Posted by Greg Clow in beer, beverages on February 20, 2007 at 8:46 am
As a beer lover in Ontario, I have lots of things to complain about. Most of those complaints are directed towards the LCBO, where quality beer tends to be given short shrift while prime shelf space is given over to an avalanche of indistinguishable pale lagers from around the world.
Especially embarrassing is the remarkable lack of American craft beer at LCBO outlets. I mean, here's a country that is producing some of the more exciting beer in the world right now, and they're our biggest trading partner and our next-door neighbour. Yet here in Ontario, there are only two US craft beers on the general stock list at our retail liquor outlets: Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Anchor Liberty Ale.
Actually, make that three, because joining them this month is Brooklyn Lager ($12.40/6x355 mL, LCBO 26997). The flagship beer of the Brooklyn Brewery, this vibrant and flavourful all-malt lager was first released in 1987, a couple of years after the similar Samuel Adams Boston Lager was launched a bit further up the coast. Alongside the products of a handful of other craft brewing pioneers (including Ontario's Brick, Upper Canada and Creemore Springs Breweries), these beers proved that not all lagers were pale, flavourless and full of cheap adjuncts like rice and corn.
Even today, when there are so many other great craft beers on the market, Brooklyn Lager remains a standard bearer in its style. It has a beautiful deep orange-amber colour with a soft white head, and a fresh aroma of bready malt and orange & lemon notes from the hops. The flavour has some slightly fruity sweetness off the top, before those citric and slightly floral hops kick in towards the finish. Some have described it as seeming like a hybrid between a malty lager and a hoppy pale ale, and having finally tried it, I can see where they're coming from. Hybrid or not, it's one of the best lagers we've seen in Ontario in a long time, and I can only hope it's a sign that the LCBO may be looking to bring in more brews from south of the border - but I'm not holding my breath on that one.
NOTE: Brooklyn brewmaster Garrett Oliver and general manager Eric Ottaway will be hosting a beer dinner next Tuesday, February 27th at beerbistro to mark their debut in Ontario. Tickets are $75 and are available at the restaurant. If you can't make it down then, beerbistro has brought in a private order of several Brooklyn beers including East India Pale Ale, Monster Ale and Black Chocolate Stout, and all are available now.
the brooklyn lager brings back good memories for me.
Bravo to you for this piece of beer avocacy. I moved to Toronto last September from Brooklyn, and... sniffle... Hey LCBO -- Now please get that Colt 45 and Old English off the damn shelves and go find what more the South really has to offer. You have nothing to lose but your swill!!
Welcome to Toronto, rowbear. You must miss Barcade and Spuyten Duyvil. If you haven't already, you should join the forum over at The Bar Towel - we like to complain about the LCBO a lot over there. :)
"As a beer lover in Ontario, I have lots of things to complain about. Most of those complaints are directed towards the LCBO"
Who doesnt have complaints against lcbo these days! They are money making monopolists in ontario.
Hello,
I'm a pub manager in Hamilton. Where would one order kegs of this stuff? I've heard bars have it in T.O. I'm wondering who carries it.
Thanks.
Michael St. Martin
I couldn't agree more! Everytime I drive across the border to the U.S. and visit the northeastern states, I make sure I come back with a variety of beers I cannot get here - and this is after I've had an opportunity to sample lots there! There is such an amazing selection of delicious hoppy beers in the U.S. right now and LCBO is carrying lots of boring stuff. Come on, LCBO! Wake up to the beer revolution and stock up on lots more U.S. craft beers. We deserve better. Brooklyn Lager is a great beer.