Can anybody tell me why Unibroue doesn't have a stronger presence in Ontario? Certainly, some of their beers are available, but why not all or most. What about their gifts sets? Wouldn't it be nice to give a Canadian brewery set as a present or hostess gift?
Okay, I'm babbling. Just curious (and frustrated).
Cheers, Joe.
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Unibroue in Ontario
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Josh Oakes
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2001 8:00 pm
- Contact:
Actually, most of the Unibroue beers are available in Ontario, but you just have to go to Smokeless Joe's to get them. I was there last night and they've got the St-Hubert, Sans Nom, Don de Dieu, Kamouraska, 1837 etc. all back in stock. The 10 will be there as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the LCBO laboratory.
St Hubert with mussels, capped off with a Bush Noel, that was the antidote I needed after my friends insisted on going to that tacky, overpriced piece of shite Montana's just up the road from Smokeless.
But for the broader question of Unibroue's presence here, I wish they were a little more widely available myself. But the way bars are around here, I'm not at all surprised that they have the position that they do - any bar willing to stock something bolder than Sleeman Honey Brown is usually going to focus on the English and Irish stuff first.
St Hubert with mussels, capped off with a Bush Noel, that was the antidote I needed after my friends insisted on going to that tacky, overpriced piece of shite Montana's just up the road from Smokeless.
But for the broader question of Unibroue's presence here, I wish they were a little more widely available myself. But the way bars are around here, I'm not at all surprised that they have the position that they do - any bar willing to stock something bolder than Sleeman Honey Brown is usually going to focus on the English and Irish stuff first.
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joey_capps
- Bar Fly
- Posts: 592
- Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2001 7:00 pm
- Location: Waterdown
God bless Smokeless Joe!
Though I still can't understand why these beers, so widely available in Quebec, can't be sold more readily here. Don't we live in the same country? Are Quebec's standards so lax that the LCBO has to ensure . . . whatever it is they have to ensure? Are people in Quebec (and within driving distance of Quebec) dying from the stuff?
My question, though, really isn't directed at Unibroe's presence in bars. Bars and pubs will stock what their customers will drink, and most people do not think that they're adventurous--my God, is drinking flavorful beer adventurous? Thankfully, there is a market for good beer, and there are bars--Smokeless Joe's, the Winking Judge here in Hamilton--that will meet the need.
What I resent is that I can't decide which widely available beers I want to buy, store, and drink. I have to rely on what somebody at the LCBO thinks I may want. Don't tell me 10 wouldn't sell in Ontario. If Premier can sell 15 cases, couldn't a store in Toronto? I do appreciate the prices at the LCBO (great deal on the Orval, which, by the way, is now available in Hamilton) but they do not seem overly concerned with meeting the market needs of premium beer drinkers in Ontario. Do I have to add anything about The Beer Store? It is frustrating considering that the two closest American cities to Hamilton have such great beer stores. Which country has the reputation of being more discriminating beer drinkers.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing for unfettered capitalism. In fact, I'm by in large a socialist and I support the government's right to reasonably regulate and tax markets, beer included. But I see no reason for the LCBO's beer "policy" other than power and control, and perhaps ignorance. Wouldn't a system more like Quebec's serve us better. I mean, really, an 18 year-old in Quebec can regularly purchase many good beers that I, a 33 year-old, in Ontario cannot. And, I'm not talking about microbrews with limited distributions.
Just some thoughts, Joe
Though I still can't understand why these beers, so widely available in Quebec, can't be sold more readily here. Don't we live in the same country? Are Quebec's standards so lax that the LCBO has to ensure . . . whatever it is they have to ensure? Are people in Quebec (and within driving distance of Quebec) dying from the stuff?
My question, though, really isn't directed at Unibroe's presence in bars. Bars and pubs will stock what their customers will drink, and most people do not think that they're adventurous--my God, is drinking flavorful beer adventurous? Thankfully, there is a market for good beer, and there are bars--Smokeless Joe's, the Winking Judge here in Hamilton--that will meet the need.
