Summer Beer Release (LCBO) [General]

2008 Jun 4
Has anyone spotted any of the summer beer releases at the LCBO (other than Anchor Steam and SA Summer)? Rideau LCBO is usually pretty good about getting these seasonals out quickly, but nothing's been turning up online.

I'm looking your way zymurgist...

2008 Jun 4
Hey, don't look my way for summer beer releases. I make beer, I don't buy it :-) My summer beer releases so far have been : smoked cream ale, 2 different hefeweizens, and a honey brown ale.

2008 Jun 4
But here is my guess ... yet another boring Euro-lager completely indistinguishable from 25 other ones on their shelf. Probably from Poland or Ukraine. Yup, like we really need another Polish or Ukrainian lager. And believe me, as 1/4 Pollock and 1/4 Ukrainian it pains me to mock their beer thusly.

2008 Jun 4
Oh we're certainly getting some good old fashioned soviet lagers (they're calling it an "ethnic beer release", but here's the list of stuff that has been hitting shelves in Southern Ontario:

Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen-Mix (2.5% - $1.95/330 ml - LCBO 63511)
Great Lakes Orange Peel (5.3% - $4.95/650 ml - LCBO 615633)
Wells Bombardier Burning Gold (4.7% - $TBA/568 ml - LCBO 74484)
Christoffel Bier (6.0% - $2.80/330 ml - LCBO 696955)
Chapeau Lemon (3.5% - $2.40/250 ml - LCBO 76034)
Chapeau Kriek (3.5% - $2.10/250 ml - LCBO 76117)
Brussels White (4.8% - $TBA/TBA ml - LCBO 411157)
St Peter's Golden Ale (4.7% - $TBA/500 ml - LCBO #TBA)
Grolsch Weizen (5.5% - $2.75/473 ml - LCBO 73734)
Unibroue Ephemere Apple (5.5% - $5.25/750 ml - LCBO 692574)
Edelweiss Snowfresh Weissbier (5.0% - $2.05/330 ml - LCBO 73718)
Brakspear Bitter (3.4% - $TBA/500 ml - LCBO 909531)
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier (5.4% - $2.85/500 ml - LCBO 75291)

I spotted the Great Lakes and Chapeau Lemon briefly on the LCBO site for Ottawa Rideau, but it disapeared within a day. Rogue Dead Guy, ST IPA and Dogfish 60 will be hitting shelves over the next couple months as well.

2008 Jun 4
Where did you see the SA Summer? I can't believe that SA Lager is still the only regular variety we get up here. Love their pale ale. Love American microbew in general, wish we had more selection up here.


2008 Jun 4
Wow, some nice looking beers there including 3 Hefeweizens! Actually, I guess technically 3.5 since that first one is a mix :-) The lack of hefeweizen available domestically is the whole reason I started brewing in the first place.

2008 Jun 4
I love hefeweizen as well! The fact that more varieties are becoming commercially available in Ottawa is excellent. This is looking like it's going to be a good summer! :D Now I wish I could have a BBQ on my balcony... f'ing apartments...

2008 Jun 4
Oh, sweet Ephemère Apple! I got crazy off of you alone in a hotel room in Québec City. That's some damn tasty brew, there. That and a baguette and some brie and you've got a meal.

2008 Jun 4
Yes, all of the Ephemeres are very good though I think they discontinued several of them did they not?

2008 Jun 5
LCBO Orleans had a whole whack of the SA Summer yesterday, but I imagine it will be a good seller. Not actually that crazy about it myself, but SA Lager is certainly a classic. Fantastic session beer.

2008 Jun 5
I just picked up some SA Summer Ale from the Rideau LCBO. Agree that it's not the best Sam Adams has to offer, I'm mainly just stoked about new product.