The Bar Towel

Yes these beer bars import special stuff sometimes, it's an expensive labour of love (read 'low-yielding pain in the ass') and I do think they compensate by padding prices on a few other good bottles to help offset costs. I'm just really glad they DO bring all this beer so I can try just one for eight, nine bucks! Keep it up I say.

Moving on to thread topic, I do agree with the comment about pale hoppy ales like Rogue Brutal & the two IPA's that will be arriving. Absolutely delicious when it's hot and sunny.

I definitely disagree with the 'leave the dark beers' comment because there are some pleasantly refreshing Darks and Milds with quenching toffee, nutty characteristics. I'm thinking at least Hockley Dark and Wellington Dark ales, and also King Dark which is a fine Dunkeles Lager. Don't miss Denison's dunkel either if you see it anywhere on tap. These are magnificent sunshine beers.

I agree cloudy wheats go without saying - find some Blanche de Chambly or Hoegaarde belgian beers on tap, or Denisons Weisse is the perfect German example Hefeweizen. In bottles Magnotta Wunder Weisse has a very quenching bubblegummy/banana/spicy flavour in a lighter more filtered style. And that's just the locals mostly along with MS. The imports in bottle can also be very good fresh, whatever we're getting this year. I've been cynical in the past but a freshly opened case at Queen's Quay tastes as good as anything at my Uncle's house in Bavaria.

I gotta say that Delirium Tremens is about the most refreshing "big" beer I have ever come across. It has a ridiculously low finishing gravity, "zingy" citrus and spices, and ample carbonation that doesn't come off as harsh. Orval, Saison Dupont and De Ranke Bitter XX would be other fine choices that are in a similar vein.

If I was going to drink in large quantities (which I rarely do anymore), I think I'd be leaning towards a crisp pilsner, dry stout or hoppy pale ale.

I think I'd be leaning towards a crisp pilsner, dry stout or hoppy pale ale.

My thoughts exactly....

Belgian wrote:
I definitely disagree with the 'leave the dark beers' comment because there are some pleasantly refreshing Darks and Milds with quenching toffee, nutty characteristics. I'm thinking at least Hockley Dark and Wellington Dark ales, and also King Dark which is a fine Dunkeles Lager. Don't miss Denison's dunkel either if you see it anywhere on tap. These are magnificent sunshine beers.

Some solid beer suggestions on this thread. I'm definitely going to expand my repetoire for "refreshing drinks" this summer and try out a lot of what has been suggested here. Its great to hear what everyone enjoys in the summer!

I forgot to mention Köstritzer Schwarzbier, another deceptively dark-looking German lager that is surprisingly light in body with nice grainy flavours reminding me of good dark bread. It's a classic. People trying Kostritzer sometimes 'complain' that this dark beer isn't heavier, then they forget all about it during the summer!

Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen can be a little hard to find but is the perfect smoky German lager to go with a picnic of cold cuts and hearty breads. Don't forget to buy a little Tyrolean Speck to complement the beechwood-smoked malts evident in this beer. Great stuff (at LCBO.)

Ok, have to follow up on my original post. Now that I've had a ST IPA I think I may be drinking less wheat beers this summer and more hoppy beers. Can't wait for more! Oh, and it was $8 at Smokeless....still high, but not as bad as previously reported.
My updated guestimation for summer consumption:
60% IPAs and other hops heavy brews
30% wheat beers
10% misc

El Pinguino wrote:Ok, have to follow up on my original post. Now that I've had a ST IPA I think I may be drinking less wheat beers this summer and more hoppy beers. Can't wait for more! Oh, and it was $8 at Smokeless....still high, but not as bad as previously reported.
My updated guestimation for summer consumption:
60% IPAs and other hops heavy brews
30% wheat beers
10% misc

Aye, its a beauty! I ordered a case from R+R, and I've been drinking it like water. One of those beers that invites the next sip.

As far as wheat beers go, I'm gonna pick up a case of the Muskoka hefe and give it a whirl this weekend. However, you can't beat a Denison's on tap. I forgot to mention it in my original post, but its definitely one of those beers I would select over all others (during summer, and any other time of the year).

"Oh, and it was $8 at Smokeless....still high, but not as bad as previously reported. "

My mistake. I got the info second-hand from a bartender at another establishment in town.

And re other comments on this topic, thanks, but I'm fully aware of the overhead costs that bars and restaurants incur in relation to beer\liquor pricing. Some businesses pass it off to the consumer better than others and I think The Rhino in particular does a great job of providing an excellent micro beer selection at accessible price levels. To me that's a great way to get people interested in new products.

Yeah, I agree, as I am getting more used to any hoppy, balance Pale or IPA I am tending to prefer those over Wheat based ales. I'm enjoying the Durham Hop Addict more each time I order it!

I consider both Sierra Nevada's Pale and IPA both extremely nice bottled beers I coud drink every day, even though they are not considered epics of their style.

There's more to hop character than how MUCH hopping, I find. eg. Arcadia or Lagunitas IPA are not necessarily preferable to good old 'ordinary' Sierra Nevada IPA you can buy anywhere in the US. To each his own.

I definitely want to grab an armload of IPA's at Premier... broaden the palate.

markaberrant, I totally agree with you on the delirium tremens as I am drinking one as I type, it really is quite refreshing for such a high ABV beer. I anticipate many days on the deck with this lovely.