The Bar Towel

Missing from Cass' list of beers in this promo is our Ayinger Altbairisch Dunkel (500ml) from the famed Ayinger brewery in Bavaria...I should add that this is the last Ayinger beer we will see in Ontario for some time to come as they have made the decision to withdraw from this market because of lack of continuity of business with the LCBO and the fact that their annual volume has in fact declined since the days when VINTAGES was buying beer. I hate to lose them but I understand their reasoning and it's something we're starting to hear from a number of our breweries. The fact is we're at the point where we sell more of some of our products in B.C. and Alberta than we do in Ontario since we do have some continuity in those provinces. The LCBO's one shot seasonal promos are great for the LCBO but no brewery wants to sell 300 or 400 cases once every 2 or 3 years....it's just not worth the aggravation. I suspect that the selection available to the LCBO will start declining as we have already lost Lindemans of Belgium and now Ayinger of Germany and I know that a number of other UK breweries who have at one time sold to Ontario no longer are willing to do so...a shame!

The ridiculous buying polices of the LCBO are going to drive more and more beer lovers to Premier in Buffalo. It's so sad not to see Youngs Stouts, Sam Smith Nut Brown etc sold here any more. Vintages seemed to do a better job selling intresting beer especially English bottle conditioned beers such as Freeminer Trafalgar IPA

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Publican on 2003-05-18 12:04 ]</font>

There is some news on the Samuel Smith front, the LCBO has purchased their Selection Box for the Holiday Gift program. It's a box containing one 550ml bottle each of Nut Brown, Pale Ale and Oatmeal Stout plus a pint glass with logo and some coasters....will sell for about $15. Also, Oatmeal Stout will also be part of the January 2004 Stouts and Porters release.

Thanks Peter for all your hard work convincing the LCBO to purchase these fine Sam Smith's ales. I hope that this gift pack will sell verry well so the powers that be might consider bringing these beers back on a more consistent basis.

I'm sure I'll do my part and pick up a few of those gift packs. I've only ever tried the Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout, and the only bottle I found of it last year, I really liked.

Scott