(Real) Beer Deals (Ontario)

[JonJubeTube]

This Week in Pricing (BEER STORE) - December 17, 2007
PRICE CHANGE BRAND PACKAGE SIZE PRICE (http://www.serviceontap.ca/retailpartners.asp)
Sale Canadian 341ml bottle 24 pack $32.50
Sale Red Cap 341ml bottle 12 pack $16.95
Sale Trailhead Premium Lager 341ml bottle 12 pack $16.45
Sale Wellington Arkell Best Bitter 341ml bottle 6 pack $10.95
Sale Wellington County Dark Ale 341ml bottle 6 pack $10.95
Sale Wellington Iron Duke 341ml bottle 6 pack $10.95

And the deliberately misnamed (Labbatt) Beer Deals (http://www.beerdeals.ca/):
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee310/jonjubetube/beerdeals.jpg

[duckdown]

Trailhead isn't bad.. I might npick that up.

You know, I've never actually tried RED CAP after all these years

Is it pretty bad?

[Vich]

Nice deals, bad beer.

[ericmeiguo]

I only go for $24/24 like lakeport, or heineken. I don't think canadian, blue or bud deserve the price.

[JonJubeTube]

Trailhead isn't bad.. I might npick that up.

You know, I've never actually tried RED CAP after all these years

Is it pretty bad?

Not bad, but the stubby Red Cap bottle always reminds me of the McKenzie brothers' 12 Days of Christmas (http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/hoser/12days.html)!

http://media.urbandictionary.com/image/page/redcap-23597.jpg

[duckdown]

Not bad, but the stubby Red Cap bottle always reminds me of the McKenzie brothers' 12 Days of Christmas (http://www.execulink.com/~bobnet/hoser/12days.html)!

http://media.urbandictionary.com/image/page/redcap-23597.jpg

LOL yeah, good ol McKenzie brothers... Strange Brew baby

Maybe I'll try some of this Red Cap

[JiNuWiNe]

Just picked up 24 Carlsberg for $34.50.


"Probably the best beer in the world."

[duckdown]

Carlsberg is great

[Raddo]

6-packs of Corona are also on sale a $1 off -$11.35
500ml cans of Grosch are on sale too for $1.95 (reg.2.25)
500ml cans of Stella are on sale for $2.20 (reg. 2.35)
I think Pilsner Urquell 500ml cans are going for $2.10 (reg. 2.35)
Sleeman selection 12 packs (4 honey brown, 4 draught, and 4 ale) $2 off
and I think Amsterdam 6-pack of blondes are $1 off
:D

[M a t t]

PC beer is surprisingly REALLY good. I used to love the Laker but now it just tastes like day old shampoo.

PC is also 24 / 24.

Isn't Carlsberg your daddy's beer? :)

[Captain Snazzypants]

Go to the LCBO and get one of the specials, or regularly low-priced quality beers in the 500ml size such as:

DAB (my fav)
Sleeman's
Alexander Keiths

At $1.90-$2.10 and based on the volume (i.e. ~1.5x the volume) these great beers cost about the same as the 355ml bottles being promoted here.

Don't call me on the math - I've been enjoying too many DABs to calculate straight, but the point is that there is no real savings. You might as well have a great beer in a more satisfying size

P.S. The DAB is a good example of fine German beers where they observe the same German purity laws from the 1500's. The result is a damn good beer every time, end yoo kin tayke that to th BanK! :razz:

[Captain Snazzypants]

Grolsch tastes like someone pissed in your glass of rainwater. They'd have to be thirdsies or later not to end up in the drain...

[JonJubeTube]

PC beer is surprisingly REALLY good. I used to love the Laker but now it just tastes like day old shampoo.

PC is also 24 / 24.

Isn't Carlsberg your daddy's beer? :)

PC is all natural and is brewed by the Brick in KW.

[N8Magic]

LOL, you guys need to live here in Ottawa. The beer deals just across the border are insane!

24 Corona = $34.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Sleeman Clear = $26.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Grolsch = $32.xx
24 Bud Light/Blue Light/Canadian Light/Coors Light = $25.xx

etc, etc, etc...

:lol:

edit: "across the border" meaning the other side of the Ottawa River in Quebec.

[intelmic]

And the deliberately misnamed (Labbatt)

I don't get it... It's "Labatt" and I don't see it misnamed on the ad.

[Chr1s]

James Ready makes a decent beer.

