I know what you're going to be thinking at 5:01 this afternoon (or 3:01 if your bosses are awesome), when you're unleashed into the sunshine for three blissful days:
"Dude, MAY 2-4."
then:
"Bro, gotta get some beers."
(stop at beer store/lcbo)
then:
"Dude, lager city!"
then:
"Maybe something with limes in it?"
then:
"If I put them in the freezer the minute I get home, they'll be cold enough for my BBQ on Sunday, then it's time to C-H-I-L-L with my boyz/girlz and some tunes and some cold brews, y'all."
I'm here, obnoxious dude/dudette, to present to you an alternative scenario.
Follow the above steps, but stop right before "Dude, lager city." Don't say that, it's annoying.
Be at the lcbo. And do something that may sound absolutely ridiculous: Buy a Great Lakes Robust Porter. This is what it looks like:
Pretty, right? Gorgeous, even. That's one classy looking bottle.
Here's what I'm thinking: buy a bunch of your usual Ontario craft beers (that's what you usually buy, right?) Maybe a Muskoka Mad Tom, a great choice. Perhaps a Neustadt Lager (just don't freeze it). For sure some Amsterdam Boneshaker IPA (new to the lcbo, and I'll take more about it in my next post). Whatever your little heart desires.
Then, put a few Robust Porters in your overflowing basket.
But, bro, you ask? Why? It's chill outside weekend. I just want to sit in the sun with some lite brews.
There are a few reasons:
1. Because it's around now. And it's in limited quantities and it won't be around forever. DO NOT miss your chance at this seriously good beer. And buy a few extra, and store em for the fall, when the weather cools down.
2. Because it's rare that we get good, risk taking local beers like this at the lcbo. And if we collectively buy all these bottles quickly, it's sending a message to a) the breweries that there's a market for things that are outside the norm, and b) the lcbo, that local beers that are outside the norm will sell and to please allow us to have more.
Eventually, this weekend, at some point, unless it's the end of days, the sun will go down. And you'll still be sitting outside, but with a light jacket on. And, after a day outside drinking lagers, you'll be in the mood for something different. And that's when you'll remember. You'll go get the classy bottle of Robust Porter, and you'll fiddle your way with the wax. And you'll impress your friends with the classy bottle. And you'll pour yourself a responsibly sized glass. And you'll do the same for whichever friends are still hanging around. And you'll cheers to an awesome weekend, and to an awesome beer that hits just the spot once the sun goes down. There's a beer for every occasion, and this is that beer and that occasion. And don't say I'll buy it later, it won't be around later. Buy it now. Go. Go at lunch. Just go.
But, what does it taste like?
Great Lake 25th Anniversary Robust Porter
Briefly: Huge head. Pitch black colour. Smell of roast coffee and chocolate. Taste: Sharp taste. some bitter. chocolate and coffee.
If you want to read more about it, The Toronto Star's Josh Rubin had a nice piece on it here:
http://www.thestar.com/living/food/drinks/article/1178762--great-lakes-brewery-s-anniversary-brew-is-dark-and-aromatic-what-s-brewing
...And to find it, visit lcbo.ca and type in Robust Porter. It's the only one.
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