Rickard's Oakhouse
Molson Coors Canada

Rickard's OakhouseRickard's Oakhouse
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From:
Molson Coors Canada
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American Amber / Red Lager
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
72
Avg:
2.98 | pDev: 20.47%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
46
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 23, 2016
Added:
Nov 13, 2012
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  4
Specially aged with lightly toasted Oak, we’ve carefully crafted this festive seasonal to capture the warmth of an old, iron-stove Oakhouse. With subtle hints of vanilla and a deep amber hue, this rich winter lager is ideal alongside succulent stew or piping hot roast. All you need now is plenty of firewood. And matches.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by boszormeny:
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Rated by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

2.5/5  rDev -16.1%

Dec 05, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by -chii- from Canada (QC)

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by headlessparrot from Canada (ON)

Feb 28, 2016
 
Rated: 2.69 by nafnikufesin from Canada (AB)

May 24, 2015
 
Rated: 2.25 by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

Oct 28, 2014
Photo of BeerWatcher
Reviewed by BeerWatcher from Canada (ON)

2.3/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours dark gold with some light orange highlights. One finger white head. On the nose a strange mustiness, and then some definite pumpkin. Seriously. On the palate definitely tasted like a pumpkin ale, albeit a very mild version of those I have had before.
Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by kvadiat from Canada (AB)

Jun 28, 2014
 
Rated: 1.5 by Socialiste from Canada (QC)

Jun 15, 2014
 
Rated: 1.75 by DreamDeath from Canada (NB)

May 18, 2014
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4.15/5  rDev +39.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A: Orange with an ocher tinge, no carbonation, clear filtered, 4 fingers of slight beige head with small and large bubbles, good head retention.

S: Coconut, vanilla, oak, light roasted notes, orange and orange oil.

T: Orange, definite oak presence, light sweetness.

M: Medium light body, medium low carbonation.

O: Delicious. Light, and oaky. Festive holiday beer, so I was glad to find it in April.
Apr 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Cycle69 from Canada (ON)

Mar 02, 2014
Photo of spinrsx
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

2.79/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
Tall can from the Ottawa LCBO for $2.75

Appearance - Amber colour with a large size fizzy/frothy white head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, apples, vanilla, all spice

Taste & Mouth - There is an above average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, apples, caramel, and all spice. There is also a bit of vanilla and some woody notes.

Overall - Had high-ish hopes for this one based on the description on the side of the can, but this is poorly executed. Just a mix up of odd flavours that don't come together as they should.
Feb 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Fader from Canada (AB)

Feb 17, 2014
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
I generally expect my winter seasonals to be darker than this: Rickard's Oakhouse has a pumpkin orange colour and, although its complexion is dense as an overcast February sky, it is also replete with sunny highlights. Its head, meanwhile, is no snowbank; thin and vaporous, it is more like the steam that fogs a window.

Molson claims the intent here was to "capture the warmth of an old, iron-stove Oakhouse". I'm not entirely clear on what an 'oakhouse' is - though I assume the obvious: a house made from oak - and, since the beer is aged on oak chips, I'll also assume that by "old, iron-stove" they're inferring a wood-burning stove.

If that's the case, with a properly fitted stovepipe and chimney, I reckon such a thing should have no smell at all. (Granted, 'warmth' is another thing altogether but, then again, the brewery denounces serving this at a temperature of any more than 6 degrees Celsius.) Either way, this smells far more like cedar than oak and its only 'warmth' is a strong cinnamon-like spiciness.

There is, however, a good amount of vanilla flavour that's undoubtedly derived from oak. There's also minute notes of honey, butterscotch and spice. It would all be nice enough but the wood chips have also contributed a noticeable (and quickly cloying) buttery quality that reminds me of cheap Chardonnay or a microwaveable cream-based pasta dish.

This buttery flavour is not inherently unpleasant in and of itself; the problem lay with the beer's structure (actually, it's lack thereof) which is too light-bodied and small to shoulder the weighty sweet vanilla and wood spice qualities that the oak imparts. There's not a trace of maltiness and even worse, in its place, is the familiar impression of corn-syrup.

It's nice to see bona fide seasonals coming from a brewery that seemed as staunchly opposed to change as the Soviet Union. I liked Rickard's autumn seasonal, Cardigan Spiced Lager, enough to take a chance with this one. And while I didn't exactly like what I tasted, I did again enjoy the unexpected variety and departure from Rickard's standard brands. Definite progress.
Feb 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by KrisDLSmith from Canada (ON)

Feb 04, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Subliminal64 from Canada (ON)

Jan 24, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by deonreds from New York

Jan 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by cam477 from Canada ()

Jan 11, 2014
Photo of thehyperduck
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

3.2/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Tallboy can picked up at the LCBO, served well-chilled. I had this at a friend's place last year and didn't mind it, so I figured I'd give it a closer look.

Pours a clear golden-amber colour, topped with nearly two fingers of frothy, soapy white head that seeps away over the next few minutes. A dense cap is retained at the surface, in addition to a few swaths of sticky lacing. These Rickard's guys have got the appearance part down to a science, although their effort in the aroma department leaves a bit to be desired. Pale malts, caramel sweetness, corn husk and some light vanilla notes are basically the only things my nose can pick out of this one. Not offensive, I suppose.

Not digging this one as much as I did last year, though like most Rickard's products it's still drinkable. Caramel sweetness dominates at first, with some grainy pale malts leading into a strange finish that combines butterscotch, vanilla and oak notes. It hangs on into the aftertaste with suspicious tenacity - not a big fan of it, but at least it's not too cloying or gross. Light-bodied and pretty watery, with moderate carbonation that gives this one a smooth, almost slick feel on the palate. This is more sessionable than higher abv stuff like I&G (or maybe Waterloo Amber, which this sort of reminds me of), but I still wouldn't want more than a glass or two of it. And even then, someone else would need to be buying.

Final Grade: 3.2, a serviceable C+. Rickard's Oakhouse is basically what you'd expect from a Molson seasonal - boring, unadventurous and not likely to offend too many people. It's obvious they're trying to court the Innis & Gunn crowd with this one, and at the right price point I could see this one gaining acceptance amongst that set. A decent, pseudo-sessionable winter lager that I might return to next year, although it won't be a priority - consider this a poor man's I&G.
Jan 05, 2014
Photo of Haydn-Juby
Reviewed by Haydn-Juby from Vermont

3/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: A slight amber appearance. One finger of creamy looking head. Good lacing.

S: Slightly smokey actually. A bit of sweet malt.

T: Once again malty sweetness a touch grainy maybe a bit metallic. I feel like there might be some kind of adjunct as well. A bit of spice too. Caramel is there.

M: Decent body, nice carbonation. Easily drinkable.

O: It was a decent beer actually. Nothing outstanding but I did like it a fair bit more than the Rickards cardigan. Nothing I'd absolutely have to have again but it was good and I'd get it if there were no other choices.
Jan 03, 2014
Rickard's Oakhouse from Molson Coors Canada
Beer rating: 72 out of 100 with 46 ratings