Ruby Canoe
St. Lawrence Brewing Company

I'm not a beer snob. I don't dwell too much in the particulars of flavors, styles, IBUs, etc... Plain and simple, good beer is good beer.. I've had great beers from time spent in San Diego, Phoenix, Colorade, Vermont, and the Chesapeake Bay region so I was pumped when I heard there was a brewery in the area I grew up in.

That said, and I truly mean what I'm about to say, this is the worst beer I've ever had. So much so that I created this account just to write this review. The first thing I noticed was the smell. Smelled like sour cherries. This excited me because I am a big fan of the sour beers coming out these days. I was wrong about this one. This beer is sour. Sickeningly sour. My father, who also bought a pint, thought it had "gone bad." No carbonation what-so-ever. I took 2 sips and poured the rest out. You can't give this beer to me for free.

I think the four pack I purchased must have been past its prime because this was perhaps the most disgusting beer I have ever tasted and I cannot imagine someone liking the way it tasted out of the cans I bought. It was sweet and sour at the same time and essentially undrinkable.

 

16oz can purchased as part of a four-pack from Kinney Drug on west side of Malone. No evidence of canning date, which is a concern.

Poured into an imperial pint, formed a 1/2" beige head above the cloudy red brew. Head lasts well, with coating lace. Aroma is off vegetal and sour cherries.

Taste starts sweet, quickly overcome by lactic sourness that overpowers all and dominates through the swallow. Mouthfeel is thin, and drinkability is poor. Wouldn't get this one again unless I knew it was fresh and/or uncontaminated.

There was also multiple 4-packs of Barnstormer, none of which were holding pressure, and some had obviously burst, leaving sticky shelves and cans. Glad to support local, but need to manage their presence and quality.

 

 

 

but I suspect my four pack has been soured