The Bar Towel

Just did a search for a thread on Arrogant Bastard and didn't find one 10 search pages in, so I'll just post this here. Reviewed on my blog (first time I'd had it, too), and found it to be exactly what I expected. Big brash hops. Not balanced by any classic sense of the word, but certainly showed la...

Hey Belgian, thanks for the kind words re Castro's. I generally stick to the casks to try to help keep them moving (I suffer for my art, I know), but occasionally grab a Side Launch and just melt. Non-related, I just posted my review of Lake of Bays Terrible Ted Red Saison, and I was pleasantly surp...

Jordan, While I agree with you that the big craft guys might be able to get a few facings in the stores, I thin you're being overly optimistic. Yes, even Loblaws stocks premium/boutique products, but many of them are actually either sub-brands of major companies (like a lot of the organic/natural pr...

^^ Exactly. Just moving the sales from one major donor to another.

My thoughts are here: http://www.torontobeerblog.com/beer-news/so-so-news-on-the-political-front/ But it's a long way from "good". No small brewery will be able to compete in a grocery store; they stand a better chance at TBS. But if this is a baby-step, then I await the next one for judge...

If you haven't gotten this yet, do. It's fantastic. Lovely hop aroma, with citrus, pine and pepper. 4.9% means it's a pale, not a Session IPA, and I kind of prefer it that way.... Available at both retail stores, and some bars around the city. My full review is on my blog http://www.torontobeerblog....

The call was super boring. Lots of TBS type talk. It was clear Ted was muting the phone periodically to ask questions of suits in the room. They don't know if Contract Brewers can buy shares. They didn't consult with anybody because Ted talks to small breweries "all the time" so it was &qu...

Here's my thoughts on it:
http://www.torontobeerblog.com/beer-new ... -critique/
tl;dr it's pure bullshit.

I threw my thoughts about the original story here: http://www.torontobeerblog.com/beer-new ... ms-debate/

I like age-based generalization, and the assumption that whole groups can be "figured out"

Actually, people seem to think Leslieville goes up to Danforth. I don't think Mark and Mandie are thrilled saying Leslieville either, but they're south of the tracks, so somewhat separated from Danforth Village too. I'm all for Christening that little pocket "Left Field"......

Thanks for all the love to Castro's! We're glad BT'ers still remember us ;) Yes, we're in a wasteland in terms of craft beer, and yes, I doubt this will make it any better, unfortunately, but I could be wrong. I hope I am. Some of the old servers came round last week for drinks after they closed and...

Pretty sure they will only be able to sell growlers of their own beers, not other breweries.

I'm all for Spiegelau glasses. Best glassware ever. They have a craft beer pack that has a tulip, weissebeir, and pint. You can get them at The Bay, I think, and other places.

I tend to stay away from certain descriptors in the reviews on my blog, because some words are either misunderstood, or else sort of high-jacked, where they only have a negative connotation. That said, right out of the fridge, this one was actually a little skunky. I knew the lineage of the bottle (...

Just did up my review for Amsterdam Autumn Hop this year. Did a search and didn't see an old thread, but I might not have dug deep enough. Regardless, this year it shows big cascade spiciness and nice fruity/floral notes. It's pretty damn good. http://www.torontobeerblog.com/beer-review/autumn-hop-h...