Novocastrian

I refer you to this thread.... http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=705589

Atlantic Xpat

The NLC here (state owned, communist control of happy juice for the proletariat) has at least moved beyond the handing you booze in a paper bag to some rather nice retail stores. They have excellent wine selections and are getting better with beer. And where else in Canada can you find such a large rum selection as in Newfoundland?

Prices are high though. Can't speak for BlueStar or other pap, but that 500ml can of Pride that dbd33 buys for $2.5 in ON costs me upwards of $3.50. 500mls from the local micro costs $6 or so with a buck fifty rebate on the bottle. Drinkable wine is $12 an up with $14-18 the sweet spot for us.

Some local beer snobs have recently started an "Artisanal beer club" where they organise a monthly purchase through the NLC and one can sign up to reserve x number of bottles to purchase at ones local store. So far they seem to be obsessed with Quebec micro's and big bottles of very strong beer. I hope they move on to British stuff soon enough.

Novocastrian

Ah, yes. I well remember back in the early 80's when you had to check, with LCBO supplied pencils, what you wanted among the, oh yes, dozens of available options. Then you handed your slip of paper to a civil servant who tut tutted a bit and then told you to wait. Your order eventually emerged from the back-room in a brown paper bag, and you were allowed to leave with your tail (as it were) between your legs, hopefully feeling terribly guilty.

Them wos the daze.

umpalumpa

Shiraz - good enough for midweek drinking

Souvy

A 24 of domestic swill costs about $23 (plus tax and deposit), regardless of where you buy it. We mainly buy wine from the SAQ Depot and buy by the case because there is a 15% discount on bulk purchases. The stuff we are drinking at the moment comes from Argentina. It's about $9 a bottle and it's very nice.

chanceUK

do you do this justkidding? I'm planning on getting some kit for my other halfs xmas present

any tips on essential/non-essential equipment?

Denhamgirl

okay, so since it's pretty much a given that we get ripped off for booze and my nerves can only take so much smuggling across the border, has anyone actually tried brewing their own beer or wine? It's something the husband and I have thought about but have heard bad things about the end results. I have one work colleague though who makes her own red wine and she reckons it's okay as long as you have it as the second or third bottle. Anyone with experience of this (in Canada)?

dbd33

Beer, yes, some success with that though it didn't work out markedly cheaper than buying Pride. No one makes drinkable red wine at home anywhere.

Almost Canadian

I understand you drink Cotes du Rhone wine (I seem to recall you and that Novo chap discussing this on a thread recently. My apologies if I have you mixed up with another). If you have the stomach for that, one assumes you have the stomach to cope with home made red wine.

To those that wish to brew their own wine: steer clear of the kits sold in supermarkets. I suggest you go along to a local brew shop and look at the "premium" kits. It is possible to obtain kits that work out around $3-$5 a bottle, that will produce wine that will easily compete with a bottle that would cost $15-$20 in a liquor store (Alberta prices).

Novocastrian

Oh, the ignorance!

Please try two of the following before expressing an opinion which is likely based on the stuff you can buy at whatever the LCBO is called in darkest Alberta.

Rasteau
Vacqueras
Chateau-neuf-du-pape
Gigondas

MillieF

Oddly enough when I lived in the Emirates, I had an alcohol licence which allowed me, as a Christian, to buy up to the value of 10% of my basic salary in alcohol per month...and it was still cheaper than Canada! I have been thinking of a quick visit to Quebec, with a BIG coat, prior to Christmas, my husband is coming home and I havent seen him for three months, so a few glasses of wine may be in order. Is it much cheaper in Quebec? I don't drink beer, but I do miss reasonably priced wine, and whiskey. Strange thing is, when it's priced so high, I almost have more of a desire to drink...when I was surrounded by good, reasonably priced alcohol I didn't drink that much.

Almost Canadian

Not sure what you are getting at here. I am sure you will accept there are many varietals of wine produced by Cotes du Rhone.

I was responding to the comment that home made red wine is undrinkable. I don't believe that to be the case at all. In any event, if the drinker likes the wine being consumed, that is all that matters is it not? We could, of course, get into a pissing match in relation to who consumes what wine but, IMVHO, that is a little infantile

Novocastrian

You may think you were responding to a remark about home made reds but in fact you took a side swipe at an AOC about which you appear to be rather ignorant.

BTW all Cotes du Rhones are a blend of varietals, predominantly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.

dbd33

I can usually keep it down, yes.

Oink

Thats another piss off over here, you can't get proper lemonade so we have to put 7-Up or Sprite in our wine when we want a nice glass of spritzer.