LCBO Winter Warmers 2008 Release

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:41 pm

The following beers are planned to be included in the LCBO's Winter Warmers seasonal beer release for 2008. The official release date for these beers is early/mid-December, but some of them have already appeared in stores as of late November. All details (including beers included in the release) are subject to change.

Great Lakes Winter Ale (6.2% - $6.95/750 ml - LCBO 90845)
Fuller's Vintage Ale 2008 (8.5% - $6.95/500 ml - LCBO 676213)
Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock (12% - $3.95/500 ml - LCBO 58875)
Koningshoeven Quadruple (10% - $7.50/750 ml - LCBO 92791)
Marston's Oyster Stout (4.5% - $3.35/500 ml - LCBO 457663)
Trafalgar Belgian Spiced Ale (6.5% - $3.95/650 ml - LCBO 684878)
Thomas Hardy's Ale (11.7% - $4.85/250 ml - LCBO 54254)
St-Ambroise Vintage Ale (8% - $4.95/341 ml - LCBO 66027)
McAuslan Scotch Ale (7.2% - $4.95/341 ml - LCBO 32730)
Riggwelter Strong Yorkshire Ale (5.7% - $3.25/500 ml - LCBO 890871)
Schloss Eggenberg Doppelbock Dunkel (8.5% - $2.75/330 ml - LCBO 100487)
Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus (14% - $3.75/330 ml - LCBO 97469)
Brakspear Oxford Organic Ale (4.6% - $2.10/330 ml - LCBO 99234)
Heritage Scotch-Irish John By Imperial Stout (6.7% - $3.00/341 ml - LCBO 72934)
St. Peter's Winter Ale (6.5% - $3.95/500 ml - LCBO 890079)
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (6% - $2.95/330 ml - LCBO 64030)
Innis & Gunn Limited Edition (Rum Cask) (7.4% - $4.95/330 ml - LCBO 64030)

NOTE: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout was originally planned to be part of this release, but was dropped due to supply issues at Brooklyn's end.

devonsleigh · Post by **devonsleigh** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:47 pm

looks like a great release. I can see at least a half-dozen i'd be picking up, provided that the stouts aren't delayed until May.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:00 pm

I'm getting a strong sense of déja-vu looking at this list, but who cares? There's some fantastic beers making a return here, and a couple I've not tried before. Yet another solid offering from the LCBO.

Thanks for posting, Greg!

lagerale · Post by **lagerale** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:05 pm

With some new, some repeats, this list looks good to me....I better start saving now....

Magni · Post by **Magni** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:48 pm

This looks like a pretty solid list.
Can't wait for them to come.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:47 pm

Hopefully I work a LOT before that release comes out. Rare that one of these seasonals has as many excellent beers that need to be bought by the case. Looking forward to this one a great deal.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:11 pm

Nice, now I can drink some more of my Weizen-Eisbock knowing I can restock at Xmas!

sphilp · Post by **sphilp** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:53 pm

pretty solid list. interested in 12 of those, so ill be well stocked for xmas/newyears!

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:12 pm

Cass wrote:Nice, now I can drink some more of my Weizen-Eisbock knowing I can restock at Xmas!

I just drank my last bottle a couple of nights ago, actually, so I was happy to see it on the list.

shintriad · Post by **shintriad** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:54 am

Wow, John By is coming back? I thought the recipe retired with Perry. Great news, that's one of my all-time faves!

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:11 am

I saw this list yesterday just before leaving work, so I only had to write a fairly short wow, but now I've thought of it some more I'm extremely impressed with this list, and I think it may be the best one that I can remember the LCBO putting out since I could afford this ridiculous hobby. There are some huge flavourful beers in here that should be enough to sustain any beer lover through a long cold winter. I looked back over my reviews for these beers to refresh my hazy memory (whoese memory isn't hazy after drinking some of these beasts), and I was pleasantly amazed by how many I felt were world class.

St-Ambroise Vintage Ale (A+)
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (A)
Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock (A)
Heritage Scotch-Irish John By Imperial Stout (A)
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil (A-)
Thomas Hardy's Ale (A-)
Koningshoeven Quadruple (B+)
Great Lakes Winter Ale (B+)
St. Peter's Winter Ale (B+)

The only qualm I have with the list (and I understand its a winter warmers release) is that there's very little that my wife could drink a bottle of that is of lower abv, but with the same outstanding quality as the rest of the release. Perhaps I can sustain her on pumpkin beer and IPA until the nights get longer?

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:03 am

Cass wrote:Nice, now I can drink some more of my Weizen-Eisbock knowing I can restock at Xmas!

I'd make sure it actually arrives before drinking your last bottle!!

Jan Primus · Post by **Jan Primus** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:08 pm

I have to agree that this is the best release so far...time to start saving, looking forward to the Koningshoeven quad in particular.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:42 pm

No Winter Welcome from Samuel Smith? It's not stellar (I prefer their IS), but I always look forward to it.

Great to see St. Peter's Winter back. I love that brew (bought a case last year). Along with Black Oak's nutcracker porter, that would be enough to get me through the winter. But there's plenty of other greats!

Good to see the John By back. I loved that one fresh.

Torontoblue · Post by **Torontoblue** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:10 pm

I think the sizing of the Brakspear is incorrect. The bottle should be 500ml, shouldn't it?