The question of what beer to drink is an eternal one. The many varying tastes make the task seem gargantuan. Below, lovingly selected by illustrious beer drinkers, is a compilation of the finest grocery-store varieties, with special attention paid to local, domestic and import beers. Pröst!
10. Folle du Roi: Rousse au Chanvre. This is a hemp-based red ale brewed by Les Trois Mousquetaires in Montreal. Hemp beer is always appealing, partly because of the big pot leaf emblazoned across the box. However, it has an unfortunately burnt taste, so it would be hard to imagine drinking a six pack of it. Perhaps someone will, one day, figure out how to make good hemp beer.
9. Belle Gueule: Rousse. This is a red lager brewed by Les Brasseurs RJ in Montreal. It is a fairly common Québecois brew. This Amber beer is truly amazing in its fundamental lack of taste, however the 5.2 per cent abv won't disappoint.
8. Boréale: Dorée. This is a light ale made with honey, brewed by Les Brasseurs du Nord Inc. in Blainville, Quebec. Although a common Québecois beer of some notoriety on campus ever since they began sponsoring frosh, it's time Boreal got another chance. While honey beer is an acquired taste, in this one the brewers seem to be compensating for poor-tasting beer through the addition of honey. The result is not great, but drinkable.
7. O'Keefe. This is a pale ale brewed by Molson in Montreal. Molson Canadian, with its bland flavor and slightly sweet aftertaste, easily describes O'Keefe. If you don't like the taste of beer much, but like to drink it, this one's for you.
6. P'tit Train Du Nord. This is a dry, blonde beer brewed by la Microbrasserie Saint-Arnould in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Local beer is generally strong, and the brewers often incorporate many flavours which co-exist in what can only be described as a salubrious mixture of both field and forest; slightly fruity while instantly bitter. Unfortunately, in this concoction, the many elements seem to compete, rather than co-exist, which is why it only deserves a mediocre score.
5. Corona: Extra. This beer requires no introduction and is brewed by la Berveceria Modelo in Mexico. Think you love Corona? Only take it with lime. Without, it is very light, cool and a tad sour. The beer is truly missing something until you squeeze in that zest. Perhaps there is some conspiracy between the lime growers and the brewery owners.
4. Pabst: Blue Ribbon. This is considered a run-of-the-mill light beer (though, with taste) brewed by Stroh Canada in Ontario. It is an interesting case. PBR would never get a 'good' rating in any recognized beer ranking because of the fact is it's just so damn cheap. However, it doesn't really taste that bad for what it is, which makes it a holy grail for university students. It even looks like ginger ale, and if you're drunk, you can probably convince yourself that it is.
3. Boris: Le Flacon D'Alsace. A pale lager brewed by Brasserie de Saverne in Saverne, France. It has a nice light, full-bodied flavour. A semi-sweet beer like only the French can make. This is a beautiful out-on-the patio drink, perfect for these last days of nice weather.
2. Alexander Keith's: An India Pale Ale brewed by Keith's Brewery in Nova Scotia, Halifax. This beer gets what all the other big Canadian ones wish they could: universal appreciation, despite a distinct flavour. A smooth, slightly bitter crisp beer, India Pale Ale is a classic. Enough said.
1. Sapporo: Premium. A lager brewed by Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. in Guelph, Ontario. It turns out that in Canada this Japanese beer is brewed by Sleeman rather than Sapporo. Not to worry, though, Sleeman hasn't botched up the Sapporo name. With its crisp, slightly bitter, full-bodied taste and thirst-quenching refreshment, this brew definitely deserves to be on top.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Xav
posted 9/25/07 @ 1:55 PM EST
Imho, this list is a travesty to good beer drinking. At number ten we have a beer that you admit is so rancid that "it would be hard to imagine drinking a six pack of it. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 9/27/07 @ 9:01 PM EST
I couldn't agree more with what the other guys said.
Keith's?! I've been a beer drinker for 15 years (I'm over 30, fyi), tasted hundreds of brands, and Keith's is pretty much the same crap as Canadian, Blue, Old Milwaukee, you name it. (Continued…)
Post a Comment