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PRMason wrote:I noticed that when I clicked on the John By Imperial Stout link that it went to the Tsarina Katarina page on RateBeer. Please be advised that they are two very different beers and should be judged on their own merits.
Thanks, Perry - I'll change it accordingly.
My stock of Tsarina Katerina (now a truly "one-off" beer I take it?) is down in the single digits... I store my beer carefully and I had one on the TK last night.
Every bottle has been a total pleasure and I think this 2005 is mature enough to fully enjoy its charms over the next little while. Overall the flavour seems more integrated and subtle. So why wait?
Judging on the merits of the Tsarina, the John By, should more than compensate for the lack of the Samuel Smith Imperial Stout this year. Long live the "local" brewer willing to take chances and make great beer!
...and long live the support of their craft - ales like the so-called Plain Porter make that part fun & easy.
The John By RIS should be a 'living' beer unlike the completely pasteurized Samuel Smiths, is that not correct? The fact they completely 'cook' those Sammy Smith beers always bothered me from a nutritional standpoint (enzymes & vitamins get destroyed), though SS are generally good tasting.
At any rate, I bet the Robert By RIS will be good even if we are not to expect a beer exactly like Tsarina.
The Tsarina was easily the best Imperial Stout ever available in the LCBO, thats for sure. In my opinion, it was in the same class as some of the best US micro Impys.
Looking forward to great things from this years! Perry, are you thinking of doing something like Anchor Our Special Ale (ie. changing the recipe every year)?
A wrote:The Tsarina was easily the best Imperial Stout ever available in the LCBO, thats for sure. In my opinion, it was in the same class as some of the best US micro Impys.?
I didn't think it was ever in the LCBO, but fully agree about its peer group.
A wrote:Hmm, it wasn't? How did I manage to buy it then?
(not being sarcastic - I don't recall having to do do anything special to get it...)
As I recall, it was special ordered from Perry, who delivered it to a few locations in the GTA for pickup. He even sent out some certificates of ownership to go with them, I think I still have mine somewhere.
A wrote:Looking forward to great things from this years! Perry, are you thinking of doing something like Anchor Our Special Ale (ie. changing the recipe every year)?
IIRC, the Tsarina was supposed to be a yearly thing, but I don't think the 2006 version ever made it past the test stage (I think there was a pin of a test batch available at Cask Days 2006).
I assume the gap last year had something to do with the Heritage buy-out.
cannondale wrote:was youngs double chocolate stout supposed to be part of the winter release? i see it in the lcbo system and it wasnt there before.
it's coming out in spring, i think. i've been told it may be added to general list, but that may just be a terminology thing -- all beers are general list technically (as opposed to be vintages). i'm assuming it's seasonal...
A wrote:Hmm, it wasn't? How did I manage to buy it then?
(not being sarcastic - I don't recall having to do do anything special to get it...)
As I recall, it was special ordered from Perry, who delivered it to a few locations in the GTA for pickup. He even sent out some certificates of ownership to go with them, I think I still have mine somewhere.
-Josh
"...case # 16 of 165..."
"... the first iof many of the Proprietor's Folly Series of beers from Scotch Irish Brewing..."
cannondale wrote:was youngs double chocolate stout supposed to be part of the winter release? i see it in the lcbo system and it wasnt there before.
it's coming out in spring, i think. i've been told it may be added to general list, but that may just be a terminology thing -- all beers are general list technically (as opposed to be vintages). i'm assuming it's seasonal...
It could be part of the Spring seasonal release. But the LCBO also had a call out for "Super Premium Beers" to be added to the general list starting April 2008. Since the Young's was in the LCBO before, and is available in cans, I wouldn't be surprised to see it become a general list item.
Had a couple cans of Young's Chocolate Stout from the US recently (and can recall getting a bottle from the Forest Hill LCBO of all places a few years back). It's a lovely beer and I really hope that the LCBO brings it back.
[quote="A"]The Tsarina was easily the best Imperial Stout ever available in the LCBO, thats for sure. In my opinion, it was in the same class as some of the best US micro Impys.
quote]
My first and only Tsarina was at this summer's Toronto Festival of Beer. That 4oz or so still haunts my dreams......
I had lucky case #13 and at the time it was the most expensive case of beer I had ever bought - but so worth it.