NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Something exciting is brewing at Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. in downtown Orillia.
The Orillia and District Chamber of Commerce and Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. have collaborated on a limited-time beer to celebrate the Orillia Perch Festival. Perch “Pail” Ale is scheduled to launch on April 19 at the chamber’s Business After 5 event. It will then be available on tap at the brewery and at a few select partner locations while supplies last.
The perch festival is heading into its 41st year. At the festival’s core is an all-ages fishing derby, which since the 1980s has been both a draw for tourists and a popular spring activity for locals. The derby’s unique feature is that participants don’t have to be serious anglers to have a chance at winning a big prize, making it a perfect opportunity for families with children and those who want to try out the sport of fishing. In the words of the chamber’s events co-ordinator, Doug Bunker, “You just fish to win.”
Perch “Pail” Ale (4.8 per cent alc./vol) is a session pale ale that features a grapefruit-forward, citrusy aroma with slight pine notes and a quick finish. It is brewed from Canadian malt and hops. The hop variety is called Centennial and is sourced from a farm on the East Coast that has an interesting local connection.
“We used Centennial hops from a farm called Wicked Hops, located in Stewiacke, N.S.,” says Kaylea McCarron, general manager of Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. “The hops are grown by a husband-and-wife team, and the husband is originally from Orillia. Centennial is newer, but popular — a dual-purpose variety that gives Perch “Pail” Ale its excellent aroma and flavour profile.”
Anglers and craft beer enthusiasts alike can appreciate the beer’s playful branding. The cans will feature green and yellow stripes, a nod to the distinctive colouring of the perch fish. The logo includes a bucket with a fish tail poking out. Although the festival’s fishing derby is a catch-and-release event, those who do choose to enjoy a perch dinner can rest assured that Perch “Pail” Ale pairs well with the one that didn’t get away.
The 473-millilitre cans will be available in the brewery’s retail store just in time for this year’s perch festival, which runs April 29 to May 6. Registration for the perch festival fishing derby is already underway, and will remain open until the final day of the festival. Details for participants and registration link are available at www.orillia.com/perchfestival.
This year’s grand prize is a Lund WC-12 boat complete with motor and trailer. Over 30 tagged perch will be released, each worth between $500 and $1,000. Additional prizes for children and adults include a canoe, local shopping sprees, and fishing gear.
To qualify to win daily and grand prizes, all participants have to do is catch and photograph a perch. Winners are then determined by draw. The photograph is submitted through an app, meaning participants can fish from anywhere around Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching. Tagged perch are released approximately one week before the festival, and will be released in various locations including Orillia and Lagoon City.
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