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Sleeman Original Dark (50*)
Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
- From:
- Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Ale
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 70
- Avg:
- 2.94 | pDev: 19.73%
- Reviews:
- 76
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 20, 2021
- Added:
- Oct 26, 2001
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 9
An all malt ale, Sleeman Original Dark is brewed from a combination of roasted barley malts, English Aroma hops, and deep well water. Its unique flavour has become a trademark in the Sleeman lineup.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by papat444 from Canada (QC)
3/5 rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Flashback #305
Aug 19, 2015Rated by ZachT from Canada (BC)
1.5/5 rDev -49%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2.5
1.5/5 rDev -49%
look: 1.25 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 2.5
Another lifeless offering, pass on this one
Aug 26, 2014Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.04/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
3.04/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
341 mL bottle from a six-pack picked up at TBS; bottled Nov. 28 2013 and now labelled 'Sleeman Dark/Rousse', still at 5.5%. I believe this is the last major Sleeman brand for me to review - other than the Light, mostly because I don't want to pay for six servings of light beer. Served well-chilled.
Pours a clear, ruby-bronze colour, generating about one finger's worth of dense, creamy, off-white head. It recedes steadily over the next minute or three, soon settling into a thin film and narrow collar; not much in the way of lace. The aroma is really reminding me of their honey brown lager, albeit without that brew's cloying sweetness - bready malts, toasted grains, light caramel sweetness and a faint whiff of grassy earth combine to form an agreeable, if unimaginative amber ale bouquet.
The same theme carries over into the flavour profile. Toasted bread and grainy malts provide much of the flavour, with a light caramel sweetness and raisin fruitiness underpinning this. It finishes on the dry side, with a touch of leafy English-style hops, but the aftertaste does not linger long. Light-bodied and watery, with relatively strong carbonation for the style (though it's about what I'd expect from a crafty macro). An easy-drinking, non-challenging, shrug-worthy amber.
Final Grade: 3.06, a C+. I've had a few bottles of Sleeman Original Dark over the past weekend and I have become increasingly less impressed with each serving. Honey Brown fans will probably find this to be an acceptable offering, as it is considerably more balanced with a dryer finish thanks to the hop bill. While this is a passable amber that I could see myself selecting again, I'd probably stick with their Fine Porter over this one - neither one is a masterpiece, but the porter still comes together more completely than this middling offering, IMO.
Feb 18, 2014Pours a clear, ruby-bronze colour, generating about one finger's worth of dense, creamy, off-white head. It recedes steadily over the next minute or three, soon settling into a thin film and narrow collar; not much in the way of lace. The aroma is really reminding me of their honey brown lager, albeit without that brew's cloying sweetness - bready malts, toasted grains, light caramel sweetness and a faint whiff of grassy earth combine to form an agreeable, if unimaginative amber ale bouquet.
The same theme carries over into the flavour profile. Toasted bread and grainy malts provide much of the flavour, with a light caramel sweetness and raisin fruitiness underpinning this. It finishes on the dry side, with a touch of leafy English-style hops, but the aftertaste does not linger long. Light-bodied and watery, with relatively strong carbonation for the style (though it's about what I'd expect from a crafty macro). An easy-drinking, non-challenging, shrug-worthy amber.
Final Grade: 3.06, a C+. I've had a few bottles of Sleeman Original Dark over the past weekend and I have become increasingly less impressed with each serving. Honey Brown fans will probably find this to be an acceptable offering, as it is considerably more balanced with a dryer finish thanks to the hop bill. While this is a passable amber that I could see myself selecting again, I'd probably stick with their Fine Porter over this one - neither one is a masterpiece, but the porter still comes together more completely than this middling offering, IMO.
Sleeman Original Dark (50*) from Sleeman Breweries Ltd.
Beer rating:
70 out of
100 with
102 ratings
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