Shite beer bars, pubs, and restaurants

Mississauga Matt · Post by **Mississauga Matt** » Fri May 17, 2002 3:02 pm

I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile building a list of eateries with crappy beer selections. The reasons for doing so I think are two-fold.

One is obviously to warn Bar Towel members of lousy beer (Warning! Warning! Danger Will Robinson!).

The other, perhaps a stretch, is to shame owners into providing a better selection of beer, provided of course they know that we're blackballing them here, and that they give a rat's ass.

I'd like to make the inaugural entry.

Today I went with the gang for lunch to Milestone's, which is downtown on John Street, just up and across the street from Shoeless Joe's.

The beer list in part consists of Rickard's Pale, Rickard's Gold, Molson Canadian, Sleeman Honey Brown, Sleeman Cream Ale, Keith's IPA, etc.

Woo hoo! So much corn sugar makes for a tough decision. I regrettably went with Rickard's Gold - don't ask why - and was brought wet cardboard in a glass.

This in the supposedly hip Entertainment District. This from a company that claims "Milestone's sets the trends as a restaurant that's organic, stylish, modern and classy with a neighbourhood feel."

Um, I don't know about that. But I can say the service was bad and the food was so-so.

And the beer was shite.

freesia · Post by **freesia** » Thu May 30, 2002 7:18 am

Hey Matt, I'll tell ya, that's a big undertaking to try and out every place around here that has shite beer. I would hazard a guess that there are probably 5 places with a bad beer selection for every 1 with a good beer selection. I mean, if you want to name a whole number of places with crap beer, why not just start with The Firkin group. Does beer selection get any less exciting? I've not been to this Fox and Fiddle chain yet, but I'm assuming from the looks of beers being had on their patio that the selection there sucks as well.
The list goes on...and on...

Kim

Mississauga Matt · Post by **Mississauga Matt** » Thu May 30, 2002 8:51 am

You're right, it's a mountainous and futile undertaking.

It's just that I was sooooo pissed in this particular instance at not having even one half-decent beer to choose. Is it too much to ask that a restaurant in Toronto's supposedly "trendy" entertainment district carry something other than the usual dreck? Is carrying something like Creemore to much to ask? Even the Frickin' Friar chain carries it.

I recently went to Il Fornello just down the street from Milestones, where I used to be able to get Creemore and Maudite (!). Now they have neither, and I had to settle for a UC Dark Ale. Not exactly the worst outcome, but dammit, when they start downgrading the beer selection, it's war!

As you can see, I just like to complain.

A · Post by A » Thu May 30, 2002 10:24 am

How about a list of places that claim to have good beer but come up short?

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Tue Jun 11, 2002 12:00 pm

I agree with A....There is no way to possibly list every establishement that has poor beer selection...most establishements don't claim to have a great selection...BUT...I have been to many places that <i>claim</i> to have a great selection only to find out that their great selection includes Canadian, Blue, Canadian Light, Blue Light, Bud, and for the really adventuresome rickard's...hmmm...WTF? This needs to be a "FRAUD LIST" to warn away travelers that may fall victim to the hype.

michelle · Post by **michelle** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 4:25 pm

Perhaps you should visit La brasserie.ca. Not to toot my own horn, but I have a simple little room that boasts over 50 brews, ALL CANADIAN CRAFT and BELGIAN including a couple FRENCH. You will not find any of the'Big Guys' here as I support the little guys...like me.

Maudite · Post by **Maudite** » Tue Mar 04, 2003 9:24 pm

Hello Michelle. Welcome to the site. I popped in last week to meet you, however you working in the kitchen. Perhaps we could do a tasting of some sort at your place. We have our President of Unibroue and the VP making an appearance in Toronto for 4 days next month. Will be conducting a beer dinner at acertain place (Details will follow bartowelers). It would be great to tie something in with you since I saw your establishment and really liked it. All the best. Lets chat. Claude.

Uncle Bobby · Post by **Uncle Bobby** » Mon Apr 28, 2003 3:55 pm

Just being facetious...

Aboslutely the worst pub in Toronto is The Ulster Arms on Gerrard Street, between Coxwell and Greenwood.
-the amosphere ranages from indifferent to hostile to violent
-the service is horrible - the waiter is very often the owner, a man who appears to resent his fate
-the beer is the old-fashioned one draft fits all, and is labelled as Ex, I think, but offers the added tang of formaldehyde, so your hangover starts at about your second or third glass
-the beer comes in draft glasses (8oz-ers), small pitchers and large pitchers
-the food is beyond mention
-there are few windows to the outside, but when the sunshine streams in for about an hour each afternoon, it only serves to highlight just how much smoke is hanging in the air
-there are TV's throughout which are old and blare loudly although it is still hard to make out what is happening or what is being said
-the atmosphere of dingy hopelessness pervading the place is oppressive

Just had to share.

-Uncle Bobby

doublefist · Post by **doublefist** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 8:55 am

Must be a bad area. I was in an Irish pub on the south side of Gerrard between Woodbine and Coxwell on Friday night. I didn't actually catch the name of the place but it was the dungiest, most disgusting place I have been in since I got out of the Army. Let's start with the atmosphere. People passed out at the tables, people stumbling around completely hammered, loud people, trashy women. Lovely. Now the beer selection. Kilkenny and Guiness on tap. Guiness in cans. The remainder of the selection included Bud, Coors Light, Blue and Canadian. At one point, a guy who works at the pub drove up with a few cases of Bud and the patrons in this place actually cheered. The whole thing was very disturbing. Oh well, serves me right for straying from familiar teritory, like The Renaissance.

cman · Post by **cman** » Fri May 02, 2003 12:50 pm

Shite beer, pick any bar in Brampton with exception of Tracks the Brewpub. If you are lucky you might find a pint of Guiness but he rest is usually Coors Light, Canadian, Rickards Red, Rickards Pale and Blue. Some pubs have some imports but usually wimpy examples of such. You guys downtown have it good.

esprit · Post by **esprit** » Sat May 03, 2003 10:49 am

cman, you've obviously never been to the Rak 'N Tap on Hwy. 10 in Brampton....they've got the largest selection of bottled beer available anywhere in Canada including a lot of great Belgian, UK and U.S. microbrews.

cman · Post by **cman** » Tue May 13, 2003 12:55 pm

Yes I plan to make a trip to this Rak and Tap. As it turns out my daughter lives only a stones throw away and we are planning to check it out. If only there were more inviting places in the burbs.