Which world-class beers can be found easily in Winnipeg?

Discussion in 'Canada' started by Averoigne, Mar 8, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Averoigne

    Averoigne Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Canada (MB)

    I need—OK want :wink:—to drink beer tonight and would like to try new beers ('new' as in beers I've never had before—not 'new' as in beers that have just hit the market) that can be found easily in Winnipeg Liquor Marts. I'm not really looking for anything specific: as long as it's beer and you say it's good, I'll read reviews here and try to determine whether or not it'd like it.

    Some of my go-to beers are: Duvel, La Fin Du Monde, Trois Pistoles and, when broke, Holsten Festbock (which actually is no longer the amazing bang for your buck it used to be. In fact when I last saw it at the Liquor Mart it was only 50 cents cheaper than a bottle of the world-class beer Duvel).

    Thanks.
     
    #1 Averoigne, Mar 8, 2016
  2. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Rochefort 10! And it's super cheap (relative to BC at least). Can't remember if they have St Bernardus Abt 12 or not, but that too if so.
     
    #2 JonnyBeers, Mar 8, 2016
  3. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Having never been to Manitoba, I am probably the last guy that should be making suggestions, but I've been told Half Pints Le Temps Noir has been brewed again and was available recently. When I had a cellared one about 6 months ago I thought it was pretty close to world class for its style.
     
    #3 Coronaeus, Mar 8, 2016
    Corson likes this.
  4. Bcarlos

    Bcarlos Initiate (0) Jan 6, 2016 Canada (ON)

    I'm in Ontario, but the rule still applies. If you're into Belgians, I second Rochefort 8 or 10. Best bang for your buck for a world class Trappist beer.
     
    #4 Bcarlos, Mar 8, 2016
  5. Averoigne

    Averoigne Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Canada (MB)

    Thanks so much for the recommendations so far! Fortunately, every beer that has so far been recommended looks interesting to me and is in stock at the Liquor Mart nearest to me.

    Looks like I'll be getting a nice variety of stuff tonight . . . :sunglasses:
     
    #5 Averoigne, Mar 8, 2016
    Erik-P and JonnyBeers like this.
  6. Averoigne

    Averoigne Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Canada (MB)

    OK, so St. Bernardus Abt 12 may very well be the best beer I've had in my life. No joke. I never knew such a 'strong' beer could be so smooth. I must admit I had higher expectations for Rochefort 10 than I did for St. Bernardus, but the former impressed me less—albeit not way less—than St. Bernardus Abt 12. (And that's a bit unfortunate as I bought a bit more Rochefort than I did St. Bernadus . . . but, hey, that's not so bad as both beers are, IMO, certainly world class :grinning:.)

    BeerAdvocate forum users: you have made this humble Manitoban / former Quebecor happy as Hell :grinning:.
     
    #6 Averoigne, Mar 9, 2016
  7. Averoigne

    Averoigne Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Canada (MB)

    BTW, I had seen bottles of Rochefort 10 many, many times in my life prior to making this thread but never felt compelled to buy it as I'd never heard anyone comment on it before and it was always ever so slightly too expensive to be a completely 'safe', unresearched buy.
     
    #7 Averoigne, Mar 9, 2016
  8. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Check there have been Dieu du Ciel, Le Trou du Diable and Charlevoix seasonals in the MLCC stores of late.
     
    #8 hoser, Mar 9, 2016
  9. AugustusRex

    AugustusRex Initiate (0) Apr 12, 2013 Canada (ON)

    Rochefort 10 should be had after 3 years in the cellar. If you drink it fresh it isn't a fair assessment.
     
    #9 AugustusRex, Mar 10, 2016
  10. MCBanjoMike

    MCBanjoMike Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2014 Canada (QC)

    Considering how good it is fresh, I can't imagine what it's like after 3 years of aging.
     
    #10 MCBanjoMike, Mar 10, 2016
  11. JonnyBeers

    JonnyBeers Savant (1,211) Oct 24, 2012 Canada (BC)

    Best part about Winnipeg is I can always go home to cellared Rochefort without having to actually cellar it :grinning:
     
    #11 JonnyBeers, Mar 11, 2016
    PaulQuinn likes this.
  12. JordanRC

    JordanRC Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2014 Canada (MB)

    As already said, Rochefort 10 and St. Bernardus Abt 12 are always available and delicious.

    Also readily available is beer advocates number 1 rated Hefeweizen, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, which is definitely worth a try. Currently available is La Vache Folle, and imperial milk stout from Charlevoix which is really good. Fat Tug from Driftwood can be found and is considered one of the better IPA's in Canada.
     
    #12 JordanRC, Mar 11, 2016
    hoser likes this.
  13. Derek

    Derek Grand Pooh-Bah (3,107) Apr 2, 2005 Canada (BC)
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd say closer to a decade. I actually think their 6 is the best... lots of flavour, without the heat.
     
    #13 Derek, Mar 11, 2016
    AugustusRex likes this.
  14. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    To get all beer geeky here a couple years ago got a private tour of the abbey and was given very FRESH bottles there. They we amazing light and airy whip cream and like no Rochefort I had before. So even what you guys are conisidering fresh are no comparsion.

    Anything even a couple months old starts its trip to big port and brandy like qualities which is not a bad thing but not as good as those bottles.

    Actually that trip kind of ruined it for me, having 10s , ABT 12s and westys of various ages in my cellar prefer fresher now to older. This wasn't the case before having those bottles.

    If you happen to find and or have old bottles that is cool but would dig into the world's best quads (just not Rochefort) fresher not older. Vastly different but both are great in their own respects.
     
    #14 hoser, Mar 12, 2016
    Coronaeus and AugustusRex like this.
  15. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    i disagree with you, sir. i find that, out of all the quads, it's the one i'd be least tempted to age. that said, i have about a dozen in my cellar :slight_smile:

    St Berny Abt 12's sweet spot is 1 year after bottling. anything more and you don't get many changes.

    and Cuvee de Kaiser Blau should be mentioned. mmmm
     
    #15 atomeyes, Mar 14, 2016
    AugustusRex likes this.
  16. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    westy fresh isn't that hot. i lived a 1 hr walk from the cafe/monestary and i only visited once. their beer's served too damn young. even the blonde. that said, i had access to 5 year old Westy 8 and 10. inconsistent, but generally, the 10 aged is excellent. oxidizes to brown sugar
     
    #16 atomeyes, Mar 14, 2016
  17. hoser

    hoser Initiate (0) Feb 17, 2003 Canada (AB)

    Cuvee de Kaiser Blau too damn sweet for me and I wouldn't call it a quad but a strong.

    Go talk to Tomas about Rochefort, he and I toured the abbey on our trip to Belgium two years ago and on the same trip with two years ago we stayed at St Bernardus's brewers house. Young 12 out of the honesty fridge were amazing but to each his own.

    I am not a Westy fan (only been once myself in 2005) and if I am going to drink one blonde it is.
     
    #17 hoser, Mar 15, 2016
  18. atomeyes

    atomeyes Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2011 Canada (ON)

    again, don't even bother drinking westy at the monestary. it's a waste of both time and experience. just go a 5 min drive away and get fucked at Struise or 't Molenhof
     
    #18 atomeyes, Mar 16, 2016
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.