The Bar Towel

I think I am going to pass on this in favour of checking out C'est What Friday night, my friend Janine Stoll is playing at 1030PM if anyone wants to check it out, share a pint.

I'll be the big dorky guy that looks like me

I dropped into C'est What? last night to check out the Upper Canada Pale Ale launch, and I enjoyed a tremendously flavoured, well-hopped ale that I am proud to say is brewed in Ontario...

I'm referring to the pint of Sgt. Major's IPA that I ordered after being incredibly disappointed by the Upper Canada Pale Ale.

The UC Pale Ale is absolutely NOT a PALE ALE, certainly based on my understanding and appreciation of the style. It had no detectable hop aroma or flavor whatsover, had a very weak flavor profile overall, not that I drink it very often, but I imagine that a Moosehead, or Sleeman's Cream Ale would taste something like this.

I'm annoyed because I was starting to come around and change my opinon of Sleeman's, who I've generally disliked,(in part because of their choice of clear bottles, and because they bought Upper Canada and dropped many of it's UC's great beers, and watered down the rest.) I thought the Porter they released last Christmas was quite nice, and was cautiously optimistic that their Pale Ale would be true to style, bold, hoppy and flavorful... Not the case.

If they're trying to make a non-descript, boring ale that will have a broad appeal amoungst beer consumers, then perhaps they've succeeded, best of luck to them, but unfortunately I think they're continuing to destroy the Upper Canada brand that used to stand for bold flavored beer.

So I'll stick with my Mill St's, Black Oak's, and Scotch Irish Pale's and IPA's, and continue to ignore Sleeman's product lines...

I went ahead and bought a 12 pack of UC Pale Ale and like JWalter I was disappointed. It's been a while since I had an UC Lager but from what I remember it tastes no different from the UC Pale Ale I had last night. It's drinkable enough but I was hoping for a hoppy American Pale Ale, not UC Lager with a different label. It cost me $21.25 for the 12 pack. I guess I should've waited one more day then I'd have read JWalter's review and wouldn't have bothered with it. Alas, I'm stuck with it for the weekend.

JerCraigs wrote:I think I am going to pass on this in favour of checking out C'est What Friday night, my friend Janine Stoll is playing at 1030PM if anyone wants to check it out, share a pint.

I'll be the big dorky guy that looks like me

Janine Stoll is a friend of yours? I bought her last CD a few years back but have never seen her live. Her music is great and her voice is incredible, lyrically she is almost a little to honest. The lyrics are like she is reading me her diary...makes me feel uncomfortable! Regardless, if any of you are looking for a great pint and a voice of an angel, C’est What should be your place tonight. Unfortunately, I’m all the way out in Kitchener, but the Kitchener Beer festival will keep me amused tonight!

Philip1 wrote:It cost me $21.25 for the 12 pack. I guess I should've waited one more day then I'd have read JWalter's review and wouldn't have bothered with it.

It might grow on you. Most beers do a bit.

But I'm pretty feisty with buying singles at LCBO stores. I snagged out a single Coffee Porter from a pack, and the next time I went back they had ALL Mill Street stuff as single bottles as well as packs.

At least check out the clearance basket for things to try.

(Tankhouse was very nice from bottle, will enjoy again.)

Belgian wrote:I snagged out a single Coffee Porter from a pack, and the next time I went back they had ALL Mill Street stuff as single bottles as well as packs.

Speaking of which:

According to the LCBO website, single bottles of Tankhouse and Coffee Porter are $1.95, while 6-packs are $11.95.

Do the math...