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We have a trivia question in order to register to prevent bots. If you have any issues with answering, contact us at cass@bartowel.com for help.
Introducing Light Mode! If you would like a Bar Towel social experience that isn't the traditional blue, you can now select Light Mode. Go to the User Control Panel and then Board Preferences, and select "Day Drinking" (Light Mode) from the My Board Style drop-down menu. You can always switch back to "Night Drinking" (Dark Mode). Enjoy!
Planning a trip to Premie...
It actually wasn't too bad for Michelob. Kinda thin...little too much vanilla. It sort of reminded me of a "hot" cream soda.
and now:
Hobgoblin Giftpacks are in
Ridgeway Giftpacks are in (Santa's Butt, Lump of Coal, Bad Elf and their Nut Brown)
Binchoise Giftpacks and Val Dieu are in...I think.
Harpoon Winter is in
-More coming! Will keep you posted....-KArl
and now:
Hobgoblin Giftpacks are in
Ridgeway Giftpacks are in (Santa's Butt, Lump of Coal, Bad Elf and their Nut Brown)
Binchoise Giftpacks and Val Dieu are in...I think.
Harpoon Winter is in
-More coming! Will keep you posted....-KArl
I'm going to be staying in Niagara Falls this coming Sunday/Monday, just a little getaway, I've been desperate to get to Premier Gourmet and have never gone... I really detest the whole crossing the border thing, I'm always overly anxious about stuff like that, and for no good reason... Anyhow, since it's only about a 30 minute drive (not counting any lineups at the border), I think I really do have to go! And as per Hogtown's comments, while dishing out an additional $50 kind of sucks, when you consider what you're getting, I think it's still worth doing to get some really unique stuff...
I'll be looking for some great American Pale ales or other interesting DogFishHead stuff, like their ApriHop, that sort of thing...
Seperate Topic - (PM me instead of posting to this thread) Anyone know of any good beer bar / restaurants in Niagara Falls (Preferably family friendly), I'll be staying like 5 minutes from 'The Falls'...
I'll be looking for some great American Pale ales or other interesting DogFishHead stuff, like their ApriHop, that sort of thing...
Seperate Topic - (PM me instead of posting to this thread) Anyone know of any good beer bar / restaurants in Niagara Falls (Preferably family friendly), I'll be staying like 5 minutes from 'The Falls'...
I was down last friday. There were a few empty spots on the shelves, but Karl said they had something like 30 cases that needed to be shelved.
I picked up 31 bottles (6 were corked 750's) for ~160 USD. I told the boarder how much we spent, she asked about liquor, and I told her how many bottles I had... she paused to think, then waved us through.
Since 9/11, they don't seem to waste as much time with petty things... Resources are limited, and they're more concerned with security.
You should check out Niagara Falls brewery... see if they have a 2005 Eisbock. They're closed on sunday though (despite the post-it that said "back in 5 minutes" on the door!).
I picked up 31 bottles (6 were corked 750's) for ~160 USD. I told the boarder how much we spent, she asked about liquor, and I told her how many bottles I had... she paused to think, then waved us through.
Since 9/11, they don't seem to waste as much time with petty things... Resources are limited, and they're more concerned with security.
You should check out Niagara Falls brewery... see if they have a 2005 Eisbock. They're closed on sunday though (despite the post-it that said "back in 5 minutes" on the door!).
You did quite well - that's an average of 4.30 a bottle / 8.60 a corked bomber, so not bad. It's just an "expensive experience", no offense GMonk, you have to just enjoy it for the cultural and entertainment value of the trip and the special beer. It's really a "cheap day out" in one sense, if you figure the NET expense paid over schmancy Toronto beer you'd buy anyway.Responsible Drinker wrote: I picked up 31 bottles (6 were corked 750's) for ~160 USD. I told the border how much we spent, she asked about liquor, and I told her how many bottles I had... she paused to think, then waved us through.
