The Bar Towel

The King I had the festival was on tap. Were they serving from bottles at one point?

Josh is right about my comments earlier, I'm really sad there aren't better events held here in Toronto. People are pretty sick of hearing me talk about the "good ol' days" back in B.C. where things are just plain different (and better IMHO). But just for illustration's sake check out the event held in Victoria last weekend and you tell me if you wouldn't WISH for an event like this to happen here.
http://pacificcoast.net/~patkinson/gcbf02/gcbf0202.htm

A CAMRA event (usually a reputable hallmark), many brewers involved from all over the region (including the U.S.), vast number of offerings reflecting a glorious diversity, almost exclusively kegged beer many of which are cask conditioned, many related vendors and suppliers offering goods and merchandise related to brewing and/or drinking...I could go on and on.

Truth is an event like this is unlikely to ever happen here in the near future for a myriad of reasons. So yes, I am happy more beer tasting events are starting to pop up here but YES I'm frustrated by their size (either too small or too big and corporate), inferior offerings and/or safe rather than innovative products and the general timidity of both the local brewers and the buying public. The three high profile events I've been to here this year; Royal York, St.Lawrence and the BIG beer fest at Fort York have all been poor. I'd love to be thrilled with the quaint nature of last Wednesday's event but it's just kinda underwhelming. Those who've been to the Mondiale, Chicago or Victoria's annual events know what I'm talking about. Toronto's a BIG city...you deserve better.

Doubly so that Unibroue saw fit to bring the Terrible to that one and not here. *Hrmph*

I agree with the sentiments expressed here - it's continually disappointing that "beer festivals" around these parts are just a bunch of beers from the Beer Store & LCBO in one place. I enjoyed the Royal York fest very much, but it was primarily due to socialising with all the Bartowellers and other Toronto beer folks, rather than the beer selection.

However, I did find out one excellent beer scoop - starting in February, Unibroue will be taking private, full-case orders of Terrible, Fringante, 11 and Quelque Chose for consumers. More details later.

Actually, Cass, they were taking orders at the fest for earlier delivery. The cutoff was yesterday and the next order is in February. So some people will be getting this stuff in much sooner than Feb! If any of these happen to be licensed establishments, I hope they post here and let the rest of us know.

The order which was cutoff yesterday was primarily for licensees. The February order is when Unibroue is opening it up for individuals.

So yes, some bars (Joe's comes to mind) will be getting the beers soon (next month, perhaps).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Cass on 2002-11-30 13:25 ]</font>

I'm willing to split a case of any of the Unibrew products with any Bartowellers who might be interested...I'll take one bottle of each so let's get a thread going that can keep us occupied for the next couple of months....

On 2002-11-30 19:39, rabbit wrote:
I'm willing to split a case of any of the Unibrew products with any Bartowellers who might be interested...I'll take one bottle of each so let's get a thread going that can keep us occupied for the next couple of months....

I'll definately be looking to pick up some Terrible and 11, although I'll be wanting more than one bottle of each. Especially the Terrible.

Greg

Beer festivals are a great way to meet like minded people in a social and convivial atmosphere. They are also a great way to launch new products. I'm sure that when a brewery attends such an event, they gladly bring any new products or "one offs" they would like to showcase. Fact is, new beers are not born everyday. When the Ottawa pilot brewery is born, I will have the opportunity to brew small amounts of different beers. Until then, I'm afraid that many of you will be burdened with my regular line of ales when you visit a show that I am participating in. I don't foresee a new product launch in the near future, but I have been tinkering with a recipe, one that might make the Winking Judge crew smile even more broadly...you never know, I get bored too!

Judging by how well the esprit case sharing worked out may I suggest limiting sharing to a minimum of 1/4 case? Otherwise the logistics are a nightmare as we have already seen...

I sense a touch of sarcasm coming from rabbit with regards to the case order, and how it's going with esprit.

I'm going to work on a better system to organize case orders - perhaps an automated form where people can take a portion of a case, and can offer to pickup/take delivery (which seemed to be a big issue with the esprit orders).

Cass, thats sounds like a great idea. An automated form makes good sense.

Its interesting that you are thinking about that. Bieropholie, the Quebec Bartowel, had the same problems with private orders, and they made an internet "ordering" form for the interested parties.

Check it out at http://bieropholie.com/bab/index.html

and click on "Importations privées de bière".

That might give you some ideas....

Cheers

Luc

The one thing you guys need to know is that when bieropholie orders from us, I deal with one guy who gives me a cheque and either picks up the entire order or has it transferred to a LCBO store in eastern Ontario...clean, simple and efficient! The problem we will continue to have trying to do this is with Bartowelleers is co-ordinating such a transaction because, to be honest, it's just not worth our while to putz around for a few cases and then worry about how and when to distribute it. I would suggest that if you're not interested in a full case for yourself or at least arranging for, paying and picking up that case, then we're not interested in partial case orders or trying to work on any sort of system. It's already been demonstrated that it won't work so let's not waste any more words on the subject. The fact is, a number of Bartowellers do this already and it's the only economically feasible way for us to do business....short of charging Premier Gourmet type prices.

On 2002-12-07 16:32, esprit wrote:
or has it transferred to a LCBO store in eastern Ontario...

Peter,

Am I to understand that I could order a couple cases from you and pick it up at my local LCBO? I was under the impression that I had to come and pick it up in Toronto.

How long does it take to get it to an LCBO? Presumably, if you have a scheduled delivery at any of the LCBO's in St. Catharines, I can have it sent to that location with the next delivery?

Andrew