The Bar Towel

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 2:06 am**

I went to Denison's tonight, and they were closed. As in they failed to pay the rent so they've been evicted closed. It does not look good. I will be in touch with Michael at the earliest opportunity tomorrow for the full story. This is a dark day indeed in the Toronto brewing scene.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 8:33 am**

You're right to label this is an absolute tragedy. We have been incredibly fortunate to have had beers of such a high calibre available locally.

I sincerely hope that Mr Hancock can get operations back up and running, either in the current location or somewhere else in the downtown core.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 8:52 am**

Damn! One of the truly great brew-pubs go longer around? Michael's beers were world class and so is he. I hope this situation is temporary. We can ill afford to lose a brew-pub of this quality.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 9:35 am**

WHAT!! This is unbelievable. Funny, as I was leaving work yesterday I saw Michael Hancock just north of Yonge & Bloor - he certaintly didn't look very distraught. I know I am.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 10:12 am**

I think I need some time to myself...

kp

[ This Message was edited by: Kid Presentable on 2003-01-18 10:12 ]

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 10:22 am**

It was a very long struggle with unacceptable occupancy costs. I (with help from many others, including professionals in the legal and real estate fields) tried to reason for a year and a half with a totally unsympathetic landlord; actually, it was worse than that. When things calm down a bit, I will welcome the opportunity to explain in more detail. We simply could not continue to pour money into the operation (tapped out!), knowing that all of our efforts were going in the direction of the landlord. One thing that may amaze many....not one partner including myself had made one cent on our investment from Nov.1989 to Jan.2003. Yesterday was spent with all of my employees, many of whom have been with us since our early days. It was extremely emotional. I also regard many of our customers as extended family, and am very grateful for all the past support and kind comments. I'm sure I'll see some of you soon.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 11:08 am**

It is hard to express how bad I feel for you. Sad news.... I hope there is way out.

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 2:14 pm**

Thanks for all of the great beer.

Bailey

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 4:18 pm**

Michael, I'd love to have the opportunity to speak to you about this. I don't know if you were going to be at my place next weekend or not, but I think I speak for everyone when I express my sadness about this turn of events. If there is any way we can secure the last supplies of beer, I think a Drown Your Sorrows Night is in order!

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 4:37 pm**

This is really, really sad news. One of my favourite lunches when I'm in the area was the mussels & clams with a pint of Weizen.

Crap.

Greg

Posted: **Sat Jan 18, 2003 9:41 pm**

Josh, unfortunately the landlord has locked us out (by changing the locks) and to enter the premises would be an act of trespass, besides to remove any beer is also a bit of a problem for the AGCO. I am sorry to tell you that the brewery is fully stocked; there are probably 10,000 litres of beer there, around 3,000 of which are the weissbier. You can be sure that I will be at your place on Saturday 25th - looking forward to it. Michael H.

[ This Message was edited by: the.brewer on 2003-01-18 21:41 ]

[ This Message was edited by: the.brewer on 2003-01-19 10:58 ]

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2003 10:16 pm**

Already taken care of. That bailiff was big, but all fat. Quick shot to the jaw, kick to the gut, nailed him hard to the solar plexus, and damn if me and the lads didn't abscond with 100 litres of weizen and a few growlers of dunkel. Woohoo!

Posted: **Sun Jan 19, 2003 10:35 pm**

A black day, a black day...

Why? (in the philosophical sense)

"at vobis male sit, malae tenebrae
[domini], quae omnia bella devor'tis.
tam [bellas] mi [cervisias] abstulistis."
- Catullus, Poem 3, adapted

[ This Message was edited by: DukeOfYork on 2003-01-19 22:36 ]

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2003 1:53 am**

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear this news. The Beer culture in Toronto is now that much poorer. I thought Toronto was much diffrent than most cities in North America that there was a brewpub that brewed German style lager and English style ales. Sad sad day. See you next Saturday

Scott Royce

Posted: **Mon Jan 20, 2003 1:21 pm**

Denison's closing will leave a huge void on the Toronto and Ontario beer scene. I'll always fondly remember my days working there as Michael's assistant. I took great pride in being part of a team dedicated to providing top-notch, authentic German lagers and wheat beer. I'd like to toast all the employees and patrons I came to know through working there.
Ein Prosit!

[ This Message was edited by: Matthew O'Hara on 2003-01-20 13:37 ]

The Bar Towel

A terrible tragedy has befallen...