The Bar Towel

I was in Chicago during the last weekend in April for a work function. I was stationed right downtown, with limited free time to do some exploring so I thought it was worth reporting back on a couple of venues that are closer to the core and worth a look if anyone finds themselves in a similar posit...

Did I miss something or are we still waiting on a few beers to get released? Mackroken, Komes Baltic Porter, Cuvee du Chateau - any sign of these? I'm not overly moved by the spring or summer releases so some staggering on what was (IMO) a very strong winter release isn't a bad thing, as long as the...

Not a particularly exciting release. Saison Dupont is always a great value, but still have a few stashed away from last summer. Hennepin is great but the larger format is a drag. Will likely revisit Tank 7, though a single 4-pack is probably more than enough. I went a bit overboard with the Fall, Ho...

KBS 2018 - on tap at Volo last night.

This year's edition seems to have more boozey heat than last year's.

I picked up 6 Abbaye des Rocs today, they had a sticker over the label stating 10.3% abv! As I said in a previous post, this 100 rated beer, imported from Belgium, for $6.20/750mL must be one of the best values ever. Also got a Straffe quad, but declined the $20 Deus Brut. I also passed on the Deus...

... And at that price a bottle I can still justify opening one any time, if it is not finished all at once I can easily stopper the bottle & enjoy over the next day or two. This strategy is something I have heard you mention frequently, but I have never had the guts to try (aside from uncarbona...

Birrificio Birranova - Roccia Scura (Russian Imperial Stout aged in Laphroaig Quarter Cask Barrels) I spent a couple of glorious weeks last summer in Sicily (stay tuned for my review in the "Local Beer Guides"; one day I'll get around to that...) and sitting on the shelves of the Water &am...

Abbaye de Rocs is listed now. At $6.15 for a 750ml bottle of 9% imported Belgian beer, rated 100 on ratebeer, has to be one of the best lcbo values of all time Is this the Grand Cru? Frankly, even the Brune is great (Rocherfort 8-esque). But the Grand Cru is my favourite from Abbaye des Rocs - it's...

lister wrote:It would be nice if their current list of taps was posted on their web site. It's in a bad location for going just on a blind whim.

+1

Yesterday at an imperial stout tasting that I organized with some friends: Bolshevik Bastard Wellington Imperial Russian Stout Grande Noirceur Crew Republic Roundhouse Kick Birrificio Menaresta Dannata Fuller's Imperial Stout MERIT Nowhere Les Brasseurs RJ Apocalypse Rat Queen Old Rasputin Yeti Hell...

Has anyone else tried the new Black Roses imperial stout? I'm still hoping for a Hellwoods release, but visited the Ossington brewpub last night to give Black Roses a shot in the meantime. Overall, I think it was well executed and a successful experiment. The dates definitely impart some sweetness u...

With some buddies last night:

New Limburg Tripel
Bolshevik Bastard
Kentucky Bastard
Dragon's Milk

Anyone know if they've been brewing Hellwoods and plan on releasing any time soon?

2017 St-Ambroise Stout Impériale Russe (Bourbon Oak aged RIS) This is a good Impy, the hops are still a bit grassy and the wood is lightly astringent. The most recent St. Amby RIS I opened before this was 7.5 years old and ageing into a real beauty. It can therefore use time to integrate. Worth hid...

I've long lamented the lack of consistently available, good quality Ontario-brewed tripels as it is one of my favourite styles and definitely under-represented. Very few brewers have taken a cut at brewing a tripel, and those that do often feel compelled to put a twist on the style (e.g., barrel-ag...