New Arrivals at LCBO & TBS

[-Liam-]

It's very difficult not to just go straight for a Headstock, which can always be found dated within a few days of it coming off the canning line.
I mean it seems there are 3 main reasons to avoid the Stone - 1. They are just about knocking on the expiry date. 2. They're 9 bones each and 3. It's not even that good!
Fresh GLB and NB right on our doorstep is not to be sniffed at. But personally, I would also love to see a lot more of the Quebec beers down here (fresh, of course!). Why don't we get more of the yummy DDC and Trou Du Diable offerings?

[kevinlater]

It's very difficult not to just go straight for a Headstock, which can always be found dated within a few days of it coming off the canning line.

i've done this a number of times while looking for new IPAs to try

[cratez]

Anyone catch the date on the Arrogant Bastard? Is there a BB date? I don't recall seeing/noticing one on previous bottles purchased in the States.

[jeremyg]

3. It's not even that good!

cmon now

[spinrsx]

Great, the IPA will be expired by the time it gets to Ottawa lcbos. Cant wait to see the feedback the lcbo gets about this. (based off the whole sierra nevada bottle date fiasco on twitter)

[-Liam-]

3. It's not even that good!

cmon now

I've mentioned this before; I'm not knocking them, it's just that I feel it was exciting years ago but not really anymore. I would be far more pumped if we were going to get some of their other, more recent offerings. People are doing cartwheels about SN Pale Ale also. This too is kinda boring now and has been surpassed by other breweries products and even their own newer brews. Why is it we have to settle for their 'basic' releases? Why can't we have the likes of Torpedo, Hoptimum and Narwhal or Stone's Ruination, RuinTen and Coffee Milk Stout? Sure, you might say "one step at a time, they've only just got here", but why is it that we have to be drip fed these things? By the time we get some of their more interesting and creative offerings, they will probably have been outdone by something else and nobody will really care anymore. Let us have them now.

[Ukie]

Anyone catch the date on the Arrogant Bastard? Is there a BB date? I don't recall seeing/noticing one on previous bottles purchased in the States.

The expiry date is probably Sept 01 2015, if its all the same run.

http://www.stonebrewing.com/freshbeer/

Those I have bought in the States several years ago had the dates on the shoulder and were almost impossible to read.



BEER FRESHNESS INDEX

We have some high standards when it comes to beer, and many of our creations are intended to be consumed fresh. We stamp each bottle the day it's filled with an "Enjoy By" date. Below is a chart with the "code lengths" of our beers...
BEER CODE LENGTH
Arrogant Bastard Ale 90 Days
after bottling
Stone Cali-Belgique IPA 120 Days
after bottling
Stone Delicious IPA 90 Days
after bottling
Stone Enjoy By IPA 37 Days
after bottling
Stone Go To IPA 90 Days
after bottling
Stone IPA 90 Days
after bottling
Stone Pale Ale 2.0 90 Days
after bottling
Stone Ruination Double IPA 2.0 90 Days
after bottling
Stone Smoked Porter 90 Days
after bottling

[Napalm Frog]

I grabbed only a Cali-Belgique (as I've had the IPA and Arrogant Bastard on tap at Indie Alehouse, and were totally beautiful). Tastes at an okay fresh level, but I'd really love to try it within the first 30 days rather than what is now just over 60. The price point for this bottle seems semi-justifiable as I grabbed it day of, but there's no way I'm gonna dish out that price for the IPA or AB when Indie and many other venues are getting fresh kegs in regularly.

These are my first three forays into Stone (a bit of a US beer newbie here), so my opinion may be slightly biased towards "try new."

[darmokandjalad]

But personally, I would also love to see a lot more of the Quebec beers down here (fresh, of course!). Why don't we get more of the yummy DDC and Trou Du Diable offerings?

Agreed. As a bonus, getting fresh beer from Quebec should prove less challenging than fresh beer that needs to be moved across international borders and a continent. Getting hoppy beer from Oregon or California to here before it loses a lot of its punch is difficult enough without having to endure the LCBO's handling and testing process.

By the time we get some of their more interesting and creative offerings, they will probably have been outdone by something else and nobody will really care anymore. Let us have them now.

I doubt it's as simple as 'letting us have it now'. Many (not necessarily all) of those beers are probably made in smaller quantities than flagship stuff like Stone IPA, SNPA and Rogue Dead Guy. American brewers already have at least 300 million people split between 50 markets to pick from, and selling it there allows them to skip the hassle of trade across borders, re-labelling products, or dealing with a huge incompetent foreign beer agency that is probably going to mishandle their product anyway. We are probably being drip fed these things because the brewers (and more directly, the LCBO) want to make sure this stuff is going to be profitable to sell here. At 9 dollars a bottle, it's hard to see how it couldn't be (unless no one buys it).

From what others are saying, it seems like this is the last Stone we'll see in the immediate future. If they become shelf turds, it might be the last time we see Stone at all, but who knows? I already grabbed a Cali-Belgique, and will probably try the IPA next week, just 'cuz I'd like to drink some again. But next time, I'll just buy three cans of Headstock or Red Racer or something.

