Godspeed Brewery

Beginning as a saison and finishing as something more enigmatic, Yuzu combines Japanese citrus and Belgian yeast, with restrained hopping to create a light, lively beer accentuated by mild tartness and minerality. Yuzu is a tremendously aromatic fruit: you’ll smell the beer being poured from across the room. The combination of fruit and saison characteristics creates a dramatic nose of freshly-peeled clementines, all pith and bright orange. The acidity helps smooth and hone the minerality that gives the simple beer complexity, and allows for a crisp but memorable finish

Floral and citrus from the Japanese Green tea, harvested every year from our Brewmaster's tea field in Japan, melds harmoniously with German and French hops in this big, but agile IPA. A simple but robust malt profile and a high alcohol percentage help balance out the natural astringency from the hops and tea, creating a beer that opens with force but does not linger beyond its welcome. Sweet, honey- and biscuit-like notes fill the middle out, while the hops and green tea surround and suffuse the palate, creating a silken texture along the way.

German malt, German hops, Canadian water. This pale lager from the industrial city of Dortmund is a simple beer of balance: spice and citrus atop a humble foundation of malt, no ingredient shouting too loud and all in service of clarity. A full mouthfeel softens the moderate hoppiness, and accentuates the delicate malt profile. A long and cold maturation creates a crisp and refreshing beer that finishes clean. End your day like a Dortmunder: sweat on your brow and a beer in your hand.

One cannot truly understand the depth of the Czech Brewing philosophy until he/she has made it to the country and hook up with the greatest beer inspirations and personalities of the Czech Republic. Back in November 2018, Our brewmaster was selected to be part of a Czech Republic Trade Mission hosted by the Czech American Embassy and Canadian Consulate Economic & Trade Sections. This trip was such a revelation and by far far one of our brewmaster‘s best beer trips ever. Godspeed‘s fascination for the Czech Brewing philosophy and culture is growing day by day. This Svetlý Ležák 12º is only the begining of a long journey and friendship with the Czech brewing culture and people. We are now studying and sourcing some of the finest Czech raw materials for designing our new Czech Lagers made with the true Czech brewing philosophy. We’ve never been that excited! Na Zdraví!

The onset of cooler weather always pairs with our desire to drink beers of the porter variety. Enter Kemuri Godspeed-Style Porter, one of our seasonal favourites. Showcasing English malted barley and a calculated blend of roasted malts, Kemuri pours midnight black with tawny highlights and a thick stand of mocha-like foam. Rich in profile, expect an opulent helping of freshly roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a wisp of peat smoke that sings into the finish.

One cannot truly understand the depth of the Czech Brewing philosophy until he/she has made it to the country and hook up with the greatest beer inspirations and personalities of the Czech Republic. Back in November 2018, Our brewmaster was selected to be part of a Czech Republic Trade Mission hosted by the Czech American Embassy and Canadian Consulate Economic & Trade Sections. This trip was such a revelation and by far far one of our brewmaster‘s best beer trips ever. Godspeed‘s fascination for the Czech Brewing philosophy and culture is growing day by day. This Tmavý Ležák 12º is only the begining of a long journey and friendship with the Czech brewing culture and people. We are now studying and sourcing some of the finest Czech raw materials for designing our new Czech Lagers made with the true Czech brewing philosophy. We’ve never been that excited! Na Zdraví!

Visiting Pilsner Urquell's underground cellars and tasting their original oak-fermented and conditioned golden lager will leave an impression like no other beer experience can. Years can drift by and you will still remember the cellar's damp, bitter cold. You will remember the rows and rows of majestic barrels lining its hallowed walls. Most importantly, you will remember how tasting the original pilsner from one of these hand-crafted vessels reminded you of why you fell in love with beer in the first place. This is the experience we drew from when making Sklepník Old Pilsen Style Lager. We can only aspire to spark a similar passion with our humble rendition. Na zdraví! The “Stainless Edition” of this lager was fermented then cold conditioned in stainless fermentation tanks for 7 weeks. Triple decoction mash. Naturally carbonated. Unfiltered. * Návšteva podzemních sklepu Plzenského Prazdroje a ochutnání jejich puvodního svetlého ležáku zrajícího v dubových sudech ve vás zanechá pivní zážitek jako žádný jiný. Z této zkušenosti jsme cerpali pri varení ležáku Sklepnik, Plzen Inspired Pale Lager. Mužeme jen doufat, že ve vás náš skromný výtvor zažehne jiskru podobné vášne. Na zdraví!

