Sapporo

Brewed by: Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
Brewed at: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Type: locally brewed international recipe
5%A/V

First Impression
Sapporo comes in the Lexus of beer packaging. This can is crafted of an uncommonly high grade of foil for a beer vessel. Looks nice too.

First Sip
Nothing overwhelming about Sapporo. Cold, bubbly, malt and hop type thing happening. A Japanese Budweiser.

Halfway
The yellow liquid is as special as a four door Honda Civic. 2005. With 225000 kilometers on it, and coffee stains on the seats. Which is to say reliable but not really inspired.

Bottoms Up
It is an impressive can to witness. But the beer is more for the ab initio set. Part marks.

45/100

Red Stripe

Brewed by: Moosehead Breweries
Brewed at: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Type: Jamaican style lager
4.7% A/V

First Impression
Classic Jamaican red and white label. Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Brewed in Saint John, New Brunswick! Back the truck up. This is supposed to be Jamaican. New Brunswick isn't even an island. This is heading downhill in a hurry.

First Sip
Ah the fresh disappointment of global capitalism in brewing! One sip and I'm feeling gassy already.

Halfway
Soulless, barren refreshment.

Bottoms up
It's as if the World Bank and the IMF stole the labels, stole the soul from Bob Marley, broke Usain Bolt's kneecaps and then sold me a can of North American maxi-brew draped in a polyester Jamaican flag. If you're going to drink Red Stripe be sure to have it on vacation in Jamaica. This Diageo copycat is brutal.

7/100

Mead Braggot

Brewed by: Trafalgar Ales & Meads
Brewed at: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Type: Mead
8.5% A/V

First Impression
This little brown jug does a great deal to evoke sentiments of medieval charm. The shield design on the label and the rest of the concept really stay true to the theme. I get all excited when there is a wire cage holding a cork in place - champagne style.

First Sip
It's only fair I think, to disclose at this point that this is the first mead I've ever had. Here it is. This is very easy drinking. Mead is made with honey, and this one is flavored with malt and hops, so there is a mild beerlike character. But mostly it's close to what I expect mead to taste like.

Halfway
I can see now why the honeymoon has been such a mainstay through the centuries. Mead is easy to drink and highly intoxicating. It's the original wine cooler!

Bottoms Up
I'm not sure it justifies the price tag, but it is fun for a change of pace. Serve it with goose, venison or boar with wild mushrooms and heirloom vegetables while romancing your favorite wench or knave.

70/100

Nicklebrook Headstock

Brewed by: Better Bitters Brewing Company
Brewed at: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Type: India Pale Ale
7% A/V

First Impression
This can looks sadly like a low quality ripoff of another Ontario craft brewers packaging theme... Anyone familiar with the Flying Monkey brewers' funkadelic packaging? I digress... let's see. This was a gold medal winner at the 2011 US Open Beer Championship? Mmm hmm. Hazy reddish copper liquid beginning to stake a legitimate claim to some degree of quality...

First Sip
Okay I take it back. I take back all the nasty things I've said about Nickelbrook. In public. Behind closed doors. Muttered into my pillow whilst sleeping. My past experience from this brewer has been somewhat atrocious. But this is possibly the finest IPA I've had. And that is saying something as I like and frequently consume this malted motif.

Halfway
Gorgeous citrusy grapefruitiness and the belly warmth of 7% alcohol are making this a one man party. And the amount of sedimentary yeast is awesome. It's providing a kind of dirty, in your face, arrogance to this amazing beer. Like when a big name Hollywood rock star type goes on Letterman with ripped jeans and a t-shirt.

Bottoms Up
The only question that this has left me with is WTF is going on with the rest of the Nickelbrook line up? Clearly somebody over there knows something about brewing! Okay Nicklebrook well done you've finally made me understand how my high school teachers must've felt. "He's a nice boy. If only he'd apply himself..."
Get on it! And fix your packaging. Honestly.

And for those of you who are inspired to try it, remember to smell it. Stick your nose right in a snifter style glass of this stuff and breathe deeply. My friends, THAT is hops.
99/100

Stiegl Bier

Brewed by: Stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg
Brewed at: Salzburg, Austria
Type: lager
4.9% A/V

First Impression
Top marks for package design. Bold simplicity. I like a beautiful can as much as the next bloke... But Austrian beer is not terribly within my wheelhouse.

First Sip
Hold the phone. This is delicious. Crisp golden beer. Confident head. Light tasting with enough malts and smooth hops to please true beer enthusiasts.

Halfway
Fantastic easy drinker of an eastern euro lager. Tasty and inoffensive.

Bottoms up
This is a great beer with which to decorate the inside of the fridge. The bold label design makes it easy to spot in a crowded cooler and the palate is genuinely crowd pleasing. Well done.

86/100