There are two types of people in this world…

1) Those that eagerly await Valentine’s Day through the dark days of winter, and, 2) Those that are coaxed into romantic dates against their will.

No matter what type of person you are, we’ve got the Valentine’s Day Party for you!  Bring your sweetie (or beer drinkin’ buddies) to Black Oak on Saturday February 18th from 5 to 9 pm. There won’t be any expensive flowers or cheesy music, but there will be plenty of craft beer and local organic food.

We’re joining forces with the Chocosol team to create BEER-CHOCOLATE floats, followed by fresh Ontario corn tortillas stuffed with Double Chocolate Cherry Stout Mole – perfect to satisfy all sorts of cravings.  Wash down the goodness with one-off casks and special kegs, and a possible visit from craft-beer-cupid.

As always our parties cost $20.00 at the door – we’re accessible via the TTC or GO Bus and we’ll gladly call you a taxi at the end of the night.

So bring your lover, your friends or fellow foodies to another great Black Oak party!

Look what Santa got us for Christmas…. We must have been really, really good

Coming to a great craft beer pub near you in 2012!

Twas da Pint Before Christmas Poem
(with vast apologies)

By Ken Woods

Twas da pint before Christmas, when all through the brew house
Not even a beer geek was stirring, not even their spouse.
The hoses were hung by the boiler with care,
All of our misplaced tools were scattered everywhere.

 The casks were nestled all snug on their pallet,
While visions of dry hopping, just needed a mallet.
With piles of accounting looming on my desk, and I in my green tea,
Had just settled in for an undisturbed paperwork jamboree.

 When out by the door there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I cursed a foul line,
Gesticulating and pointing at the closed sign.

 The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow,
Could not improve the appearance of what lay below.
When, what to my horrified eyes should appear,
But a battered old car, sounding a Bronx cheer.

 With a little old driver, so looking of a disheveled lynch mob,
I knew in a moment it must be a beer snob.
More rapid than bullets his questions they came,
And he shouted, statements peppered with profanities aflame!

 “Now Pale Ale!, now Nut Brown!, Oaktoberfest and Nutcracker!
On Summer Saison, On Transvestites Tipple!
Where’s the 10 Bitter Years, you slacker?
Now drink away, drink away and rate them all!”

 As spent grain that before the wild hurricane fly,
When met with a domestic beer, he raged to the sky.
So up the steps, he did waddle,
With a case full of empties, that beer snob did not dawdle.

 And then, in a twinkling, I heard by the door
The prancing and pawing of this little boor.
As with the door unlocked I did fumble,
Into the brewery the beer snob did stumble.

 He was dressed all in beer paraphernalia, from his hat to his coat,
And his clothes were all tarnished, as if half chewed by a goat.
A case of empties, he had flung under his arm,
And he looked like a beer expert, which caused me alarm.

 His eyes-how they squinted! His attitude so airy!
His cheeks were so pouty, his nose all dribbly!
His droll little mouth was drawn down in a frown,
And the beard of his chin shown he’d just eaten in China Town.

 The stump of a beer opener he held tight in his hand,
And by looking closely I could see it was not our brand.
He had a blank face and a big round belly,
That shook when he swore, like his liver was jelly! 

He was chubby and plump, a right cantankerous old git,
And I laughed when I saw him, just to spite this twit!
A squint of his eye and a shake of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had much to dread.

 He spoke a few words, What do ya got that’s new?
Nothing I said, avoiding his spew.
Cashing in his empties, he slumped to the door,
Off to seek new beers elsewhere some more.

 He waddled to his jalopy, and on the fourth try did it start,
And away he did drive, his smog would soon depart.
But I had to exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good pint!”