And don't forget, good staff like GMonk there really seem to care and know their stuff, so it's an institution we should all support and just forgetfully enjoy.
In Beerum Veritas
Please refrain from spreading the inaccuracy that 75cL corked and caged bottles are bombers. It's starting to piss me off. A bomber is a 65cL bottle.Belgian wrote:You did quite well - that's an average of 4.30 a bottle / 8.60 a corked bomber, so not bad. It's just an "expensive experience", no offense GMonk, you have to just enjoy it for the cultural and entertainment value of the trip and the special beer. It's really a "cheap day out" in one sense, if you figure the NET expense paid over schmancy Toronto beer you'd buy anyway.Responsible Drinker wrote: I picked up 31 bottles (6 were corked 750's) for ~160 USD. I told the border how much we spent, she asked about liquor, and I told her how many bottles I had... she paused to think, then waved us through.
And don't forget, good staff like GMonk there really seem to care and know their stuff, so it's an institution we should all support and just forgetfully enjoy.
-
northyorksammy
- Seasoned Drinker
- Posts: 1211
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:17 am
- Location: Eglinton and Yonge
- Contact:
-
HogTownHarry
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 11:53 am
- Location: Harbourfront
Looks like there are two of them, Blackout Stout and Nosferatu (a Stock Ale)northyorksammy wrote:that's exciting. Is the Great Lakes seasonal a Belgian? or the XMas? Any nosferatu?
http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/beerOurBeers4P.php
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northyorksammy
- Seasoned Drinker
- Posts: 1211
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 11:17 am
- Location: Eglinton and Yonge
- Contact:
I know the website says stock ale, but I'd hate to see someone pass on this expecting it to be something like Molson or Mill Street Stock Ale. Nosferatu is classified an American Strong on Ratebeer and I've heard some call it a Double Red. Basically not quite a Barley Wine and not quite an Imperial IPA. 8% abv, lots of hops and lots of malt to balance it out. It's pretty good stuff.HogTownHarry wrote:northyorksammy wrote: Looks like there are two of them, Blackout Stout and Nosferatu (a Stock Ale)
http://www.greatlakesbrewing.com/beerOurBeers4P.php
I did it!
I finally visited Premier Gourmet, it's only been on my TO DO list for like 5 years or so!
I was down in Niagara Falls anyway, so it was literally a 25 minute drive, across the Rainbow bridge, no wait time (it was a Monday at around 2:00pm), I-190 to I-290, to Delaware Ave, easy peasy...
Obviously my expectations were HUGE aftering hearing and reading about this place for so long, and yet I was still blown away when I got there... First off, something I didn't know about, or perhaps just hadn't paid attention to before, was the Premier Liquor store which is immediately adjacent to Premier Gourmet, we actually went in there first as I expected the beer would be in there... This place is about the size of a Canadian Tire, and is about 70% wine, and then 30% other liquors... Amazing, Quite good prices too, you can sign-up for a sort of loyalty program card, which gets you a few bucks off each bottle, we bought 2 750ml bottles of Auzzie Shiraz for about $5USD each... They had some CRAZY deals there, at the counter they had these 1.5L bottles of wine, a few different styles, that were $4.99 but with a $4 mail-in-rebate, so they would have been .99!! I doubt we'd qualify for the rebates but that is soem insanely cheap booze!
Anyway, back the beer, I'm a hop head so I was focused primarily on big American IPA's, here's what I bought, in no particular order (all singles):
Rockies Brewing Company - Hazed & Infused Dry-Hopped Ale, 22oz
Ithaca Beer Co, Flower Power India Pale Ale, 12oz
Bear Republic, Racer 5 IPA, 22oz, 7% Alc.
