The Bar Towel

lagerale wrote:Not sure if it's part of any special promotion, but I saw St. Peter's Best Bitter on LCBO shelves. Never noticed it before, but will try it soon.

Nice catch! Any time I see a St. Peter's bottle on the regular shelves, I assume it's the English Ale, so I don't look at it unless I'm specifically going to buy some.

Cass wrote:Some nice stuff in there. Can't wait for GL's Pumpkin Ale, I've longed for a one of these in Ontario. It's a style I always look forward to picking up if I'm in Buffalo in the fall.

Indeed! Looks like they stole my idea here:

http://www.bartowel.com/board/viewtopic ... 30&p=28786

(Kidding! Just Kidding! )

Has the LCBO carried Twisted Thistle IPA before?

I found one in my cellar, hidden amongst empties (love it when that happens!), but I can't remember if I got it here or at BOTW.

BTW, nice job on the lists, Greg. The ratebeer links must be tedious, but are appreciated!

Belgian wrote:Scotch Irish's fine product should be an example urging other Ontario brewers to step up to that American level of expertise if they can. Would we support more USA-style micros? OF COURSE WE WOULD!!!

Shouldn't we be supporting and encouraging Ontario brewers instead of them having this constant comparison with the US brewers? It seems that this is happening more and more and the Ontario Brewers are constantly getting slagged off. Maybe it's a case of the grass is always greener.........but some of the new ales that have come out the past few months would put a lot of UK/US ales to shame.

Andicus wrote:Has the LCBO carried Twisted Thistle IPA before?

Yes, last fall.

Andicus wrote: BTW, nice job on the lists, Greg. The ratebeer links must be tedious, but are appreciated!

Seconded!

sstackho wrote:

Andicus wrote: BTW, nice job on the lists, Greg. The ratebeer links must be tedious, but are appreciated!

Seconded!

No problem, guys. Glad to be of service.

I loved Old Engine Oil the couple of times I picked some up in the US. Here's hoping it's one of the ones that makes it through the LCBO grind.

Also, this may have been asked many times, and if so I apologize, but what's the reasoning behind the LCBO never importing any American microbrews (and yet importing some relatively obscure stuff from the UK and Europe)? Are there specific import restrictions from the US that cause this, or is it just a weird marketing quirk (like the US isn't 'international' enough to sell, or the Canadian perception of American beers being weak and tasteless)?

Torontoblue wrote:
Shouldn't we be supporting and encouraging Ontario brewers instead of them having this constant comparison with the US brewers?

Uhhh... how about both? Why should Ontario be hermetically sealed to avoid all reasonable comparison to the flourishing 'world' of beers right next door? The endless variation of style, the extremes of character that we drive all the way to Buffalo just to try??

Anyway... The better Ontario brewers DO stand up to a lot of 'USA' comparisons - they can be really good, and the discriminating drinker knows this & BUYS Ontario beer in these cases - duh! We're the good guys here, gimme a break.

Let the discussion freely continue, as we support the growth of our regional brewers.

crwills wrote:Also, this may have been asked many times, and if so I apologize, but what's the reasoning behind the LCBO never importing any American microbrews (and yet importing some relatively obscure stuff from the UK and Europe)? Are there specific import restrictions from the US that cause this, or is it just a weird marketing quirk (like the US isn't 'international' enough to sell, or the Canadian perception of American beers being weak and tasteless)?

I think it's the ridiculous hoops the LCBO make Brewers go through to have their beers imported here. For a lot of the Brewers it's just not worth their time, effort & money doing it and they aren't guaranteed repeat business, so they stick to less rigorous countries. That's why you can get virtually the complete range of Rogue beers in supermarkets in the UK, along with various beers from Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Sam Adams, Brooklyn, just to name a few. They actually have to fly over Canada to get to the UK; just doesn't seem right!!

Let the discussion freely continue, as we support the growth of our regional brewers.

As a good Kingstonian, I'll support the few brewers of eastern Ontario but my "regional brewers" include those of central NY, too. Why wouldn't they? We watch Syracuse TV, shop in Watertown and root for the Orange. Why wouldn't my local include them when they are closer? It's all fine and good to root for the nice guys but until range of styles, selection, quality and price get in line, I am going to spend my resources heading south skipping paying tithe to the LCBO.

Both Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale and St. Peter's Best Bitter are hitting store shelves as we speak. These were originally part of the Spring promo but arrived late and are just getting into the system. Store distribution will be limited but any store can order some for you if you ask.

I can vouch that -

Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Pale Ale

- while a tad on the expensive side, is well worth grabbing a bunch. It is a Premium Bitter / ESB with lots of flavour, and places like Smokeless are selling it for around 12 bucks if you can believe it.

Do not expect a brilliantly hoppy "Pale Ale."

Belgian wrote:Do not expect a brilliantly hoppy "Pale Ale."

Do you mean that this beer isn't 'hoppy' on the nose or in flavour on the palate? As it's not meant to be 'hoppy' on the nose, that isn't the style of this beer. It is bitter, oops sorry hoppy, in the finish though. Why do people have to assume that every "Pale Ale" has to be "brilliantly hoppy"? God, the Yanks have a lot to answer for when it comes to this style of bitter!!

TorontoBlue, are you reading my posts through polarized sunglasses because you seem to completely miss half what I say.

I had just finished saying it was actually an ESB and not formally a Pale Ale as indicated on the label - have a gander over on ratebeer - nor does it evoke one for me hence I say that people should expect more of an ESB thing ya dig.