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 863 matches

by PRMason
Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:44 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Sgt. Major's
Replies: 4
Views: 2701

The problem is at the store level. According to the store managers we spoke to, they are over-stocked and over sku'd with Xmas beers and gift packs. We are having a difficult time getting them to place beer orders, even in stores that do a considerable volume of Sgt. Major's. I hope we can rectify t...
by PRMason
Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:38 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Happy Birthday Greg!
Replies: 8
Views: 3409

Happy Happy Joy Joy Mr. Clow and many more to come! BTW. lay off the 50 jokes already. I'm turning that "milestone" this year!
by PRMason
Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:12 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: Thomas Hardy's Ale
Replies: 14
Views: 7444

A friend and I each bought 2 "nips" and a larger bottle from the Eldridge Pope brewery in Dorchester back in 1983. We went back to our B & B and immediately drank one nip a each. It tasted like malt extract and alcohol at that time. It was really too young. So upon returning to Canada,...
by PRMason
Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:05 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By / Tsarina Katerina
Replies: 88
Views: 25226

Gyle (batch) #3 is in the fermenter now. Started at 1.092 and is now at 1.030 and falling. we will use a coarser filter on this one to allow more flavour, aroma and body to get through. The case with this gyle will bear a A something code, indicating bottled in January.
by PRMason
Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:34 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

That is my general opinion as well. The John By is like Black Irish on steroids. Whatever good qualities that the porter has, the impy has magnified by 10. The chocolate, espresso and nuttiness for example is much more pronounced in John By. I must disagree on the colour though. I find the John By m...
by PRMason
Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:23 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

If I don't lose the weight I gained over Christmas the picture may be more accurate than you think!
by PRMason
Thu Dec 27, 2007 4:55 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: A Perry Christmas!
Replies: 1
Views: 2016

Glad to oblige. I hope to have many more fine surprises in the upcoming years.
by PRMason
Tue Dec 25, 2007 1:03 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

John makes a good point. Oft times reviews are "gentler" because the reviewers have a soft spot for a certain brewery or pudgy brewer. Sometimes, nationalism plays a role too. On RateBeer, most U.S. beers are given the higher numbers, while some world classics are given short shrift. This ...
by PRMason
Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:05 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

Its doing really well on RateBeer as well. While I appreciate every rating ( good or bad), I am really honoured that Northyorksammy (just Sammy on RateBeer) gave it a 4.3. He usually is one tough rater and to get this is from him is great. Thanks Sam!
by PRMason
Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:59 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: LCBO Winter Warmers 2007 release
Replies: 290
Views: 102081

I have been under the weather for a while and unable to drive long distances. Both Ron and Donna, the brewery owners, have done superhuman efforts to bring it to you themselves. It should be everywhere its supposed to be by New Years. The release lasts until March 31, so no panic.
by PRMason
Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:55 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Merry Christmas Y'all
Replies: 16
Views: 6497

Merry Christmas to all you true believers in beer! I hope to be able to bring many delightful things your way in the coming years. Have a good one.
by PRMason
Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:41 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

My input to this years Impy was limited to the recipe. Ancil Hartman, the brewer at Heritage did the brewing. I really like the result and Ancil and Ron deserve the credit.
by PRMason
Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:01 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

Not to mention that Ploughmans Ale is my favourite Ontario beer at the moment.
by PRMason
Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:51 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: John By Imperial Stout
Replies: 74
Views: 31214

I have a C-cup and it does me no good at all. Must be the hair on them. The John By is in Toronto, albeit only at Queen's Quay and Summerhill so far. As for the alcohol, our measurement was 3.3% abv higher.
by PRMason
Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:47 am
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Akin for an Impy
Replies: 51
Views: 15673

The John By Imperial Stout has finally made its way to Queen's Quay and to Summerhill. Wider distribution is coming soon. I have been under the weather for a couple of weeks so I could not do the deliveries myself.