KLB Raspberry Wheat Ale
Kawartha Lakes Brewing Company Ltd.

KLB Raspberry Wheat AleKLB Raspberry Wheat Ale
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From:
Kawartha Lakes Brewing Company Ltd.
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Fruit and Field Beer
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.23 | pDev: 20.43%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 18, 2023
Added:
Aug 13, 2002
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Ratings by rbuisson:
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Rated by rbuisson from Canada (MB)

3/5  rDev -7.1%

Nov 25, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.89 by MakerMachiav from England

Aug 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by vincechan from Canada (ON)

Jan 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by DavidGross from Ohio

Nov 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by KrisDLSmith from Canada (ON)

Jun 28, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by djcreepshow from Canada (NS)

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by scott451 from Canada (ON)

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.32/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
I've had this in bottle form before, but also had a chance to try some from the tap at the Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto. KLB is owned by Amsterdam, who already do a very respectable framboise, so hopes are high even if I'm confused as to why a brewer would want to similar styles on its books. Trying them side-by-side clears this up though - the framboise is far sweeter and intense in its fruity flavours, whereas the wheat moves closer toward what most people would view as beer. Pours a light brown with a small white head. Aroma is fresh raspberry puree, with grain in the back end. Taste is very similar - the raspberry is upfront, with the wheat appearing toward the back of each sip. The flavours aren't earth-shaking, but they feel fresh and crisp. The body is fairly light, and carbonation is average. I could imagine having a couple of these on a patio. Pretty decent fruit beer.
Dec 24, 2008
Photo of shamus
Reviewed by shamus from Canada (ON)

3.47/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This is really not shy on the raspberry, but I love raspberry so I'm good with that. The wheat beer part of the equation however is weak. Ideally this should have had a richer yeast palette of flavours to experience. Still for a fruit beer it's very nice. It's perfect for a warm sunny Canada Day. It has a nice balance between the sweet, the tart and the bitter.
Jul 01, 2008
Photo of CAMRAhardliner
Reviewed by CAMRAhardliner from Canada (ON)

3.56/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a light amber with a non existent head and no lace at all. The aroma is of tart respberr extract, there some malt in the nose too. The taste is mostly of raspberries with a distinct wheat crispness. The raspberry flavor isnt artificial tasting or overpowering. The mouthfeel is viscous but light (?). This beer is nice and refreshing, if a little bland. It could do with some more complexity, maybe some fruity yeast esthers or hop aroma?
Jul 04, 2005
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

2.48/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Thin. Darker colour and some smell of wheat. First sip was Ok, but syruppy. On the too sweet side, with some tartness but altogether does not work. A soft drink with low carbonation. Had on tap in summer and still didn't do it for me, like a popscicle.
Mar 28, 2005
Photo of DrJay
Reviewed by DrJay from Texas

3.02/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Pale amber and clear, topped by a thin, underdeveloped head (especially for the amount of carbonation present). Sweet raspberry overpowers the aroma, leaving no room for anything else to come through. Raspberry cuts through most of the flavour as well, but there is a little graininess and floral hops followed by a thin bitterness at the finish. Definitely balanced towards the sweet side. Very light body with a moderately coarse texture, partly due to the carbonation. I now remember why I've been avoiding this one lately, but I do remember it tasting better back a few years ago.

341 mL brown bottle with no visible freshness date.
Feb 28, 2005
Photo of pootz
Reviewed by pootz from Canada (ON)

3.09/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Poured a light amber color...small white cap leaves quickly....slight ring left...heavily carbonated. Overpowering nose of raspberry scent. Peppery tongue from the over carbonation...weak aqueous body, light on malts, raspberry flavor over powers (flavor additive?) tart, dry fast finish...no after taste. Not much here...too fizzy...too soda-like in the smell and taste and weak....a good girly drink. A far cry from Amsterdam's great framboise
Sep 27, 2004
Photo of baiser
Reviewed by baiser from Massachusetts

3.14/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured a deep golden colour with a moderate white head that disappears quite quickly.

Smells of raspberries and very little else.

Tasted bland. The raspberry part of this beer was all in the aroma. A little citrusy, hints of raspberry creeps up towards the end. Ends hoppy. Also a little metallic.

