Our top six picks for Ontario Craft Beer Week

The third annual Ontario Craft Beer Week kicks off on Father’s Day (i.e., this Sunday) with 29 breweries participating in 29 communities throughout the province, and hundreds of events, including large-scale tastings, food pairings, special one-off releases, collaborations between brewers and Craft Beer 101 classes. After the jump, we assemble a six-pack of great Toronto events.

1. The Father’s Day Triathlon
Kicking off Ontario Craft Beer Week, the Father’s Day Triathlon at the Evergreen Brick Works is the second event of the summer from the Brewer’s Backyard, and features cycling, barbecue and, yes, plenty of beer. The official after-party of Ride the Ravines, a charity bike ride through Toronto’s Bikeway Network, comprises the cycling portion, and the barbecue component features food from Caplansky’s, Fisherfolk, SupiCucu and Indian Rice Factory. The beer comes from Amsterdam Brewery, including regular favourites like their Boneshaker IPA, four or five limited-edition brews and the debut of Maverick and Gose, a Leipziger Gose (a top-fermented German style with herby and salty characteristics and a sourness from the addition of lactic acid). June 17. The Brewer’s Backyard, Evergreen Brick Works. Find out more »

2. Canadian Beer News Dinner: Amsterdam Brewery vs. Flat Rock Cellars
Beers from Amsterdam Brewery will be presented alongside wines from Flat Rock Cellars, and both will be paired with a communal-style meal from chef Scott Vivian of Beast. What makes this meal special though is that the dessert will be served with the results of the first-ever collaboration between an Ontario brewery and winery, a sour cherry imperial stout aged on oak chips. Tickets for the four-course dinner are $100 and include beer and wine pairings as well as all taxes and gratuities. June 18. Beast Restaurant, 96 Tecumseth St., 647-352-6000. Find out more »

3. The Pillage of Ronces’ Village With Hopefully No Spillage
Join Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co., Great Lakes Brewing and Muskoka Brewery for a pub crawl starting at The Local on Roncesvalles and stumbling through Parkdale, with stops at The Dizzy, Cardinal Rule and The Sister before ending up at The Rhino. Special seasonal brews and one-offs from each of the breweries will be featured along the way. The same event is being held in the east end, only without the clever name, at Sarah’s Café, Morgan’s, The Only Café and Brass Taps, all along the Danforth. June 19. The Local Pub, 396 Roncesvalles Ave. Find out more »

4. The Stop’s Night Market
Inspired by the night markets of the world, The Stop is hosting this fundraising event, which promises to transform Honest Ed’s alley and parking lot into a “teeming feast for the senses.” $50 gets you all you can eat and drink from the event’s sponsors, including food from The County General, Cowbell, The Stockyards, Woodlot, Yours Truly and The Stop’s own kitchen, plus drinks from Great Lakes Brewery, Lake of Bays Brewing Company, Muskoka Brewery, Steam Whistle Brewing, Still Waters Distillery, Tromba Tequila and more. June 20. Honest Ed’s Alley, 581 Bloor Street W. Find out more »

5. Pan-Ontario Collaborative Brewery Dinner
Beau’s has taken their Beaver River IPEh? and blended it with Flying Monkeys’ Netherworld Cascadian Dark Ale, Grand River’s Curmudgeon IPA, Great Lakes’ Robust Porter and Wellington’s Russian Imperial Stout, then aged it in bourbon barrels. The five individual beers and the results of their super-drink collaboration, Pan-Ontario, will be served with dinner at The Rhino. You can also sample the beers at C’est What on June 18 without the accompanying dinner. June 21. The Rhino, 1249 Queen St. W., 416-535-8089. Find out more »

6. Session 99
The finale of Ontario Craft Beer Week, Session 99 brings together beer, food and entertainment for the all-inclusive price of $50. And after sampling the over 100 beers on offer, attendees can vote on their favourites for the Best of the Fest, Cask and One-Off.  There are two sessions to (hopefully) mitigate lineups, the first from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and the second from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 23. 99 Sudbury, 99 Sudbury St., 416-533-6066. Find out more »