Nice haul Darcy, I'm planning on picking up those Nogne bombers this week as well as the Skullsplitter. I tried the Renaissance and wasn't overly impressed so I won't be getting that, and the Winterbeard is gonna have to take a backseat because of all the great stuff coming out.

That Fuller's was good, but I think the St. Ambroise Vintage slays it big time this year. I need to pick up a couple more of those. I highly recommend it though.

+2, had no idea.

Did you ever end up landing that Pumking anywhere? I'm askin cause I still got yours. Wondering whether to return it or not.

My mom and two brothers are going to be happy this year. I bought them all each the following







and my grandma this...

I haven't had Nogne Oeuuuuuuuuh since last Christmas. Its amazing.

That is a nice gift haul for sure!

So it may be a tough or near impossible answer for most of you here, but I'm curious what some of your favourite brews of the year have been. Whether you thought it was just plain amazing or it was a very interesting and enjoyable beer, post some of your favourites, or the favourite... or perhaps just something you found your self drinking a lot of this year.

For me, thus far, it's been Shipyard's Smashed Blueberry, being both interesting and delicious. I wasn't expecting too much but was shocked by how much i enjoyed it. A blueberry flavoured black IPA that came out for the summer.

For beer not available at the LCBO, and that i grabbed in the States, it would be the Three Philosophers. Maybe my favourite beer I've ever had.

I brew my own. BUT this past year when I did buy, it was a lot of Stone IPA and Stone Pale Ale. REALLY like the Pale Ale, I like the Ahtanum hops and use plenty when I brew a clone.





This past summer I liked this in the day time..



and this at night...

I bought a six of Victory Headwaters Pale Ale on clearance. Pretty hoppy for a pale ale, but it was good.



Also Houston has a newi-sh brewery called Karbach Brewing Co. I had a Hopadillo on tap and it was a good IPA, unique hop flavor, reminded me of Stone Levitation Ale.

Ya dude, I got it months ago and posted all about it! Sorry if you were holding one for me.

I posted a few pages back that I just found out that you need to put your name on a list to get this $75 six-er we're all waiting for. Call your local lcbo to find out what's up. If you are not on the list and they run out, you miss out. I just thought I'd make sure that everybody knew that...

That's a really tough one for me, but I'll have to agree with you on the Smashed Blueberry. I was going to write a post today stating what I believe to be the best Holiday Mix Pack of the year. I think it's safe to say that gold medal goes to Beau's. You gotta hand it to them. They threw us a mix back with 4 completely new beers we had never tried before. I haven't dipped into them yet, but with their current reputation, their new beer titles are extremely interesting. I've heard nothing but great reviews on all beers in the four pack.



"OTTAWA — Beau’s All Natural Brewing announced today that the beers to make up the 2012 Holiday Mix Pack, to be called “Best of Beau’s,” have been chosen. The beers to make up the holiday release were chosen by popular vote, online and at the brewery’s retail store in Vankleek Hill, ON.

At the top of the list for the 4-pack was Screamin’ Beaver Oak-Aged Double IPA, an amped-up version of Beau’s Spring Seasonal Beaver River that was dry-hopped and aged on oak staves. The 2011 edition weighed in at 9.9% alc./vol. and 99 IBUS. Screaming Beaver breeches the palate with shot of grapefruit then gives way to nuanced oaky, vanilla flavours along with caramel and citrus.

Also chosen was the recently released inaugural brew of the Beau’s Farm Table series, a Belgian Pale Ale. The Farm Table series was created to explore traditional styles of beer that serve up big, interesting flavours, but with a sessionable ABV. The Farm Table BPA was partially aged in white wine barrels, resulting in a dry, sharp ale with spicy and fruity notes complemented by a citrusy aroma.