Our collaboration with dear friends at Dieu du Ciel! emerges from the shadow of its patriarch not as an ale, but a lager. Clean threads of flavour sewn together with a charcoal needle: sharp, fresh-cracked espresso attacks the nose, shrouding hints of currant and blueberry in its embrace, while a smoky backbone marries these flavours to the dark chocolate and nutty malt character. A hint of sweetness cushions a surpisingly spry finish, leaving one to ask: if temptation tastes this good...

Visiting Pilsner Urquell's underground cellars and tasting their original pitch lined barrel-fermented and conditioned golden lager will leave an impression like no other beer experience can. Years can drift by and you will still remember the cellar's damp, bitter cold. You will remember the rows and rows of majestic barrels lining its hallowed walls. Most importantly, you will remember how tasting the original pilsner from one of these hand-crafted vessels reminded you of why you fell in love with beer in the first place. This is the experience we drew from when making Sklepník . Our newly revamped version of this beer conditioned in 40hL pitch-lined barrels from Pilsner Urquell. Double decocted and naturally carbonated.

There are few beer drinking experiences that approach perfection like the one possible at Mahrs Bräu in Bamberg, Germany. Order half-litres of "aU" beer from its historic schenke, repose in its picturesque beer garden and have a drink: you're bound to be enamoured by one of the world's most satisfying lagers. It is with these memories in mind that we brewed Ikinuki \ ??? (meaning: to breathe), Godspeed's interpretation of a Bamberger Ungespundetes Kellerbier. It pours a dazzling unfiltered golden-bronze colour with a dense, billowy white cap of foam. Our kellerbier underscores a pleasant depth of malt, with notes of fresh toasted bread crust and toffee that washes across the palate like a smooth blanket. Noble hops add a fair degree of bitterness and floral character to the beer before it finishes with a faint whisper of smoke— this is a nod to the epicentre of beechwood smoked lager after all... Prost!

IRORI is our tribute to Greg Noonan, a pioneer of American craft beer and our dear friend and former mentor. Noonan was the owner and head brewer of Vermont Pub and Brewery for over 20 years, during which time he authored many seminal books on brewing and helped inspire a new generation of brewers, including our own. This peated scotch lager is a formulation of Noonan's many passions -- namely, scotch ale, lager, and smoked malt. We decided to implement the knowledge he so gracefully passed down into one beer; a spiritual collaboration between mentor and pupil. Noonan passed away in 2009, but his legacy lives on in the struggle and love we apply to everything we make. We thank the Noonan family for allowing us to undertake this effort. This one's for you, Greg.

Nonbe | ??? (meaning: to drink) represents our obsessive attempt to emulate older iterations of Oktoberfest bier brewed for the two week-long celebration that shares the style's name. Brewed with Vienna and Munich malts and Tettnanger hops, Nonbe expresses a piquant floral noble hop character before a luxurious cascade of malt notes begin to proliferate: toasted bread crust, caramel, molasses, and pecan. The drink's texture is round and opulent, showcasing the malt richness hinted at in the aroma with an added suggestion of maple sap; unsweetened and delightful. The finish, softened and refined by a long cold maturation, is the exclamation point on a lager that has us reaching for the nearest litre stein.

Helles, delicate and refined, are a brewer’s challenge: how to make a vivid beer of elegance with the simplest of tools? In turning the dials down across the board, we find whispered flavours normally too hushed to be heard. Each quiet voice is a filament, both fine and bright, and fleeting, as if before you can put a finger on, it rises away. What’s left are ripples in the water: a pinch of spice, the brisk warmth of a fresh loaf, and a faint memory of smoke, like embers still glowing in the morning, their smell carried on the wind.

