It seems so obvious: queers and beers go together like, um, how they rhyme together. But it took Les Murray, the president of Toronto’s Festival of Beer — plus a Cyndi Lauper concert at last year’s Dyke Day festival — to make it happen. Sitting at the Queen’s Park event, Murray thought to himself, “This would be an unbelievable audience to do a festival with.”
He’s likely right. North America’s first ever Queer Beer Festival happens this Thursday as a precursor to this weekend’s Festival of Beer, both at the CNE. And what, exactly, is queer about the festival? Mostly the entertainment, with Ace of Base headlining and queer favourites Lucas Silveira (from The Cliks) and Hunter Valentine performing, along with comedian Maggie Cassella as emcee.
Like the straight version of the festival, 70 brewers will showcase hundreds of beers, from local to international breweries. On Thursday, queers will get the first taste of some special festival brews, where eight teams of two brewers have created some unique beers. But what those brews will taste like is only for festival-goers to find out.
“[The brewers] keep it under and lock and key,” Murray says.
Along with a grilling tent promising great food options to go with beer, beer expert Mirella Amato is offering a female-oriented beer tour, with the goal of finding at least one beer that every participant will enjoy.
“Not a lot of people are aware that … to the end of 19th century, beer was always brewed by women,” Amato says. “It was always a women’s art and there are still many parts of the world where that is still the case. In Peru, the traditional chicha is brewed by women.”
So there’s beer, and there’s history too. It’s almost like it’s good for you.
By the way, Amato says beer has as many health benefits as wine. What do you know? We’re getting thirsty.
Festival of Beer, CNE, Aug. 4
