The Bar Towel

Very brave of biegaman, kudos to you my friend.

I'll just add all of those stories were told to me by the persons who were wronged as well, along with many others, which is why, like I mentioned at the beginning of the thread, I decided a while ago I would not talk to Sammy any more.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I'M NOT ON THE LIST?"

"DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"

sprague11 wrote:

IPA_Lover wrote:Does everyone walk into an establishment and loudly announce they are a bartoweler or something?

Next time I'm at Blue Monk, I'm gonna shout "Ladies and Gentleman.... my name is sprague11 from bartowel and I'm here to DRINK!"

I'm going with "A BEER CELEBRITY IS IN DA HOUSE!!!"

First off, I'm glad this thread made 5 pages. Secondly, Jan - that's a very eloquent post that I think puts things out there as they should be. Thirdly, I've met your old man and he's in better shape than me.

It was my story that triggered the original post.

So, I'm in Burger Bar for a cheeky couple of pints on Sunday afternoon. Sitting enjoying my pint, the place is full although I'm the only person at the bar. Next thing I know, Sammy appears on my right shoulder, he's intent in speaking to the bar girl (mainly tattoo) ... before I start I should mention that Augusta Ale is on cask and I had the last pint....

BG = Bar Girl


Sammy (urgently, standing, not sitting at the bar) "a sample of Augusta Ale from the cask"

BG: "I think the cask is empty"

Sammy "can you check?"

BG: "yes but I'm sure it's finished"

Sammy "Check if you can"

Bargirl checks, there's just air coming out, no beer.

Bargirl "no, sorry, there's none"

Sammy: "Is there any out back?"

BG : "what do you mean?"

Sammy (urgently, keeps looking over shoulder towards the door <car parked perhaps?>) ....... " is there any kept aside in a bottle or in a fridge or does the owner have a keg out the back?"

BG: "No, no there's not, we don't do that..... but I do have Augusta Ale on tap, would you like a sample of that?"

Sammy: "NO, no.. I've had that before"

BG: "Huh??"

Sammy: "Maybe next time...." storms out.

_____________________________________________



In my opinion

I'm glad someone came out and named who we all knew it was, and well put at that.

I've been invited to these 'tastings', been asked for lopsided trades, and seen Sammy at work and can gladly say that what these gentlemen say is only the tip of the iceberg, as biegaman mentioned. He was restrained and gracious as can possibly be with a beer cretin such as Sammy. You can add me to the list of people who goes out of the way to avoid him. I try to be as gracious as possible with all sorts of people and am normally hesitant to join internet debates but felt I should add to the chorus.

While I'm not sure it color us all in a bad light (I don't feel discriminated at bars because of Sammy), he is certainly not the type of beer lover who furthers the craft scene - more of a leech. But undoubtedly every scene has these and it's just up to the rest of us to show how great a bunch beer lovers tend to be - generous, friendly, sociable, etc... That's how I've always found the majority of beer lovers to be and I won't let the like of Sammy ruin that.

I know Sammy is often rushed (between work & family), but he was always a generous host at the quarterly tastings that I attended.

I've got nothing against him, or Harry.

I suspect Harry probably had a few drinks before that post, but it's really no excuse for the web bullying and grade-school slandering. Ironically, that's not a good reflection on our community either.

In all fairness, Al's tale reminds me why I actually like Sammy being around. It is a good story...

Absolutely - it's a gem!!!!

Derek, the following says it best:

ritzkiss wrote:...and seen Sammy at work and can gladly say that what these gentlemen say is only the tip of the iceberg, as biegaman mentioned.

It is indeed, the tip of the iceberg. We are just too polite to repeat the offenses done to others without bringing their names into it, it's not our place. And not just Toronto people. It's amazing how people visit from the States or we go to establishments in the States and they all talk about "that fucking Sammy Guy". After 6 years (for me), we've had enough. If that makes this "grade-school slandering" so be it.

sprague11 wrote:

IPA_Lover wrote:Does everyone walk into an establishment and loudly announce they are a bartoweler or something?

Next time I'm at Blue Monk, I'm gonna shout "Ladies and Gentleman.... my name is sprague11 from bartowel and I'm here to DRINK!"

And we will have recognized you upon arrival, and awkwardly ask for an autograph. On our boobs too.

Everyone else in this scene is pretty fucking awesome though

Except that Gren guy, he's the worst

(inside joke to some)

Bobsy wrote:First off, I'm glad this thread made 5 pages. Secondly, Jan - that's a very eloquent post that I think puts things out there as they should be. Thirdly, I've met your old man and he's in better shape than me.

Hey Bobsy... maybe you should go to a gym...

Blankboy wrote:Everyone else in this scene is pretty fucking awesome though

Except that Gren guy, he's the worst

(inside joke to some)

Yeah, what is with that Gren guy? He's always beering it up and doing beery things. We should introduce him to our friend Grag! They'd get along!

Blankboy wrote:Derek, the following says it best:

ritzkiss wrote:...and seen Sammy at work and can gladly say that what these gentlemen say is only the tip of the iceberg, as biegaman mentioned.

It is indeed, the tip of the iceberg. We are just too polite to repeat the offenses done to others without bringing their names into it, it's not our place. And not just Toronto people. It's amazing how people visit from the States or we go to establishments in the States and they all talk about "that fucking Sammy Guy". After 6 years (for me), we've had enough. If that makes this "grade-school slandering" so be it.

Sammy is a character for sure, but I've never witnessed any of these 'offenses'. If you want to ignore him, that's your perogative (I know a number of people that already do)... but why call him out on a public forum? If you think he reflects badly on this community, don't you think this does as well?