Grading Toronto LCBOs By Beer Selection

As some of you know, I'm a bit of a beer aficionado (or snob) and I can be very selective about the beers I choose to spend money on. For this reason, I've decided to compare some of Toronto's different LCBOs (what we call liquor stores, for those of you outside of Ontario) and see how they stack up in terms of variety, availability and other factors. School grades apply (A to F)

Here are a few LCBOs in no particular order.

Danforth/Greenwood

When I first moved to the east end of Toronto this past September, my first trip to this location was actually exciting. (Yeah, I have a problem) Seriously though, I was delighted to discover many of my personal favourites here: Denison's Weissbier, Muskoka Cream Ale and Weihenstephaner. Bizarrely, the once plentiful options at this store have dwindled over the past several months. They replaced Denison's with Miller Light (yep), and they're almost always out of anything that isn't sold at sporting events. The space inside is rather compact, so I can understand the limitations coming from that. I just wish Canadian didn't have it's own damn shelf.


Beer Grade: D+ 

Leaside

The beer section is buried in the corner (seems that's the case with most locations, now that I think about it) but once you find it you're not likely to be disappointed. Seasonal beers and local microbrews are well represented, it seems like they hardly run low on anything, and perhaps best of all most of it is on a refrigerated shelf. The only flaws might be that international beers could be better represented (or chilled), and also Leaside is damn hard to get to without a car or a good bicycle.

Beer Grade: A- (Denisons Weissbier +1 bonus point)

Coxwell/O'Connor

On the outside, it doesn't look like much. Actually it looks pretty bad, like the liquor store you imagine your neighbourhood hobo would go to after scrounging enough change for some Laker Ice. On the inside, it looks dated. Blank walls, old shelves and windows, the whole place feeling kind of boxy and square. The beer selection though is excellent. The rare but delicious Wellington Imperial Russian Stout is usually there, along with a solid assortment of Ontario's well known craft breweries. My only complaint (aside from the asthetics of the place) would be that many of the beers aren't cold, so you'd have to wait for a bit once you get home.

Beer Grade: B (Denisons Weissbier +1 bonus point)

East York Town Centre

Yeah it's in a mall, and a kind of bland outdated one at that, but come on. There is almost nothing here for somebody of discerning or even ordinary taste. It's small, cramped, and you can probably count the number of different beers they have before you even approach the shelf. At least there's bowling nearby.


Beer Grade: F
 

 
Summerhill

If you haven't been, go. If you have, go again.

Beer Grade: A+++ (Denisons Weissbier +1 bonus point)