Around 11:30 p.m. last night the strike deadline was extended, and the LCBO and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union continued talks throughout the night. All members were told to report to work today.

However, a potential strike is still looming.  If you’re worried about not being able to get your Cameron’s beer and your local Beer Store doesn’t carry it…don’t fret.  Our on-site retail store will be open rain or shine, strike or no strike.

Why buy local?

Exceptional taste and freshness.  Unlike wine, beer is best fresh.

It keeps your dollars circulating in your community.  Cameron’s spends your dollars back into the community through events, charities, fundraisers, labour and local partnerships.

Buying local is a great way to reduce your “ecological footprint” or personal impact on the environment – reduced transportation of goods, less packaging involved with shipping.

Our on-site retail store is located at 1165 Invicta Drive, Oakville, Ontario

Our retail hours are:  Monday to Thursday 9am - 5pm, Friday 9am - 8pm and Saturday from 12noon - 5pm.

Drop in for a brewery tour, fresh samples and no threat of a strike.

This is a huge weekend coming up for us with regards to events.  We are all over the map this weekend, which means…there are a lot of places to find brewery fresh Cameron’s this weekend.

Here we go…

Polo 4 Heart:  June 19th - 21st

For the fourth year in a row, Cameron’s Brewing is proud to be the exclusive beer for one of the province’s most unique fund raising events - Polo 4 Heart.  We invite you to come and experience the thrill and excitement of an afternoon of polo. Featuring top-class polo teams and players from around the World, this three day Nations Cup of polo offers plenty to see and do for you and your guests. So please join us for a wonderful day in the country, and help support a great cause.

Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival:  June 19th & 20th

Cameron’s is proud to be participating in The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival in the city’s historic Distillery District.  Cameron’s has two booths at this event, so be sure to visit our staff at both.  We will be featuring all four brands, some of our newest merchandise additions and exclusive vouchers for Chef Brad Long’s (of The Food Network’s Restaurant Makeoever) restaurant Veritas.

Hamilton Pride Week:  June 13th - 21st

Cameron’s is a proud sponsor of Hamilton’s Pride Week.  In addition to being involved in Hamilton Pride’s events throughout the year, Cameron’s is the exclusive beer of Hamilton Pride’s craft beer area at Bayfront Park.  The festival and beer will be flowing from June 19th - 21st.  Visit us and celebrate the diversity of our community.

Brewmaster’s Dinner in Kitchener:  June 19th

What do you get the father that has everything?  How about a six-course meal paired with Ontario Craft Beers.  Embers Lounge at the Holiday Inn Kitchener is hosting a ‘Best Of’ Brewmasters Dinner featuring Cameron’s Brewing and Mill Street .

Doors open at 6pm and the cost is only $60 per person

For reservations or for more information call Chris at 519.894.8523

Kitchener/Waterloo Multicultural Festival:  June 20th & 21st

Every summer for over 40 years this community has celebrated ethnic diversity and all its wonders. Cameron’s Brewing Company is proud to be the exclusive beer of this year’s Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival and will help celebrate the festival that Echo readers voted one of the best in the community!

Join us, the Kitchener Multicultural Centre, in Victoria Park, Kitchener on June 20th and 21st to celebrates the beginning of summer and all that Canada has to offer.

Cameron’s will be hosting a Beer Breakfast with Dumplings on Saturday morning at 11am.  Join us for an educated sampling of our beers and tasting of the region’s best dumplings.

OTMH Father’s Day Classic 5k Run:  Sunday June 21st (AM)

Cameron’s is a proud Community Sponsor of this year’s 13th annual OTMH Classic at Wallace Park, located at Reynolds and Sheddon, near the hospital. You can participate in a 5K run or power walk, both timed with chip technology, a 3K family walk or a 1K fun run/walk for kids and parents. You can also enjoy a Father’s day breakfast for only $5. Registration starts at 7:15am.  Be sure to join Cameron’s in the afternoon for our first annual Father’s Day Brewery BBQ.

Cameron’s Father’s Day Brewery BBQ:  Sunday June 21st (PM)

Cameron’s is excited to open our doors on Sunday June 21st from 12noon - 5pm for our First Annual Father’s Day Brewery BBQ.  Stop in for brewery tours, grade ‘A’ burgers from Whole Foods Markets, educated tastings of our award winning brands from our Brewmaster Jason Britton and brewery fresh Cameron’s.

Bring your dad, bring your son, bring your family and friends or come on your own.  All are welcome.

For more information, call the brewery at 905.849.8282

A couple newsletters ago, we ran a beer recipe contest - calling for one and all to submit their favorite recipe using Cameron’s beer.  We received over 10 entries and tried to make them all.

Here was the one that stood out.  We will also be publishing the second and third place.

Congrats to Alison Hamilton for the one our team gave the most thumbs up to.

Chili con Carne
makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
2 lbs trimmed stewing beef cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp dried oregano leaves
1 2-inch long cinnamon stick
1 tsp cracked black peppercorns
2 tbsp cumin seeds
1 cup beef stock
1 cup Cameron’s lager
1 19 oz can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 19 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper dissolved in 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 green bell peppers, seeded and diced
finely chopped cilantro
sour cream
roasted red pepper strips

1.  Toast cumin seeds in a frying pan until fragrant.  Set aside.

2.  In a ziploc bag, combine flour and salt.  Add the beef and toss until evenly coated.  Discard excess flour mixture.

3.  Heat 1 tbsp of the oil on medium-high heat in a frying pan for 30 seconds.  Add the beef in batches and stir to cook.  Add more oil as necessary until the beef is browned, about 4 minutes per batch.  Transfer to a large pot or slow-cooker.

