In the email this evening was this crisis of the soul:
I'm participating in a disc golf tournament tomorrow at Jacques Cartier Park in Gatineau and one of the side contests is a closest to the pin contest. Since disc golf is for hippies and hooligans who don't like the cost and snobbery of "real golf" (refered to by disc golfers as"'whiteball" whereas disc golf is "flatball") the closest to the pin contest involes beer. Basically, everyone who wants to participate chips in a can or bottle of decent beer (it can't be anything from a twelve pack or a domestic 6 pack) and the person who lands the closest shot to the designated hole/basket during the day takes home all the beer. There are 72 people playing and I suspect at least half will donating beer for the cause.I am honoured to be asked and advised to move on the St. Peter's. Quality. I am a little less than a fan of the Monty Python - balance lacking as I recall. I also recommended the Fuller's 1845 and got this response right back:This is the long way of saying that when I was at the LCBO this evening I was looking for a beer to donate and a couple to try and couldn't recall any of your reviews. I wanted something novel for the contest so I grabbed something I hadn't seen before: Monty Python's Holy Grail which is "tempered over burning witches." Have you ever heard of it? It's approved by Monty Python and friends and is brewed by the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, Yorkshire. My second choice was fairly safe because I've heard a friend describe it as his favourite European beer- Czechvar. Any thoughts? My third was based on packaging as much as anything and I had a vague feeling you'd reviewed it recently, or at least something by the company. I grabbed a bottle of St Peter's Summer Ale (strong ale, 6.5%). the flask shaped bottle and simple label sold me. Have you had it?
I suppose the most important question is, which are worth sipping this evening and which should be given away. The Monty Python beer is a great novelty contribution but I'm tempted to try it myself. Of course if I win the whole lot of beer tomorrow it won't matter.
The 1845 was right beside the St Peter's. I almost got it instead. I'll put it on my list for next time. Thanks. Go Sox!I am verklempt. Helping others is what I do. Helping others with beer decisions is what I was born to do. Three university degrees and 24 years of schooling and I know my strengths, my bliss. Go Sox indeed.

Comments
Alan - September 24, 2004 9:20 PM
I forgot to say anything about the Czechvar. It is the new name for the real Budweiser form Budweis, Bohemia - required after a lawsuit by the name stealing Yanqui-dogs. I have never had Czechvar that I can recall as there is always Pilsner Urquell next to it which is to lager what Guinness is to stout and perhaps all of ale-dom.
Nicholas - September 24, 2004 10:03 PM
The Holy <strike>gr</strike>ail is pretty good, if you like a fairly hoppy English ale. If your taste runs more to Canadian lager, the Czechvar is a better match for you. Just my 0.02 Cdn.
Nils Ling - September 24, 2004 10:22 PM
What, no Alpine ...?
Alan - September 24, 2004 10:48 PM
'pine...mmmmm....'pine.
Nicholas: I think that you would find other English Pale Ales at the LCBO better. Even the other Black Sheep ales, like Riggwelter, are better balanced. I am a little at a loss to understand why Holy Grail is brewed as it is. I would be happy, however, if someone would organize a taste test for us to confirm my beliefs as this is a summer of 2003 recollection.
Ben - September 25, 2004 9:07 PM
Keep in mind that as I try very hard to type this I am at least 2.5 if not 3 sheets to the wind after having played disc golf all day and then having consumed roughly a litre of Molson Dry (the best beer available at the depaneur, the alternatives were Wildcat and Budweiser) on an empty stomache, but I am now drinking the Monty Python Holy Grail/Ail and it indeed sucks. It's marginally better than the Molson Dry, and that's not much of a compliment.
Alan - September 25, 2004 10:17 PM
Excellent reporting from the brink, Ben.