The Bar Towel

Well...that's just awesome!

grub wrote:
I think stalin's choice was a trial run at the recipe, but not sure it's the same as the final product. perhaps Lackey will chime in.

I was told that it is.

It won't be called Stalin's Choice, though...obviously.

Gavin wrote: It won't be called Stalin's Choice, though...obviously.

Why not? People here keep talking about how the LCBO is a communist institution, amiright???

JerCraigs wrote:

Gavin wrote: It won't be called Stalin's Choice, though...obviously.

Why not? People here keep talking about how the LCBO is a communist institution, amiright???

They don't mean 'communist' in the purely text-book theoretical 'it actually works for everybody' sense, but in the proven, real-world 'every empowered institution can't help itself and screws everyone' sort of way.

Belgian wrote:

JerCraigs wrote:

Gavin wrote: It won't be called Stalin's Choice, though...obviously.

Why not? People here keep talking about how the LCBO is a communist institution, amiright???

They don't mean 'communist' in the purely text-book theoretical 'it actually works for everybody' sense, but in the proven, real-world 'every empowered institution can't help itself and screws everyone' sort of way.

If this were a republican board, someone would join in with a screed against Obamacare.

"Marge, I agree with you - in theory. In theory, Communism works - in theory."

saints_gambit wrote: If this were a republican board, someone would join in with a screed against Obamacare.

I tried to explain the difference between communism and socialism to a right inclined American friend of a friend last week in the context of healthcare. It was painful and I really knew better than to even try.

Getting back to the beer itself. Super drinkable. My only complaint would be that it could a little more malty-roasty goodness to round out the "black" in black IPA. The hops are pretty spectacular, however.

Question for those who've tried both....is this much different from puzzler?

Drinking one now, pretty impressive aroma combing the in your face hops and chocolate roast. I don't dig the serving size but I guess that justifies the pricetag?

Pretty good beer, one of the best Ontario brewed of the style I've tried.

I'm loving these oneoffs / project x releases. Never really liked great lakes standard line.

JeffPorter wrote:Question for those who've tried both....is this much different from puzzler?

Just drinking a Puzzler tonight. To be honest, there isn't much to choose from between the two. Puzzler has more balance. 25th Anni has a bigger hop profile. Both are very good black IPAs. Both are right around a 4/5 in my opinion. Would welcome either one as a regular to their lineup.

Trying black IPA. It's incredible. Think I first had this at the brewers backyard last winter in test form. Would love for this to be a regular alongside karma citra.

Trying a puzzler tonight and it is quite similar to the "regular" BIPA. There is a definite "Belgian" taste - no, not "our" Belgian - in the back of the throat and I guess it's a little more complex, but like you said Duffs, the regular is seems a little more hoppy.

Both are delicious.

Excellent black IPA. Maybe even the best I've had of the style. $10 is steep for a beer, but not for a good beer. Kudos to Lackey and Great Lakes.

I had the Puzzler and the Black IPA together at the Wvrst Project X - I found the hops in the Puzzler more complex and interesting, but the Black IPA was the one I wanted more of. Very nice stuff.