The Bar Towel

Found it at King Taps, the beer bar built into First Canadian Place on King Street. In business about a year, it's part of the cluster of new-generation beer bars in the area, of which Craft down the street is one. The Walrus Beer Hall is another, down Bay at Wellington.

All three places are first-rate, the beerbistro of today in my estimation, even as beerbistro is still a great beer destination. Room for more entrants as the beer scene grows and deepens.

I had high hopes for the beer. I'm sure its palate was carefully calibrated by the team in Etobicoke* and more power to them if it reaches the target demographic(s), but I found it quite light. The flavours are actually excellent but I had to tease them out through the chill and carbonation. Warmed, the beer tasted better but to my mind it should taste great cold too.

Its got a sweetish, nutty malt taste and fine German and Czech hopping, the tingly bitter finish is the strong point but I'd prefer a malt profile with more oomph - same taste profile, just more intense.

Anyway, I wish them well, great to see Steamwhistle move in a different direction via this affiliated brewery in Etobicoke. And presumably in time other beers will issue from the new brewery.

Gary
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*An earlier version of this post stated Mississauga, which is not correct. Thanks to S. St. Jeb for the correction, see below.

Actually 249 Evans Avenue in Etobicoke , not Mississauga.

http://www.bartowel.com/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=10922

Yes, thanks for correction. This is the website by the way: www.vonbugle.ca

Gary

It's currently on tap at Betty's.

It reminded me of an early Ontario craft beer but I couldn't place it exactly. Later, I remembered, Algonquin, the special ale or dark ale - which I always liked but had the same reaction to as here: more taste needed.

I think they'd have great beer if they ramped up the profile.

Gary