Southern Tier IPA / Dog Fish Head - where art thou?

Hawks28 · Post by **Hawks28** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:07 pm

my local LCBO (Pickering) seems to be getting them in. Anchor Steam, Sam Adams summer ale and Christoffel are there now. Orange Peel Ale and that Chapeau lemon stuff have been there for a week or so.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat May 24, 2008 3:18 pm

I liked the Headstrong Munich in 473ml can, it's better than ever and seems very "real German style". I need to grab some Pale, and compare the GR draught versions (ongoing research...)

Speaking of cans I really enjoyed the Neustadt Lager, thankfully the 473ml can has not diminished this beer one bit, if anything it's more flavorful than I ever remember. The 10W-30 Dark and the Scottish Ale were also good.

Kick-ass beers in a handy format to drink in movie theatres, were one so inclined.... OK guys well off topic here.

El Pinguino · Post by **El Pinguino** » Sat May 24, 2008 4:13 pm

Saw Sam Adams and Anchor steam at my locals today. Also saw Brooklyn lager...I know it's been around I just never looked for it.

Still waiting on the IPAs so I grabbed a couple of the few remaining Rogue Brutal Bitters to enjoy. Haven't caught a glimpse of the Orange Peel Ale yet this year, but will pick some up as I quite like it.

probstk · Post by **probstk** » Sat May 24, 2008 6:59 pm

Beer Geek wrote:
Belgian wrote: Booklet has both Headstrong beers in there so I assume Wellington is not brewing them any more? I bought some cans the other day.
I think this has been discussed, but the cans of Headstrong are coming up from the US and the draught beer is being brewed at Grand River. Wellington has not brewed this beer for a few years now. After Wellington, I think the draught brewing went to Amsterdam who did an awful job of it and lost all kinds of bar accounts. But it’s back, better than ever in my opinion with GRB.

Was talking to Rob at GRB. By the sounds of it, they will start bottling their own product in bombers as well and will piggyback on the Headstrong distribution chain. Hopefully this means GRB products will be more readily available across the province.

Illuminatus · Post by **Illuminatus** » Sat May 24, 2008 7:11 pm

probstk wrote:
Beer Geek wrote:
Belgian wrote: Booklet has both Headstrong beers in there so I assume Wellington is not brewing them any more? I bought some cans the other day.
I think this has been discussed, but the cans of Headstrong are coming up from the US and the draught beer is being brewed at Grand River. Wellington has not brewed this beer for a few years now. After Wellington, I think the draught brewing went to Amsterdam who did an awful job of it and lost all kinds of bar accounts. But it’s back, better than ever in my opinion with GRB.
Was talking to Rob at GRB. By the sounds of it, they will start bottling their own product in bombers as well and will piggyback on the Headstrong distribution chain. Hopefully this means GRB products will be more readily available across the province.

Awesome! I thought, though, that they were looking into cans?

probstk · Post by **probstk** » Sat May 24, 2008 7:20 pm

Illuminatus wrote:
probstk wrote:
Beer Geek wrote: I think this has been discussed, but the cans of Headstrong are coming up from the US and the draught beer is being brewed at Grand River. Wellington has not brewed this beer for a few years now. After Wellington, I think the draught brewing went to Amsterdam who did an awful job of it and lost all kinds of bar accounts. But it’s back, better than ever in my opinion with GRB.
Was talking to Rob at GRB. By the sounds of it, they will start bottling their own product in bombers as well and will piggyback on the Headstrong distribution chain. Hopefully this means GRB products will be more readily available across the province.
Awesome! I thought, though, that they were looking into cans?

Maybe the story has changed since we spoke. At that point, the US brewery was going to continue to supply the canned Headstrong and GRB was going to produce the bottles. Frankly, I don't care as long as I can get GRB products without going to Cambridge!

bujubanton · Post by **bujubanton** » Sun May 25, 2008 10:10 pm

You would think an IPA is some kind of dangerous substance...given how much of a hassle it has been for the Southern Tier to enter the country.
What does the LCBO think we are going to do?
Never buy another honey brown/pale ale/orange peel/pilsner/ ever again...ha ha ha....

lagerale · Post by **lagerale** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:45 am

What I want to know is why some bars can already sell ST products to the public, but the LCBO isn't????

