Commercial genius I say.

Man these are just great.

HOORAY BEER!

Here’s one about beer that made me chuckle:

In other news this poor site is being pretty neglected. With the holidays and vacation and getting engaged and stuff I’ve been pretty busy. I hope to revive a little life in to the site in the new year.

This my friends is what makes me happy to pass this along to you!

Located in Vankleek Hill, Ont, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company was co-founded in 2006 by Tim and Steve Beauchesne, with a mission to brew beer Eastern Ontario could proudly call its own. Lug Tread is served on tap at more than 200 bars and restaurants and 60 LCBO stores in Eastern Ontario, as far West as Kingston, as well as directly from the brewery’s on site retail store. The brewery was recently named the best microbrewery in Ontario at the 2009 Golden Tap awards held in Toronto.

I wish I was a little closer to Ottawa and not in Toronto! Heck I wish I could just get my hands on some of it! I’d love to head out there and check it out. They’ll be releasing their fall seasonal beer Nightmärzen which is a traditional Oktoberfest lager and they’ll be serving up Lugtread as well.

I noticed Lugtread in the LCBO’s in Ottawa when I was there a few weeks ago for an unfortunate family gathering. The sweet looking swingtop caught my eye with it’s painted logo I love the style of the bottle and although it looked intriguing I didn’t have a chance to pick any up. This is a decision I sorely regret and wish that I could get some of thier beer in my local LCBO’s.

Beau’s is also teaming up with a bunch of restaurants in the Ottawa area for the festival. It appears as if this will be a really good time for those who can attend.

The Bavarian-inspired food will be provided by some of the best restaurants in Ottawa: Allium, Domus, Murray Street Murray Street Kitchen Wine & Charcuterie, Pascale’s All Natural Ice Cream, The Piggy Market, Urban Pear and Whalesbone; and a few hidden gems from further out: Ballygiblins (Carleton Place), The Branch Organic Restaurant (Kemptville), Knox Fine Dining (Moose Creek) and Mary’s Country Kitchen (Vankleek Hill). The event also boasts 8 hours of live Oompah music, haywagon rides, free brewery tours, free games for kids and adults, homebrewing demonstrations and more. Beau’s All Natural will also be releasing its Fall seasonal beer, the Night Märzen, a traditional Oktoberfest lager. More announcements of entertainment will be announced shortly.

Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate. Bus packages including return trips from St. Laurent Shopping Centre are $25 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available at all Bridgehead locations, the Piggy Market (400 Winston Ave, Ottawa), at the brewery in Vankleek Hill and by phone at 866-585-BEER (2337).

Now all I have to do is see if I can make it out there!

#5 – Horse Piss beer

Released in April 2005 HPB came out just before the Kentucky Derby that year. It was actually contract-brewed through Viking Brewing Company and donated a portion of the beer sales to charities that protect retired thoroughbred horses.

#4 – Genny Light

While it may not sound all that bad to you or I, “Genny” when translated in to Hungarian actually means “pus” or “filled with pus”. YUCK! Made in Rochester New York the brewery was established in 1878. Genny Light contains only 96 calories per can.

#3 – Griesedieck Brothers beer

This name pretty much speaks for itself. Brewed in St.Louis it’s recently come back after not being on the market for some time. Griesedieck Western Brewery Co. in Belleville, Illinois produces Stag beer and owns the Falstaff Brewing Corporation which makes Falstaff Beer.

#2 – Aass Beer

Made by Norway’s oldest brewery Aass Bayer is a lager. The strangest thing is that the company originally dealt in timber, groceries, baking AND brewing. Talk about a mixed bag! The brewery is still owned by the Aass family which makes me feel bad not only for the beer but all of their children as well! Let’s just hope it doesn’t taste like it’s named!

#1 – Vergina Beer

Vergina makes many types of beer. Their flagship brand is a premium lager but they also have a red, a premium pilsner and a weiss that’s made with a “special top fermenting yeast”! Personally I never really want to hear about Vergina and yeast at the same time but I’d be willing to give this beer just to be able to keep the bottle as a souvenir.

The never ending bottle gets them wasted and the regular burping, falling down and getting rejected by girls ensues. There’s also a little grand theft auto and drinking and driving thrown in there for good measure.

Here’s the clip:

The title of this YouTube vid says it was banned but I distinctly remember seeing it on TV when I was young.

EDIT: It appears that my buddy Dave of randomasrhyme.com fame has also featured this on his weekly feature Wordless Wednesdays

Last time this issue came up I was against it. Even praising Dalton McGuinty for declining the thought of selling in corner stores. But after some discussion on A Good Beer Blog I’m pulling off my best impression of a politician and doing a flip-flop.

My first reaction almost a year ago was to think that sellers of cigarettes are already doing a piss poor job of keeping THEM out of the hands of minors and that would just pass on to beer and wine. But I’ve had almost a year to think it over and think over the arguments posed to me by my readers and the readers of A Good Beer Blog and I’m thinking now that it wouldn’t necessarily be easier for kiddies to acquire alcohol in all cases and that the deregulation would end up to be good for the industry little guys.

I’m still somewhat on the fence though. I would like to see beer in my local convenience store but I do still think it would sometimes be easier for kids to get their hands on it. BUT that being said I never really had troubles getting my hands on a beer or 12 when I was under age either and that beer had to come from The Beer Store.

I’m sure if deregulation did occur though that the govt. would surely police it quite strictly for a long time to come.

Here’s what Randy thinks:

“Beer distribution in this province is currently controlled by foreign companies.” Hillier said. “In these tough times we need to give struggling small Canadian businesses like corner stores, restaurants and hotels more opportunities.”

“Dalton McGuinty is costing local Ontario businesses millions of dollars, to the benefit of foreign-owned breweries.”

Hillier proposes to allow corner stores to be able to sell wine and beer. As well restaurants, bars and hotels would be able to sell off-sales to further help their businesses.

I think he’s got a point or two that are quite valid. I for one would certainly take advantage of closer beer and wine (although now I mostly make my own). But I will still have that twinge in the back of my head about some dick-head shop keeper being too lazy to check an ID and some kid ruining or ending someone’s life. We’ve all seen it before though coming from the current system as well. So why am I afraid of this change?

Speaking of gems I can’t wait to head to my local The Gem for a pint tonight!