What's new? What's going to be released? Anything from local breweries or beer stores your looking forward to? Advent calenders (only wish we got Philips/Central City mix 24s in Ontario)are picking up steam being more popular each year but they come with big price tag's... Local 5 Paddles has Madness of Ophelia, and Lititle Beasts has Run Santa Run, both barley wines. Chronicle Brewing has a barrel aged stout coming out. I am going to dust off some imperial stouts (ghosts from CANBIFs past )from the cellar as well as picking up 'the usual' Belgian mix six packs from the LCBO. Please sound off! Looking forward to hearing about anything new and local to you!
Not from a CN craft perspective, but Stille Nacht is supposed to be released to the LCBO's sometime soon. St Bernudus + Draak mix pack is really all I have (minus all the stouts). I did also get the Muskoka Chocolate Cranberry stout as it's been a while since I've had it. I had the Phillips/CC advent calendar when I was in SK and it was awesome. These local advent calendars which are just tissue wrapped bottles cannot compete. They had special Xmas art work, in the 24, there was a circular pop out so you only got 1 beer at a time and couldn't see the others. Very well done.
I'm going to tuck into some real oldies... 15-20 year old Unibroue and Duvel bottles. And crack some ghost bottles... breweries no longer with us, like Pretty Things. Not being able to travel to the U.S. and hit up breweries has forced me to go through the cellar, and it's been a real pleasure enjoying beers that continue to develop or aren't around any more. Not planning to buy much over the holidays. We can't get any of the DDC barrel aged stuff here in Ontario. And there's almost no BA barleywine or scotch ale available. I don't understand why not, given the demand, the price premium/higher profit margin, and the fact that they'd have been in barrel long before covid hit. So, cellar diving is pretty well the agenda. Cheers!
My kids have been leaving out a Muskoka WInter Beard for Santa for years so that one for sure. Its not as unique as it once was, but its more about the tradition that the quality at this point. Because the world is running out of name ideas, there are two locals to me (Saulter Street and Muddy York) who put out Krampus beer that ive had the last few years so will likely grab again. MY is a Dark Cherry Sour and the Saulter is an Imp Stout with christmas type spices. Neither are anything spectacular, but decent enough.
Only barelywine I know in the LCBO's is Garrison's Ol' Fog Burner. They are from Halifax NS and is quite good. I've seen stock in copper st LCBO Those Unibroue & Duvel sound amazing.
Whitby: 5 paddles - Madness of Ophelia barrel aged barley wine. Little Beasts - they have 3 different barrel aged brew right now and have Run Santa Run barley wine coming out. Brick Street Brewing - BA stout and Scotch Ale, regular Scotch Ale available. Peterborough - Bobcaygen Brewing will have free deliveries Tuesday and Friday, they have a BA stout/wheat wine/imperial saisons. Cheers.
I’m going the cellar route. I’ve accumulated a ridiculous number of pastry stouts this year that I haven’t cracked open yet. I keep waiting to have a chance to share.... I like it when the additions fade a little, but should get to them soon. My hobby during COVID has been accumulating Barleywine. I plan to enjoy a few over the holidays. I cracked into a Central Waters Brandy barrel Barleywine last night and it was excellent. I actually popped into an LCBO yesterday for the first time all year other than a couple times to pick up special orders. I browsed but nothing jumped out at me. As an aside, I checked the dates a on few IPAs I’d never heard of and not a one of them was canned after October 18th! Checking the cases behind or underneath often revealed even older beer. I can’t imagine ever shopping there for beer anymore when two months old cans is the best I can do.
I was there today and unfortunately Run Santa Run, it was a BA barley wine thus year the brewer wasn't happy with it so no go. Good news they will be releasin a barrel aged spiced Christmas ale on the 24th. They also have three different BA brews in the fridge including Belgian imperial stout Nihilist. Chronicle in Bowmanville is having a special BA ale for Christmas coming out next week.
Just did a big order from Bobcaygen Brewing. They have some destroyers available including a BA stout, dopplebock, imperial saison and a wheat wine to name a few. Christmas Eve/Day will be a tasty ones!
