It’s hard to imagine that drinking beer and throwing axes would be the safest of ways to spend an afternoon. But that is just what I did with Brew Donkey last weekend! (Mom, if you’re reading this, you may want to stop here.)
Brew Donkey offers a variety of pre-set brewery tours throughout the Ottawa region. Each tour takes you to as many as three unique breweries in the area, where you’ll get samples, a tour of the brewery and a chance to pick the brains of those who make your favourite beer. It’s something I’ve had on my to-do list for a while. Axe throwing was just an added bonus, as often is the case.
Brew Donkey’s Sip, Axe and Relax tour involves a visit to two breweries, with a stop at BATL axe throwing in the middle. The breweries on our tour were Bicycle Craft Brewery and Dominion City Brewing Co. Having already visited both breweries in the past, I knew that the beer I would be drinking was going to be great. It was the axe throwing in the middle that had me a little curious.
Let’s talk about the beer:
Bicycle Craft Brewery
As mentioned, I had been to Bicycle Craft Brewery a number of times before this occasion. But I was still able to try a number of new beers that made me want to go back. Those of you who know me know that I am a very strong supporter of the IPA. So it should come as no surprise to you that my two favourite brews were Frequency APA and Velociraptor Double IPA.
Their tap room is a wonderful spot to enjoy a brew with some friends. It’s a warm, cosy environment with plenty of interesting decor scattered throughout the space. Spoiler alert: that involves bicycles.
Dominion City Brewing Co.
It also should also not surprise you to know that I am a fan of Dominion City Brewing Co. I’ve written about the brewery in the past, and absolutely love the beer they make. The growth they have experienced over the last three years is inspiring, and I cannot wait to see where they go from here.
I know what you’re thinking: Get to the beer already! The one beer that stood out the most for me at Dominion City was the Drop Bear IPA. For those who are wondering, a Drop Bear is a fictional animal from Australia who will literally drop down on you from the tree tops and (I’m guessing) eat you alive. I emphasize the word fictional because I had no problem believing that this thing was real! Back to the beer; if you’ve tried Sunsplit IPA, you’ll love this one. It’s bitter, refreshing and has a citrus punch worthy of fighting off any Drop Bear.
BATL Axe Throwing
Now, for the dangerous part. After our tour of Bicycle Craft Brewery, we stopped at BATL Axe Throwing, on Lancaster Road.
I’ve tried to think of a way to accurately describe the game of axe throwing, and this is all I could come up with: Imagine playing in a darts tournament with a group of friends. Now, instead of throwing darts at a cork board, you are hurling an axe at a target on a sheet of wood about 20-30 feet away from you. Yep, that sums it up nicely.
You have to experience it to know just what I’m talking about. But I will tell you this, it is a great time. Whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, or a unique activity for a bachelor/bachelorette party, axe throwing is worth every penny.
Make no mistake, the combination of drinking beer and throwing axes is dangerous. But the folks at BATL and Brew Donkey made sure that all safety precautions are taken, and everyone participating is as safe as possible.
Like many Ottawa residents, I’ve known about Brew Donkey for years. It’s always been one of those things I will “definitely check out one day.” But now that I’ve been on a tour, I can honestly say I waited too long. I had an absolute blast, and would gladly sign up for another one tomorrow. It’s a great way to see a few breweries throughout the Ottawa region, and get to know the people who are brewing the beer that you know and love.
Visiting a brewery on your own is a great idea as well, but if you’re looking for an efficient way to see some new breweries without needing to drive yourself from place to place, then a Brew Donkey tour should definitely be on your “check out now” list.
Have you been on a Brew Donkey tour? What did you think?
Crafted in the Capital 