estimated to take between 3-7 days. 

Ein Prosit!