Carling O'Keefe

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Originally rated December 2005, but on the wrong beer. Holy smacks ! I thought this one was long gone. I thought it was now the Old Vienna. Then, in a pizza store in Montreal, I see it. Finally, I have found it here, in Gatineau, Quebec. It does list on the label that it is 5% ABV. Pours a golden colour with a good foamy-cream head with heavy retention and nice lacing. The aromas are of malt and alcohol. Watery mouthfeel, quite crisp. The taste is malty and bitter with grain and slight corn finish. A decent ale that is refreshing with a bitter edge and malt winning over corn. The original brewery (O'Keefe) used to have a big share in the Quebec Nordiques... my favorite team. Bring 'em back !

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

I first tried this beer when Carling was a standalone brewery and it wasn’t very good (but back then, ales were considered ‘old man beer’ so Export, 50, and O’Keefe were to be avoided). I recently tried the contemporary Molson version and was quite surprised as I felt that it had improved which I can’t say for the other Carling products that survived the merger. Let’s get to the basics. Colour is pale gold, head is white and thin. Aroma is corny and musty. Flavour is bland and corny. Hard to believe it was worse in the early 80s!