It's 5.5% alcohol and 24 Bottles goes for $26.40; there are funny sayings under the cap as well. :)

[Nhiem]

PC beer is surprisingly REALLY good. I used to love the Laker but now it just tastes like day old shampoo.

PC is also 24 / 24.

Isn't Carlsberg your daddy's beer? :)

PC is brewed by Brick.

Aw nuts someone beat me to it.

90% of these deals have been ongoing for at least the past two weeks.

[simon_humber]

Bud & Canadian are coloured water drunk by people who don't like the taste of beer. An insult to the name of beer.

[rdlangevin]

I go over to the Gatineau Cosco and get 24 Keith's for $22.49. And the Grolsh is 24x500ml for $32.xx.

[LuckyOne]

James Ready makes a decent beer.

It's 5.5% alcohol and 24 Bottles goes for $26.40; there are funny sayings under the cap as well.

Brewed by Moosehead. Good stuff.

I'm a big Moosehead fan. 5 cases of Moosehead cans for 65 US or Canadian all-in. Duty is 58 Canadian. I keep the cans and take them back over the river. Works out to $22.20 a case versus $41 at the Beer Store.

[nonstop]

Thanks OP!

[CHINAdeals]

i prefer coors light.

but i'll drink anything

anyone who doesnt' like the taste of beer hasn't drank enough of it .. imo

[LuckyOne]

If you drink Coors Light, then you WILL drink anything, lol.:lol:

[duckdown]

james ready rocks, and i think it's 5.5%

never tried PC beer but would believe its good (pc products usually rock)

[JiNuWiNe]

Coors light? isn't that water?? :confused:

[noplayer10]

IMO the best beer for the best value is Maclay's. It is brewed by Sleemans, is $26.40/24. The taste is phenomenal with no after taste as well.

I also just picked up a KEGGER of Pabst Blue Ribbon (sh*tty name/great beer too) for $149 (after deposit) at Sleemans factory in Guelph where it is usually around $200 (AD) at the Beer store.

[duckdown]

IMO the best beer for the best value is Maclay's. It is brewed by Sleemans, is $26.40/24. The taste is phenomenal with no after taste as well.

I also just picked up a KEGGER of Pabst Blue Ribbon (sh*tty name/great beer too) for $149 (after deposit) at Sleemans factory in Guelph where it is usually around $200 (AD) at the Beer store.

Maclay's is a great buck-beer, probably the best even...

But Pabst is garbage

[ES_Revenge]

PC beer is surprisingly REALLY good. I used to love the Laker but now it just tastes like day old shampoo.

This is gonna be the obvious question here, but why have you been drinking day old shampoo??? :lol: And how do you even get day old shampoo, I'm sure it takes a lot longer than that to get from the plant to the store. Unless you work at like Johnson&Johnson or something, it would be hard to get. Also does freshly made shampoo taste any better?

Another thing that made me laugh was the thread title... Certainly a better thread than the "(Fake) Beer Deals (Quebec)" thread. :lol: ;)

[ATLien69]

Ahhh you poor 'ole Canuks don't know what real beer tastes like...lol... I only drink the real original Euro stuff! The way it was meant to taste, bitter as hell!

[JonJubeTube]

I don't get it... It's "Labatt" and I don't see it misnamed on the ad.

The website is called beerdeals.ca. Given that it is operated by Labbatts and advertises only their own deals, it should be called Labbattbeerdeals.ca - thus the use of the term "misnamed."

Should it be deemed 'misleading'?

BTW: Why are Canadians/Ontarians protecting the Beer Store monopoly when it is majority controlled by two foreign multinationals - Interbrew and Coors?

What is the justification behind all the interprovincial trade barriers that make beer even more expensive?

[ChromeSushi]

I go over to the Gatineau Cosco and get 24 Keith's for $22.49. And the Grolsh is 24x500ml for $32.xx.

I have been in Ottawa for 4 years, and just recently discovered I have been overpaying for beer. Gatineau Costco FTW!

[Chris V]

Heard Perth has a brewing company. Anyone tried???
There's an ad on the local paper for $115 for 6x24 @ $19.17/case. Thinking of getting some if it's half decent...
I'm a premium beer drinker for the first few then anything goes!
Agree with Maclays, decent beer on a budget.....11 cases of empties in the garage!

[PHR0898]

LOL yeah, good ol McKenzie brothers... Strange Brew baby

Maybe I'll try some of this Red Cap

I had 12 over New Year with my BIL...its OK...more for the nostalgia value of the stubbies....for my money, I'd stick with Creemore or Wellington.

