Fizzy carbonation bubbles crackle when pouring elegantly flowing pale Blonde with heady 6% alcohol kick. Cloudy smoothie cushions bright lemon-orange peel nose, dry fruity spicing, and unobtrusive hop bittering with clove-coriander before settling into mellow lemon lime finish. Subtly versatile ale reminiscent of a sourball candy works fine as either aperitif or digestif.
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LA BINCHOISE ARTISANAL AMBER ALE
Turbid rust-hued artisan-watered Belgian with aromatic yellow-fruited clove spicing absorbed by sour prune or plum wine mouthfeel. Softly textured considering well disguised 9% alcohol content, yet more robust than brewers’ Blonde and Brown Ales. Perfect melange of barleywine, chocolate cake, and morning dew accent busy finish.
(VOSGES) LA BETE DES VOSGES
Superb 8% alcohol-licked French amber ale brings sweet cereal grain waft to chewy butterscotch-chocolate malting, rich banana-creamed cherry vanilla accrual, and chipper hop prickle. Affluent barleywine midst picks up hazelnut-chestnut-almond influence and minor quince-tangerine-apricot tinge, adding further complexity.
LABATT’S STERLING LIGHT LAGER
Indistinct clear-toned light lager retains dry-bodied crispness, bland watery flow, and mildly bitter hopping. But obstructive carbonation, fleck popcorn tedium, and solvent nature put this one step above useless Lite beers and cloy Bud.
LABATT’S PORTER
Cascading brown bubbles settle at maroon head as sweet chocolate nose befits creamy vanilla surge, chalky cocoa mustiness, and dusky barleymalt traipse. But dank raisin-plum finish lacks authority and cloying maple sugaring scoffs powdered mocha acridity.
LABATT’S NORDIC NON-ALCOHOLIC BREW
Dank musty malt sweetness envelops nasty sour diacetyl funk invading near-acidic finish. But light doughy nuance and pertinent crisp carbonation save clear-toned mouthwash from being deplorable.
LABATT’S LUCKY LAGER
Lame light-bodied lager with gnarly 4.8% alcohol and quick hop bite flattens out. Fizzy sugar surge and deflective malt chintz ultimately inconsequential.
LABATT’S ICE
Miserable pale-toned pearl-headed alcohol-scorned oil-canned ice brew negatively affected by horrid corn syrup mouthfeel and scuzzy malt pungency. Flatulent fizz flattens forgettable flimsy finish.
LABATT’S 50 CREAM ALE
A different version of Labatt 50 to celebrate brewers’ half-century mark. Fizzy raspberry spritz, floral fruit scamper, and grain-malted tranquility consume front end. Short-lived meringue finish recalls spicier red ales, but expected creaminess lacks.
LABATT’S 50 ALE
Lingering grain-swayed hop fizz reaches crusty wheat finish for indiscernible pale ale. Overall, heartier than most understated sweet-watered Canadian brews and more refreshing than Bud or Coors (if that’s progress).
LABATT’S ELEPHANT RED LAGER
Under the supposed supervision of Carlsberg brewers in Denmark, amber-reddish 5.6% alcohol-laden lager has indistinct grained malt presence unsophisticated blue collar drinkers and certain neophytes may find appealing.
LABATT’S ELEPHANT MALT LIQUOR
Canadian version of Carlsberg strong lager found on Montreal trip ’06. Cloy glutenous malting and phenol hop bittering slacken crisp water briskness. Rugged corn-starched resolve and musty grained finish decrease value further. Pungent alcohol aftertaste lacks fortitude.