Christmas usually my brother and I will share a Muskoka Winter Beard and one more kitchen sink stout on top of it (Usually Wishing Well from Fairweather). That said, I haven't really see or been geared up for anything special this year. Not even sure it's going to happen, what with COVID. Christmas will likely be brief and not as heavy a drinking affair. New Years, it's Duvel for me, it's really the perfect beer alternative to Champaign. Side note: I guess Wellington has a Barleywine out if you are on the hunt for one.
In a normal year my Christmas go to beer is Brown Shugga. Sadly, that's not an option. I also like big Belgian beers around this time of year, as well as old ales. From a Canadian perspective I have Grimross' quadruple, and that may be one of the better examples in Canada. I haven't been able to find an old ale, do if anyone knows of one, let me know. I've been mixing things up, ordering from as many breweries as I can. Here in Ottawa, DC released their annual Between Two Evils BBA stout. This year's version is on point, and I need to get a few more cans. I'm a believer in the "lighter in summer, darker for winter" school of thinking. Unfortunately I drank through my cellar a year or two back when I moved to a smaller place. So all my dark needs will have to be met by Canadian craft brewers and *gasp* the LCBO. If anyone has recommendations for dark and strong beers from a brewery that ships to Ottawa, just let me know.
Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of Covered Bridge. I don't mind the mild, but the rest of their menu is underwhelming. I'm moving back east soon, and I have been told there are a few breweries making English styles down that way, Foghorn was mentioned. Picaroons makes English styles too...but their beer is just butter in a bottle to my palate.
Went to Foghorn and they are pumping out some good stuff. Long Bay and Hammond River are all close by one another. Loved NB!
Foghorn is owned by an ex Picaroons head brewer. He left Picaroons because he was tired of arguing with the owner over methods and ingredients. Picaroons has gone downhill since he left. Every time I head home to New Brunswick I am surprised by the number of quality breweries that are available. NB has a population smaller than Ottawa and there are at least half a dozen quality breweries. I like the stuff from Long Bay and Hammond River, but I also like Grimross (perhaps the cleanest brewery I have set foot in), Greystone, Flying Boats, Brasseur de la Côte, and of course Trailway who I think are the top in the province and likely one of the top in the Maritimes. Smaller brewers are beginning to flourish, and impress. The town where I lived as a kid has three breweries...and it only has a population of 20k. The one thing I don't worry about when thinking about my move back to NB is the ability to get good beer. And with so many places in the province there are always a variety of styles.
I lived in West Saint John and the Picaroons General Store was stellar. Usually 12 rotating taps and 10$ growler fills tax included(Pump House and and they always had a solid line including collaboration's. Some destroyers of IPAs. Filled 6 for myself and 2 for my Dad on the way home including a barrel aged barrelated wines from a Wild Turkey BB saved for Christmas. Plus there wood fired pizza place right next door that is awesome. Get the corse rock salt on the side when getting a pie! I also made it there Fredericton location which had 24 taps. Grimross fantastic brewery, huge selection. Trailway is a love of mine and was glad to pass through when they had double dry hopped Hu Jon. I also made it to Maybee which had 3 barrel aged 750s which I am going to open up the tequila saison.
In a few months I will be back home in NB (after 25 years in Ottawa) and just minutes from Trailway and Granite. Even better, walking distance to Grimross. My sister lives within falling distance of the Roundhouse (Picaroons) which as you said, has tons of taps and great food...and maybe the best patio in the city. I think it's less than 500 metres from her house. I like Maybee, they are also close by. I usually get some Elevensies for my adventures at the hunting (we never hunt) camp. My parents live within 5 minutes of Holy Whale's Riverview tap room. I can't figure it out, it seems me and my family like to live near breweries. I like Ottawa, but NB is still home. I just get the bonus of some good beer within minutes. I'll also be closer to Portland ME, which is the best live music town on the American east coast. Oh, it also has a few decent brewers... Allagash, Bissell Brothers, and some crappy place called Maine Brewing Company.