[PHR0898]

Ahhh you poor 'ole Canuks don't know what real beer tastes like...lol... I only drink the real original Euro stuff! The way it was meant to taste, bitter as hell!


IMHO, a beer brewed in limited quantities in Ontario that is consumed w/o the fact that it has travelled by ship from Europe is better tasting (and a smaller carbon footprint) than your fancy schmanzy euro lagers.

[whitethunder]

wheres the deals on hoegaarden ??

[desmundo]

LOL, you guys need to live here in Ottawa. The beer deals just across the border are insane!

24 Corona = $34.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Sleeman Clear = $26.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Grolsch = $32.xx
24 Bud Light/Blue Light/Canadian Light/Coors Light = $25.xx

etc, etc, etc...

:lol:

edit: "across the border" meaning the other side of the Ottawa River in Quebec.

This is exactly what I was gonna inject here, I never pay anymore than $22.00 (plus tax and deposit) on beer, those that are not in the know get yourself across the border and visit Aylmer, QC. On front street we have a rocking depaneur that cannot be beat, in the summer you can get a 24 of coors light for 20$. Of course the caveat here is that beer is only sold for consumption in the province where it is purchased.

Interestingly enough wine is much cheaper in Ontario than Quebec, for instance a nice Brouilly (Georges du Beouf) 2006, goes for $19.85 in QC where it can be got for $16.15 in ON, the logic of this is lost on me!

[LuckyOne]

Hey all you Maclays fans. I love it too, but have been turned on to another good brew (case # 4!).

Muskoka Lager is $25.90 all-in, and it tastes fantastic!

Read about it here: Award Winner! (http://www.bracebridgeexaminer.com/muskokanews/article/56006)

Thats not to say I won't go back to Maclays, because I will... it is one easy drinker, but the Muskoka is some good stuff.

[whitethunder]

If people are willing to travel for cheap beer, I'll add this too then, if anyone else lives close enough to the US border (like me), you can get a 30 pack of blue / coors light / bud whatever for around 20 bucks US. Whenever I go shopping over the border I'll always try to grab 2 or 3 30 packs to stock up on, its basically half price. I like black rock beverages, on the way to the BUF airport of various BUf shopping centers, you can even get a 30 pack of red dog or Milwaukee's Best for around 10 - 12 bucks. Be warned though, the cheap price of that beer will result in the high price of a hardcore hangover the next day.

Don't say I didn't warn you !!

[danthemightyone]

LOL, you guys need to live here in Ottawa. The beer deals just across the border are insane!

24 Corona = $34.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Sleeman Clear = $26.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Grolsch = $32.xx
24 Bud Light/Blue Light/Canadian Light/Coors Light = $25.xx

etc, etc, etc...

:lol:

edit: "across the border" meaning the other side of the Ottawa River in Quebec.

This is exactly what I was gonna inject here, I never pay anymore than $22.00 (plus tax and deposit) on beer, those that are not in the know get yourself across the border and visit Aylmer, QC. On front street we have a rocking depaneur that cannot be beat, in the summer you can get a 24 of coors light for 20$. Of course the caveat here is that beer is only sold for consumption in the province where it is purchased.

Interestingly enough wine is much cheaper in Ontario than Quebec, for instance a nice Brouilly (Georges du Beouf) 2006, goes for $19.85 in QC where it can be got for $16.15 in ON, the logic of this is lost on me!

Any more detailed information, guys? :) Like name of a decent store, or is it like that in every store in Gatineau area?

[game_fanatic]

Ahhh you poor 'ole Canuks don't know what real beer tastes like...lol... I only drink the real original Euro stuff! The way it was meant to taste, bitter as hell!

Yeah something about Euro beer makes it awesome...when I was in France and Belgium Stella was fantastic from the tap, but back in Ontario when I get dem tall boys they are not very good:|

PC beer is quite awesome, and Brava is a great beer too! $29.95 for a 24, or better yet, 2-12's for $29.90!

And on a side note, it doesn't make sense for some to take a trip to Quebec/the States to buy beer. Obviously if you need something else, then give'r, but unfortunately I'm stuck paying slightly inflated Ontario beer prices

[longo]

I have been in Ottawa for 4 years, and just recently discovered I have been overpaying for beer. Gatineau Costco FTW!

