LCBO Winter Warmers 2007 release

Steve Beaumont · Post by **Steve Beaumont** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:54 pm

That's what I had always thought. Then I ran across several different websites that referred to Gulden Draak as a barleywine. So I'm not sure if it's an error in classification. A simple google search yields many of these results. It tastes just like a Belgian Strong to me.

Some time back, someone -- it may have been Tim Webb -- first referred to Bush de Noel as a Belgian barleywine. It's a characterization that I have never agreed with, but it stuck and now any number of strong, dark Belgian ales receive that appellation.

ctalbot · Post by **ctalbot** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:47 pm

Belgian wrote:In short - how much money are we worried about penny-pinching, five bucks all year for this rare & interesting product?? Not worth debating over is it.

It is when you have too many hobbies ... like me.

Chris

Raphael · Post by **Raphael** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:22 pm

ctalbot wrote:
Belgian wrote:In short - how much money are we worried about penny-pinching, five bucks all year for this rare & interesting product?? Not worth debating over is it.
It is when you have too many hobbies ... like me.

Chris

It's still just five dollars...

cannondale · Post by **cannondale** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:43 pm

I saw something called Stella Artois Nobilis at the LC. 7.2% ABV in a 750 mL champagne bottle. Internet search turned up reems of russian or ukranian language websites. Nothing on ratebeer. Anybody know the story on this stuff?

Raptor2023 · Post by **Raptor2023** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 6:53 pm

cannondale wrote:I saw something called Stella Artois Nobilis at the LC. 7.2% ABV in a 750 mL champagne bottle. Internet search turned up reems of russian or ukranian language websites. Nothing on ratebeer. Anybody know the story on this stuff?

Nobody knows what it is. I doubt even the beer's brewers know what it is. It's probably just an illusion, sitting there on LCBO's shelves taking up needless space, and then having LCBO employess complaining why suddenly they can't find enough shelf space for new beers. Actually, since I saw it myself as well, I am curious as what this is. Can anybody fill us in on this?

tuqueboy · Post by **tuqueboy** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 7:15 pm

Raptor2023 wrote:
cannondale wrote:I saw something called Stella Artois Nobilis at the LC. 7.2% ABV in a 750 mL champagne bottle. Internet search turned up reems of russian or ukranian language websites. Nothing on ratebeer. Anybody know the story on this stuff?
Nobody knows what it is. I doubt even the beer's brewers know what it is. It's probably just an illusion, sitting there on LCBO's shelves taking up needless space, and then having LCBO employess complaining why suddenly they can't find enough shelf space for new beers. Actually, since I saw it myself as well, I am curious as what this is. Can anybody fill us in on this?

do a search on bartowel, and you'll find your answer. there was a focus group in toronto in january or so. basically, it's malt liquor in a champagne bottle...OK, maybe that's a bit harsh. The bottle I had last week was not terribly interesting, but not terrible, either. Erase Stella from your mind, because it really isn't much like Stella. It's sweeter and less hoppy than stella, and the carbonation seems more champagne like. They're pushing it as some kind of celebratory drink for special occassions. I.E., they're trying to go after the same market as Deus for like a 10th of the price; unfortunately, it's at about 10 per cent of the quality and complexity of deus.

Gedge · Post by **Gedge** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:04 am

Bill at Queen's Quay LCBO said yesterday he expects the remaining winter warmers to arrive Dec. 12 (said they are late).

esprit · Post by **esprit** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 1:59 pm

Michael Jackson in his book "The Great Beers of Belgium" refers to BUSH as "a Belgian specialty with a resemblance to barley wnie, the English style of strong ale."....we still have a few cases in stock and it is available at the usual suspects around town.

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:25 pm

Has anyone tried the Mill Street barley wine yet? I purchased a lovely bottle today, and I'm interested to have oppinions on how well it will age, particularly because I have neither had a barley wine or aged beer before. Thanks in advance.

grub · Post by **grub** » Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:41 pm

Bobsy wrote:Has anyone tried the Mill Street barley wine yet? I purchased a lovely bottle today, and I'm interested to have oppinions on how well it will age, particularly because I have neither had a barley wine or aged beer before. Thanks in advance.

viggo shared a bottle with me tonight. it was nice. i actually felt it was a little closer to an old ale than a barleywine - lower bitterness and hop presence being the main differences. great solid malty base. quite nice now and i'm also planning to lay a couple down for a year or two. the 2005 bottle that i drank last christmas was quite nice. i've got one more that i'll likely open this year, probably beside one of these 2007s.

my only concern with these is the seal. rubber seals will dry out and crack with time. this one didn't quite feel rubber, but i didn't spend too long investigating it. still, it should be fine for at least a year, longer if you keep an eye on it.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:21 pm

A few more from the list will be in Belleville when I pass through...
The Schneider Aventinus Ice Weizenbock should be a no-brainer to have here by now, hmm...

Speaking of Schneider & Sohn, the way the LCBO list the regular Schneider Aventinus is just illiterate. They call it "WEISENDARKBIER." Okay... "Weisen" is nothing other than a CITY in Germany (it does not mean "Wheat" and certainly not "White" which would be "Weisse")... and then, "DARKBIER' must be their made-up bastard spawn of English and German nouns, apparently grasping for the word 'Dunkel' but missing it clear. Aventinus is not a Dunkel from Weisen, it's a Weizen Doppelbock from München.

In case one were not sure.

Prost!

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 6:56 pm

Belgian wrote:A few more from the list will be in Belleville when I pass through...
The Schneider Aventinus Ice Weizenbock should be a no-brainer to have here by now, hmm...

Ya what's the deal with this eisbock? How much was brought in? I see only 200 bottles at less than a dozen stores...they're scarin' me here now...stoppit!

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:12 pm

I stopped by the Cooper St. LCBO tonight and they had three bottles on shelf of the Schneider Ice bock. I bought them all

Raptor2023 · Post by **Raptor2023** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:42 pm

The Mavis and Dundas LCBO had the Fuller's, Innis & Gunn, Royal Oak, Riggwelter and Samuel Smith in already. I bought one of each, and 2 of the Fuller's. I'll see how the Fuller's taste like before buying more.

Hamilton Brian · Post by **Hamilton Brian** » Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:34 am

Bobsy wrote:Has anyone tried the Mill Street barley wine yet? I purchased a lovely bottle today, and I'm interested to have oppinions on how well it will age, particularly because I have neither had a barley wine or aged beer before. Thanks in advance.

Tried it last night; I felt it was very malty with little note of hops...it really reminded me of a doppelbock in flavour, say the Asam that we got a couple of years ago. The rest I bought will remain in seclusion until the next couple of seasons.

My wife was less than impressed with the price but I was able to navigate that one.