Post Road, Pumpkin Ale, 12oz
Lindemans, Cassis Lambic, 12oz
Weyerbacher, Hops Infusion Ale (7 types of hops), 12oz
Blue Point Brewing Co, Hoptical Illusion IPA, 6.2%, 12oz
Brauwerei Spezial, Spezial Rauchbier, 4.6%
Great Divide Brewing Co, Hercules Double IPA, 9.1%, 22oz
Smuttynose IPA, 12oz
Rogue UberPilsner, 22oz
*One more, some Belgian Artisenal or something, my wife picked out, we drank it last night, left the empty at the hotel
So 12 bottles in all, bought a few other things, some chocolate and stuff, bill came to $55USD... All of the 12oz were American, and ranged from about $1.30-$1.80/ea, then the larger bottles were I think around $5... At the border on the way back, played it straight up:
Q: Citizenship
A: Canadian
Q: How long have you been in the US?
A: About 2 hours
Q: Buy anything
A: Yes, some beer and wine, approx. $60
Q: You know you have to pay tax and duty on alcohol?
A: Yes, I understand (At this point I'm like Oh Sh*t)
Q: Do you have your receipts
A: (Oh sh*t, oh sh*t), I hand her the receipts
At this point she's looking over the receipt, I expect she's looking for "MILLER" or "BUDWEISER" or "PABST BLUE RIBBON" or something she can distinguish, instead she's seeing all these line items at like $1.35, $1.69, etc... and she's like "This is beer?", I explain that they are micro-brewed beers that we can't get in Canada, she seems disinterested...
At this point she hands me back the receipt and says, "Thank you, away you go!"
Whoo hoo!
I mean, honestly, I fully expected, and was prepared to pay the duty, but it's not about the money, it's certainly nice to avoid the added expense, and more so, the aggrevation of having to stop and stuff... Oh, and the fact that I had a female border guard I guess doesn't help the gender-based border guard selection protocol that was suggested earlier (as if from 100 yards away through tinted glass you could even attempt that!)
So I'm looking forward to some great tasting parties in the near future with lots of kick-a$$ hoppy goodness to imbibe... and I'm more committed than ever to make trips to Premier a MUCH MORE common exercise... I could have EASILY spend $500 or more, there is just so much amazing stuff there... I was blown away that despite that over the years I've prob. tried well over 1,000 different beers, I'd say 85-90% of their selections I'd either not tried, or more likely never even heard of... What amazing fun, what a great experience... I actually was suprised that I DIDN'T see some of the stuff I expected to, the the 3-Floyd's Alpha King, and I dont' recall seeing any Dog Fish Head, and they only had 1 Flying Dog...
As I mentioned, we downed the 'mystery' Belgian last night, it was something I'd never heard of before, it was very nice, some sweet caramel/toffee type flavors in it, as well as the delicious Smuttynose IPA which was as expected, intensly hoppy, amazing floral hop nose, outstanding!
I've got a minivan, seats 7, I'd be willing to drive if someone wants to organize a Saturday trip down to Premier, we can also hit Pizza Plant or Buffalo Brewing Co for a lunch/pint(s) as well... I live by Clarkson Go Station, so we can just rendevous there, ample parking... Leave around 10:00am, be back about 5:00pm... Giddy Up! I think we'd probably increase out likelyhood of paying duty, but WTF, it'd still be an awesome day!
I finally visited Premier Gourmet, it's only been on my TO DO list for like 5 years or so!
I was down in Niagara Falls anyway, so it was literally a 25 minute drive, across the Rainbow bridge, no wait time (it was a Monday at around 2:00pm), I-190 to I-290, to Delaware Ave, easy peasy...
Obviously my expectations were HUGE aftering hearing and reading about this place for so long, and yet I was still blown away when I got there... First off, something I didn't know about, or perhaps just hadn't paid attention to before, was the Premier Liquor store which is immediately adjacent to Premier Gourmet, we actually went in there first as I expected the beer would be in there... This place is about the size of a Canadian Tire, and is about 70% wine, and then 30% other liquors... Amazing, Quite good prices too, you can sign-up for a sort of loyalty program card, which gets you a few bucks off each bottle, we bought 2 750ml bottles of Auzzie Shiraz for about $5USD each... They had some CRAZY deals there, at the counter they had these 1.5L bottles of wine, a few different styles, that were $4.99 but with a $4 mail-in-rebate, so they would have been .99!! I doubt we'd qualify for the rebates but that is soem insanely cheap booze!
