Looking for the original Bar Towel blog? You can find it at www.thebartowel.com.

We have a trivia question in order to register to prevent bots. If you have any issues with answering, contact us at cass@bartowel.com for help.

Introducing Light Mode! If you would like a Bar Towel social experience that isn't the traditional blue, you can now select Light Mode. Go to the User Control Panel and then Board Preferences, and select "Day Drinking" (Light Mode) from the My Board Style drop-down menu. You can always switch back to "Night Drinking" (Dark Mode). Enjoy!

Search found 130 matches

by alsiem
Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:46 pm
Forum: Good Pubs, Brewpubs & Beer Bars
Topic: CRAFT Beer Market - Toronto
Replies: 41
Views: 39450

Re: CRAFT Beer Market - Toronto

Going through their twitter feed, it looks like Nov. 29th is the opening.
by alsiem
Fri Nov 10, 2017 10:25 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Molson Buys TDD
Replies: 20
Views: 10377

Re: Molson Buys TDD

Good call on the bottle formats/style/price point consumer decisions we make. I never bought a lot to TDD beers. However, I would love to see a TDD mix 12 pack at the beer store. That would be amazing.
by alsiem
Thu Nov 09, 2017 9:43 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Molson Buys TDD
Replies: 20
Views: 10377

Re: Molson Buys TDD

RJ is a interesting case. I would consider them macro as they totally dominate the bar trade in Quebec. It is very common to see a bar that caters to all beer drinking consumers from mainstream Belle Gueule to Cheval Blanc to the St. Ambroise brands and only has their product on tap. Also in the sup...
by alsiem
Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:55 pm
Forum: Good Pubs, Brewpubs & Beer Bars
Topic: Eastbound Brewing Co. - Queen & Broadview
Replies: 9
Views: 6430

Re: Eastbound Brewing Co. - Queen & Broadview

Was there on Friday. I had the Summit APA, the Belgian Wit and the oatmeal stout. I thought the Summit and the stout were better than average. I'm not a fan of Belgian wit's but was seduced by the write up, but it didn't change my mind. I was generally pretty happy with the place. I would not go acr...
by alsiem
Thu Sep 14, 2017 10:50 pm
Forum: LCBO, Beer Stores, Grocery & Indie Stores
Topic: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS
Replies: 5283
Views: 1816376

Re: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS

Let's see how long Stone lasts. I don't feel that at $4.25 a can, that Arrogant Bastard is moving the needle. The Smutty Nose Robust Porter is still at the beer store. Website claims that only 10 stores in Toronto are carrying it so perhaps that's on the way out too. I may actually try to seek that ...
by alsiem
Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:18 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Godspeed Brewery
Replies: 152
Views: 117193

Re: Godspeed Brewery

Jury is still out for me. Really liked: Dortmunder Lager Liked :the Stout Indifferent to both the Transatlantic and Natsu Summer Ale. There's nothing flawed with the beers, I think I just prefer the styles that Muddy York and Left Field (to limit to the East end) brew and to date, I'm not seeing a l...
by alsiem
Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:11 pm
Forum: LCBO, Beer Stores, Grocery & Indie Stores
Topic: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS
Replies: 5283
Views: 1816376

Re: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS

Regarding the Smutty Nose, I think we just have a very competitive market. There was nothing wrong with the beer and unlike many of the other American SKUs the price point was in line with the local market. I bought it occasionally but personally I find Lone Pine, Headstock, GL rotating IPAs all bet...
by alsiem
Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:23 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Bellwoods Brewery
Replies: 872
Views: 321962

Re: Bellwoods Brewery

Blown away that Bellwoods is being sold at South Street Burger at Bay and Temperance. Wizard Wolf, Jelly King and Monogamy.

Oh brave new world.
by alsiem
Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:35 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Godspeed Brewery
Replies: 152
Views: 117193

Re: Godspeed Brewery

Funny, I thought cost was a bit steep too, but then I think that $5, 500 ml bottles from Indie and Muddy York are a good deal. Pretty close in price. My random thoughts: Lager: Loved it. Just compared it to other lagers I'd had recently and thought it was delicious. You have a business plan right th...
by alsiem
Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:16 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Cider
Replies: 51
Views: 34812

Re: Cider

Let to the party but yes Her Father's Cider Bar does do tasting flights. Very knowledgeable staff and with a few questions they managed to recommend some tasty stuff. Big fan of a thai ginger blend cider I had there.
by alsiem
Tue Jul 11, 2017 5:12 pm
Forum: LCBO, Beer Stores, Grocery & Indie Stores
Topic: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS
Replies: 5283
Views: 1816376

Re: New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS

Yes, looking forward to trying IPA 3. I'm drifting to the do not like Ransack the Universe opinion but enjoyed IPA 2 very much. Hops defiantly an individual preference.
by alsiem
Sat Jun 24, 2017 4:35 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Cider
Replies: 51
Views: 34812

Re: Cider

For cider enthusiasts, I highly recommend a trip out to Her Father's Cider bar. I was there for a tasting menu recently and both the food and paired ciders were fantastic. The owner's family owns a cidery so many of the ciders on tap are unique (thai ginger, earl grey infused and higher end producer...
by alsiem
Sun Jun 18, 2017 2:17 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Stone Brewing - Thoughts Nowadays?
Replies: 17
Views: 9109

Re: Stone Brewing - Thoughts Nowadays?

Mostly echoing other's thoughts. It's really not about Stone as I have the same attitude to Founders, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas etc. They are just too expensive with the exchange rate and likely to be past their prime. Really only Smutty Nose is still in the running for me. I occasionally buy a Fines...
by alsiem
Wed May 31, 2017 1:01 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Good red/irish ale from a Toronto brewer
Replies: 5
Views: 3088

Re: Good red/irish ale from a Toronto brewer

I can check out Batch (never been before) so that's a great idea. My friend is not from Ontario so an LCBO selection would work but I'd something more unique than Rickards.
by alsiem
Wed May 31, 2017 12:26 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Good red/irish ale from a Toronto brewer
Replies: 5
Views: 3088

Good red/irish ale from a Toronto brewer

I've got a coworker visiting Toronto in mid June that I'd like to say thank you to. We'll be right down town training so I thought I would grab something from a Toronto brewery as a gift before hand. I asked about favourite styles and I was told porter and red ales. I have good ideas for porters but...