Flying Monkey

Zuma · Post by **Zuma** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:23 am

Hey Ottawa area folks, Hoptical Illusion is on tap at the Wellington Gastropub. Tasty!

Matty D · Post by **Matty D** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:52 am

To touch on the idea of marketing the beer based on a "pure water source" etc.

I think the whole shift to Flying Monkeys from Rober Simpson was to get away from that sort of thing. Away from the whole "brewed since 1000 B.C. the same way, in memory of blah blah tradition blah.

We have enough breweries towing that line, Monkeys that fly - not so much of.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:23 pm

$ wrote:went to summerhill LCBO. web site says they have a few in stock. Ask a guy, he has no idea, yells at another guy, he says,never heard nothing about any monkeys. shows me a flyer with ALL the beers the LCBO carries, if it ain't in there we don't carry it...

I was in post-communist Czech Republic for some weeks in the early 1990's - some of the locals who had grown up in that sort of environment had service attitudes that were somewhat gruff, illogical, oddly sentimental and (at least in retrospect) extremely funny.

The movies we can watch about life in CZ are not parodies!

More to topic, you might also politely press store staff to check the store computer anyway, because getting mad at them will not faze them. Or call in advance. 2¢

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 6:57 pm

Well the LCBO shouldn't be giving anyone guff about the Hoptical Illusion now since it gets mentioned in their latest Radio ad, where they sing the beers to the tune of "I've been everywhere". Also mentioned is the Creemore Kellerbier

peterchiodo · Post by **peterchiodo** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:52 pm

Hey All,

Sorry about the lack of product availability with Hoptical. The oompa-loompas are working overtime on the bottling line. If all goes well on Tuesday, we will be shipping to the LCBO warehouse this week....our single head capper is barely chugging along to keep up. I do appreciate all of the kind words and support though....it makes brewing 26 hours straight like I did last week a little more tolerable...I was going f**king insane. I’ll keep working on the hop aroma. Things like preboil and even mash hopping are being considered ( at least until I fabricate my hopback in the next two weeks).

With repect to geographic availability. I think my sister Patty (who does all the LCBO stuff) is going to Ottawa this week to try and pedal some beer up there. I’m not sure if she has made it as far as Niagara (I hope that gives u an idea dutchcanuck) but I was planning a road trip to Taps and Niagara’s Best Brew Pub so I’ll try and motivate her to come join me. She will probably sell to a few LCBOs while she is there. I’m toying with the idea of setting up a brewpub next summer (or a Bong shop).

Response to the hard water….I knew we had pretty good quality water up hear in Barrie as part of the Alliston Sands Aquifer. We originally trucked our “spring water” (how lame, eh?) in from the former Formosa/molsons source well on the hill. As soon as I found out the city of Barrie was on the same Artsian source as the old Molson’s well, I switched over to the municipal stuff and just strip the chlorine out. We sold our tanker truck after the MTO slapped us with a $2500 fine for a water spill (yes, water all over the road). The tanker leaked like a bastard. I’m not sure why I told you all of this but ….but Matty D – you hit the nail on the head –we are through with the Beer Purity, purest ingredients, purest spring water bullshit that we use to think was important….It really isn’t.

Yours in brewing,

Peter
Elvis Impersonator & Brewer
Flying Monkeys

dutchcanuck · Post by **dutchcanuck** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:41 pm

Peter,

I greatly appreciate the update. I am pretty clueless when it comes to the arcane workings of the LCBO bureaucracy, so I just want to make sure this little bit of Ontario is not forgotten about.
If you visit Niagara's Best or Taps, let me know and I will meet you there and I will pick up a case of 24 from you (not quite sure if thats legal, but I won't tell anyone). I noticed earlier this week that an Oakville location near a buddy of mine has plenty of stock, so I might just have to pay him a visit.
I really hope everything is working out up there for you folks in Barrie. I know the microbrew market is a tough sell in Ontario. So keep those Oompa-Loompas pushing out quality beer!

Cheers,
Ken

*UPDATE*
I just noticed that Welland, WELLAND, of all places has eight cases in stock. I know where I am going tomorrow!