Too much carbonation in this beer.
Aug 13, 2004
Photo of canoehornpoint
Reviewed by canoehornpoint from Pennsylvania

3.47/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Light orange copper with moderate head and good side cling. Sweet malty raspberry aroma. Aroma was the high point of the beer. This went back and forth throughout the tasting experience. It was malt, then raspberry, then malt again. Very nice but as time when on this became less desirable. The metallic aftertaste began to linger and ruined the experience.
Jun 07, 2004
Photo of TerryW
Reviewed by TerryW from Canada (ON)

2.38/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Golden, slightly pink-tinged beer. Thin, brittle white head with no retention and not about to give up any lace.

Nose is grainy and full of artifical, syrupy raspberry. A little too much like candy.

Drinking this I don't know how else to describe except as being rough-edged and harsh. Not quite acidic, but with the type of bite you might expect from a can of club soda. The beer seems to have a metallic ping to it. Letting it sit and breathe a bit helps it, but won't rescue it. I've had it from a big bottle, from a little bottle and on tap and each time I've been disappointed.

Not for me and not one I can recommend.
Apr 03, 2004
Photo of JustinBathurst
Reviewed by JustinBathurst from Canada (ON)

2.81/5  rDev -13%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours an amber gold with large-sized bubbles that form a barely-there head that rapidly vanishes. So much for the "frothy white head" described on the label.

A sweet raspberry (easily detected) aroma dominates, with a slight cough syrup smell that reminds me of Belle Vue Kriek.

Light, crisp mouthfeel that is a bit distracted by the puckered tart taste that is instantly noticeable.

The taste is sour, sweet and citrus. The raspberry is only barely there, and a bitter copper finish that is nearly the same as a Terry's chocolate raspberry (which, as far as I'm concerned, is a bit of a negative). The raspberry and the copper do not seem to work well together. Luckily, there is no syrupy flavour and the taste is not sickly sweet.

In general, I find the taste varied but wildly indistinct. I was really impressed by the aroma, only to be let down by the taste. Don't get me wrong--I can drink this. It just doesn't live up to its description as "unforgettable."
Mar 13, 2004
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Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

2.67/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Bottle: Pourred a light brown brew with a timid head. Almost no carbonnation. Good aroma of raspberry. The taste of wheat and raspberry is bit faint for my liking. I would have expected more in term of taste. Mind you, there's a good body in this beer. Therefore no match for some of the other fruit beer being brewed right now. I had this on tap a while ago and remember that the wheat and raspberry were more present.
Dec 12, 2003
Photo of kbub6f
Reviewed by kbub6f from New York

3.97/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought at the LCBO (Robertson: Ottawa), a couple of days in the fridge.

There's a medium-sized, creamy-white, somewhat coarse head. The beer is amber-colored and clear. The suggestion of pink may be due to the raspberries or to my imagination. As expected, the raspberries are quite obvious in the nose. It's also tart and a little hoppy smelling. The fresh raspberry start gives way to a darkish malty middle. Interesting. The finish is dry, with some subtle grains, raspberry (of course) and maybe a touch of alcohol. The aftertaste is nutty and a little dark.

I first tasted this beer on tap at the University Tavern years ago when it first came out. George gave us a pitcher as guinea-pigs. At the time I was a macro/regional drinker, but this interesting, tasty beer really made me curious. I would have never admitted it to the hockey guys, but now I'm not afraid to say it. I really like this beer. It's subtle, balanced and fresh. There's a nice nuttiness/hoppiness and a restrained raspberry freshness. Nice.
Jul 01, 2003
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Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

1.8/5  rDev -44.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1
Found this one at C'est What in Toronto, and let me say my girlfriend ordered this one. Every time I have tried a rapsberry wheat since I have had Spanish Peaks Black Dog Honey Raspberry Wheat, I have been dissapointed. Pours a slightly hazy golden hue, with thin white head and it left minimal lace. I'm saying the the aroma is full of arificial raspberry, along with a faint hop character. The taste leaves an unpleasant yeastiness along with a bubbly raspberry nastiness. I couldn't finish one of these. This beer is a lighter bodied brew with nothing special going on in the texture. Drinkability is pretty low here, I would never order another one.
Feb 18, 2003
KLB Raspberry Wheat Ale from Kawartha Lakes Brewing Company Ltd.
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 21 ratings