The Bar Towel

Also - and this is very much unofficial - but I have heard that T&M may one day re-open in Hamilton! I popped in late on a weekday in November when I was in the area for what turned out to be my last "real" visit. The bartender mentioned that Katie bought a place in the Hamilton area a...

Sad to see that T&M didn’t get to have the blowout end of year celebrations that they had planned. A buddy and I were going to try and get there if they stayed open that last week of the year, but it seemed like staff COVID ended that. It was a fun spot and will be remembered! Without much noti...

Yes, definitely travelling again. I am tired of living in fear of the virus and have really felt like this thing is over ever since I got my second jab over the summer. I've been out to Vancouver a couple of times, NYC and San Francisco. I'll share some of my recommendations in the travel forum when...

All good changes. I didn't even realize that some of these rules exist. No liquor infusions? There are definitely some cocktail bars that are doing this already. Unless the rule only stipulates that you can't serve modified liquors straight up, but there is no prohibition on using them in drinks. An...

Also late to the party, but +1 for keeping the Bar Towel Forum distinct from social media and for making changes at the margins rather than overhauling. I'm a fan of the current format and discourse. Historically, I've found the threads detailing upcoming LCBO seasonal releases and providing travel ...

I'm referring to restaurants getting the right to sell alcohol to go during COVID. For instance, Keep6 is still importing exclusive beer/wine/spirits, but selling it through their bars other non-LCBO bottle shops. Previously Keep6 would sell many of these imports as LCBO Online Exclusives. Oh. I th...

I'm referring to restaurants getting the right to sell alcohol to go during COVID. For instance, Keep6 is still importing exclusive beer/wine/spirits, but selling it through their bars other non-LCBO bottle shops. Previously Keep6 would sell many of these imports as LCBO Online Exclusives. Oh. I th...

The business model was set up to distribute beer for the brewer/owners (currently 2 primary owners: AB Inbev & Molson Coors, and to a smaller extent Sapporo). As Jordan has written many times elsewhere, its meant to be a "cost-recovery" model, not a retail for-profit model. In other w...

I mean, I see a lot more Mikkeler, Omnipollo, etc. at the LiCBO (and at Loblaws in the case of the latter) now that they are made at Brunswick. Don't know what the overall sales are but it might well be healthy? I suspect that they must be to have attracted the investment. It's never been clear to ...

PE fund Clairvest made an equity investment in Brunswick today: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/11/30/2136866/0/en/Clairvest-Partners-with-Management-Team-of-Brunswick-Bierworks.html Brunswick wouldn't have been at the top of my list if I had to name a GTA micro that was going to get...

Having a 2009 St-Ambroise Stout Impériale Russe , also in remarkably fine shape at 7.5 years of age. Also has bold and rich flavors of winey dark fruit, chocolate ganache torte and a dry hint of coffee liqueur. Solid creamy palate is supported by a remainder of bittering hop, ALL the rough edges ar...

I also have a number of those Avec Bon Voueux Dupont Christmas beers they put out, probably stellar cellar candidates as well. I pulled one of these out of the cellar about a month ago and it is still drinking great. A little bit sweeter/maltier, but still showcasing that spicy phenol character. I'...

Drinking more but probably spending a little bit less on balance. I would say it's more of a re-allocation of my alcohol funds away from bars/restaurants to the LCBO and breweries with some net reductions overall by paying fewer bar premiums. My home bar has also expanded greatly as I have been work...

Passi Reali Appassimento Montepulciano Organic VDT Montepulciano 750 mL bottle | LCBO#: 523100 $12.90 $14.90 Save $2.00 Limited Time Offer Until September 13, 2020 If you haven't ever tried a red done in the Appassimento style this one is worth trying especially since it is on sale. Warm, smooth, d...

Nice beer. Not worth the $$ imo. +1 (not worth $20, even for 650Ml) I was wondering at the high price, but I like it. Heavily built. The flavors are dense and carry on for a loooong time... it's a good hybrid of UK traditional and USA style RIS, with some nice leathery tones setting off the ample r...