What I resent is that I can't decide which widely available beers I want to buy, store, and drink. I have to rely on what somebody at the LCBO thinks I may want. Don't tell me 10 wouldn't sell in Ontario. If Premier can sell 15 cases, couldn't a store in Toronto? I do appreciate the prices at the LCBO (great deal on the Orval, which, by the way, is now available in Hamilton) but they do not seem overly concerned with meeting the market needs of premium beer drinkers in Ontario. Do I have to add anything about The Beer Store? It is frustrating considering that the two closest American cities to Hamilton have such great beer stores. Which country has the reputation of being more discriminating beer drinkers.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not arguing for unfettered capitalism. In fact, I'm by in large a socialist and I support the government's right to reasonably regulate and tax markets, beer included. But I see no reason for the LCBO's beer "policy" other than power and control, and perhaps ignorance. Wouldn't a system more like Quebec's serve us better. I mean, really, an 18 year-old in Quebec can regularly purchase many good beers that I, a 33 year-old, in Ontario cannot. And, I'm not talking about microbrews with limited distributions.
Just some thoughts, Joe
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Josh Oakes
- Posts: 480
- Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2001 8:00 pm
- Contact:
I have seen a few different government-regulated beer distribution systems and would greatly prefer the kind they have in Sweden and Finland. Maybe it's because of the EU, but it's a lot easier for an importer to get gov't distribution up there, and bringing in exclusive beers does not involve prohibitive cost and expense. The powers that be respect the right of the flavour-loving minority to do as they please.
While you're on the LCBO, at least they aren't the pricks that customs and Canada Post are, stealing my beer and making it harder for me to have rare stuff sent to me. The LCBO couldn't care less but my beer never seems to get past the border any more.
While you're on the LCBO, at least they aren't the pricks that customs and Canada Post are, stealing my beer and making it harder for me to have rare stuff sent to me. The LCBO couldn't care less but my beer never seems to get past the border any more.
I gotta say, under the circumstances I think we have it pretty good here with Unibroue.
We have four of their beers widely available (Maudite, Blanche, Fin du Monde & Raftman). With the mix 12-pack that brought 8 more brands into the province, but they're scaling that down to an 8-pack. When this arrives, we will have at least 8 cycling Unibroue brands including the regulars.
We have U, and Quelque Chose can still be found in certain LCBOs. And let's not forget that we have Blanche de Chambly on tap, which no one else has outside of Quebec.
We don't have the glassware in the province, but believe me it's not Unibroue's fault. There are some strange regulations that prevent them from selling their glasses here. And 10 was never going to come because the LCBO is terribly slow in adapting to new beers; they make their release decisions months in advance.
And Unibroue is doing very well sales-wise in Beer Stores, which is a great sign. If this keeps up, we'll only see a stronger presence of Unibroue in the future.
We have four of their beers widely available (Maudite, Blanche, Fin du Monde & Raftman). With the mix 12-pack that brought 8 more brands into the province, but they're scaling that down to an 8-pack. When this arrives, we will have at least 8 cycling Unibroue brands including the regulars.
We have U, and Quelque Chose can still be found in certain LCBOs. And let's not forget that we have Blanche de Chambly on tap, which no one else has outside of Quebec.
We don't have the glassware in the province, but believe me it's not Unibroue's fault. There are some strange regulations that prevent them from selling their glasses here. And 10 was never going to come because the LCBO is terribly slow in adapting to new beers; they make their release decisions months in advance.
And Unibroue is doing very well sales-wise in Beer Stores, which is a great sign. If this keeps up, we'll only see a stronger presence of Unibroue in the future.
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Kid Presentable
- Posts: 144
- Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: Toronto
I do agree that we have it pretty good for unibroue products, I know people out west who can only get blanche and maudite. I would however like to see more unibroue just because mostly every beer they make is awsome(save U which is just pretty good). I have a bit of a soft spot for unibroue, blanche de chambly was the beer that got me on the good beer path. I was 17 and in montreal for the jazzfest. A friend and I were in the peel pub getting drunk and we ordered some blanche. I tasted it and thought - "Wow, beer can taste good?!?" Ever since then I was changed. So maybe I'm biased, but I'd love to see more unibroue in Toronto. I know it's too much to hope for unibroue 10, but at least trois pistols, or more 750mL of eau benite.
kp
kp