h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think so, too. But, kegs are where the profit margin is greatest.
But I would argue that getting bottles into as many liquor stores as possible, even if you only break even on them, is advertising with it's own potential profit. It gets your name out to where people go when their having a party at home, not just where they're having a special night out.

Jim at Amber's has told me that he would rather have people buy the bottles in the liquor stores than having them come into the brewery, even though he gets more of the profit on what sells direct from the brewery for the simple reason that he's getting his stuff into people's neighbourhood.




And Yellowhead choosing to produce one brand in single bottles means their product pretty much disappears in the stores.

But, on that oatmeal stout note-this from the 'should I believe everything I read?' file. I picked up the March-April issue of The Tomato(formerly City Palate)in my limited travels today. In their 'Dish' section-notewoirthy news-there's a paragraph about beer, starting with a mention of Chinese New Beer, Mojo A'Peel & Sherbrooke Shamrock. However what caught my attention, 'Early March sees the release of a limited quantity of Single : oatmeal aged in a barrel of Jack Daniels. How does this work? Sherbrooke purchased an entire barrel of J/D from the top two floors of their warehouse where the temperature extremes create the best aging conditions. Ordinarily the empty barrel is varnished but they'-Sherbrooke-'were able to convince them(J/D)to ship it "wet" suitable to age the oatmeal stout.' Must question Sherbrooke or Jim Pettinger himself if I see him next time I'm in.

I know the Glenn Sherbrooke was 'aged' in a cast off barrel from Glen Breton. And Amber's did some pilsner in a couple of rye barrels from either Highwood or Alberta Distillers (probably Highwood -- if I remember correctly, that's were they get their alcohol for Grog).

I guess it doesn't make much difference to the distillery. And the barrels are shipped all over the world now, anyway: Scotch single malt has been aged in Sherry barrels for ages. Apparently now it's often aged in bourbon barrels, which is just next door to Jack Daniels.

If you go by Windsor Plywood in the spring, they have used barrels lined up there for sale as planters. Home distillers call these 'Swish barrels': they add a bit of water to them, swish it around to get any remaining alcohol out of the wood, and then proceed about their business.

I expect all it took to get a wet barrel from Jack Daniels was to pay the shipping and deal with the customs and excise issues. I expect they have a ridiculous turnover of barrels.

A-a-any-way

Alley Kat Apple Wit (a 15th Anniversary release, 5.4% ABV - 650 ml. bottle)

The pour-into tulip glass

A beautiful cloudy pale gold(perfect example of a bottle conditioned Belgian style pale/blonde beer}. Abundant carbonatrion - almosst little funnel clouds of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass Nice sudsy three finger white head which dissipates very gradually. Rather marginal lacing.

Aroma

Hmm, very subtle but definitely wheat, with hints of apple.

Taste

Certainly a Wit(but rather than the traditional orange & coriander, Alley Kat has used only Granny Smith apples). Distinct green apple cider-ish notes...although I haven't had a good apple cider in ages. As I remember cider though. Hmm, very smooth and rather unremarkable finish.A bit one dimensional, I suspect my taste buds were expecting the cask-conditioned version I had at The Sugar Bowl http://www.thesugarbowl.org last fall-good handful of cinnamon added to the cask. A cinnamon stick!

Did you notice that I had the Apple Wit this evening as well?

I'm debating whether to put your notes in tonight or to ask you to remind me in the morning . . .

Ah, hell, I'll give it a shot now.

But remind me in the morning, just to be safe.

A small question raised by your observation of funnel clouds in your glass:

Does your tulip glass have a wee etched monogram or something in the bottom of the interior? I have a Carsendonk tulip glass which has an etched 'C' in the bottom which serves as a nucleation point for bubbles and leads to swirling column of bubbles which one might term a funnel cloud.

Just wondering.

Synchronicity or coincidence? Either way

Yours is in.

It's nice to have one that I got excited about and you found rather ordinary.

About the glass, it seems-perhaps if I rinse the glass it might help-to be a spiral. But a rinse & towel is in order, hold on...

I think it's fairly common for the glasses larger brewers commission to have a logo etched in the bottom. If it's on the outside, it is often magnified for the drinker looking down into it. If it's on the inside it isn't magnified, but it acts to increase the bubbling.

