A week off and I wanted to do another run into Syracuse for some important research. My inquiries with the Homebrewers Digest had let me know that the two spots to check out for micro-brew selection were the Galeville Grocery and Party Source. Both are located on decent strips, the Old Liverpool Road and Erie Blvd Easy respectively, which should not pose as a drag for anyone if you were just running in while others waited in the car. Both have a good but somewhat different selection, Galeville having perhaps more US and NY micros while Party Source has a better Belgians section. Both have decent prices for US micros running at 7 bucks USD a six-pack and twelves for 13.49 USD. Even with the currency exchange, US tax, US deposit, Canadian Federal sales tax, Canadian duty, Canadian Provincial sale tax and LCBO mark-up, a six ends up at around 12 bucks Canadian which is what you would pay for a US micro if the LCBO would sell it to you...which it won't. I focused on Smuttynose from New Hampshire as well as New York's Brooklyn and Cooperstown. On thing that Party Source does that is nice is that it breaks up cases so you can mix your own 12-pack from any number of brewerys' products. Maybe next time. Ontario's amazingly accurately named Beer Store actually had this service ten years ago in a separate serve yourself cooler called the mixed six or so but ditched it soon after. The Galeville Grocery, on the other hand will cut and sell you a steak. Gotta like that.

Expect reviews. The last review of Labatt 50 has put me in a bad frame of mind so hopefully a Smuttynose Old Dog will put me back in shape.