Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2002 1:25 pm
In 1999 I did the beer pilgrimage to the Premier Gourmet in Buffalo. Two of the beers I bought were subsequently released by the LCBO. And yet in comparison it was like night and day.
First off, Cooper’s Sparkling Ale. The Premier Gourmet version was everything Michael Jackson described it as: fruity and delicious. The LCBO version, with a plastic wrapper around the neck that the Buffalo version lacked, was bland and not at all the same beer.
Similarly, Gale’s Prize Old Ale was completely different. The Premier Gourmet version, which was vintage dated, was sherry-like and as I expected it. The LCBO version came with no vintage specified, was vinegary and generally unpalatable. The Queen’s Quay store had box loads of this stuff; it obviously wasn’t moving, and I’m sure they shipped it back. I had several conversations with other customers and employees who expressed a dislike for that particular bottling.
Any idea what gives?
First off, Cooper’s Sparkling Ale. The Premier Gourmet version was everything Michael Jackson described it as: fruity and delicious. The LCBO version, with a plastic wrapper around the neck that the Buffalo version lacked, was bland and not at all the same beer.
Similarly, Gale’s Prize Old Ale was completely different. The Premier Gourmet version, which was vintage dated, was sherry-like and as I expected it. The LCBO version came with no vintage specified, was vinegary and generally unpalatable. The Queen’s Quay store had box loads of this stuff; it obviously wasn’t moving, and I’m sure they shipped it back. I had several conversations with other customers and employees who expressed a dislike for that particular bottling.
Any idea what gives?
, but its really really awful. 3 times I tried it, three times it was like drinking a bottle of balsamic.