Fans also voted Patio Saison into the 4-pack, a 2012 release from Beau’s that never made it into a bottle – the entire batch was served by the glass on patios across Ontario to celebrate the arrival of warm summer weather. At 5.9% abv, the crisp and refreshing ale displays peppery notes in harmony with citrus zest, intriguing floral aromas and a pleasant clove flavour. It has a snappy taste and a dry finish.

Rounding out the selection for the 4-pack is Matt’s Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout, appropriately the first Wild Oats release ever issued by Beau’s All Natural. Sleepy Time is an imperial stout (8% abv) that has been fermented with Belgian yeast and aged on oak staves. Tastes of chocolate, coffee & vanilla are complemented with American hops and a true Belgian character in the finish.

With the beers now chosen, Beau’s is preparing to brew these beers to be on the LCBO shelves in November, in time for holiday gifting and parties. The 4-packs will also be sold directly from the Beau’s retail store, and through BYBO (www.bybo.ca), the Ottawa-based home delivery service. A limited release, only 10,000 4-packs in Beau’s signature 600 ml bottles will be packaged for sale."

Kool, aged it will be!

I can't even find the Beau's Holiday Pack on the website.

I just put my name down for a 6 pack of the Westvleteren. Now let's see if i actually get a call back before i see it on the website. I assumed it would be coming out tomorrow, but the lady said they had them on order, and wasn't sure when they were coming.

EDIT: Just called the LCBO headquarters after the Brampton guy called me back to say they wouldn't have any. There are only going to be three stores in the GTA with them apparently, and they will NOT be taking your name down on a list for it. It's first come first serve, so I'm not sure where ya heard that but it doesn't look to be the case... but I'm still going to try and call the locations and see if they will put me down on a list, just in case.

One was Oakville and the other was Richmond Hill. Don't remember the third now, and there will be none in Durham Region.

Holy Shit I never knew about that Amsterdam brew. Just some background on Goose Island, the brew pub would release a new beer every week that they would brew on site. The brew pub beers would rarely make it into their regular rotation only because they had such a large offering (which were brewed in the area at larger facility). I had the 312 what had to be over 7 years ago at the brew pub before it became one of the original brews. IMO it was a better beer back then, still solid now but make sure you have a fresh one.

I was lucky when I found my Beau's Winter mixer, it was the last one. Well that kinda sucks about Westvleteren. I would be able to mission to Richmond Hill.

So that is what this mixer is for. Well that is good to know. Did you manage to grab a pack?

He's wrong about the list. I did this through my beer ambassador friend at the Eglinton and Laird location. The one location I announced earlier to be opening soon to be the biggest store in Toronto. My friend called me the other day. He's like "dude, I haven't seen you forever, i just bumped into our old buddy at the lcbo to put my name on the list for that new beer. To my surprise I already saw your name on the list!" That's how I knew about all of this. Maybe the Brampton person doesn't know about a list? I don't know what else to say.

Yes sir, Eglinton and Laird had them about 3 days ago, but Avenue and Lawrence only got them yesterday. I managed to snag one.

$24 should be worth it for those gems. I really like the IPA and the Stout in that mix pack.

I called LCBO headquarters after the Brampton dude called me back. That's who said three stores in the GTA. THey didn't mention the one you said. Hopefully the headquarters girl is wrong though!

Another update. I also just called the Richmond Hill location to see what they said, in case the headquarters girl was wrong. The guy there said that they are getting them at that location, but they don't know when (could be any time) and that they will NOT be taking names down on a lost to reserve them, and not only will it be 'first come first serve', but it is limited to one pack per customer.

Of course, I don't see how limiting them to one per customer will truly work, since you could probably just leave and go back in a few hours and grab another one. Unless they have a special dsiplay or something, with someone watching like a hawk and remembering people's faces. Doubt that.

Stormland. Perhaps the guy you know is doing it under the table for you or something.

Had this over the weekend and it was fucking delicious. It was expensive ($15 for a 750ml bottle) but I'll likely be buying a few more bottles while its in stock.

Interesting findings.