Looking for the original Bar Towel blog? You can find it at www.thebartowel.com.

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!

Search found 1486 matches

by G.M. Gillman
Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:31 pm
Forum: Breweries, Tied Houses & Taprooms
Topic: Godspeed Brewery
Replies: 152
Views: 119947

Re: Godspeed Brewery

The Dormunder on draft was outstanding, I've had it since in the can too. Full-flavoured, rich, with a dominating mineral/vegetal German hop taste. Some faint apple in the background. Just so much better than almost any German beer import I've had, which is down to the freshness and simpler processi...
by G.M. Gillman
Mon Feb 15, 2016 9:50 am
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: What're you drinking right now?
Replies: 16950
Views: 3121949

Re: What're you drinking right now?

Thanks and it comes in quarts too, the old 22 oz (I think 625 ml). It's very good, really.

Gary
by G.M. Gillman
Thu Feb 11, 2016 9:18 am
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: What're you drinking right now?
Replies: 16950
Views: 3121949

Re: What're you drinking right now?

The new Molson 1908. This is excellent, it's certainly bitter enough, 45 IBUs according to a Manitoba listing I saw, and you taste it especially the first few sips if beer is not too cold. Nice orangey pale ale colour, good yeast character, medium malts, more English than anything else. Pale ale tra...
by G.M. Gillman
Sun Jan 24, 2016 5:16 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: DAB Dark Beer
Replies: 1
Views: 3066

DAB Dark Beer

I've been very impressed with this beer in recent months. It has a full rich taste with the slight molasses note much German dunkel has.

Very natural-tasting, in the same way craft beer is.

While made in Dortmund, it really does deliver the true taste of Bavarian dunkel.

Gary
by G.M. Gillman
Wed Jan 13, 2016 4:49 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: What're you drinking right now?
Replies: 16950
Views: 3121949

Re: What're you drinking right now?

Ransack the universe- excellent stuff. Just my type of IPA, nice bitterness and tonnes of tropical flavours. It reminds me of another beer that I can't put my finger on. If I visited the beer store more often, this would be a regular purchase for me. Another hit for CA. The only beer I've had from ...
by G.M. Gillman
Sat Jan 02, 2016 8:59 pm
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: What're you drinking right now?
Replies: 16950
Views: 3121949

Re: What're you drinking right now?

Black Creek's Strong Ale (6%), apparently an early 1800's recipe found in a family's papers. Rich malt "brown ale" type, good hops but sharp cayenne-like taste on the tail. The beer must be spiced with chile pepper or something of that nature. Well made and interesting, Black Creek's best ...
by G.M. Gillman
Wed Dec 16, 2015 11:19 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: Random Reviews
Replies: 465
Views: 170372

Re: Random Reviews

Catching up with this a little late, thanks for your query. To be honest, Jever never really tasted right to me in Toronto, whether draft or other format, it always seems past its prime with a taste many German beers have when not super-fresh. I had it once on draft at Gingerman in NYC and it was ve...
by G.M. Gillman
Sat Sep 05, 2015 8:15 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: Random Reviews
Replies: 465
Views: 170372

Re: Random Reviews

Last year it had a buttery or brandy-like edge as I recall, this year it is cleaner, more natural beer-like. Again though I wish it was more flavoursome - all the flavours are great, but the beer would benefit IMO from an intensity of flavour. Samuel Smith even on cask in England always was on the m...
by G.M. Gillman
Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:28 pm
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: Random Reviews
Replies: 465
Views: 170372

Re: Random Reviews

Black Creek Pumpkin Ale: My first pumpkin of season. Fantastic: rich, spicy, complex, low carbonation - drinks like a cask beer. Advice: don't chill it or very little. Sam Smith Organic Pale Ale. Very fresh, better than last year's bottling IMO, but very mild-tasting, you have to tease out the flavo...
by G.M. Gillman
Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:14 am
Forum: General Beer Discussion & Random Talk
Topic: Vintage Beer Dinner Menu - 1990
Replies: 11
Views: 5731

Re: Vintage Beer Dinner Menu - 1990

Nice to see that put up, thanks! Actually the menu is from John Maxwell (of Allen's, Dora Keogh's) who used to own Orso, and John kindly consented to the menu appearing here. John was one of the founders of the Toronto Gambrinus Society, an early beer appreciation group here. I was a member. I helpe...
by G.M. Gillman
Mon Aug 03, 2015 8:21 am
Forum: Local and Imported Beer Reviews
Topic: Side Launch Mountain Lager
Replies: 4
Views: 4806

Side Launch Mountain Lager

I've had this a few times now, on draft (Volo) and in the attractive blue can at the Pilot. It is extremely good with rich malt and a gathering bitterness/dryness from high quality Noble hops. It makes its mark by being different to the other Munich-style helles beers available in Ontario. I would s...
by G.M. Gillman
Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:24 am
Forum: Beer Events & Festivals
Topic: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5
Replies: 6
Views: 3525

Re: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5

As one beer item has been (partly) revised, just posting the final menu: http://www.allens.to/dora

Thanks also to Derek for your comments.

Gary
by G.M. Gillman
Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:02 am
Forum: Beer Events & Festivals
Topic: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5
Replies: 6
Views: 3525

Re: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5

Thanks and also see here, same info with more graphical interest: www.allens.to/dora

Gary
by G.M. Gillman
Thu Jul 09, 2015 5:16 pm
Forum: Beer Events & Festivals
Topic: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5
Replies: 6
Views: 3525

Re: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5

I should add, since a couple of friends asked, I understood from the pub that the servings are 4 oz for each beer listed (there are 12 beers) except the first beer, which is a larger amount (I guess what a flute typically holds). Hors d'oeuvre are so-called two-bite size. Pub can confirm this or oth...
by G.M. Gillman
Thu Jul 09, 2015 11:38 am
Forum: Beer Events & Festivals
Topic: Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5
Replies: 6
Views: 3525

Recreation of a 1944 Beer and Food Tasting, at Dora Keogh's, August 5

Cass Enright has kindly agreed I can post this event notwithstanding that I have some involvement in it. Thank you Cass, it's a typically generous gesture from someone who has done huge service to the Ontario beer community. Dora Keogh Irish Pub, on Danforth at Broadview, with some involvement from ...