Polotmavý, roughly meaning "half-dark," is in some ways the Czech answer to Germany's exquisite Dunkels. It's similarly dark amber in colour, robust and refined in its malt profile, and unparalleled in its sessionability. Godspeed's Polotmavý is *triple* decocted, lagered for 6 weeks, naturally carbonated, and uses Saaz hops and a newly sourced yet old-world Czech floor malted barley. The result is a beautifully balanced, clean, and malt-rich amber lager with notes of toasted bread loaf crust, caramel, peppery spice, and distant granola. Backstopped by a generous carbonation and firm bitterness, this represents the next step in our unbounded obsession with Czech brewing tradition. Na zdraví!

Umi (? meaning “Sea or Ocean in Japanese) is our Gose style ale with a Japanese touch. We did incorporate Shikuwasa citrus and sea salt both originating from the southern tropical islands of Okinawa in Japan. We added Indian coriander seeds since coriander was historically part of the original Gose recipe. Godspeed is also located in Toronto’s Little India so we wanted to pay our respect to our neighbours. A Gose is supposed to be a none to very slightly tangy refreshing beverage without being overpowered by any ingredients involved in the recipe. Please enjoy our interpretation of it, made the Godspeed way, with subtlety and respect. Cheers!

When the Saison was young, all beers would have been smoky, that being the only way to dry malt for the farmhouses making the style at the time. Our Smoked Saison incorporates this history into its profile, blending the subtly fruity, woody character of smoked malt with a spicy, pear and banana yeast character. Dry and effervescent, yet with a surprising amount of body, it quenches thirst as it would have for the farmhands who gave the style its name.

In Ceské Budejovice, Budejovický Budvar (otherwise known as Budweiser Budvar or Czechvar in North America) and its original Ležák has been a constant source of inspiration here at Godspeed. After many journeys to the brewery over the years, it’s fair to say their philosophy, their brewmaster Adam Brož along with their former brewmaster Josef Tolar, and - more than anything else - their delicious 12° beer, have pushed us to redouble our efforts when it comes to producing Czech-style lagers of quality and distinction. Enter Buh Originální Ležák (4.6% abv) Original Czech Pale Lager, our painstaking homage in liquid form. Using a double decoction mash process, 12 week lagering time, 100% whole cone Saaz hops, and speciality-sourced floor malted pilsner malt, Buh (meaning God) is our most elegant lager to date. On the nose, it’s all gentle Saaz spice aromatics that play into a delicate malt driven flavour and softened, natural carbonation. This particular pale lager is a study in restraint, providing an elegant canvas for these impeccable ingredients to shine.

Outside of weizen, altbier is one of the only traditional ales left in Germany. Our take on this ancient style leans hoppier than the average Dusseldorfer’s, but still sits squarely within the style. Dark fruit, and faint but fragrant citrus characterize the subtle nose, while the flavour hints at dark rye bread, gentle caramel, and fruit skins. Extremely clean and clear, Oberkassel wraps its soft flavours in a firm but friendly bitterness, fading gracefully from your palate between sips. Understated but secretly quite complex.

Our collaboration with De La Senne is an unfiltered everyday lager that features a striking amount of malt variety: rye, oats, wheat, malted barley and a kiss of smoked malt just for good measure. Lightly dry-hopped with German noble hops, Bière de Soif is a thirst-quencher that also lends itself to deeper exploration for those who care to ponder over a glass. Floral and grilled lemon-like character feature prominently atop a crisp and spicy finish.

One cannot truly understand the depth of the Czech Brewing philosophy until he/she has made it to the country and hook up with the greatest beer inspirations and personalities of the Czech Republic. Back in November 2018, Our brewmaster was selected to be part of a Czech Republic Trade Mission hosted by the Czech American Embassy and Canadian Consulate Economic & Trade Sections. This trip was such a revelation and by far far one of our brewmaster‘s best beer trips ever. Godspeed‘s fascination for the Czech Brewing philosophy and culture is growing day by day. This Svetlé Výcepní Pivo 10º is only the begining of a long journey and friendship with the Czech brewing culture and people. We are now studying and sourcing some of the finest Czech raw materials for designing our new Czech Lagers made with the true Czech brewing philosophy. We’ve never been that excited! Na Zdraví!

