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If you recall, the LCBO previously would never bring both the Vintage and the RIS in the same year. They weren`t convinced consumers would want to buy both.
This unique vertical idea is for Ontario only (single tubes for rest of country) - for a couple reasons:
*to allow consumers who couldn`t get the Vintage last year (since the `BO didn`t bring it in) -- to have it this year
*to show the LCBO that both Vintage and RIS could co-exist on the shelf and both sell without collecting dust
Hopefully we will be able to show the LCBO that both Vintage and RIS can be released every year in the single format.
Fingers crossed,
Barry
PS
Please email the LCBO `Consumer Feedback` and let them know you would like to see both Vintage and RIS every year. merci!
Frere Ambroise wrote:You are correct -- got them mixed up. Vintage is "even" years - Russian is "odd".
So RIS was scheduled this year whereas Ontario folks missed out on 2011 & would've missed out on 2013 if we didn't do the Vertical pack.
Hopefully we can have both available as separate single items for next year.
Cheers,
Barry
So did they plan on doing the vertical three years ago and hold back stock for that purpose? Are they holding enough back to do more verticals in future years if the LCBO tells you that's the only way to have both on the shelves?
squeaky wrote:
So did they plan on doing the vertical three years ago and hold back stock for that purpose? Are they holding enough back to do more verticals in future years if the LCBO tells you that's the only way to have both on the shelves?
Doubt they planned it specifically. I got to Qc often, and there are usually a couple years of these releases on the shelves at various deps, so I think some are being held onto with the intent of selling as a vintage.
Back in 2011, we resisted the temptation of putting all our Vintage out in the market -- we held on to a bunch. Though 2012 saw the LCBO carry the Vintage, again - we held enough back to do something truly unique.
The Vintage Vertical would be the first of its kind (we think) and the LCBO was excited at the prospect. Even to the point they requested exclusivity of this "Vintage Vertical" and took everything we could assemble in a Trio pack.
We are keeping our fingers crossed that both Vintage & RIS can co-exist for next year at the LCBO. Your support means everything -- let them know you want both!
The "Vertical" concept worked really well - looks like we will again hold back inventory in future years to do it again. Likely see something like this in a couple years.
We noticed that there are still some a couple hundred cases of Vintage Verticals and RIS in the LCBO warehouse - and have requested them to release the rest of the stock to the stores across the province.
Fuller's 2013 is around, and getting very favorable reviews - smooth big and drinkable now, some comparison to Rochefort 10 (!).
I like all the pomp and ceremony of these VA series, and of course some of these one-off beers are actually really good. I have some backlog of older vintages to clear out and want to put some 2013s away.
Anyone have some bottles of the Twisted Thistle kicking around from the Belhaven gift pack? Just noticed there are two different versions of the beer. Im wondering if the gift pack has the euro version that is 5.3%, compared to the US version that is 6.1%. I noticed a big different in these recent beers from bottles ive had in the past.
Funny you should mention this. I bought the Bellhaven pack as I've enjoyed the Twisted singles previously and I wanted to try the Stout. I could have sworn 1 of the 2 Twisted bottles was mis-labeled as it did not taste how I remember or expected.
robinvboyer wrote:Anyone have some bottles of the Twisted Thistle kicking around from the Belhaven gift pack? Just noticed there are two different versions of the beer. Im wondering if the gift pack has the euro version that is 5.3%, compared to the US version that is 6.1%. I noticed a big different in these recent beers from bottles ive had in the past.
I thought maybe it was my memory playing tricks on me. I loved Twisted Thistle whenit was at the LCBO about six years ago. I was all excited to try it again in this mixed pack but when I did, it fell far short of what I remembered. I didn't research to see if there was a change but if there are two different versions then maybe I will get the try the beer I enjoyed so much in the past again one day. On the upside, I had not tried the stout before and I really enjoyed it.
