If you want to win the favourite kid award this Father’s Day, the ability to conjure up a hot, sunny weekend could come in mighty handy.

But failing that, taking dad to visit one of the province’s many craft breweries could prove a popular move.

Many of those breweries are located in scenic areas, so you could always make a day trip out of it — providing somebody acts as designated driver for dad, of course — or stay overnight near one of them. The Ontario Craft Brewers site, www.ontariocraftbrewers.com, has both ideas for day trips to its member properties and even links to nearby sights and accommodations.

Starting off close to home, Cameron’s Brewing Co. in Oakville has a couple of Father’s Day events on this weekend (see sidebar), one at its brewery and another at a hotel restaurant in Kitchener, Ont.

Another GTA option is the new Black Creek Historic Brewery, which opened earlier this month at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

As you might expect, given its location, the brewery uses historically accurate equipment and methods to make its products — no easy thing, as visitors will learn. Oakville’s Trafalgar Brewing Co. is supervising operations at Black Creek Historic Brewery.

Visitors can take the From Field to Firkin: Beer History Tours starting daily  at 12:30 and 3 p.m.; the tour ends with a tasting of authentic period ales, and visitors can stay afterwards to enjoy a cold pint in the on-site pub, or take home a growler of beer — a growler being a 64-ounce refillable jug that was commonly used in the 1800s to transport beer.

The cost of the tour is $4, which includes three samples in the brewery. Tickets are available at the Black Creek Pioneer Village admission desk. (Village admission requires a separate ticket). See www.blackcreekbrewery.ca for further information.

Other events at the village this weekend include a 200-strong re-enactment by soldiers in period costume and a Father’s Day barbecue.

If you want to be right up to date on award-winning Ontario beer, head to Neustadt Springs in Neustadt, Ont. three hours north west of Toronto.

The brewery’s 10W30 brown ale was just awarded one of 10 gold medals at Montreal’s Mondial de la Biere. See www.neustadtsprings.com.

Beer for dad
• On Sunday, Cameron’s Brewing Co. in Oakville will host its First Annual Father’s Day Brewery BBQ from noon to 5 p.m. Stop in for brewery tours, burgers from Whole Foods, educated tastings from brewmaster Jason Britton and fresh Cameron’s. All are welcome. For more information, call 905-849-8282 or visit www.cameronsbrewing.com.

• What do you get the father that has everything?  How about a six-course meal paired with Ontario Craft Beers.  On Friday, Embers Lounge at the Holiday Inn Kitchener is hosting a “Best of” Brewmasters Dinner featuring Cameron’s Brewing and Mill Street beverages. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the cost is $60 per person. For reservations or for more information call Chris at 519-894-8523.