Re: LCBO Online Exclusives
Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:23 pm
Might pop up at the Weston road "boutique" store
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Westy12 while really good loses some lustre the more available it becomes...Urotsukidoji wrote:Westvleteren 12
http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/westvl ... ZWkj2fDiO0
did we know this was coming? did I miss something.....
they are piloting it.JaseWescott wrote:this would be a great time for the LCBO to change it's special import policy so I can buy a single bottle
Craig wrote:The previous Alvinne imports we had a few years back with a different agent were pretty good, but every bottle was a gusher. Which is fine, if you expect it.
I've talked to the brewers about this.Craig wrote:The previous Alvinne imports we had a few years back with a different agent were pretty good, but every bottle was a gusher. Which is fine, if you expect it.
It's actually from leftover inventory from Esprit Agency. Apparently it was listed and then bought right away.Morrish wrote:Someone in a case split group I'm a part of called HelloLCBO and was advised that they would not be carrying it. Apparently its a system issue.
My opinion?Belgian wrote:If anyone could strike a deal with St Sixtus the control freaks at LCBO could.
Why not relax and have a St. Bernardus 12, a Rochefort or a Westmalle Dubbel instead... you will be happier and richer.
Westy 12 has a funny reputation for being uneven - lots of acceptable batches, a few truly outstanding and a few that do not represent its greatness. I wonder how much cooing & copious note-making is done over a less-than-ideal bottle.Gleemer Imports wrote:4-5 years' age = Westy 12. It is excellent at year 4, but, in the past few years, the batches oxidize really quickly and can be unpredictable. Still not worth $15+/bottle for it.
Personal taste, of course, but I find Westmalle's dubbel too sweet and their tripel too astringently bitter.Belgian wrote:Westy 12 has a funny reputation for being uneven - lots of acceptable batches, a few truly outstanding and a few that do not represent its greatness. I wonder how much cooing & copious note-making is done over a less-than-ideal bottle.Gleemer Imports wrote:4-5 years' age = Westy 12. It is excellent at year 4, but, in the past few years, the batches oxidize really quickly and can be unpredictable. Still not worth $15+/bottle for it.
The reason I mention Westmalle Dubbel is that it has an amazing yeast signature and plays in a similar league of Westy 8 while each beer is stylistically doing its own thing.
I will do my own personal Westvleteren research when I am over there. HELL'S YAH.
I'd rather try various grey-market resale bottles sold around Belgium and Holland, to get aged samples from as many batches as possible. Older the better by the sounds of it?Gleemer Imports wrote:Personal taste, of course, but I find Westmalle's dubbel too sweet and their tripel too astringently bitter. ..
If you do go to the (St Sixtus Abbey) cafe, buyer be warned. And the take-home beer should definitely be cellared for a bit depending on what you get.
Gleemer Imports wrote:I've talked to the brewers about this.Craig wrote:The previous Alvinne imports we had a few years back with a different agent were pretty good, but every bottle was a gusher. Which is fine, if you expect it.
This hasn't been an issue for over a year. Their yeast strain (Morpheus) is a beast, but they've figured things out.
In fact, some of their barrel-aged beer are undercarbonated (much like Del Ducato is, but not completely flat) so they drink more akin to wine than beer.
It's actually from leftover inventory from Esprit Agency. Apparently it was listed and then bought right away.Morrish wrote:Someone in a case split group I'm a part of called HelloLCBO and was advised that they would not be carrying it. Apparently its a system issue.
My opinion?Belgian wrote:If anyone could strike a deal with St Sixtus the control freaks at LCBO could.
Why not relax and have a St. Bernardus 12, a Rochefort or a Westmalle Dubbel instead... you will be happier and richer.
Fresh = Roch 10
1-2 years' age = St Berny Abt 12
4-5 years' age = Westy 12. It is excellent at year 4, but, in the past few years, the batches oxidize really quickly and can be unpredictable. Still not worth $15+/bottle for it.