Garrison Imperial IPA Finally In Ontario

I can remember drinking this beer for the first time ever back in 2007. Some beers stick out in memory more than others when factors like - your experience consuming it, the flavours presented in it, the company your shared it with, etc., stand out.  The Garrison Imperial IPA (used to be called Imperial Pale Ale) is one of those beers for me. I even named it my favourite beer of 2007!

I remember getting the package in the mail from Halifax and I remember the release of that great hop aroma the minute I opened it (the beer, not the box). A few weeks later the beer won Beer of the Year at the 2007 Canadian Brewing Awards and former Garrison brewer, Greg Nash, drove from Halifax with a trunk full of cases, some of those had my name on them. We drank some at the location the CBAs were being held at, in the company of many brewing industry representatives, and the discussion between everyone, while drinking the beer, added to an already excellent night. (The beer was also named Beer of the Year at the 2008 CBAs)

But this isn't about me. Fast forward three years and a bit. Cass Enright of Bar Towel.com has become an agent for Garrison Brewing Co. in Ontario and it was with great pleasure that Enright could finally post the following message on his website (Bar Towel):

From Enright
As part of the LCBO’s Autumn Ales beer release, we are thrilled to say that Garrison Imperial I.P.A. from Halifax, Nova Scotia is rolling out to the shelves for purchase. The Bar Towel, through our partner Cecktor Limited, is the agent for Garrison in Ontario and has been documenting the experience of importing through the Free Our Beer project. You can find which LCBO stores currently have stock here.

It has been nearly a year in the works to get this beer to LCBO store shelves and we are very happy it is here. It is truly a fantastic beer, a two-time Canadian Beer of the Year at the Canadian Brewing Awards and one of the most regarded IPAs in Canada.

Garrison Imperial I.P.A. has started hitting the store shelves this week and will sell for $4.25 per 500 mL bottle. It is joined in this seasonal release by Orval Trappist Ale, Trafalgar Smoked Oatmeal Stout, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, Dieu du Ciel! Peche Mortel, Southern Tier Choklat, Belhaven Scottish Stout, Dark Star Espresso Stout, Cannery Brewing Blackberry Porter, Wychwood Wychcraft, Innis & Gunn Limited Edition Highland Cask, Lakes of Muskoka Harvest Ale and Samuel Smith’s Organic Cider. All of the beers should be hitting the store shelves now.

P.S. as mentioned above, and for full disclosure, The Bar Towel is behind the importing of this beer. And we can tell you from our dealings with the LCBO that if you want to see more Garrison in Ontario, please buy some. You can find after the break the complete list of LCBO stores that will be receiving Garrison IIPA (plus the other Autumn Ales releases).

*Congratulations, Cass!