The Bar Towel

The following beers are planned to be included in the LCBO's Spring 2010 seasonal beer promotion. The expected release date for these beers is early March.

Note that as always, all details about the release including the beers included are subject to change. Also, the LCBO number links may return a blank/incomplete inventory entry if the beer has not yet been released.

LCBO No / Product Name / Retail / Size / Ratings (BA = Beer Advocate, RB = RateBeer)
67173 / Trafalgar Oak Aged Rye / $4.25 / 650ml / (BA) (RB)
106237 / Höss Doppel Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500ml / (BA) (RB)
157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330ml / (BA) (RB)
157560 / Hog's Back Traditional English Ale (TEA) / $3.95 / 500ml / (BA) (RB)
157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500ml / (BA) (RB)
157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330ml / (BA) (RB)
468660 / St. Louis Gueuze Lambic / $4.85 / 375ml / (BA) (RB)
615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650ml / (BA) (RB)
909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650ml / (BA) (RB)
175356 / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500ml / (BA) (RB)
174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500ml / (BA) (RB)

GregClow wrote:The following beers are planned to be included in the LCBO's Spring 2010 seasonal beer promotion. The expected release date for these beers is early March.

Note that as always, all details about the release including the beers included are subject to change.

LCBO No / Product Name / Retail / ML
67173 / Traflagar Oak Aged Rye / $4.25 / 650
106237 / Höss Doppel-Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500
157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330
157560 / Hog's Back Traditional English Ale (TEA) / $3.95 / 500
157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500
157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330
468660 / St. Louis Gueuze Lambic / $4.85 / 375
615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650
909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650
TBC / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500
174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500

Its a so-so list. Some great beers, some okay beers and some piss-poor beers. Typical Spring release really.

BTW, links to all the beers are on the front page: http://www.bartowel.com/?p=706

GregClow wrote:The following beers are planned to be included in the LCBO's Spring 2010 seasonal beer promotion. The expected release date for these beers is early March.

Note that as always, all details about the release including the beers included are subject to change.

LCBO No / Product Name / Retail / ML
67173 / Traflagar Oak Aged Rye / $4.25 / 650
106237 / Höss Doppel-Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500
157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330
157560 / Hog's Back Traditional English Ale (TEA) / $3.95 / 500
157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500
157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330
468660 / St. Louis Gueuze Lambic / $4.85 / 375
615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650
909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650
TBC / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500
174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500

Looks really nice on the whole. The Christoffel should be great. Schneider and Rogue ARE great. Nice to see the two new (to LCBO) Ontario crafts. Spring has sprung!

This release is boring. Big surprise with Trafalger in the list!

GregClow wrote:The following beers are planned to be included in the LCBO's Spring 2010 seasonal beer promotion. The expected release date for these beers is early March.

Note that as always, all details about the release including the beers included are subject to change.

LCBO No / Product Name / Retail / ML
67173 / Traflagar Oak Aged Rye / $4.25 / 650
106237 / Höss Doppel-Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500
157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330
157560 / Hog's Back Traditional English Ale (TEA) / $3.95 / 500
157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500
157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330
468660 / St. Louis Gueuze Lambic / $4.85 / 375
615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650
909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650
TBC / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500
174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500

really dissapointing release, ill probably spend less the $20 in total on the whole release

I'm glad I've stepped up my homebrewing again!

The Christoffel Nobel should be good.

I prefered the Weltenburger... but hey, at least there's a bock (and Amsterdam will have theirs available at the brewery).

I don't make it down to Cambridge much, so it'll be nice to be able to grab some more Russian Gun.

