Occasions Magazine - a horrid pile of shit

[mr x]

This highlights another issue with this article. By not having a local person write this article, you really didn't understand that what you were writing was not reflected in the NSLC stores as Chalmers mentioned above.

[jason.loxton]

While it is a good idea for a store like the NSLC to arrange by beer style, and to educate the public that there are other styles, I think that their '6 categories' make a mockery of this. They aren't, for the most part, divisions at all, but rather subdivisions of the one existing dominant style: American Lager. This seems to be, like Molson's 'micro carbonation', just a marketing gimick, a way to repackage the current products to fool those who might be interested in exploring to stay exactly where they are. (You drink Coors Light you say? Why not try this radically different beer: Molson Canadian. It's a whole different style!) Honestly, I think that the cynicism of their categories is evidenced by the fact that they don't even remotely cover the span of their own inventory: the NSLC carries Belgians, and bocks, and porters, and wood aged beer, and big IPAs, and European pilsners, etc., etc.,etc. They clearly are not even trying to help their customers discover their own less mainstream stock, let alone get into the world not covered by current offerings.

[mr x]

Who invented this 6 styles of beer anyway? Did NSLC come up with that on their own? Please don't tell me they paid somebody to think that up.....

[sleepyjamie]

My friend works at nslc headquarters and he tells me about the ridiculousness that goes on in the marketing departments. Everything from being bribed by large breweries, to theft, and brown nosing.

It's a typical high school corporation.

[spears104]

The six beer styles are quite the joke. While looking at the Beers of the World section, I couldn't help but notice that Fuller's London Porter is in the same "Rich and Malty" category as Garrison Imperial IPA. Now there are two similar beers! In every move they make they really show their incompetence in the area of beer. Have you ever chatted with the "beer expert" at the store. I have at several locations and it was a pretty disappointing experience. I was told that the employees get to take home wine to try so that they know the product, I guess they don't do that with beer. About a year an a half ago they moved all of the unpasteurized 500 mL bottles (Garrison and Propeller stuff) from the cold room out to the Beers of the World display. When I questioned them why they weren't storing the beers that said "keep refrigerated" on the label in the cold room they said, "Halifax told them to."

They really need to get someone that knows what they are doing to run the beer program for them. They probably won't bother as it's the people that run in to buy the same 2-4 of Keith's every week that are paying the bills.

[jason.loxton]

Spears104: Ha! I was just in the NSLC and had a chance to see the styles in action. I think that the Fuller's Porter was actually in the 'Full Flavoured and Robust' category (or something like that), but I noticed that the Garrison IIPA and the St. Ambrose Pale Ale were sitting pretty close to each other, both categorized and "Rich and Malty". That's super helpful.

[benwedge]

It seems NSLC caters to the regulars who simply come in and buy their 12 pack of Keiths because the high volume products is what pays the bills.

This is true in almost any industry. 80% of product volume tends to be occupied by 10-20% of SKUs, and 1% of volume made up of 5-10% of SKUs, with the remaining 19% by the ~85% of remaining SKUs. I have the exact numbers for the NSLC but I don't know that I'm allowed to share them until my senior project is published.

[spears104]

Spears104: Ha! I was just in the NSLC and had a chance to see the styles in action. I think that the Fuller's Porter was actually in the 'Full Flavoured and Robust' category (or something like that), but I noticed that the Garrison IIPA and the St. Ambrose Pale Ale were sitting pretty close to each other, both categorized and "Rich and Malty". That's super helpful.

I think you are right, but I remember seeing completely different beers in the same catagory. I would have added atleast one more catagory like "hop forward" or something like that.

[Brewnoser]

It is interesting to see that Mr. Riley was listening....

The Cicerone designation is an interesting story in how a BJCP Beer Judge, expert homebrewer and, I think, craft brewer decided to create a new designation out of thin air. His name is Ray Daniels. http://www.brewerspublications.com/authors/ray-daniels/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I judged with him back in the early 90's as we were both new members of the BJCP trying to get points. I think in Milwaukee.

The cicerone designation fills a void in that although Sommeliers are trained in beer, wine and spirits (and cigars too) the beer part is too often ignored in their restaurants. Some are very good, but really, beer is under promoted.

The program focusses on more than beer knowledge and includes a lot of serving, set up and handling. Which is so often missing in the food and beverage world. I think cas ale management is included. It's for people who work in bars and restaurants.

At the same time, it is not to be mistaken for any specific expertise in judging beer. Yes, the people who have passed it will be above average, but in the Toronto area, I'd trust Paul Dickey's opinions on beer, and Will Prudhomme's on beer and food, above anyone. Paul is a BJCP Grand Master judge, Will is in training for his Master Sommelier designation and is very much a beer guy. He's the head Sommelier for the Oliver and Bonacini restaurants and is the Sommelier at Canoe, one of the top restaurants in Canada. The beers on tap there are always fun and varied when I've been.

If you want to complain about Occasions, the editor is Mark Dewolf, the local sommelier instructor and the new President of the local Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers. (I sit on that board). Occasions is a "complex" thing. Not a lot more than a glossy informercial. The guy who used to call the shots recently got canned, so maybe it will get better. Mark struggles to find a place between competent and pleasing to his advertisers.

[BobbyOK]

The guy who used to call the shots recently got canned, so maybe it will get better.

They fired Rockwell?

[brufrog]

I don't read the mag often, but have started writing occasionally (haha) for them again, for the NB issue anyway. Not sure if my stories got used in NS too. I used to be blackballed from it (because of my pro-privatization stance, I assume) but they are using me again. I have not been edited badly. I know Bobby had some issues with that.

The truth is that people like me need to write for whoever will take our articles. There is not much $ in booze writing, especially down east, and few outlets, so I need to aggressively seek out clients. With papers losing money & dropping writers, magazines going out of business, and the CBC having their budget slashed, times are tough. I may have to start a nanobrewery!

[mr x]

I'd say that's the better choice.

[brufrog]

I'd say that's the better choice.

I'd consider it if I got a big inheritance

[mr x]

Pfffft, all that's needed is investor's.

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

[canuck]

I don't read the mag often, but have started writing occasionally (haha) for them again, for the NB issue anyway. Not sure if my stories got used in NS too. I used to be blackballed from it (because of my pro-privatization stance, I assume) but they are using me again. I have not been edited badly. I know Bobby had some issues with that.

The truth is that people like me need to write for whoever will take our articles. There is not much $ in booze writing, especially down east, and few outlets, so I need to aggressively seek out clients. With papers losing money & dropping writers, magazines going out of business, and the CBC having their budget slashed, times are tough. I may have to start a nanobrewery!

We can partner up, Craig!

[brufrog]

I'd just get in the way Shane! Unless you need me to write your ads. I imagine you'll have at least a million $ ad budget right? Or, pay me $100 a month + beer and I'll manage your social media