So back on this topic again for me... Just seen a facebook post for MUSKOKA SPRING ODDITY. Sounds like great stuff, even mention it was made in smaller batches and to make sure you grab some up quick. To bad where I live in SW Ont. I need to drive a min. 3hr to get a bottle. What a fantastic distribution system going on here. Ontario does makes some great beers, they just never find their way down here. There are a few, but the pickings are slim. Honestly I can say that for some time now 90% of all my beer buys are in the USA as I live in a boarder town. At this point I have developed brand loyalty to Michigan and other US breweries that IMO produce products far superior to what is in Ontario anyways. Just annoyed I cant try this Muskoka beer without a trade or travel.
Agree with you that when you live somewhat close to a border, you get tempted to cross. Me for example, no good ipas here so i drive down to VT and get the best one (heady topper) Ontario distribution sucks though. Theres an lcbo 45 minutrs from me and they never have anything good. I have to drive 2.5hours to hit a good one so thats why VT is a good option
I'm pretty confident you can request your local LCBO to get some if you were to talk to management (ie. ask for a transfer between stores to allow your store to get it). I think...
I would take easy access to Michigan breweries over pretty much anything in Ontario in a heartbeat. I drool just thinking about Founders. While I do like Muskoka's products, it's more a case of them being the best of mid-range beers than anything particularly superior.
Yeah, I hear you. Windsor seems to get passed over for a lot of good ones. Although we do seem to get some things that don't show up in a lot of other ON cities. Still no Liberty Ale...the closest place to get Anchor Steam is Lasalle, btw (if you ever have a craving for that classic). It is true that you can talk to management and get them to order stuff. They want to order substantial amounts, which I hate saying "okay, order a case, and I'll buy part of it" but the fact is, if I want to get some of this Spring Oddity, at 10$ a bottle, I'm not going to buy 12 bottles of it. I was able to get the LCBO that gets decent beer here to order Double HopHead by Tree when it was making the rounds. They ordered 12, but I told them I'd buy a few, (I think I bought 4 or 5 in total) and to put the rest out on the shelves and that they would sell. I think the staff is slowly coming around to getting this concept... I, too, enjoy MI available beer more than most of what I can get at the LCBO. Also, the LCBOs here don't often store beer ideally. I've been going to The BS to get Mad Tom IPA, not only because it's cheaper if you buy 12 or 24, but they store it in a walk in cooler.
I agree with basically everything you're saying, I just can't exactly go into michigan to get beer at the moment. I didn't know you managed to find mad tom at the beer store, was it the one on huron church?
