Bellwoods Brewery now has limited-supply stubbies

Bellwoods Brewery, Ossington's very own craft brewer, now has a pop-up retail operation to complement their restaurant (and sweet patio) at 126 Ossington Ave. While the full retail experience isn't slated to launch until December, this Saturday (August 11th between 12 and 4pm) they'll be open for business and selling some of their brand new, special-edition stubbies.

All things considered, "stubbies" is an unfortunate, but accurate name, for the short, squat beer bottles that were widely used in Canada between 1962 and 1986. Their small size equals easier transportation, a lighter weight, and--because what they lack in height, they make up for in thickness--less breakage. But the real appeal is their nostalgic, almost cutesy appearance, prompting many to wash out and then re-use.

Bellwoods' stubbies, first seen in their tweet yesterday, bear the brewery's simple, retro off-white emblem with stark black text and tell-tale red bell--it's a good-looking bottle.

The only Bellwoods beer available in stubby format will be a 4.6% ABV Belgian ale charmingly dubbed White Picket Fence, and the cost will be a reasonable $2.50 (tax in). You'll also find their regular retail formats of 650 ml bottles (on sale for $5) and 1.89L growler jugs ($12), in varieties such as French farmhouse ale Biere de Garde, (7.5%), Lost River Baltic Porter (7.7%), and the Fortune Cookie (8.2%), a Belgian tripel. The pop-up will accept cash, debit and credit, but they ask that you bring your own bag.

Says Bellwoods' Michael Clark of the chubby bottles, "They're finicky and very labor-intensive to bottle with our bottle filler, so we won't be using stubbies on an ongoing basis," although he adds that they might make appearances for special releases. Poor stubbies.