Stillwell - Bar Volo type pub to open on Barrington

[canuck]

Shane! I was expecting an email or text after supper to let me know you were ready to go. I would have gone down earlier, but I'm just reading the forums now, and it's way too late for my 4:45am wakeup call.
Be sure to head there tomorrow. (Or tonight)

That was my bad Chris, I should of texted ya when I arrived this evening. We didn't get out from supper until 9:00 so perhaps it might of been too late anyways given your early morning ahead. Sorry brotha!

[chalmers]

No worries, sorry I'll miss having a pint with you. Enjoy one on my behalf!

[berley]

No worries, sorry I'll miss having a pint with you. Enjoy one on my behalf!

Chris, they're still open on the days you aren't in town??

[blacktip]

Was in on Saturday night, the place was busy; we had to wait a few minutes before wrangling a seat at the bar. Nice minimalist atmosphere IMO.

Had a pint of the cask porter, and a Big Spruce IPA. Both were good, and the "pulled pint" from the cask was a real novelty. Had a taste of the stout(I forget which, but it wouldn't be fair to give a review after the Big Spruce destroyed my palate).

Had two pieces of fried chicken, which were great.

The one thing that was missing for me was an intermediately-priced fruit/sour selection. It went from $19 for a 375mL kreik, to $50 for a 750mL sour. I think that they could fill a hole in that list with something moderately priced($20-30) 750mL selection. I would have been happy to treat some friends to a more moderately priced bottle, but $50 is too rich for me.

[BobbyOK]

The one thing that was missing for me was an intermediately-priced fruit/sour selection. It went from $19 for a 375mL kreik, to $50 for a 750mL sour. I think that they could fill a hole in that list with something moderately priced($20-30) 750mL selection. I would have been happy to treat some friends to a more moderately priced bottle, but $50 is too rich for me.

That $50 sour (I'm guessing it's The Bruery Sour in the Rye) retails for $30 at Premier, so it's not an outlandish mark-up. My issue with that is the fact I can run around the corner and buy it for less to take home. Wouldn't be so bad if it was something I couldn't already get in the city. But I expect they'll start doing that with time.

[mr x]

I don't think that's possible with bottled products.

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[BobbyOK]

I don't think that's possible with bottled products.

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Volo was able to do it. So was/is Garrison/King Street in Fredericton. They've both got lots of stuff you can't buy anywhere else in the province.

[mr x]

Yup. Unfortunately, that's NB and Ont.

I'm there for the tap stuff anyway. But in general, I find markup on bottled craft beer too high in the bars.

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[jeffsmith]

Yup. Unfortunately, that's NB and Ont.

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I would think they should be able to go through the same NSLC channels as Premier would.

[mr x]

As far as I know, that is currently not the situation.

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[jeffsmith]

As far as I know, that is currently not the situation.

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That's a shame...

[BobbyOK]

As far as I know, that is currently not the situation.

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That's a shame...

Then we'll just have to go about getting that changed.

[BobbyOK]

As far as I know, that is currently not the situation.

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Thinking on this further - if true, how did Victor Syperek bring that Latvian beer in exclusive to the Shoe Shop for the World Hockey Championships a few years back, or Pipa bring in Super Bock and Sagres? Those aren't available at any of the private stores, nor the NSLC - nor other licensees for that matter. Does there need to be a third party agency involved? And how do the rules work for wine? Is a place like Obladee for example not able to source and bring in something not available elsewhere?

[mr x]

AFAIK, Premiere is the agent for the NSLC if you want something NSLC does not stock. You have to go through Premiere.

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[jeffsmith]

I think the rules around wine importing are slightly different as well. The laws are at least different when it comes to transporting wine vs. beer (across provincial boundaries, etc.).

[NASH]

As Xman stated, a while back I was told any specialty beer orders are redirected through Premier now. Aside from that i think it still works about the same, whereas you can order pretty much anything from most anywhere, if you're willing to pay and the brewery is willing to sell a small quantity to you. It would take a while to get the product, for sure. Not sure if I remember correctly but I think the Stillwell folks mentioned early on that they were working with Premier to get some unique stuff brought in.

Years ago I used to order in all sorts of stuff through NSLC, they had a list of beer from all over the globe to pick from.

Transmitted from the hop-phone.

[Brewnoser]

On tap today at Stillwell: Big Spruce Left Breton Organic Conspiracy Imperial IPA, apparently an exclusive.