OCB Discovery Pack #8 - Spring 2011

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:08 pm

This month's Wellington Newsreal email newsletter includes details on the next OCB Discovery Pack:

"Fresh for Spring 2011, the Ontario Craft Brewers are set to release the 8th edition of the popular Discovery Pack. The mixed 6 pack includes our Wellington S.P.A. as well as Flying Monkey's Hopitcal Illusion, Cameron's Cream Ale, Black Oak's Pale Ale, F&M's StoneHammer Pilsner, and King Brewery's Pilsner. The pack will be available at select LCBO locations in late March."

A decent selection of easy-going beers for the warming weather, IMO.

BooBoo · Post by **BooBoo** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:17 pm

From top to bottom this strikes me as the most consistent OCB pack I can recall. All of those beers are very drinkable and none of them are even close to being a drain pour.

Philip1 · Post by **Philip1** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 5:32 pm

Wellington S.P.A. as well as Flying Monkey's Hopitcal Illusion, Cameron's Cream Ale, Black Oak's Pale Ale, F&M's StoneHammer Pilsner, and King Brewery's Pilsner.

I'd say the first three are OK, the last three are regulars with me. I'll pick it up to give the Hoptical and Cameron's another chance without having to buy sixers or niners and confident there'll be no drain pours. Even with the last OCB pack, which was not interesting at all, I considered buying it one day to mix things up a bit until I saw the word "coffee" on one of the beers.

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 8:20 pm

Wasn't this also OCB Pack #4? They are getting pretty same-y.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:50 pm

Gedge wrote:Wasn't this also OCB Pack #4?

You're half right - pack #4 had Black Oak Nut Brown Ale, Cameron’s Cream Ale, Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion, Mill Street Coffee Porter, Old Credit Amber Ale and Wellington Special Pale Ale. So, three the same.

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:56 pm

Meh. Not interested in that pack at all. SOme good beers, but 3 repeats. These aren't nearly adventerous enough for me to purchase them.

Inkling · Post by **Inkling** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:29 am

I'd buy that.

All are outside my typical purchasing habits, so that's incentive enough to give it a go (I think I've only had the Wellington and Flying Monkey out of the six).

Kel Varnsen · Post by **Kel Varnsen** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:29 am

Inkling wrote:I'd buy that.

All are outside my typical purchasing habits, so that's incentive enough to give it a go (I think I've only had the Wellington and Flying Monkey out of the six).

I would probably check this out too. I mean King and Stonehammer don't really make it up to Ottawa, and Black Oak Pale does but not regularly. Makes me wonder though. If those beers can be delivered to Ottawa as part of OCB packs, anyone know why they can't be delivered to Ottawa on their own?

Kel Varnsen · Post by **Kel Varnsen** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:30 am

SteelbackGuy wrote:Meh. Not interested in that pack at all. SOme good beers, but 3 repeats. These aren't nearly adventerous enough for me to purchase them.

Someone can correct me, but isn't it the whole point that these beers aren't too adventerous. I mean the whole point of a Discovery pack is for new customers to take a chance and discover these beers, so that the OCB can increase their share of the market.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:37 pm

Kel Varnsen wrote:If those beers can be delivered to Ottawa as part of OCB packs, anyone know why they can't be delivered to Ottawa on their own?

I would guess it's because the Discovery Packs are delivered via the LCBO warehouse system, while most craft breweries deliver their own beers themselves (as is being discussed in another thread right now that I'm too lazy to find a link to).

Kel Varnsen · Post by **Kel Varnsen** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:32 pm

GregClow wrote:
Kel Varnsen wrote:If those beers can be delivered to Ottawa as part of OCB packs, anyone know why they can't be delivered to Ottawa on their own?
I would guess it's because the Discovery Packs are delivered via the LCBO warehouse system, while most craft breweries deliver their own beers themselves (as is being discussed in another thread right now that I'm too lazy to find a link to).

Is there a reason that more brewers don't take advantage of the warehouse system? It seems like a good way to get your beer spread across the province. I mean it will be interesting to try something like the Stonehammer in the OCB discovery pack, but I am not sure how successful it will be since it isn't something regularly available.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:45 pm

Kel Varnsen wrote:
GregClow wrote:
Kel Varnsen wrote:If those beers can be delivered to Ottawa as part of OCB packs, anyone know why they can't be delivered to Ottawa on their own?
I would guess it's because the Discovery Packs are delivered via the LCBO warehouse system, while most craft breweries deliver their own beers themselves (as is being discussed in another thread right now that I'm too lazy to find a link to).
Is there a reason that more brewers don't take advantage of the warehouse system? It seems like a good way to get your beer spread across the province. I mean it will be interesting to try something like the Stonehammer in the OCB discovery pack, but I am not sure how successful it will be since it isn't something regularly available.

$$$
+
extended amounts of time in non-temperature controled warehouses
+
losing the ability to control who carries your product
+
$$$

SteelbackGuy · Post by **SteelbackGuy** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 4:21 pm

Kel Varnsen wrote:
SteelbackGuy wrote:Meh. Not interested in that pack at all. SOme good beers, but 3 repeats. These aren't nearly adventerous enough for me to purchase them.
Someone can correct me, but isn't it the whole point that these beers aren't too adventerous. I mean the whole point of a Discovery pack is for new customers to take a chance and discover these beers, so that the OCB can increase their share of the market.

Fair enough. You are likely right.I still don't give two shits about the packs though, and won't buy the OCB mediocrity packs.

Philip1 · Post by **Philip1** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:23 pm

From the original post: The pack will be available at select LCBO locations in late March

It's still not listed at the LCBO website.

matt7215 · Post by **matt7215** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:30 pm

Philip1 wrote:From the original post: The pack will be available at select LCBO locations in late March

It's still not listed at the LCBO website.

i believe this was dropped by the board