It's a bit of a naff release, isn't it? I guess we were a bit spoilt with the past 2 releases (Winter & Xmas). And only 1 decent (just) Ontario beer in that release.

im really bored today so here are some personal thoughts about this realease:

67173 / Traflagar Oak Aged Rye / $4.25 / 650

-the LCBO has a history of picking Trafalger brews and likely see's potential in the "oak aged" market
-this must have performed decently to get picked up again
-i wont buy a bottle

106237 / Höss Doppel-Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500

-the LCBO has a history of including doppelbocks in this release
-past performance must have been solid
-decent enough product but the price is steep even considering the value of the 500ml flip top bottle
-i will buy a handfull at most

157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330

-the LCBO may have picked this one up to replace other high abv lagers that have been included in the past
-Christoffel has a history with the LCBO which presumably factored into the inclusion of the product
-i havnt tried the nobel but the pilsner is one i normally look forward to, i hope this is a worthy replacement
-another flip top bonus for homebrewers

157560 / Hog's Back Traditional English Ale (TEA) / $3.95 / 500

-not sure why the LCBO picked this one
-seems like a bellow average bitter according to the RB profile
-i might buy one bottle for the tick

157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500

-lotsa brand history with the LCBO
-reviews seem decent
-ill probably only buy one

157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330

-again some brand history
-always nice to see a new product from belgium on LCBO shelves
-ill buy one for sure but im expecting to like it and buy more


468660 / St. Louis Gueuze Lambic / $4.85 / 375

-im not sure why the LCBO brought this one back, maybe they see potential for lambics but this one certainly wont win many people over
-i wont buy a bottle

615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650

-obvious history with a proven record
-a staple in this release
-i wont buy a bottle

909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650

-nice to see this one back and its nice to see Rogue continue to show up on the seasonal releases
-i can see why people like this one but i wont buy any because homebrewing can easily recreate this beer at ~$5 less per bomber

TBC / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500

-bring on the smoke!

174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500

-best beer of the release but since i live in cambridge ill buy mine from the brewery
-i hope it sells out quickly and Grand River gets great province wide exposure

Meh. For what it's worth:

I'll likely pick up a few of these:
Höss Doppel Hirsch Doppel Bock
Rogue Brutal Bitter

Will pick up a bottle to try:
Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant
Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel

Never need to drink again:
Trafalgar Oak Aged Rye
Schneider’s Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse
Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale

Not especially interested in:
St. Louis Gueuze Lambic
Hog’s Back Traditional English Ale

I agree that the Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout is probably the best beer on the list (that I have had) but is it just me or does it seem an unusual choice for a spring release?

TJ wrote:
I agree that the Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout is probably the best beer on the list (that I have had) but is it just me or does it seem an unusual choice for a spring release?

this probably has more to do with seasonal availibility then seasonal appropriatness

I tried the Christoffel Nobel at Smokeless recently and found it rather good. Aside from that the rest is a tad unexciting.

I bought a 650ml of Rogue Brutal Bitter at Premier Wines in Halifax last week for $8.99.
$6.95 at the LCBO seems like a deal to me.

_ .

Not as exciting as I would have hoped, but I am looking forward to trying:
157552 / Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel / $3.30 / 330
157651 / Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse / $2.95 / 500
157834 / Gouden Carolus Ambrio / $3.10 / 330

And likely purchase more of:
106237 / Höss Doppel-Hirsch Doppel Bock / $3.95 / 500
615633 / Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale / $4.95 / 650
909770 / Rogue Brutal Bitter / $6.95 / 650
TBC / Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant / $3.50 / 500
174532 / Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout / $4.50 / 500

notdan wrote:Not as exciting as I would have hoped

Same. I will, however, purchase at least one of the following for ticking purposes:
Christoffel Dry-Hopped Nobel
Hog's Back Traditional English Ale
Schneider's Organic Wiesen Edel-Weisse
Gouden Carolus Ambrio
Railway City Brewing Dead Elephant (should have rated this after the C'est What fest, where I recall there being an inappropriate amount of unintentional smoke flavour...

And I'll repeat buy:
Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale (seem to be in the minority in liking this one)
Rogue Brutal Bitter
Grand River Brewing Russian Gun Imperial Stout