The Bar Towel

Uggg. The GO bus from Hamilton took twice as long as normal and now the subway has issues slowing the entire system down. Anticipating having to stand in the rain a long time.

Unexpectedly going to Volo Zwanze instead of Blue Monk Zwanze tomorrow. If anyone is down in Buffalo tomorrow, doesn't have a tasting ticket and wants a pair of Zwanze tix, I'm selling at cost. PM me if interested. Cheers.

Yeah, low level diacetyl may be acceptible for the style, but isn't neccessary. I'm super aware of diacetyl and personally consider it a defect in any style, so definitely not the sweetness I'm talking about. Carbohyrates are carbohydrates. All malt has a certain amount of sweetness, it's just not s...

I think they might still do a cask every Tuesday as well.

The Phoenix is indeed one of the only choices in that area of town and they do have some surprising stuff, now and then.

Interesting topic. Not a home brewer or a judge, so I may have a less rounded opinion than some, but I find Urquell and most Czech Pils to have a light but noticable bready or doughy sweetness. I spent 10 days in the Czech Republic this summer and drank a ton of regular, tank and unfiltered Urquell ...

for the toronto event: anyone can go. limited tickets for the zwanze sample and commemorative glass will go on sale in advance. $25, i believe, is admission. gets you a 4 oz zwanze pour and a glass. that ticket gets you a drink up until 10 PM. anyone can wait in line for zwanze day. if you have a t...

Blue Monk selling tickets roght now. 140 spots originally, but only about 20 left. $25 US gets you a Zwanze taste, anothe Cantillon sample and a glass. Get crackin' sour pusses.

As someone who drinks all styles of beer year round, I hate the way the myopic way the LCBO organizes seasonal releases based on styles. Nevermind some fairly bland offerings, but 7/10 beers are stouts and porters. Now I love stouts and porters, but aside from spiced Christmas Ales and Halloween Pum...

Continuing the IPA kick: Yellow Dog Play Dead IPA (Excellent) Bellwoods Double Nelson IIPA (too bad it is likely a one-off as this is the best IIPA I think I've had from Bellwoods). Definitely like Double Nelson more than either Boogie or Witchshark. So freaking dank. Didn't think you could get tha...

I found that their APA (Citra) was better than their IPAs. I do agree with you though, that they are too malty. Have you had their Farmhouse Ale yet? I'd be interested to try that. I haven't yet. Is the True Grit Farmhouse Ale a rebranding of their Motueka Saison....kind of seems that way when I go...

I liked Rainhard's Impy Stout as well. Their hoppy offerings have been hit or miss from me. Hit's were Lazy Bones IPA and Hopped Up Summer Ale. Misses being Asytole and Armed N Citra. With the exception of the Summer Ale, all their hoppy beers are too malty for my tastes. I don't know if it's the ma...

I'd say yes, especially for these thin gruel, C-hop dominated varieties of "session IPA" that appear to be in vogue. None of them comes anywhere close to being as satisfying as a well made English-style bitter in the same ABV range, at least for my money. Trying to think of an Ontario exa...

I have the week off, so I went down today. Very quiet on the shelves right now. On the counter at Premiere were Evil Twin-Beavertown XXX Mild, Evil Twin Mission Gose and Stillwater The Devil Is People smoked sour wheat. Most places had lots of Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break back in stock. Aside f...

As long as a brewery mixes up their releases between weekends, weekdays and weeknights after 5, so everyone gets access to at least something I'm cool with it. Most breweries are not bad at staggaring release dates and times. Obviously in Hamilton and just leaving work now, no chance for No Rest for...

Ha. Maybe I'm a sucker for punishment, but I liked Mikkeller Black and opening a Mill St. Barley Wine with between 5 and 7 years on it is one of the beers I enjoy most around Christmas.