Somebody grab me a Kostritzer in Ontario

[mr x]

Anybody up for the challenge?. Looks like it is available from LCBO:

http://www.thestar.com/living/food/drin ... r-hot-days" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kostritzer Schwartzbier ($2.70/500 mL can, LCBO): While the name means “black beer,” this brew from eastern Germany is actually very dark brown. Think of it as the German equivalent of a porter or stout. There are notes of dark–roasted coffee and a hint of sweetness. Good with grilled foods, especially if they’re done in Cajun blackened style.

[JohnnyMac]

I might be.....

That's a great beer. I also see that they now have Schlenkerla....that's a wicked beer too.

[derek]

This seems like a good time to mention that I'm making a wine run to Ontario in July (I think that should now be called "taking a Mulligan"). Last time we brought back 13 cases, but we had a bigger car and we didn't have to get a wine press in it So any suggestions for beers I should have will be appreciated.

[akr71]

I seem to remember Chalmers saying NSLC can special order things that are listed with LCBO or SAQ back when he brought in DFH 60min, Saison Dupont, etc. I'm sure we could reach the 2 case minimum easy...

[BobbyOK]

This used to be available in NB. On my way to Fredericton so if I find any I'll bring one back.

[chalmers]

I seem to remember Chalmers saying NSLC can special order things that are listed with LCBO or SAQ back when he brought in DFH 60min, Saison Dupont, etc. I'm sure we could reach the 2 case minimum easy...

You are right, but the minimum is just 1 case.

Too bad I couldn't help out: I was in Kingston yesterday, but checked the LCBO there, and they had nothing good. And I didn't have a car of my own to go on a drive-about.
And now I'm in Montreal, but didn't make it to Peluso, an SAQ or, even worse, Schwartz's. The drawbacks of no vehicle!

[mr x]

That's OK guys, if Bobby doesn't come up with something, I think I've got another source.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

I'm going up to Ontario and coming back June 1st - but I've never tried taking beer on a plane before. could I do it if I put it in checked luggage, will it explode, etc? if so, I'll bring back a couple random items and finally make it to a meeting to share.

[NASH]

I'm going up to Ontario and coming back June 1st - but I've never tried taking beer on a plane before. could I do it if I put it in checked luggage, will it explode, etc? if so, I'll bring back a couple random items and finally make it to a meeting to share.

Bring back all you want to in checked luggage but you'll want to wrap them up good so they don't break.



Sent from the hop-phone.

[chalmers]

I should write an article on packing beer in luggage, based on all of my trips. I've only lost 2 beers in my ~500 beers I've flown with. One was way back when and a shitty packing job (in a poorly-packed cardboard box), and the other was to the cap popping off.
My cheat sheet, if you follow all of the steps, it is surely overkill, but there is nothing more annoying than arriving in customs with a bag that smells like Nash's Doppelganger (http://hartandthistle.blogspot.com/2010 ... moked.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), picking out shards of glass from your underwear.

Luggage choice:

- I use hard-sided nesting bags: Carribean Joe 3-piece spinners. These are not the very tough Pelican cases (out of my price range, unless I become a beer/wine mule for an eccentric millionaire), but serve me well. Light and maneuverable, which helps for all of the flying I do.
- I limit my clothes/stuff to what will fit in the middle-sized bag, but then put that into the large bag: 2 for the price of one. Helps to distribute the weight (for me and the luggage handlers).
- These bags open like a clamshell, the two halves are the same. At first I thought that was bad, but now I realize that is perfect for beer preservation.

Packing technique:
- I tape each bottle closed with packing or duct tape. Don't want to be poppin' corks/caps till we get home! Just a small piece keeping the cap on tight is sufficient.
- I put each bottle into a ziplock or other bag taped/zip-tied up. In case of popping, want to reduce the mess.
- Each bottle gets at least a pair of socks (I have big feet, so no problem fitting bombers in them), maybe bubble wrap if I bought it/brought it with me. No bare glass visible.
- I lay the luggage open flat, and put down a layer of tough but soft clothes/stuff (jeans, maybe newspapers, books I've picked up). Remember to protect all sides of the luggage (bottom, top, all four sides).
- Then I start putting in the bottles. I will wrap pairs/groups of three bottles together in shirts/shorts. Want to keep the bottles tightly packed. Biggest problem after luggage dropping is shifting of bottles around and breaking each other.
- I close up the luggage, give it a hard jostle to make sure I don't hear/feel anything move, then make sure its good on weight (thank you hotel gym scale!).

Good luck!

[CorneliusAlphonse]

thanks chalmers. Great tips.

I'll take home a bunch (dependent on weight, cost, and variety, of course.)

[BobbyOK]

That's OK guys, if Bobby doesn't come up with something, I think I've got another source.

None that I could find in NB. ANBL website doesn't have it listed.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

I wasn't able to find any. turns out it wasn't at every LCBO, which I didn't realize until after I went to my second one - the two I saw had no more selection than the NSLC. I didn't have a chance to get to one of the ones it was at.

Sorry to disappoint. I did bring home a couple fin du monde, I'll bring em to a meeting if people want to try - even though you can get em here.

[mr x]

I just managed to pick up a couple this week, thanks guys.