Phone call there, it appears that there may be a small 'c' down there...at the bottom of the indentationn(where the 'cup' meets the 'stem').

Is it a Corsendonk glass? That's what mine is that does the tornado thing. And it has the little 'c'.

I've just had a look at my Delerium Tremens tulip glass and it has a wee pachyderm etched down there where stem meets bowl.

Perhaps I'll have to open this bottle of Delerium Christmas to see if the bubbles rise in the shape of an elephant.

Hmm, Delirium Christmas that reminds me. I wonder if there's anything new on http://40beersat40.blogspot.com ...check the Beerly Coherant podcasts, there Is a Delirium Christmas.

Hey! I just looked down into my glass and there is the shape of an elephant in the foam!

I've taken a photo of it. I'll have to post it to fotki tomorrow.

Alright...

Brewsters Czech Pilsner(& I might add somewhat of a rediscovery of the style for me-5% ABV).

The pour-actually, as served with my green chili bison

Beautiful amber gold colour, rather minimal head & only slight carbonation.

Aroma

Rather clean with the requisite malt & some hops coming through.

Taste

Very clean & rather refreshing, it's been Quite awhile since I had a Pilsner-Too long it would seem. The underlying-if you could call it that- spiciness of the Saaz hops was great with the jalapeno pepper topped bison burger - the two separarte spicinesses really integrating fairly seamlessly(wonderful enhancement imho). The Pilsner, upon an isolated sip, had what I thought was a very clean/smooth finish. Of course I took time to savour the union of & beer, making for a long leisurely meal. The Pilsner even provided a subtle accompaniment to the pickle slice!

Brewstes Shaughnessy Stout(5% ABV)

Appearance

Dark opaque black. A two finger head when it was set on the table(& that dissipated reasonably quickly). Nice abundant lacing.

Aroma

Rather clean and somewhat roasty I thought.. Some hints of both chocolate and-to a lesser extent-maltiness. I also detected just a whiff of alcohol.

Taste

Smooth & creamy with a subtle roasted maltiness. Full bodied with a relaxed lingering finish, Very nice. It proved a wonderful compliment to my dessert(of sorts, the 50mg Truffini http://www.truffini.com Double Dark †ruffle bar I had bought earlier). It not only extracted the coconut flavour residing in the bit of coconut oil(listed in the ingredients). It also meshed/integrated nicely with the chocolate. My curiosity was aroused about what it might be like with Kerstin's Fleur de Sel-with sea salt or Mad Orange Pistachio-Madagasca with... Or perhaps Green & Black's Mayan Gold.

Brewsters Bow Valley Brown Ale,5% ABV

Appearance

Reddish cola brown colour with a thinning rim of head when deposited on the table. Negligible lacing.

Aroma

A bit understated, but pleasantly malty...some roastiness evident too.

Taste

Initial flavour is roasty & malty, followed by a subtle chocolate sweetness. Clean finish with just a hint of lingering chocolate...a favourite of mine, of course! Makes me realize how much I've missed this one & how I could all-too-easily become a 'regular' customer at Brewsters.

You've been busy.


I'll try to get those sorted into GuideML later tonight. Maybe. I've been having a bit of a day.

I'll also try to upload the picture of the little elephant in my Delerium Tremens glass.

Here's the elephant:

http://public.fotki.com/anhaga/fun_stuff/memo0058.html

and a little closer:

http://public.fotki.com/anhaga/fun_stuff/memo0057.html#media

and your three new Brewsters notes are in. I also added a link to Kirsten's.

All the byproduct of a relaxed & pleasurable lunch. I had picked up a few items at the Oliver Sq. London Drug &, a bit of baking from Agnes the Hungarian woman who operates Breadland Organic Bakery(from the aroma her husband Csaba was in the back baking). Then across to Brewsters for the first of four pints(actually I doubt the glass was a full pint, qwite close though), lunch & rather diligent note-taking.

Oh and it seems they've decided to keep last months Espresso Porter-which I'm not complaining about-on indefinitely. That was my appetizer, but I see they have it printed up & laminated in their tabletop drinks menu. So I'm sure to be back for a review of it as well.