Fukami ?? is our inaugural take on this classic German style expresses an inviting malt character in the form of caramelized, fresh-out-of-the-oven bread crust, toasted walnut and a subtle whisper of molasses. After this Dunkel went through a four hour-long decoction mash and seven week cold maturation period, it evolved into a dexterous, soft-textured, and moreish copper lager that fills us with memories of hours spent in some of Munich's finest biergartens and brauhauses - stein in hand and not a care in the world. Prost!

In Ceské Budejovice, Budejovický Budvar (otherwise known as Budweiser Budvar or Czechvar in North America) and its original Ležák has been a constant source of inspiration here at Godspeed. After many journeys to the brewery over the years, it’s fair to say their philosophy, their brewmaster Adam Brož along with their former brewmaster Josef Tolar, and - more than anything else - their delicious 12° beer, have pushed us to redouble our efforts when it comes to producing Czech-style lagers of quality and distinction. Enter Buh Specialni Edice (4.6% abv), our collaboration with Czechvar. A reformed recipe based on our Original Pale Lager of the same name, brewed with Adam and his illustrious team here in Toronto after our Czech celebration back in October.

Aged 48 weeks on brettanomyces yeast.

FUYU ? (meaning “Winter” in Japanese). Inspired by old school American-Style barleywines, ours features rich malt sweetness with a memorable hoppy kick from the Chinook and Centennial Hops. It's robust but deceptive in its approach - so much so you’ll likely go on ordering a second glass to see you through these dark and cold days.

In the Czech Republic, picking hops isn’t just a part of local agriculture, it is a rite of passage. Under communism, Czechs in every high school and university were sorted into "hop brigades" each summer, where they helped farmers tend and pick their immaculate crops of Saaz in Zatec. Though it is no longer a universal practice, hop picking remains an important coming-of-age tradition and popular summer gig in Bohemia. As luck and circumstance would have it, you get to enjoy the fruits of their labour with Nachmeleny Czech Double IPA. The beer itself showcases Kazbeck and Saaz hops, featuring notes of freshly-picked field berries, geranium, and ripe stone fruit. Double decocted, naturally carbonated, and made with floor malted Czech barley, Nachmeleny connects Czech brewing tradition with modern hopping rates to create a sublime and surprising double IPA.

Pretty stunned by how much I liked it. One of the best industrial-type spaces I've visited. A sterling atmosphere, especially as the sun went down. Clean, fairly comfy, lots of seats. Roomy bathrooms. Perfect service, balancing the fine line between attentive and hands-off. Sandwich meat was a little dry but it was still quite flavorsome, and that was offset by perfect fries.

Not gonna lie, when you're walking up to this place, the appearance alone is setting quite the expectation. I immediately noticed attention to detail in the atmosphere, the layout: impeccable, the menu: very nicely designed, the cutlery: superb. The beer was great, zero complaints in that department. Service was A1. The only thing I will say however, was my stuffed cheese and jalapenos burger was burnt. My girlfriend's pork shnitzel sandwich was also pretty bland and as she put mid. However, I wouldn't say it was bad necessarily, and the pretzel and olives, as well as the salad was lovely. At the end of the day, this is a brewery, so I cant say I'm surprised that the food wasn't Ramsay-tier. And overall I loved my experience here, and would reccomend it to anyone. Next time I'll definitely get the sausage cause the guys next to me looked amazing. 4.5/5

I had the privilege of my first ever visit to Godspeed on 28 July 24, during their 7th anniversary weekend. I'd previously tried many of their beers via bottle shop purchases, online orders and on tap in various pubs/bars. To finally try their beer straight from the source was incredible. In a craft beer market saturated with hazy IPAs and adjunct stouts, Godspeed honours and respects Czech and Japanese traditions. I hope to make a second trip sooner rather than later.

The beer is great, but the food falls short of expectations. The fried chicken and sausage are both too dry, and the beef burger is just average. I'd recommend it if you're primarily looking for a drink.

Nice selection of Czech and Oktoberfest beers. You will staff very friendly to help you find the best pair of beer and food.