Zuma · Post by **Zuma** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:06 am

icemachine wrote:Well the LCBO shouldn't be giving anyone guff about the Hoptical Illusion now since it gets mentioned in their latest Radio ad, where they sing the beers to the tune of "I've been everywhere". Also mentioned is the Creemore Kellerbier

You would think so, but it is not the case. I was at the LCBO distribution centre in Ottawa south yesterday and got completely shot down. I said Hoptical Illusion and the employee said he never heard of it. I explained that it was new and on their online inventory list. He smirked and said "nope, don't have it" and walked away. Then to top it off I was told at the cash that I could not buy a single friggin Whistler lager because I broke the six pack....even though it is an open case the other five were already sold. Just brutal.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:09 am

peterchiodo wrote:Hey All,

I’ll keep working on the hop aroma. Things like preboil and even mash hopping are being considered ( at least until I fabricate my hopback in the next two weeks).

That's interesting. I've first wort hopped with Amarillo and it seemed to maintain some Amarillo flavour, while extracting PLENTY of bitterness. I think any end/post boil additions would overshadow the aroma though.

An interesting read if you haven't seen it:
http://www.franklinbrew.org/brewinfo/brauweltfwh.html

(I haven't seen any 'studies' using resiny American hops though).

I thought your version at the C'est What spring fest was approachable & sessionable... can't wait to try it from a hop-back!

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:16 am

I popped into the brewery on my way north for camping on Friday and picked up a case of Hoptical with a production date of Aug. 11. The Amarillo seems to come forward a lot more in this batch, particularly in the aroma, but also in the flavour. Tasting super fresh, too (even after three days cooking in the car trunk on the hottest weekend of the year). This has supplanted Tankhouse for the time being as my go to session beer for home drinking. Wonderful, aromatic stuff - I can't wait to try the hopback batches.

Also noticed when at the Beer Store yesterday returning empties that they have Hoptical listed on the big wall as a new arrival. Not sure which locations carry it, but this could be an alternative to those who cannot find any at their local 'BOs, and another option to add to the very small list of things to pick up at the BS when returning empties.

lister · Post by **lister** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:23 am

For those up in Innisfil, this TBS location on Innisfil Beach Rd has got Hoptical Illusion. We saw several cases (at least) being delivered back on Aug 7th.

Matty D · Post by **Matty D** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:48 pm

Great idea lister:

I picked up a case of Hoptical at this Barrie BS.

http://www.thebeerstore.ca/OurStores/st ... er2results

Very easy to get to as well, just take the Mapleview Dr. Exit go West about 1km and you will see. You will be back on the highway in no time to the cottage.

I'm looking forward to the evolution of this beer and it becoming available at the BS in something bigger then a 6 pack

icemachine · Post by **icemachine** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:55 pm

Matty D wrote:Great idea lister:

I picked up a case of Hoptical at this Barrie BS.

http://www.thebeerstore.ca/OurStores/st ... er2results

Very easy to get to as well, just take the Mapleview Dr. Exit go West about 1km and you will see. You will be back on the highway in no time to the cottage.

I'm looking forward to the evolution of this beer and it becoming available at the BS in something bigger then a 6 pack

You save $7.85 buying the case at the BS over buying four 6 Packs.The closest BS to Toronto carrying this appears to be Aurora

The_Jester · Post by **The_Jester** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:01 pm

I had a pint (draught) last week at The Griffin in Bracebridge. (Great little place.) I found it to be very pleasant - nice aroma, great colour, solid balance, decent bitterness in the finish. And the artwork on the tap handle was brilliant! Seems like an appropriate candidate for the Ritz Deli North here in Peterborough.

peterchiodo · Post by **peterchiodo** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:14 pm

Hey Derek,
That was a great article on first wort hopping. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was first introduced to first wort hopping by Sam Corbeil (Mill Street's best brewer) back when he was brewing for us up here in Barrie. He used it on batches of Confederation--I'm not sure he ever came to any conclusions on the effect on aroma probably because the usage at the time --was dick. I'm still exhausting my kettle/whirlpool/hopback/dryhop options before I test that science. Besides Hoptical, I have been doing a lot of aroma/character testing on batches of Confederation and Antigravity by varying both the cast amounts and timing. What I have determined is pretty unscientific: if you want hop character - add more hops! If you have hard water --add more hops! It is expensive, but worth it. I'm casting six additions per batch of Hoptical (I know Dogfish Head uses the same philosophy) and that seems to work. Needless to say, I am negotiating a yearly contract with Hop Union because even at $9/lb that shit adds up!!

Yours in brewing - Peter

Rumrunner · Post by **Rumrunner** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:56 am

Finally found some at the LCBO around the corner from me in King West Village.
Looking forward to giving it a try tonight!