Fellow Bartowlers,
Here's my story... I live in Mississauga, and I drive to Toronto (often to the Yonge/Davisville LCBO) to find good beer. I've asked my local LCBO in Streetsville to bring in the Niagara Apple Ale when it come back into season on May 15th, and the manager says he will gladly grant my wish. When it comes to getting Stouts such as Rogue Chocolate & Wild Irish , Smutty Nose Robust Porter, St.Ambroise Oatmeal, Wellington Imperial, Samuel Smith (which as far as I know, is no longer carried by the LCBO), etc., I'm not too sure where to find all these on a consistant basis. Is there an LCBO in Toronto that I can count on to be well stocked with an exceptional variety of Micro's and Stouts? Queens Quay seems to mentioned quite often in the forums... should I start there or just hound my local LCBO manager again?
I guess I'm just looking for suggestions on the best LCBO's around town.
I look forward to finding some help here, as this seems to be the best source for local "Beer Snobery".
Cheers, fellow Bartowelers!
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The Beer Hunter
Hi, Scott. Welcome to the site!
The LCBOs in Toronto with the best selection would probably be the Queen's Quay location (the one at Cooper Street, not the small one in the big Loblaw's complex at Jarvis), and the recently reopened flagship store at Yonge & Summerhill. The LCBO claims that the Summerhill location will carry every item that is available through their system.
One thing to remember is that some of the beers you mentioned like the Rogue stuff and the Smuttynose Porter are not part of the general LCBO listing, they only come in as part of special seasonal promotions. So they're only available in limited quantities for a limited time, even at the best stocked stores.
Anyway, good luck with your hunting, and keep an eye on this forum for announcements of new LCBO releases.
Greg
The LCBOs in Toronto with the best selection would probably be the Queen's Quay location (the one at Cooper Street, not the small one in the big Loblaw's complex at Jarvis), and the recently reopened flagship store at Yonge & Summerhill. The LCBO claims that the Summerhill location will carry every item that is available through their system.
One thing to remember is that some of the beers you mentioned like the Rogue stuff and the Smuttynose Porter are not part of the general LCBO listing, they only come in as part of special seasonal promotions. So they're only available in limited quantities for a limited time, even at the best stocked stores.
Anyway, good luck with your hunting, and keep an eye on this forum for announcements of new LCBO releases.
Greg
Hi Scott, welcome to the site!
If you're driving into the city via the 401, stop at the Crossroads Mall LCBO at Weston Rd. (the eastbound exit takes you right into the mall). It has one of the better selections in the city.
Bayview Village at Bayview & 401 is also a good one, but when I went a couple of weeks ago their selection was pretty poor (due to being in-between releases right now).
If you're driving into the city via the 401, stop at the Crossroads Mall LCBO at Weston Rd. (the eastbound exit takes you right into the mall). It has one of the better selections in the city.
Bayview Village at Bayview & 401 is also a good one, but when I went a couple of weeks ago their selection was pretty poor (due to being in-between releases right now).
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esprit
- Seasoned Drinker
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Because of distribution screw ups there is still a lot of Wild Irish Rogue in the system including in the warehouse. Any store in the province can order it right now (product #610097) and Queen's Quay just received 10 cases a few days ago....stock up while you can. In it's infinite wisdom, the LCBO has decided not to re-purchase Smuttynose Robust Porter for next year although they will buy Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout (but not Imperial Stout or Taddy Porter).
Okay, cool, so I guess I'm going to hit the Queens Quay store this weekend! Some how I knew you would be the first to reply, Greg... Thanks!
Thanks Cass and Esprit too, I'm glad to hear your suggestions.
I've been hitting the Crossroads LCBO a fair bit too, but I can't find a decent amount of Stouts there. The Davisville store has a good supply of Amsterdam Framboise, so I usually go there anyways, just to stock up on that stuff (which by the way, is so much better than the KLB!).
What's the deal with Stouts? They're getting rid of a couple, bringing back one they already had (samuel smith, which I'm glad they will be getting back)... they seem to be all over the map!
I was at the Trafagar Brewing Co. last weekend, and asked them if they had any interest in brewing a stout, and they said that based on the failures of other micro's attempts at brewing stouts, they wouldn't even consider it! How can the LCBO walk away from Wellington's (Ontario's only stout ~correct me if I'm wrong~) So that basically all they're supplying is a couple Jamaican ones, a reaaaaaally good Quebec one, and an English one? (oh, yeah, and Guinness) What ever happend to supporting the locals?
So, there's my little rant of the day:)
Thanks Cass and Esprit too, I'm glad to hear your suggestions.
I've been hitting the Crossroads LCBO a fair bit too, but I can't find a decent amount of Stouts there. The Davisville store has a good supply of Amsterdam Framboise, so I usually go there anyways, just to stock up on that stuff (which by the way, is so much better than the KLB!).
What's the deal with Stouts? They're getting rid of a couple, bringing back one they already had (samuel smith, which I'm glad they will be getting back)... they seem to be all over the map!
I was at the Trafagar Brewing Co. last weekend, and asked them if they had any interest in brewing a stout, and they said that based on the failures of other micro's attempts at brewing stouts, they wouldn't even consider it! How can the LCBO walk away from Wellington's (Ontario's only stout ~correct me if I'm wrong~) So that basically all they're supplying is a couple Jamaican ones, a reaaaaaally good Quebec one, and an English one? (oh, yeah, and Guinness) What ever happend to supporting the locals?
So, there's my little rant of the day:)
Scott, I just made the connection and realized that you're Scott Paterson. Glad to see you took my advice and joined the site.On 2003-04-02 19:49, scott097 wrote:
Okay, cool, so I guess I'm going to hit the Queens Quay store this weekend! Some how I knew you would be the first to reply, Greg... Thanks!
And yes, I still owe you an email. Soon!
Greg
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Smuttynosed hobgoblin
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Yeah Greg, I though you just might not have gotten that email, but no problem. Thanks for letting me know abou this Forum:)
Esprit; good call with Guinness = "the Coors Light of the Stout world" That stuff is so bland, my last can of it has been sitting in the beer fridge for the past 6 months. I look at it every time I open the door, but my hand always goes for one of the other twenty or so other brands first. Hopefully the LCBO will get their act together and get some more stouts on their shelves... although, now that summer is coming, I'm probably going to feel like something a little lighter, more refreshing. Room temperature black beers don't really do it for me on a 30 degree day in the middle of summer. Give me an ice cold Niagara Apple and I'll be a happy camper:)
Cheers, Scott
Esprit; good call with Guinness = "the Coors Light of the Stout world" That stuff is so bland, my last can of it has been sitting in the beer fridge for the past 6 months. I look at it every time I open the door, but my hand always goes for one of the other twenty or so other brands first. Hopefully the LCBO will get their act together and get some more stouts on their shelves... although, now that summer is coming, I'm probably going to feel like something a little lighter, more refreshing. Room temperature black beers don't really do it for me on a 30 degree day in the middle of summer. Give me an ice cold Niagara Apple and I'll be a happy camper:)
Cheers, Scott