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Mon May 26, 2008 1:30 pm

lagerale wrote:What I want to know is why some bars can already sell ST products to the public, but the LCBO isn't????

The bars usually have zero to do with it, no? Is it the open six-pack / labelling issue for ST?

Bars are not subject to the same packaging / labelling criteria for LC shelving, I don't think. At BB there is an overall 'disclaimer' printed on the menu officially defining 'strong beer' 'extra strong beer' etc. so re-labelling of bottles, open six-packs, and poitically sensitive beer names like 'delirium tremens' are not really relevant to sell those products in bars. They get a free pass I suppose.

JesseM · Post by **JesseM** » Mon May 26, 2008 2:23 pm

Dear LCBO,

I just want some Delerium Tremens! Is that SO MUCH to ask for??!?!?

I'll give you my money in exchange, I believe this is referred to on a grander scale as "supply and demand". It's a basic economic principle. But you know that, right? RIGHT?

Oh, I also want my damn Southern Tier IPA now please. That is all.

With regards,

(beer) Starving Student

Illuminatus · Post by **Illuminatus** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:05 pm

lagerale wrote:What I want to know is why some bars can already sell ST products to the public, but the LCBO isn't????

I would imagine that those bars have ST in stock from private orders and the such.

Malcolm · Post by **Malcolm** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:14 pm

I was at the Cooper St. LCBO on Saturday picking up an assorted 8-pack for my brother. I picked up an Anchor Steam sitting by itself, but the cashier wouldn't let me buy it, even though I said I didn't pull it out of a 6-pack.
However, they did have my privately ordered Bushmills 21 yr. old in the store, so it wasn't a total loss.
Had a Southern Tier IPA at The Rhino yesterday - again, what a delicious beer. Can't wait to be able to pull one out of my own fridge.

Zithal · Post by **Zithal** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:32 pm

I was at an LCBO the other day and had a liqour monkey try to tell me that it was in the consumers best interest that they label beers as "Strong Beer", etc.

I went into a bit of a monologue where I thanked him profusely for his concern and that the LCBO has solved all my problems because...

a) I can't read numbers, but I can read letters. 6.5%? 8.2%? 3.5%? Might as well be speaking Japanese to me. Strong beer? Now's there some hillbilly slang I can appreciate!

b) Their policy helps to delay getting beer to the consumer which is good because beer ages like wine, probably. I see words entitled "Freshness Date" on some bottles, but then it's followed by numbers so I get confused.

He may have been sensing some sarcasm from me, so I told him he was an idiot, just in case.

Wasn't the ST IPA supposed to be an April release?

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Mon May 26, 2008 3:35 pm

Malcolm wrote: I picked up an Anchor Steam sitting by itself, but the cashier wouldn't let me buy it, even though I said I didn't pull it out of a 6-pack..

That was wrong of the individual who 'served' you. By policy the Bureau cannot force a customer to buy multiple units of anything they sell (because it would force people to buy more than they wanted to drink & then make the LC responsible for the drunken rampaging consequences, I would only imagine.)

Doesn't matter whether or not the staff 'like' when we break apart a six-pack. They have no authority.

Steelbackguy as a LC person can you corroborate here? Is there a web-page we can print off & hold in the face of a particularly unhelpful employee?

I'm a bit tired of the 'everybody wanna be a cop' thing we can get at some stores.

Roland + Russell · Post by **Roland + Russell** » Mon May 26, 2008 4:21 pm

Just to quickly explain the ST beers that are now available in establishments were ordered through private and consignment ordering. All these were part of the orders posted on Bar Towel. As a matter of fact, some is still available for sale. Namely, the Back Burner. Please email us if you are interested as there are only a few cases left.

As far as the ST IPA, it has not hit the stores yet as the cartons had to be re-labeled with a Shipping Container Barcode. It is expected to be available any time now.

Thank you all for your patience.