2009 barVolo hosted the first Ontario Cask I.P.A. challenge placing eighteen Ontario India Pale Ales/Pale ales heads up against each other in a single elimination bracket tournament. The final four beers last year were; Granite Hopping Mad IPA, Durham Hop Addict IPA, Mike Duggan #9 IPA and Scotch Irish Sgt.Major IPA. In a head to head final round, Mike Duggan #9 IPA was victorious against Durhams Hop Addict, taking the title of the 1st annual IPA challenge winner.


It’s now 2010 and barVolo would like to invite you to participate in the second annual Ontario Cask I.P.A challenge. This year will feature 16 India Pale Ales on cask ,with three rounds, all blindly tasted. The top score from each beer pairing will advance to the next round.  All participating beers will be disclosed as brewers submit their beers, please check our website for updates.







The first round will take place May 30th from 12pm-8pm (or until supplies last). featuring sixteen Ontario india Pale Ales on cask all served blind.  The beers will be judged by a panel of 7 ‘beer experts’, with an 8th score, that will be the public score. Upon arrival, everyone will receive a score card to rate all the beers. At the end of the event we will tally all the scores and the top score from each pairing will advance to the next round. All beers served will be disclosed the following day on this website.







The second round will take place on Friday July 9th and Saturday July 10th between starting @4:00PM Friday. It will feature the 8 beers that advanced from the first round, and will be a blind public vote. Upon arrival, everyone will receive a score card to rate all the beers. At the end of the event we will tally all the scores and the top score from each pairing will advance to the next round. All beers served will be disclosed the following day on this website.

West Coast v.s No Coast v.s East Coast


To start the Ontario Cask IPA Challenge festivities, we will be hosting a Canadian Bottle Double IPA Challenge, feature Eight Double IPA’s from coast to coast served blind.


Phillips Amnesiac Double IPA - Victoria, British Columbia

Tree Hop Head Double IPA - Kelowna - British Columbia

Half-Pints Humulus Ludicrous Double IPA - Winnipeg, Manitoba

Black Oak Ten Bitter Years Double IPA - Toronto, Ontario

Beau’s Screaming Beaver Double IPA - Vanleek, Ontario

Great Lakes My Bitterer Wife Double IPA - Toronto, Ontario

Charlevoix Amarillo Double IPA - Baie-St-Paul, Quebec

Garrison Imperial India Pale Ale - Halifax, Nova Scotia



Try all eight double IPA’s blind served in 3oz sample glasses for $20.00. Beers will be disclosed after .


The third round will take place on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 starting at 4:00pm and will feature the 4 beers that advanced from the second round, and will be a blind public vote. The top scored beer at the end of this round will be crowned the winner of the Ontario Cask IPA Challenge.


*If the top two scored beers can be brewed again, a fourth, final showdown round will take place on a future date.

Round 2 - Division One: Toronto


Duggan’s Number Nine IPA v.s Cheshire Valley English IPA


Great Lakes My Bitter Wife IPA v.s Great Lakes Armadildo IPA



Round 2 - Division Two: Ontario


Country Durham Hop Head IPA v.s  Flying Monkey Smash Bomb IPA


Beau’s Beaver River IPA v.s Stonehammer IPA v.s Scotch Irish Sgt.Major IPA