Rickard's Dark

Good day! Today, we shall look into Rickard's Dark, not your typical dark beer. Currently, it is available in either the 12 pack of bottles for $22.49 or in the 473ml Can for $2.99.

This is not your typical dark beer. It's %4.8 ABV and really light in taste. The color itself is rather light for a Dark beer too. You will notice that the serving type of the bottle and the can can differ strongly. It's even a more stark comparison when you delve into the beauty of the "tap".


From the get-go, you smell maple. Is it a mistake? Are you sure this sort of sweet smell can coexist in a dark beer? But wait, what about the taste? Is it too much? SO MANY QUESTIONS!! But yes, this beer will come off with a stronger maple sweet smell that you may think is too much, but after a first sip, you will find that it is only a tad of a taste of the maple-y goodness. Now, this is definitely more of an "any-man" type of dark beer, it does not disappoint.

Even if you cannot find it on tap, pick it up in bottles. It is definitely a solid first-time dark beer.
Cheers!

Innis and Gunn Highland Cask

Yes, another Innis and Gunn is to be reviewed today and be happy about it. This one is a fantastic beer available in limited quantities. It currently sells for $4.99 per bottle.

Innis and Gunn tries to impress us a little more for every new beer they bring out and this one does not disappoint. At all! Aged for 49 days in rare 21 year old SINGLE MALT barrels, it packs a %7.1 abv hit that you would not believe.

At first hint, the smell catches you... very much on the vanilla and some floral notes. As with many of the I&G offerings, you can definitely sense the caramel as well... Oh, and Oak too, cause you know, it's predominant. On the pour, you'll see a nice copper hue, with a very light head that does not last very long. Now on the first taste, your tastebuds will explode. You will not know what to think. What is this? Is this real life? Is this fantasy? It is so creamy, the oak taste just lingers a little bit on the finish, but it is so satisfying. The vanilla is predominant, as you will still find some floral taste, as well as the usual suspects (caramelized malts, butterscotch, sweet, sweet nectar of the gods).

Enjoy this one before it disappears. Even though I like all of the I&Gs, this one and the Rum Cask just may be the two best ones, so do yourselves a favor and give it a shot. Or two shots. It's all good, it's a delight. You will want to have more than one... even if it is just to keep until special occasions. If I were to review these based on a star system, it would get 5. Out of 5.

Cheers!

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

Young's Double Chocolate Stout is a gem of nature currently being sold for $ 4.15 for a 500ml bottle. For all of you that have already tried and enjoyed this beer, you know how difficult it is to get a hand on it in the province. It's been stocked out 4 times in the past year and a half, disappearing for close to a year the first time around. (As of this time, it is stocked out at warehouse, the only stock left is the one currently in stores... and in my apartment :))

Now for those who have never tried it and what to know what is this Young's. Well, it's a personal favorite of mine. Seeing "Stout", a lot of people will immediately dismiss it. Seeing "Double Chocolate", a lot of stout purists (See: Guinness) will also think nothing of it and will not look at it twice. But Young's manages to bridge the gap between "light stout" and "thick stout".

What does that mean? It's NOT Guinness. It does not have the same thickness, the roasted malts of Guinness are not as present in the Double Chocolate. And it is definitely NOT a light, tasteless Stout either. It brings something different to the table. . . If someone has tried Dark Ales and wants to get into Stouts and Porters, this one is a good one to try to get a use to the consistency of the category.

Young's pours very dark, but with a lighter consistency than Guinness, with a nice thick opaque, caramel-ish head that stays. The smell is very similar to the taste. Dark chocolate (not milk chocolate, it's not candy) and even some caramelized malt. It's extremely smooth, very creamy and very agreeable as a "once in a while" treat.

For those wanting to get into something different for the Holidays (Or whenever, you know, cause this beer is delicious), pick one up, enjoy it a while after a meal because it is filling and appreciate Young's for this wonderful brew!

Cheers!

Big Rock Traditional Ale

Today's offering is Big Rock Traditional Ale. This brewery is based in Alberta and as of now, ANBL only carries two Big Rock brews. Only sold in 6 cans, they currently retail at $ 11.98.

This is an English Style ale, pours darker brown with a very light head. You can smell the roasted malts and a few notes of sweetness, mostly caramel. Personally speaking, I was disappointed with this offering. It's not a bad beer per say, but it left me wondering if something was missing.

The taste itself felt watered down... And the taste that was left, felt like a mixture of light hops, sweet-ish malts and tin. I've never been a fan of beer only served in cans, and much prefer the bottled beers and I believe that this one may have fallen victim to the tinny devil of aluminum.

I am not going to steadily recommend this one as one of the best English Ales I've had, but it's also not the worst. Give it a shot if you really want, but if you don't, it's cool.

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier is a new listing for ANBL. This is a German Wheat beer that currently sells for $ 2.99 a bottle with a 5.5% ABV.

Now, this wheat beer impressed me from the start.  From the pour, a nice little cloud, an impressive golden color and a nice two-finger-foam.

You'll definitely notice some spice to it, but it really starts off well with a citrus taste. Lemon, orange peel can be tasted and it is a very mellow beverage. Typically, I would consider this more of a summer beer, somewhat similar to other German Wheat beers. Light taste, you do not taste the extra ABV and the fruit flavors slightly overpower the tone of the spices.

Give it a shot, it's a solid wheat beer and as a new listing, I mean, come on. Try it!