The Bar Towel

Andicus wrote: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!

Yeah it has, and it was very good. I look forward to replenishing my stocks

But it's not an ESB or a Premium Bitter. It's a good honest plain Pale Ale of the English variety. So, it's never going to be 'hoppy'. It'll be bitter as a plain Pale Ale should be.

And I wouldn't trust what the majority of Rateberians write about if my life depended on it. I would rather believe what the Sam Smith's website says and my palate.

Anyway, just enjoy it as it's a pretty decent beer, thought he St Peter's is better.

Sure. I guess there's no point comparing English varieties to ours and I don't have much exposure to the Brit stuff so there ya go. Matter of fact the limited exposure to real ESB here doesn't help either.

Twisted Thistle IPA for example is to me in a sense "brilliantly hoppy", but is it AS hoppy as Titan IPA, I don't think so. In fact I find it no hoppier that Black Oak Pale if I believe my taste buds - that said I like Thistle very much just for what it is.

Speaking of ESB, I was enjoying a few pints of Fullers ESB last night - great stuff.

Just looking over that wonderful release list again and I'm surprised that the whole Harviestoun portfolio isn't coming over as I'm sure the Schiehallion would go down well over here, a wonderful cask lager which doesn't taste like a lager. Is it to late to get this added to the list?

Looking forward to the Aventinus Eisbock and the new release of Okocim baltic porter...I will be putting cases of both into the cellar for the long dry spell that ensues afterward.

pootz wrote:Liikomg forward to the Aventinus Eisbock and the new release of Okocim baltic porter...I will be putting cases of both into the cellar for the long dry spell that ensues afterward.

alas, i've been told that the okocim porter is no longer part of the release. will try to find out if it's been pushed back, or cancelled altogether. i was really looking forward to it as well.

tuqueboy wrote:alas, i've been told that the okocim porter is no longer part of the release. will try to find out if it's been pushed back, or cancelled altogethe.

Really shocking news - NOT.

It's really incompetent that the LCBO can botch these releases so badly.

After all, the LC is so strict with brewers and importers about labelling and paperwork deadlines, then a few months later they screw everything up themselves. Hypocritical.

tuqueboy wrote:
alas, i've been told that the okocim porter is no longer part of the release. will try to find out if it's been pushed back, or cancelled altogether. i was really looking forward to it as well.

Disappointing but not surprising...Okocim never schedules Porter releases, they just happen when they have a production lull that allows a couple of fermenters to be tied up for 120 days maturing the porter....I suspect Okocim
probably changed the ETA on the LCBO.

Belgian wrote: Really shocking news - NOT.

It's really incompetent that the LCBO can botch these releases so badly.

After all, the LC is so strict with brewers and importers about labelling and paperwork deadlines, then a few months later they screw everything up themselves. Hypocritical.

can't always blame the lcbo. the goudenband, for example wasn't their fault at all. as pootz points out, this one might not be either. i'll try and find out.

I still think the LCBO are on the hook because they assume so much control they have to answer for. Can't have it both ways. They shoud replace the dropped brands not just say 'oh well.'

I'm warning you all now that I'll be buying the Fuller's and Scotch Irish beers from both releases in VOLUME. Don't get pissed off with me, I'm happy to trade overstock.

Jon Walker wrote:I'm warning you all now that I'll be buying the Fuller's and Scotch Irish beers from both releases in VOLUME. Don't get pissed off with me, I'm happy to trade overstock.

I did this with the Westmalle Dubbel last year. Looked on the LCBO web site and I figured the places with the most stock wouldn't miss it. I tried not to buy out any place.

Nothing in this release tempts me to buy in volume this year.

Noticed the other day that Faxe Red has hit the shelves at the LCBO. Don't recall seeing this one before

I "sampled" several of the Deuchars IPA this past weekend. Terrific beer ... good malt and a great hoppy finish. It's one of my favourites on cask when in London. Highly recommended.

The only piss off is that it's a seasonal offering, and in limited quantities. I hate it when these monopoly jerks bring in a good product for one time only. When it's gone, you're out of luck.

Bring on privatization, and do it quickly!