4.  Reduce fry-pan heat to low medium and add onions to the pan to cook until softened.  Stir frequently.  (about 3 minutes).  Add garlic, oregano, cinnamon stick, peppercorns and toasted cumin and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.  Add stock and bring to a boil.  Transfer to the large pot or slow cooker.  Add Cameron’s lager and beans and stir well.

5. If using crock pot, cover and cook on Low for 8-10 hours or on High for 4-5 hours until the beef is tender.  If using large pot, cover and cook on low for about 35-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender.

6.  Add chili powder solution, jalpeno pepper and green peppers and stir well.  Cover slow cooker and cook on High for 20 minutes, or if using stove top method cover pot and cook on med-high for 20 minutes.  Cook until fresh peppers are tender.

7.  Discard cinnamon stick and serve with cilantro, sour cream and roasted red pepper strips.  Wash it down with plenty of Cameron’s lager!

Submitted by Alison Hamilton

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Cameron’s will be offering FREE brewery tours and tastings throughout the summer on Fridays from 5pm - 8pm and on Saturdays from 12noon - 5pm.

Whether you are driving through Oakville on your way home from work or you simply need to get out of the house, there is no better place to get brewery fresh beer for the weekend.  Tour the brewery, chat with our staff and try our brands  before you buy.   We’ll be waiting to share a brew with you.

Cheers.

I think it’s safe to say that there hasn’t been many Oakville Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 events, like the one at Cameron’s Brewing.  We made a special Cask special for the evening called, ‘Chambeer Ale’.

New records were set for attendance and funds raised - it speaks to Oakville’s love for not only beer, but for their local brewery.

In addition to the draw of May’s Business After Hours event being at our brewery, it was also Argo month.  The Toronto Argonauts sent some of the top brass to chat with those in attendance as well as sending 3 Argo’s cheerleaders to greet everyone as they arrived.

Fresh Local Beer + Argo Cheerleaders = A Packed Brewery

Thanks to all who attended, thanks to the Argo’s for adding to a great event and thanks to the Oakville Chamber of Commerce for being our strongest ally.

Here are a couple pictures…no cheerleader pics…sorry.

Reminder:  Our retail store now has extended summer hours.
Friday 9am - 8pm and Saturday Noon - 5pm

Stop in for a brewery tour and tasting of our award winning brews.

Located in Durham Region and fairly close to Pickering is a stunning little Hamlet called Whitevale.  Although only 15-20 minutes North of the 401, Whitevale seems like a town far, far away.  The town is full of history and inhabited by some of the nicest people you’d meet.

Each year Whitevale holds a Spring Fair (always the Saturday after the long weekend in May) for their local residents and any guests who may be swinging through - and every year Cameron’s is there with the beer.

This year Gavita & Brittany experienced the Whitevale Spring Fair and poured brewery fresh Cameron’s for all in attendance.

We thank Whitevale for their support and for providing us with one of our favorite events of the year.  Cheers.

We would like to congratulate Jonathan Petruk as the winner of our latest Loaded Cameron’s Beer Fridge Giveaway held at the Overdraught Irish Pub on Front Street in Toronto.

Jon enjoyed a pint of Auburn Ale at the Overdraught and entered the Cameron’s Loaded Beer Fridge.  Out of hundreds of ballots throughout the 3 week promotion, Jon’s ballot was drawn.

Stay tuned Jon…your fridge will be at your house soon.

Cheers.

We are proud to announce the opening of another fine resto in Toronto.

Located at 2655 Yonge Street - North of Yonge & Eglington - Cam’s Place is the newest establishment in Toronto to offer Cameron’s Auburn on tap.

Cam’s Place is a local, 2-storey restaurant/pub offering elevated traditional comfort food with the use of quality ingredients and deft execution within an intimate and cozy atmosphere.

Cam’s Place offers a unique and wide-ranging drinks menu to compliment the cuisine, while boasting quick, efficient and memorable service standards.  Take-out will be a staple for the neighborhood with healthy and affordable lunch and dinner options.

Cam’s Place will also feature weekly events ranging from formal dinners to showcasing local live music and casting sporting events..  Jason Toner and Patrice Baron have brought dining back to its basic roots; they have reintroduced the concept of straightforward preparation and have galvanized the perfect balance between clean, simple and bold palate pleasing flavors.  Consistency, Quality and Comfort.

Drop in to Cam’s Place and say hello to Patrice or Cam himself and have them pour you a fresh pint of Auburn.

Cheers.

Cowbell’s philosophy is nose to tail sustainable cuisine. Chef Mark Cutrara works almost exclusively with naturally-raised, organic meat and produce, sourced from local farmers. Inspired by turn of the century French bistros Cowbell has a chalkboard menu that changes daily to reflect the availability and freshness of their ingredients.  Cameron’s Brewing is proud to be a partner of Cowbell restaurant.

Cowbell  |  1564 Queen Street West  |  416.849.1095

Print out this blog post and bring it to Cowbell to receive 10% off your entree.*

We encourage you to also enjoy a fresh Dark 266 while there

*Offer expires May 31, 2009

This is one of the coolest things to come along since the Cameron’s Credit Card Bottle Opener (now sold out).

Brewer extrodinaire George Eagleson and his Partner Hana have launched a project interestingly named CRAP which stands for Craft brewers Re-cyled Art Project.  They make useful everyday products out of waste from the craft brewing industry.  Items include soft goods made from discarded malt bags and pencil holders created from brewing hose.  All of these products remove items from the waste stream and repurpose them which is obviously good for the environment, they are produced in Guelph Ontario which is good for the local economy and beyond having the feel good factor, they are just plain cool.

We really dig the 6 pack holders and hope to have them available in our store at the brewery if we can get our hands on some before they sell out.  If you can’t wait you can order products directly from them on-line.

Find CRAP at:

www.crap.etsy.com