Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

For a brewery that boasts as much as Sleeman does, I would expect their products to go above and beyond, but unfortunately that fall as flat as the macros. This is a medium to dark brown pour with a light brown head that laces well. Toasted malt and caramel make up the bulk of the aroma with light hints of dark chocolate joining those to make up the flavour. Nothing that you need to try in this lifetime.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 10 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

The beer pours a viscous dark black into the tulip, capped by a full inch of a creamy dark brown head. Notes of roasted malt, molasses, coffee, plums, and licorice fill the air while the same notes tickle the taste buds a few moments later. Just a great beer.

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

It took me many years of tracking this down to be able to finally taste one, and it was worth it. A nice dark brown pour, murky, with a medium sized cream coloured cap. The aroma is roasted malt, brown sugar, caramel, yeast, and spices. The flavour is sweet caramel/brown sugar up front, but there is a lingering hoppy finish,

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

I think this was the second Rickard’s product after the Red, and it disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared. The pours is clear, golden-brown in colour, with a weak off-white coloured cap. Aroma is dominated by grains and caramel with weak notes of floral hops. The flavour is sweeter than the aroma would indicate with hints of caramel, and honey.

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

If there was ever a contest for the stupidest name of a beer, and the accompanying design, this would be a finalist. The beer behind the name/design isn’t all that bad. It pours a light amber colour with a thin tan ring for a cap. Cinnamon and nutmeg are the first thing to hit the nose and then comes the grains, and unfortunately, some old plain hops. The flavour is weak with the spices dominating the hops and malt. Better than most macro products however.

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

This is the #1 selling witbier in Toronto….go figure. It pours a pale straw colour with a huge foamy white head. Aroma is wheat, grainy malt, light citrus, and spices. Flavour is nicely balanced by the sweetness of the wheat and the citrusy hops. I’ve had better wheat beers however.

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

The Scotch Irish brown beer. A deep murky mahogany liquid fills the glass topped by a good inch of foaming light brown bubbles. Roasted malt, nuts, and resiny hops fill the nasal cavity with delight while the tastebuds yearn for their sampling of caramel, roasted malt, and a bitter chicory finish. If this is Corporal Punishment, sign me up!

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

Today, a session ale means it’s probably a low ABV IPA or APA, but back in the day it referred to a well made flavourful English Bitter. This is lighter in colour than most British bitters coming in at a light to medium gold with a good sized off-white cap topping it all off. Floral hops, some clean caramel notes and light fruity notes comprise the aromatic component. Flavour is here is spades when compared to light lagers with notes of caramel and toffee leading to a citrusy finish

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 10

Scotch Irish made two legendary Imperial Stouts, and John By was the easier of the two to find. It was a dark brown beer, almost black with a thick creamy brown head. Dark fruits and coffee filled the air with aroma while both tantalized the tongue with flavour. A hint of black licorice made it all complete.

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

Fifteen years ago this was a highly sought after IPA in Ontario. Every time it was at the LCBO, it would sell out in short order. It pours a clear rust colour into the glass with good effervescence and a creamy light brown cap. Aroma was very piney and citrusy with some caramel malt and yeast thrown in to make it more beer-like. The flavour had a grapefruit zing on top of caramel feel, yet definitely balanced.