TORONTO, ON – The organizing committee for Toronto Beer Week have announced that the 3rd annual edition of the city-wide beer celebration will be taking place from September 14th to 22nd, 2012.

In a statement, Toronto Beer Week co-organizer Chris Goddard said that “[t]here really is something for everyone during TBW. This isn’t just a bunch of beer snobs sitting around a pub talking about their favourite hops; it’s about enjoying the great beers that are brewed right in our backyard and having a good time.”

As in previous years, events held during the 9 days of TBW will range from beer dinners and tasting events to one-off beer launches, pub crawls and much more.

Full details will be announced in coming weeks on the TBW website, as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

TORONTO, ON – Amsterdam Brewery has announced the release of a new edition of Tempest Imperial Stout, a limited edition beer that quickly sold out its first edition in 2011.

A silver award winner at last year’s Ontario Brewing Awards, Tempest is described as follows:

Tempest Imperial Stout is brewed with a complex grain bill and three types of hops. Cellared for thee months prior to packaging, Tempest has a bracing bitterness that quickly blends with deep malt notes and a slight spiciness. This year’s beer is slightly higher in ABV at 10% and will cellar well for up to 3 years.

The 2012 edition of Tempest Imperial Stout is limited to 1440 wax-dipped 500 ml bottles retailing for $5.95. It will go on sale at 11:00 AM today exclusively at the Amsterdam retail store in downtown Toronto.

WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team have announced the launch of an official team beer to be served at home games in the upcoming 2012 season.

Named for the team’s logo and mascot, Angry Fish Pilsner is being brewed for the American Association team by Fort Garry Brewing, expanding the partnership that the brewery has had with the Goldeyes since 2003.

In addition to being served at Goldeyes games at Shaw Park starting with the home opener on April 29th, Angry Fish Pilsner will be available in 473 ml cans at Manitoba Liquor Marts and beer vendors across the province starting this Friday, May 18.

BRACEBRIDGE, ON – Muskoka Brewery has announced the upcoming release of The Muskoka Survival Pack, a new sampler pack that will feature three year-round brands as well as a rotating series of one-off beers.

Set to be launched on June 1st, the 12 pack will include three bottles each of Muskoka’s Mad Tom IPA, Cream Ale and Dark Ale, along with installments in the new Rough Cut series, starting with a Kristallweizen in the first edition of the pack.

The Muskoka Survival Pack will retail for $25.95, and will be available starting June 1st at select Beer Store outlets throughout Ontario and at the Muskoka retail store in Bracebridge.

VANCOUVER, BC – The 2012 edition of Vancouver Craft Beer Week kicks off this Friday May 18th, and as with last year, the festival has an official collaborative beer that was created by a group of brewmasters from across the province.

Brewed on March 30th at Russell Brewing, this year’s official VCBW beer is a Cascadian Brown Ale described as being a “take on a traditional English ale with a curiously hoppy West Coast twist.”

VCBW Cascadian Brown Ale is available now in 650 ml bottles at select private liquor retailers in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of BC, and it will be served on draught and cask at participating establishments during VCBW. Proceeds from the sales of this year’s beer will be donated to the Farmland Defense League of British Columbia.

TORONTO, ON – After presenting a string of 15 successful Sunday afternoon beer sampling events at The Stop’s Green Barn over the past year under the Brewery Market name, series founder Cass Enright (The Bar Towel) has announced an end to his partnership with The Stop, and the beginning of a new series at a new venue.

Sticking with a similar format – i.e. a casual afternoon gathering featuring beers from a local brewery, along with beer-friendly bites from local food vendors – the Brewer’s Backyard will take place at the Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) on a monthly series of Sundays and holiday Mondays through the summer and fall.

The series will kick off next Monday May 21st from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM with “Queen Victoria’s Secret”, featuring several secret one-off beers from Great Lakes Brewery and sandwiches from Fidel Gastro’s. Admission is free, with beer and sandwiches being sold for $6 each, and it will be a family friendly event.

Future dates for the Brewer’s Backyard include June 17th, July 2nd, August 12th, September 23rd and October 8th, with details for all to be announced soon. Enright is also planning to hold other Brewery Market events at other venues in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario throughout the year.

TORONTO, ON – While the official unveiling of his flagship Augusta Ale took place on April 1st last year, Brock Shepherd is marking of the 1st anniversary of his Kensington Brewing Company today (May 15th) with a celebration at Toronto beer and sausage hall Wvrst (609 King Street West).

In addition to plenty of Augusta Ale, the event will also feature a cask of the latest version of FISHeye Pale Ale, an IPA that is still being tweaked by Shepherd and brewmaster Paul Dickey before being officially released as KBC’s second offering.

The festivities will kick off at 6:00 PM tonight. Admission is free, and both KBC beers will be available to purchase along with the rest of Wvrst’s menu of local and European beers, sausages and french fries.

WHISTLER, BC – Whistler Brewing has announced the return of summer seasonal Paradise Valley Grapefruit Ale, with this year’s batch appearing in a new package.

Described as “a refreshing grapefruit aromatic, lightly hopped beer, with a clean citrus finish,” Paradise Valley was debuted last summer in 650 ml bottles, but is now being offered in six packs of 330 ml bottles, as well as in the new edition of Whistler’s Travel Pack mixed package.

Six packs of Paradise Valley Grapefruit Ale and the 12 bottle Travel Pack are available now in both government and private liquor stores throughout British Columbia.

TORONTO, ON – Canadian Beer News is pleased to announce details for the next event in the Canadian Beer News Dinner Series.

Taking place on Monday June 18th as part of Ontario Craft Beer Week, this dinner will feature a friendly take on the old “beer vs. wine” rivalry, presenting beers from Amsterdam Brewery alongside wines from Flat Rock Cellars, and pairing them both with a convivial and communal style meal prepared by chefs/co-owners Scott Vivian and Rachelle Cadwell and their team at Beast Restaurant.

For more details, see the CBN Dinner #5 event page.

Also – there are still tickets remaining for CBN Dinner #4 on Tuesday May 29th, featuring a selection of beers from the portfolio of North American Craft at legendary Toronto beer bar Smokeless Joe. Visit the CBN Dinner #4 event page for more information.

WINNIPEG, MB -While construction is still underway on their Minhas Micro Brewery in Calgary, Ravinder and Manjit Minhas – the Canadian owners of Minhas Craft Brewery in Wisconsin – are already making plans to open a second brewing facility on domestic soil.

According to a recent article in the Winnipeg Free Press, the brother and sister purchased property in Winnipeg last year and demolished a four story building on the site with the intention of building a large brewery employing 100 people. Those plans have now been scaled back, with Ravinder telling the paper that the company is planning a smaller brewery with a staff of up to 25 people on a portion of the site, with the rest to be sold or redeveloped.

He further notes that they won’t be going forward with the Winnipeg location for at least a year, and would be looking at the pending Calgary plant to serve as a model for Winnipeg and any future facilities.