The Bar Towel

While they're still not showing up at http://www.lcbogifts.com, the main LCBO site has been updated for their holiday season offerings, and the "Holiday Stars" section at http://www.lcbo.com/gift_services/holiday_stars/ has various beer gift packs listed. The navigation is a little clumsy (which is typical of their sites), and there are some things missing, but here's what I've been able to find listed with their LCBO descriptions and some additional info:

Eisbock Gift Pack
Niagara’s Eisbock is Canada’s only Eisbock. It’s taste profile varies slightly from each year, but generally it has a modest sweetness, firm body and gentle character and is best enjoyed as a digestif after a meal with dark chocolate and nuts.
[includes a bottle + a glass in a wooden box]
912261 750 mL $19.95

Beers with Character
Four traditional ales, brewed in the heart of the Scottish borders, made from the finest malt and hops with soft water from the surrounding hills.
[It's a selection of Broughton Ales - a bottle each of Greenmantle, Merlin`s Ale,
Scottish Oatmeal Stout and Old Jock - more info at http://www.broughtonales.co.uk/]
984286 4 X 500 mL $15.95

British Invasion Pack
For rich British tradition and wonderful flavour, these two English ales are a must. Bass Pale Ale is a classic pale ale first brewed in 1777 at the famous Burton-on-Trent brewery. Boddington’s history dates back to 1778 in Manchester and is creamy ale with a wonderful malt and hop character.
[A bottle of Bass, a can of Boddington's, and a glass for each - whoopie!]
634618 354 mL + 440 mL $15.95

Creemore Gift Pack
From one of Ontario’s most highly regarded breweries comes this special gift set that includes two bottles of Creemore Springs Premium Lager and two bottles of the seasonally produced UrBock, as well as two branded pint glasses.
903286 4 X 500 mL $15.95

Petrus Gift Pack
The name sounds like a famous Bordeaux wine, but is intended simply to signify St. Peter. The gift set includes the brewery’s Triple – a blond, spicy, fruity beer, Speciale – an amber, assertive ale and Bruin – a reddish-brown toffee-like beer.
902106 6 X 250 mL $14.95

Exclusive Belgian Ales
Six distinctive Belgian ales, including Augustijn, Bornem Dubbel, Bornem Tripel, Bruegal, Gulden Draak and Piraat. Ideal for any beer connoisseur.
562397 6 X 330 mL $13.95

Historic Ales From Scotland
A taste of history! This gift pack features four traditional ales from Scotland including Grozet, Alba, Ebulum and Fraoch Heather Ale.
893719 4 X 330 mL $12.95

Corona Extra Gift Pack
Smooth-tasting Corona Extra is popular the world over. The gift pack includes one 710 mL bottle, two branded glasses and a Corona bottle opener.
[I'm sure we're all SO happy to see this one... ]
579300 710 mL $9.95


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: GregClow on 2002-11-08 16:56 ]</font>

Included in the "some things missing" is the Maredsous gift pack (Maredsous 6º, 8º, and 10º with glass) and the Radeberger gift pack (three cans with 20 cL glass stein).

I have to say I'm really impressed with the Radeberger. Pilsener is a style I usually avoid like the plague - I think because I've been traumatized by so many bad examples - but I found the Radeberger to be very good.

As well there is the Chimay Giftpack with a small bottle of each of the red, white and blue, with the Chalice Glass, and let us not forget the Orval with their great Glass and two bottles of their ambrosia! There is a Strongbow giftpack too.

I think there is also a Rickard's Red giftpack, if you can believe it!

strongbow?!?! holy shit! try to stand in my way! ha

kp

As a point of update, Davisville has most of the gift packs ( I bought Radeberger - Cass, this is the same glass as last year's Mondial - and Christoffel) but none of the seasonal releases. Pilsner fans will note the release of Okocim Jasne Pelne (the green label replacement for Zagtoba) as well.

Having a hard time finding your gift packs in Hamilton, Peter. Been to three stores and they have their Christmas stuff out but no Orval, Chimay, Maredsous, or Duvel. I asked and they said this was it.

The Dundurn store doesn't seem to have all of their Christmas stuff out. I did see a few of the Duvel packs there.

This is distressing me!!!!

The Queen's Quay store has a Wellington County gift pack - which includes single bottles of the Imperial Stout & Iron Duke as well as a becher-style glass - for I believe $13.95.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Mississauga Matt on 2002-11-15 19:18 ]</font>

Joe, as we speak there is still plenty of inventory of the gift boxes in the warehouse and when I questioned it this week I was told that orders are still being shipped so you may see them in the not too distant future.

All the gift packs are now available at the Dundurn store. Two of the stores I went to told me they weren't stocking those particular set when I inquired. I was surprised as they are two of the better stores. They didn't even bother to offer to bring them in for me.

Cheers, Joe.

PS I'm drinking one of the Orvals as I write this. YUMMY! Though, I had to acquire yet another glass!

Joe, you can buy Orval from us without the glass.....

Popped by the LCBO in the Manulife Centre today, and while there was no sign of the Winter Warmers release (which I found odd since they carried the full Fall release), there was a large area being set up with gift packs.

Unfortunately, they were still in the process of setting it up for it's official opening tomorrow, but I convinced the woman behind the rope to pass me an Orval and a Maredsous. She didn't seem too happy about it, so I didn't press for more, but from what I could see they had a pretty good selection of the beer packs.

Greg

The gift packs and all the winter releases were
at the LCBO on Rideau in Ottawa....the Creemore deal was pretty good...

The Bayview Village store has several gift packs in stock:

Broughton Ales from Scotland
Historic Ales From Scotland
Radeberger
Chimay
Orval
Duvel
Creemore
Wellington County
Corsendonk Pater decorative canister

They also have these 2L decorative jugs of:

Christoffel Blonde
Berliner Burgerbrau Pils

Take your time looking for these packs in this store as they are scattered all over the Beer section.

I picked up the Belgian Ales pack the other day and have been quite disappoint in the first 3. The bornem dubbel and tripel were the first beers from Belgian that I did not like, the Gulden Draag was ok. Hope the last 3 are better. What does everyone else think, or did I just get a bad pack.