Granville Island Ginger Beer

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

2011 Edition- Im a starting this review while the beer is still cooling in the fridge. I don't know why... I should probably do more worthwhile things while its cooling...well the story of this beer has progressed about 15 minutes since I was last babbling. The beer has been in the freezer, and after opening there was little ice crystals around the rim. Poured very aggressively into a Affligem Goblet, and it produced only a finger of head, which dissapeared to nothing quickly. The look is transparent light orange with a trace of amber. Smells really goood, like fresh ginger, as in what ginger root at the store smells like when you cut it. nice and crisp. I usually expect little to nothing from GIB, but this one is awesome. The malts are perfectly matched, some biscuit, some angelfood cake with no vanilla, really clean and light which let the ginger shine. It seems to be right in between bitter and sweet, and this is where the hop additions were well chosen, crisp and a bit of dryness, but there is no hop aromas that compete with the ginger. This is cleary a ginger beer that is perfectly timed for a hot summer day in the garden. Mouthfeel is thin, but with the lack of carbonation and the freshness of the taste its perfect!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

First, the good part. It poured a rich and clear gold colour accompanied by a frothy white head of no more than one finger's depth. Now for the less than stellar rest of the story. Aroma was not much to remark on, with probably some malt and if GI claims to have ginger in there as well, I'll have to take their word for it. Taste was much like an amber ale, with mostly hops and malt. I could not discern any ginger. Mouthfeel was tilted to the thin side of the table, sadly. The finish was a bit sweet. All in all, just a garden variety amber ale, with nothing special about it. I'm disappointed in GI as they've produced two new limited releases this year and both have been sub-par (the other being the unfortunate Raspberry Wheat creation). Funny thing at the end of this beer was that I swatted a fly away with the back of my hand and it fell into the glass, which still had about two inches of beer remaining, and I didn't even care about having to pour it down the toilet, fly and all! Just shows how much I cared about this beer. Rerated from 2011 edition - far, far better. Decent mouth, there IS giner in the aroma and in the flavour as well. Nice to drink this one.