Apparently I've been a fool all my life :(

[Iggynatz]

I'm generally not happy with the quality of Canadian beers. You can get some nice ones from various microbrews, but they are often hard to come by. McCauslin makes some nice ones. I generally stick to German Weizen beers or Belgian Abbey's. I have heard that you can bypass the LCBO and buy directly from an importer, which can save you big bucks with these beers that you have to buy one at a time from the LCBO. Does anybody on here know anything about this?

[JonJubeTube]

I'm generally not happy with the quality of Canadian beers. You can get some nice ones from various microbrews, but they are often hard to come by. McCauslin makes some nice ones. I generally stick to German Weizen beers or Belgian Abbey's. I have heard that you can bypass the LCBO and buy directly from an importer, which can save you big bucks with these beers that you have to buy one at a time from the LCBO. Does anybody on here know anything about this?

The LLBO price for the Trappist beers that they carry is as about as low as you can get without being an actual monk.

You can try the special orders/consignment orders desk at the LLBO:
http://www.lcbo.com/programs_services/private_ordering/content_priv_ordering.shtml
that said... "Typically the final cost per bottle of the product will be approximately three to four times higher than the retail price in the country of origin after application of exchange rates, LCBO mark up, freight, taxes and duty. "

Trade information:
http://www.lcbotrade.com/selling_beer.htm

Or if you know people at restaurants, they can special order wines direct, but there might be exceptions on beers.

By some prohibitionist twist, apparently imported beer that is available for sale at The Beer Store is actually imported by the LCBO and then sold to Brewers Retail.

[newfbc]

LOL, you guys need to live here in Ottawa. The beer deals just across the border are insane!

24 Corona = $34.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Sleeman Clear = $26.xx taxes and deposit in
24 Grolsch = $32.xx
24 Bud Light/Blue Light/Canadian Light/Coors Light = $25.xx

etc, etc, etc...

:lol:

edit: "across the border" meaning the other side of the Ottawa River in Quebec.

I'm currently in Puerto Vallarta.. Corona is 75 cents a bottle in the corner stores... same price as a bottle of Coke.. and you can walk out of the store and drink it in the street.. lol.

Ron.

[snoopyben]

If people are willing to travel for cheap beer, I'll add this too then, if anyone else lives close enough to the US border (like me), you can get a 30 pack of blue / coors light / bud whatever for around 20 bucks US. Whenever I go shopping over the border I'll always try to grab 2 or 3 30 packs to stock up on, its basically half price. I like black rock beverages, on the way to the BUF airport of various BUf shopping centers, you can even get a 30 pack of red dog or Milwaukee's Best for around 10 - 12 bucks. Be warned though, the cheap price of that beer will result in the high price of a hardcore hangover the next day.

Don't say I didn't warn you !!

Have u ever get nailed by canadian customs? I don't think you can bring back any alcohol if you do a day trip. They'll fine you and confiscate everything

[N8Magic]

Any more detailed information, guys? :) Like name of a decent store, or is it like that in every store in Gatineau area?

The two most popular stores are:

Depanneur Rapido - 43, RUE FRONT, AYLMER, QC
Marche Gravelle (Le Roi de Biere) - 29, RUE DALHOUSIE, AYLMER, QC

Both are small variety stores with HUGE walk in beer coolers. Both have regular sale items as well. I prefer Rapido myself, but many swear by Marche Gravelle.

[LuckyOne]

Have u ever get nailed by canadian customs? I don't think you can bring back any alcohol if you do a day trip. They'll fine you and confiscate everything

See post #20.

I'm in the States for on average 15 minutes each trip. You just declare your purchases. Its $65 for 5 cases of Moosehead cans (vs. $41 a case at the Beer Store). Duty is roughly $58, depending on the dollar.

Customs on both sides are used to it for sure. Both ways you just say the magic words - 'beer run', and everybody knows the score. Of course you could NOT declare it, but thats a big, dumb risk to take.

[fiendy]

Have u ever get nailed by canadian customs? I don't think you can bring back any alcohol if you do a day trip. They'll fine you and confiscate everything

Just a personal experience, we take trips to Bills games once or twice a year.
Sometimes they let you bring back your 'leftovers', i.e. less than a case each and don't make you pay duty.

If you buy right before the border, declare it and pay duty...

Two cases of cans of keith's (which have more mL than bottles)... 2 cases were $26 or so.

If they get you to pay duty, add another $13.xx a case.... so for a case which would cost around $41 in canada, can be had for under $27 all in.