Anyway, back the beer, I'm a hop head so I was focused primarily on big American IPA's, here's what I bought, in no particular order (all singles):
Rockies Brewing Company - Hazed & Infused Dry-Hopped Ale, 22oz
Ithaca Beer Co, Flower Power India Pale Ale, 12oz
Bear Republic, Racer 5 IPA, 22oz, 7% Alc.
Post Road, Pumpkin Ale, 12oz
Lindemans, Cassis Lambic, 12oz
Weyerbacher, Hops Infusion Ale (7 types of hops), 12oz
Blue Point Brewing Co, Hoptical Illusion IPA, 6.2%, 12oz
Brauwerei Spezial, Spezial Rauchbier, 4.6%
Great Divide Brewing Co, Hercules Double IPA, 9.1%, 22oz
Smuttynose IPA, 12oz
Rogue UberPilsner, 22oz
*One more, some Belgian Artisenal or something, my wife picked out, we drank it last night, left the empty at the hotel
So 12 bottles in all, bought a few other things, some chocolate and stuff, bill came to $55USD... All of the 12oz were American, and ranged from about $1.30-$1.80/ea, then the larger bottles were I think around $5... At the border on the way back, played it straight up:
Q: Citizenship
A: Canadian
Q: How long have you been in the US?
A: About 2 hours
Q: Buy anything
A: Yes, some beer and wine, approx. $60
Q: You know you have to pay tax and duty on alcohol?
A: Yes, I understand (At this point I'm like Oh Sh*t)
Q: Do you have your receipts
A: (Oh sh*t, oh sh*t), I hand her the receipts
At this point she's looking over the receipt, I expect she's looking for "MILLER" or "BUDWEISER" or "PABST BLUE RIBBON" or something she can distinguish, instead she's seeing all these line items at like $1.35, $1.69, etc... and she's like "This is beer?", I explain that they are micro-brewed beers that we can't get in Canada, she seems disinterested...
At this point she hands me back the receipt and says, "Thank you, away you go!"
Whoo hoo!
I mean, honestly, I fully expected, and was prepared to pay the duty, but it's not about the money, it's certainly nice to avoid the added expense, and more so, the aggrevation of having to stop and stuff... Oh, and the fact that I had a female border guard I guess doesn't help the gender-based border guard selection protocol that was suggested earlier (as if from 100 yards away through tinted glass you could even attempt that!)
So I'm looking forward to some great tasting parties in the near future with lots of kick-a$$ hoppy goodness to imbibe... and I'm more committed than ever to make trips to Premier a MUCH MORE common exercise... I could have EASILY spend $500 or more, there is just so much amazing stuff there... I was blown away that despite that over the years I've prob. tried well over 1,000 different beers, I'd say 85-90% of their selections I'd either not tried, or more likely never even heard of... What amazing fun, what a great experience... I actually was suprised that I DIDN'T see some of the stuff I expected to, the the 3-Floyd's Alpha King, and I dont' recall seeing any Dog Fish Head, and they only had 1 Flying Dog...
As I mentioned, we downed the 'mystery' Belgian last night, it was something I'd never heard of before, it was very nice, some sweet caramel/toffee type flavors in it, as well as the delicious Smuttynose IPA which was as expected, intensly hoppy, amazing floral hop nose, outstanding!
I've got a minivan, seats 7, I'd be willing to drive if someone wants to organize a Saturday trip down to Premier, we can also hit Pizza Plant or Buffalo Brewing Co for a lunch/pint(s) as well... I live by Clarkson Go Station, so we can just rendevous there, ample parking... Leave around 10:00am, be back about 5:00pm... Giddy Up! I think we'd probably increase out likelyhood of paying duty, but WTF, it'd still be an awesome day!