The Bar Towel

not including retired beers, ciders or meads

1) Denisons Weissbier 3.88/5
2) Scotch Irish John By Imperial Stout 3.75/5
3) Black Oak Ten Bitter Years 3.74/5
4) Wellington Imperial Russian Stout 3.66/5
5) Durham Hop Head 3.62/5
6) Denisons Dunkel 3.59/5
7) Mill Street Tankhouse Ale 3.53/5
8 ) Black Oak Nutcracker 3.53/5
9) Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic IPA 3.52/5
10) Creemore Springs Kellerbier 3.51/5

Is there a top ten for a year ago for reference?

# 9 will obviously move up!!!

saints_gambit wrote:Is there a top ten for a year ago for reference?

on march 4th it looked like this:

1) Denisons Weissbier
2) Scotch Irish John By Imperial Stout
3) Black Oak Ten Bitter Years
4) Wellington Imperial Russian Stout
5) Durham Hop Head
6) Denisons Dunkel
7) Black Oak Hop Bomb
8 ) Black Oak Nutcracker
9) Mill Street Tankhouse Ale
10) Durham Hop Addict

Overall it is a pretty solid list, but if some of our breweries had wider distribution, I think the list would look a lot different.

SteelbackGuy wrote:Overall it is a pretty solid list, but if some of our breweries had wider distribution, I think the list would look a lot different.

what else could be on that list?

Grand River Plowmans Anniversary might make it if it gets a few more rates. Grand River Russian Gunn is very close to taking the #10 spot.

the only other one i see getting up there is Black Oak Summer Saison - Marmalade Edition, it just needs more rates

matt7215 wrote:

SteelbackGuy wrote:Overall it is a pretty solid list, but if some of our breweries had wider distribution, I think the list would look a lot different.

what else could be on that list?

Grand River Plowmans Anniversary might make it if it gets a few more rates. Grand River Russian Gunn is very close to taking the #10 spot.

the only other one i see getting up there is Black Oak Summer Saison - Marmalade Edition, it just needs more rates

Some of those you mention could make the list, and I'd add some of the Durham cask beers as well.

matt7215 wrote: 1) Denisons Weissbier
2) Scotch Irish John By Imperial Stout
3) Black Oak Ten Bitter Years
4) Wellington Imperial Russian Stout
5) Durham Hop Head
6) Denisons Dunkel
7) Mill Street Tankhouse Ale
8 ) Black Oak Nutcracker
9) Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic IPA
10) Creemore Springs Kellerbier

Pretty accurate list if you ask me. Mine differs only slightly:

1. Granite Hopping Mad (Cask) – 4.45
2. Black Oak Ten Bitter Years (Tap) – 4.4
3. Durham Red Dragon (Cask) - 4.35
4. Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic IPA (Tap) - 4.2
5. Mill Street Tankhouse Ale (Bottle) - 4.1
6. Creemore Springs Kellerbier (Can) - 4.05
7. Denison’s Weissbier (Tap) - 4.05
8. Wellington Iron Duke (Bottle) - 4.05
9. Scotch Irish John By Imperial Stout (Bottle) - 4.05
10. Grand River Mill Race Mild (Bottle) - 4

Honourable Mention: Stone Hammer Oatmeal Coffee Stout

I still don't understand the facination with Creemore's Kellerbier. I bought a couple cans a week ago or so, just to give it another try, but I didn't find it to be particularly interesting. Grand River's Galt Knife is a much better lager in my opinion.

Everything else on the list though, is top notch stuff! Too bad the Denisons and the Durham wasn't more avaliable outside the GTA.

carguy wrote:I still don't understand the facination with Creemore's Kellerbier. I bought a couple cans a week ago or so, just to give it another try, but I didn't find it to be particularly interesting. Grand River's Galt Knife is a much better lager in my opinion.

I'm with you, though it seems we're in the minority. Just can't get into any of Creemore's beers. Not a fan of that house aroma and flavour (from their yeast) present in all their beers. To each their own, though, and everyone else I know likes the Keller a lot. And yes, love the Galt Knife - so happy a bunch just showed up at my local LCBO - and have been buying it in quantity this summer, perfect session beer.

If we apply the BA rules, and only beers with over 1000 reviews are allowed on the list, what does it look like?

cfrancis wrote:If we apply the BA rules, and only beers with over 1000 reviews are allowed on the list, what does it look like?

1) Guinness Extra Stout (North America) 3.35/5
2) Labatt Blue 2.12/5

nothing else qualifies

cfrancis wrote:If we apply the BA rules, and only beers with over 1000 reviews are allowed on the list, what does it look like?

The BA criteria for Canada is actually 50 reviews.

As an aside, looking at the top 50 list there, how come Bieropholie isn't all listed as retired?

Bobsy wrote:

cfrancis wrote:If we apply the BA rules, and only beers with over 1000 reviews are allowed on the list, what does it look like?

The BA criteria for Canada is actually 50 reviews.

As an aside, looking at the top 50 list there, how come Bieropholie isn't all listed as retired?

It was more tongue in cheek.

But I think one of the reasons that they aren't listed as retired yet is because you can still find bottles floating in some Quebec deps. I know I just bought out Trappe Fromage of their Calumet Grand Chef and Imperial Stout about 3 months ago. Depanneur Rahman in Montreal still has the Scotch ale and Wheat ale.

current as of dec 11th 2010:

1 - Denisons Weissbier
2 - Black Oak Ten Bitter Years
3 - Scotch Irish John By Imperial Stout
4 - Flying Monkeys Smash Bomb Atomic Strong IPA
5 - Wellington Imperial Russian Stout
6 - Durham Hop Head
7 - Denisons Dunkel
8 - Black Oak Nutcracker
9 - Mill Street Tankhouse Ale
10 - Grand River Russian Gun Imperial Stout