Which is only really good to get 'premium' beer at budget prices, not that great of a deal if you just buy Maclays like I do normally.

Now mind you, that might not be worth the drive, but when I'm there anyway, there's no incentive for me not to pick up a case.

btw, this won't work with liquor, duties are huge.

[beesknees]

I'm generally not happy with the quality of Canadian beers. You can get some nice ones from various microbrews, but they are often hard to come by. McCauslin makes some nice ones. I generally stick to German Weizen beers or Belgian Abbey's. I have heard that you can bypass the LCBO and buy directly from an importer, which can save you big bucks with these beers that you have to buy one at a time from the LCBO. Does anybody on here know anything about this?

Check out the forums on http://www.bartowel.com - there's a bunch of the major ontario beer importers that post on there that can hook you up.

Generally the savings are not that big (officially all alcohol goes through the lcbo anyways for pricing/testing/etc), but availability is better.

[boo4842]

BTW: Why are Canadians/Ontarians protecting the Beer Store monopoly when it is majority controlled by two foreign multinationals - Interbrew and Coors?

Its not a majority controlled by two foreign multinationals!!

Its a MONOPOLY controlled by THREE foreign multinationals. (It is also owned by Sleeman which is owned by the Japanese Sapporo Brewery.)

Don't even get me started on the BS that is 'The Beer Store'

I bought an 18 pack of bud Sunday night at 11pm in the states and cost me $9.99. Its over double the price here and I have to drive across town to get it. (before 9pm of course)

It all stems from the prohibition era... I mean are we still using the same attitudes since the 1920's?

83% of every dollar spent on liquor goes to markup and taxes and almost 70% of every dollar on beer sales...

[Octavius]

Just a personal experience, we take trips to Bills games once or twice a year.
Sometimes they let you bring back your 'leftovers', i.e. less than a case each and don't make you pay duty.

If you buy right before the border, declare it and pay duty...

Two cases of cans of keith's (which have more mL than bottles)... 2 cases were $26 or so.

If they get you to pay duty, add another $13.xx a case.... so for a case which would cost around $41 in canada, can be had for under $27 all in.

Which is only really good to get 'premium' beer at budget prices, not that great of a deal if you just buy Maclays like I do normally.

Now mind you, that might not be worth the drive, but when I'm there anyway, there's no incentive for me not to pick up a case.

btw, this won't work with liquor, duties are huge.

I always found this strange...

It's cheaper to buy Canadian "Premium" Beer in the states then it is to buy Canadian "Premium" Beer in Canada.

Rather annoying since Keiths is what I typically drink - oh well >:(

I live like 2 hours away from the US Border, not really worth it for me to go out of my way...but thankfully I live only 20 minutes away from the Quebec Border...so it's better than nothing.

I actually had no idea alcohol was cheaper in Quebec then in Ontario until this thread - now I know (and knowing is half the battle) ;)

[krazykanuck]

I'm happy to live in Quebec where beer costs me 21-25$ for a case of 24!

[midget_man]

I'm happy to live in Quebec where beer costs me 21-25$ for a case of 24!

Yeah, that may be true,.........but you have to put up with the late last call hours, the liberated sexual attitudes of Quebecois women and the nudie bars on every corner............um wait..........where was I going with this????


Maybe I meant Celine Dion, Poutine Breath and that "Sol the Clown smell" in Hull.

[BruceP]

Check out the forums on http://www.bartowel.com - there's a bunch of the major ontario beer importers that post on there that can hook you up.

Generally the savings are not that big (officially all alcohol goes through the lcbo anyways for pricing/testing/etc), but availability is better.

Beesknees is right. The Bartowel is an excellent source of information on this topic. They have a forum devoted to private ordering. You only save money if you order something that is sold in bars or restaurants and not in the LCBO stores. There really is no point if you can already find it in the store.

The real advantage is selection because you can order products not carried by the LCBO or the Beerstore. But it is up to you to find an importer that carries a product you want and is willing to do a private order.

[Pandamonium]

Boreale (Quebec microbrew) 12 pack mixer for $13 (+taxes and deposit) FTW. You can keep the Corona and Heineken.

[LuckyOne]

Boreale (Quebec microbrew) 12 pack mixer for $13 (+taxes and deposit) FTW. You can keep the Corona and Heineken.

I like trying everything other than domestic.. Is this Boreale available in Canada?... I mean Ontario, lol?

The Unibroe stuff like Maudite and Trois Pistoles is pretty awesome.