Comments on: Rickard’s Dark Review http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/ We love good beer Sun, 13 May 2012 17:40:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bob http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Bob Sat, 07 May 2011 21:50:01 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1754 Very good beer. However the totally terrible packaging for the six bottle pack (you have to tear the box apart to get to the product) keeps me from purchasing it further. Very good beer. However the totally terrible packaging for the six bottle pack (you have to tear the box apart to get to the product) keeps me from purchasing it further.

]]> By: Brandon T Rickard http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1736 Brandon T Rickard Sun, 03 Apr 2011 14:17:48 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1736 Was this created by one of my namesakes? Just curious as to the name's origin. Thanks Was this created by one of my namesakes? Just curious as to the name’s origin. Thanks

]]> By: Bryan Beisick http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 Bryan Beisick Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:48:36 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1727 Just recently started to venture into different brands and styles. Nothing too crazy yet but I immediately got hooked on the Dark which led me to the White. These are the only two I've drank in a while. Thanks for stalling my new beer tasting en devour Just recently started to venture into different brands and styles. Nothing too crazy yet but I immediately got hooked on the Dark which led me to the White. These are the only two I’ve drank in a while. Thanks for stalling my new beer tasting en devour

]]> By: HighSea http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1621 HighSea Sat, 18 Dec 2010 22:25:13 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1621 This is a very enjoyable beer. Recently I've tried Keith's Dark Ale and found it tasty as well. My favorite dark beers, in no particular order, are: Guinness, Okanagan Springs Brewmaster Black Lager, Newcastle Brown and Tree Spy Porter. Rickards Dark does not bite on the tongue as much as Brewmaster does, it is sweeter than Spy and lighter than Guinness. I know the ones I've listed are different varieties of dark beer, obviously, and therefore will continue to enjoy the Rickards Dark. Thank you for making it, Molsons! This is a very enjoyable beer. Recently I’ve tried Keith’s Dark Ale and found it tasty as well. My favorite dark beers, in no particular order, are: Guinness, Okanagan Springs Brewmaster Black Lager, Newcastle Brown and Tree Spy Porter. Rickards Dark does not bite on the tongue as much as Brewmaster does, it is sweeter than Spy and lighter than Guinness. I know the ones I’ve listed are different varieties of dark beer, obviously, and therefore will continue to enjoy the Rickards Dark. Thank you for making it, Molsons!

]]> By: Pat http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1519 Pat Sun, 05 Dec 2010 04:28:51 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1519 This is an easy drinking beer. I suspect a bottom ferment more in the style of an ale. While it does not truly represent the English style Porter, it is slightly reminiscent of McKewans Scotch Ale. The lingering sweetness is pleasant, and the beer, even with the leftover sweet is clean. My wife and I quite enjoy it. Not a true winter beer, not heavy enough for that time of year. I think it will be a nice compliment to burgers on teh barbecue next summer. This is an easy drinking beer. I suspect a bottom ferment more in the style of an ale.
While it does not truly represent the English style Porter, it is slightly reminiscent of McKewans Scotch Ale. The lingering sweetness is pleasant, and the beer, even with the leftover sweet is clean.

My wife and I quite enjoy it. Not a true winter beer, not heavy enough for that time of year. I think it will be a nice compliment to burgers on teh barbecue next summer.

]]> By: Kopeck http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1435 Kopeck Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:12:26 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1435 Those over 40 (especially those who grew up in Quebec)will immediately recognize this as a specimen of the long-extinct *Canadian* style of porter (e.g. Molson, Champlain, Labatt- all of which are long-discontinued save for the Labatt, which is still in limited production). This style is much closer to a brown ale than to an English porter, but it is a type of porter nonetheless. Shame they had to ruin what could have been the revival of a long-lost Canadian heritage beer with the utterly asinine and gimmicky maple flavouring, and by trying to pass it off as an English-style porter when it transparently isn't. Those over 40 (especially those who grew up in Quebec)will immediately recognize this as a specimen of the long-extinct *Canadian* style of porter (e.g. Molson, Champlain, Labatt- all of which are long-discontinued save for the Labatt, which is still in limited production). This style is much closer to a brown ale than to an English porter, but it is a type of porter nonetheless. Shame they had to ruin what could have been the revival of a long-lost Canadian heritage beer with the utterly asinine and gimmicky maple flavouring, and by trying to pass it off as an English-style porter when it transparently isn’t.

]]> By: matt http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1163 matt Wed, 05 May 2010 05:12:32 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1163 Umm, that should read "sexist, beer cannot be based on body alone." Clearly one too many beers. Umm, that should read “sexist, beer cannot be based on body alone.” Clearly one too many beers.

]]> By: matt http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 matt Wed, 05 May 2010 05:08:02 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1162 I tried Rickard's dark tonight for the first time and have to agree. It's highly drinkable, but it's not a porter. Porters (and, indeed, stouts) are known for their liberal use of black patent specialty malt. While it may be present in the Rickard's Dark, it's certainly not at the forefront. Which is how it should be in a porter. Additionally, to respond to Paul: a porter, at least an English-style one, is generally not bitter. In fact, the amount of (low alpha acid) hops is fairly negligible in most porters. That's not to say the north american love affair with hops hasn't changed this (my own porter recipe is far more hop heavy), but real porters are way more malty than hoppy. Additionally, this beer has very little yeast profile. The best porters I've had, even those with a subtle yeast profile, have something in the way of yeast flavour. This is probably the biggest thing that makes the Rickards beers the same (in my humble opinion). I actually don't dislike this beer; I think as far as big efforts at craft brewing it's not bad (and when it's all you can get in the airport or hotel, it's a welcome change from Pilsner or Canadian). But it isn't a porter. And it suffers from the very limitations imposed on it that give it the marketing edge: a lack of a sense of adventure. No interesting hops, no innovative yeast. At the risk of being sexy, beer can be based on body alone. I tried Rickard’s dark tonight for the first time and have to agree. It’s highly drinkable, but it’s not a porter. Porters (and, indeed, stouts) are known for their liberal use of black patent specialty malt. While it may be present in the Rickard’s Dark, it’s certainly not at the forefront. Which is how it should be in a porter.

Additionally, to respond to Paul: a porter, at least an English-style one, is generally not bitter. In fact, the amount of (low alpha acid) hops is fairly negligible in most porters. That’s not to say the north american love affair with hops hasn’t changed this (my own porter recipe is far more hop heavy), but real porters are way more malty than hoppy.

Additionally, this beer has very little yeast profile. The best porters I’ve had, even those with a subtle yeast profile, have something in the way of yeast flavour. This is probably the biggest thing that makes the Rickards beers the same (in my humble opinion).

I actually don’t dislike this beer; I think as far as big efforts at craft brewing it’s not bad (and when it’s all you can get in the airport or hotel, it’s a welcome change from Pilsner or Canadian). But it isn’t a porter. And it suffers from the very limitations imposed on it that give it the marketing edge: a lack of a sense of adventure. No interesting hops, no innovative yeast.

At the risk of being sexy, beer can be based on body alone.

]]> By: Adam Moffat http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1098 Adam Moffat Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:37:51 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1098 Hey Chris, yes - Rickard's Dark is now available nationally. Cheers, Adam Hey Chris, yes – Rickard’s Dark is now available nationally.

Cheers,
Adam

]]> By: Chris http://lovegoodbeer.com/2009/11/rickards-dark-review/comment-page-1/#comment-1075 Chris Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:17:47 +0000 http://lovegoodbeer.com/?p=1420#comment-1075 Is it available in BC yet? Is it available in BC yet?

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