Labatt 50

Brewed by Labatt Breweries (InBev)
Style: Golden Ale/Blond Ale
London, Canada

It’s been a few years since I’ve tried a 50, and I was pleasantly surprised with this. Pours a light amber colour with an average white head. Aromas of yeast and mild hops. A slight sweet flavour with a crisp dry finish. Solid for a mass market macro.

I shudder to think how many of these I consumed in the Lawrence Tech parking lot in the early 80’s. Pours a bright and clear pale gold, topped by better than an inch of short lived white foam. Good effervescence, no head retention or lacing. Light sweet aroma, could be malt, could be corn. Whatever it is - I find it appealing (perhaps nostalgically). Mild dry malt flavor with a little sweetness that again could be corn. A moderate hop bite is accompanied by a carbonation zing in the finish. The hop bitterness lingers briefly in the aftertaste. Not quite medium body, lively carbonation, smooth and easy to drink.

This was a very surprisingly flavorful beer for a macro brewer. The taste was of hops and yeast with a watery dry finish. Palate was watery yet not nearly as bad as any other macro brewer’s beer. Aroma was of finely cooked home meade bread (if you’ve ever cooked your own bread you’ll know what I’am talking about.) a definate must try for those of you who hate macro brewers.

Good ole 50! Has sentimental place in my heart, but I will try to be objective in my assessment. Plae golden yellow, moderate head with poor retention. Grainy and appley aroma. Fairly bland palate, but there is a whiff of fruity hop character there. In addition, I find this finishes very cleanly. A macro lager that doesn’t offend.

Actually sampled the Labatt Canadian Ale version with the green label. Slightly stronger hop aroma than its cousin Labatt Blue. Taste is similar to Blue with a little more punch and slightly more dry. Great brew for a macro.

Ryan Nakonechny, Andrew Palanuk, Chase Prasek have been guzzlin these suds since the mid-60’s. It all started when Chase stole a 6er from his dads garage fridge. We slammed er at the community club. Chase would give it 2 thumbs up like the rest of us, be he lost his thumbs hitch-hiking to the vedor last year.

bottle (Labatt Canadian), light gold pour with some foam, faint malt smell with a little corn in the mist, smooth tasting macro beer

I searched for the US-issue Labatt Canadian Ale and was redirected to Labatt 50, so I hope I’m reviewing the same beer. Good for a macro, though I’m not sure I’m with everyone who says it is both fruity and dry, or that highly carbonated. Granted, I like it how it is, and it does have a hint of frutiness, and I don’t like too much carbonation. Could certainly use more hop bitterness. My usual comparison for macros is to Budweiser, and I must say I freatly prefer this to Bud. Doesn’t taste like metal or stale at all, unlike Bud. Pretty fair overall, but lacking enough flavor ot be a really good ale. Certainl;y worth a try if you’ve never had it.