The Bar Towel

I'd definitely interested in a big time IPA. Give me 65 IBUs, the 3 C's (cascade, centennial, chinook) and a good bit of malt to hold it all up. Something bursting with hop aroma. I could do that, no question.

I like that decision. Let the market sort it out. What's the worst that will happen? A few kids who want to pretend like they're Yanks will discover real beer? It's not like A-B won't outsell the Czechs by 100x anyway.

It's a nice piss-up. They're usually sold out pretty quick so it might be tough to get in if you just drop by unannounced. The C'est What sounds like the same idea as the Judgefest, but in Hamilton it's a flat entrance and all you can drink. Good range of brews and everybody there knows everybody el...

No more Czechvar at Smokeless. Apparently there are people who read Bartowel and they all ran down and drank the place dry because I only took 48 hours to check it out and I was too late. It will, of course, be back, but this weekend doesn't look too promising.

Well, nobody is missing anything with the Black Wych, I can assure you. There are some beers that are open to personal taste, and others that just are not well made. It seems the Wellington is the former. I enjoyed some on Saturday. I didn't notice any particular alcohol. Certainly not the heaviest ...

Maybe somebody forget to tell them that lambics are beers. Not that I'm complaining. Aside from being two of my brother's favourites, those two represent one last kick at the can for us lambic lovers as soon all of our favourites may be gone. I think both Lindemans and Boon are on their way out so u...

I have definitely noticed a serious dropoff at the SAQ that past couple of times in Quebec, compared with where it was five or six years ago, when you could really find an amazing assortment. As envious as we are here about the variety in their domestic brews, the import selection in Quebec leaves a...

Peter, while on the subject of the Fall Beers, where is the Straffe Hendrik Brune (I think you bring this in?).

I can't find it anywhere, even Queen's Quay.

I would highly recommend Smokeless Joe (125 John Street). The beer selection is bigger than at Esplanade and it is not an Interbrew shop. And while Joe listens to the opinions of both Cass and myself, it hardly matters since he brings in absolutely everything he can get his hands on - including Scot...

The session has appeared in T.O. at Smokeless Joe as well, and C'est What. The Porter made an appearance last year at the Esplanade, and this year will likely be at Smokeless as well when it comes out. For my money, there is no need to petition the breweries to bring more of their stuff as long as t...

I just had the Badger Golden Champion. More of a copper, really. It is a tasty, flowery, very honey-ish ale. Kind of light bodied, so not for all beer geeks, but a refreshing ale for warm Indian summer afternoons.

In addition to the fall release, there are a couple more new beers showing up at the LCBO. None of them are world beaters, but Giraf, Slavutych Premium and Taiwan Beer are all out there. I also know a place in town where you can find Guatemalan beers, including Moza Bock, if anyone is curious about ...

I HIGHLY recommend the Brakspear Vintage Henley. This is one of the best beers I've had this year and I'm glad to hear that Brakspear is on this list. I'll have to see what else they brew.

I could see myself getting in on a little Horizontal action, so to speak.

I also had a crack at this one, but found it too thin and flavourless to be a credible stout, and not particularly enjoyable by any standard. I have not had all of the fall releases yet, but it looks to me like the Schlenkerla Marzen, Sam Smith's and Goudenband will be the keepers. We've seen these ...