[-Liam-]

...I doubt it's as simple as 'letting us have it now'. Many (not necessarily all) of those beers are probably made in smaller quantities than flagship stuff like Stone IPA, SNPA and Rogue Dead Guy...

This may be so, but I've seen some of these beers back home in Ireland! If they can manage to get their product over there and fresh, then there is no reason we can't have the same here. (Well there is, and it's the shitty LCBO!)

[spinrsx]

Horizon confirmed on twitter that the stone beers are only here temporarily. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Ukie]

Horizon confirmed on twitter that the stone beers are only here temporarily. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Actually I have been, tried the IPA and tonite the Cali. Arrogant Bastard hasn't shown up yet in Hamilton and hope it comes in soon otherwise will buy just 1 to try if its too close to the Sept 1 BB date. The IPA was still good but couldn't remember how the extremely fresh one from Buffalo I had compared.

Both Cali and IPA seem to be moving pretty fast in the Hamilton area.

[biegaman]

Horizon confirmed on twitter that the stone beers are only here temporarily. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Hey guys. I recently started working for Horizon and thought I'd officially chime in on the Stone stuff. Yes, these three beers are limited release. In fact, the LCBO ordered really small amounts (roughly 400 cases of Arrogant, 360 for IPA, 320 for Cali). They want to see how well these sell and, assuming all goes well, will let us do another similar release. They chose the beers. We suggested a slightly different lineup, knowing that new brands tend to get stalled in testing/warehouse and that's disastrous for hoppy beers, but those are the ones they asked for.

As for freshness, it took a lot of convincing the LCBO but these beers are the first (to my knowledge) to be imported via refrigerated freight. This was non-negotiable for Stone. They're aware the beers won't be in cold storage at the warehouse or in the stores but their concern is mostly getting it out of the dessert in good condition. The beer gets to Toronto in an average of 7 days (kegs too).

So why you're only seeing it now... well, you can imagine our feelings about that. Stone is unrelenting about freshness and our contract states we can only sell their beer within 120 days of production. Of course, we know once it's purchased by a licensee or retailer we can't control when the keg goes on or the bottles hit the shelf - hence the clearly printed 'best before' dates. (Which, by the way, I wish every producer would do.)

The refrigerated freight and short shelf life do factor into the costs. Even discounting those, however, we're talking about a brewery who's slogan is "it's not too expensive you're too cheap". So ya. But considering the exchange rate and higher taxes, I don't think it's as much of a discrepancy from Premier Gourmet or Consumers Beverages prices as it seems. Nonetheless, you guys are right - there are some excellent IPAs available at great prices. For what it's worth I opened the Cali and IPA on Friday and both are still drinking great. Know that we'll continue to hound the LCBO about getting beer out of the warehouse faster (someone from Stone is in town this week and I'm sure will have a word with them about it). We're hoping these initial three give us the ammo we need to convince the LCBO for a permanent listing or at least another special release.

[jeremyg]

Horizon confirmed on twitter that the stone beers are only here temporarily. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Hey guys. I recently started working for Horizon and thought I'd officially chime in on the Stone stuff. Yes, these three beers are limited release. In fact, the LCBO ordered really small amounts (roughly 400 cases of Arrogant, 360 for IPA, 320 for Cali). They want to see how well these sell and, assuming all goes well, will let us do another similar release. They chose the beers. We suggested a slightly different lineup, knowing that new brands tend to get stalled in testing/warehouse and that's disastrous for hoppy beers, but those are the ones they asked for.

As for freshness, it took a lot of convincing the LCBO but these beers are the first (to my knowledge) to be imported via refrigerated freight. This was non-negotiable for Stone. They're aware the beers won't be in cold storage at the warehouse or in the stores but their concern is mostly getting it out of the dessert in good condition. The beer gets to Toronto in an average of 7 days (kegs too).

So why you're only seeing it now... well, you can imagine our feelings about that. Stone is unrelenting about freshness and our contract states we can only sell their beer within 120 days of production. Of course, we know once it's purchased by a licensee or retailer we can't control when the keg goes on or the bottles hit the shelf - hence the clearly printed 'best before' dates. (Which, by the way, I wish every producer would do.)

The refrigerated freight and short shelf life do factor into the costs. Even discounting those, however, we're talking about a brewery who's slogan is "it's not too expensive you're too cheap". So ya. But considering the exchange rate and higher taxes, I don't think it's as much of a discrepancy from Premier Gourmet or Consumers Beverages prices as it seems. Nonetheless, you guys are right - there are some excellent IPAs available at great prices. For what it's worth I opened the Cali and IPA on Friday and both are still drinking great. Know that we'll continue to hound the LCBO about getting beer out of the warehouse faster (someone from Stone is in town this week and I'm sure will have a word with them about it). We're hoping these initial three give us the ammo we need to convince the LCBO for a permanent listing or at least another special release.

congrats on the new job man. Living the dream!

[cratez]

The expiry date is probably Sept 01 2015, if its all the same run.

Yeah I grabbed a couple bottles and the BB date is September 3rd. It's drinking fine right now (not as good as the fresh kegs we got in February) but I probably won't buy anymore after this week.