Guelph Beer Day looking to become a thing

It's official. Guelph has it's own Beer Day.

The Royal City's beer community has deemed Nov. 16th to be Guelph Beer Day.

"Guelph Beer Day will celebrate Guelph’s unique local beer culture by encouraging everyone of legal drinking age to raise a glass of locally crafted beer," says a news release from the collective that represents all five Guelph breweries.

"It's going to be an annual thing with the collective we started last year," said Brad McInerney of Wellington Brewery in an interview.

"On the 16th we're wrapping up the Guelph Beer Bus and we said 'you know what, we're going to make this Guelph Beer Day.'"

It will be the third Saturday in November each year, with expanded celebrations moving forward, including a possible beer festival, McInerney said.

The day coincides with the final Guelph Beer Bus of the season.

The Guelph Beer Bus will provide free transportation on Nov. 16 from noon to 6 p.m. to stops at the five brewers, plus The Fat Duck gastro pub on Kortight Road and the Delta Hotel.

McInerney said the bus's success will likely see it expanded next year.

One of the things that makes Guelph's beer scene so great is that they all work together to enhance the local beer scene.

"We work together in a very cooperative way. Longer term we want to keep working on these beer projects to help drive beer tourism in the region," McInerney said.

Guelph's five brewers will each be creating a special small batch beer on the day:

• Wellington Brewery will be releasing Crispy Forever, a double dry-hopped variation of their award-winning Helles Lager which will be available for a limited time. 
• Royal City Brewing will be releasing a collaboration beer made with the Guelph Grotto to mark its 25th anniversary. 
• Sleeman Brewing will be sampling their new Harvest Rye Lager and offering free tours.
• Brothers Brewing will be releasing HellFire, a cayenne pepper stout available throughout the winter months.
• Fixed Gear Brewing will be releasing a foeder oak aged Belgian saison.

For more information go to www.guelph.beer.