Rickard's Cardigan
Molson Coors Canada

Rickard's CardiganRickard's Cardigan
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From:
Molson Coors Canada
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
75
Avg:
3.14 | pDev: 17.52%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
46
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 20, 2015
Added:
Sep 08, 2012
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
We’ve carefully selected the seasonal spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove as an inspiration for our flavourful nod to fall. With a final hint of brown sugar, you’ll find this spiced lager as familiar as putting on your favourite cardigan. Pair it with braised ribs, sweet potato fries or let it upstage dad’s famous turkey at the next family feast.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by irishkyle21:
Photo of irishkyle21
Rated by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

Sep 08, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.28 by headlessparrot from Canada (ON)

Jul 20, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by kjyost from Canada (MB)

Nov 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by pharmerdoc from Canada (MB)

Aug 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Cycle69 from Canada (ON)

Aug 13, 2014
 
Rated: 1.25 by DreamDeath from Canada (NB)

May 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Magibeg from Canada (ON)

May 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by hunterjames from Canada (ON)

Apr 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by CRObighit2 from Canada (ON)

Mar 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Fader from Canada (AB)

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

3.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Purchased at The Beer Store approx. $2.20/473ml can. Served at 5deg C in a draught glass

A- Poured with a good head. Unfiltered beer

S- Very good! Hints of spice and herbs

T- Clove, cinnamon and nutmeg shine through but not that forward. Ok beer

M- Real let down here. Dry, bitter and hoppy in a subtle way that doesn't promote "beer"

O- Not that great but pretty good. Wouldn't buy again

Food Pairing

This interesting beer matches well with... pineapple chicken

Enjoy!
Feb 17, 2014
Photo of Haydn-Juby
Reviewed by Haydn-Juby from Vermont

2.77/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
A: A pale gold color. One finger of head good lacing and moderate to good retention.

S: Cinnamon as advertised. A touch of nutmeg too. The cinnamon really overpowers all the other aromas.

T: Cinnamon, spices. A touch too much in my opinion. It's not very subtle and its really in your face. Not something I care for in spice beers honestly. I like the spices to be more of a subtle complement to the base beer. A bit of sweet malt comes forward gradually. A bit metallic in the finish as well.

M: Crisp, clean, and easy drinking.

O: Good I guess but personally I found the spices to be out of balance and it was a bit bland besides them.
Jan 03, 2014
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.29/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Rickard's Cardigan is an autumn seasonal that looks like it doesn't want to let go of summer; its radiant yellow colour draws an inevitable comparison to a hot summer sun. Not very fall-like. Its tone may be fair but the complexion is marred by a smog that could rival that of a Shanghai street. Its head gradually fades into a waning half-moon shape.

It smells as though Molson simply dissolved stale ground cinnamon in water. Neither of the other two spices (nutmeg, clove) are very noticeable on the nose and any kind of malty qualities are inappreciable (no surprises there). I assume I could have made this at home by adding a dash of cinnamon to the blandest mass-market lager of my choice.

Though a lager, Rickard's Cardigan has a lot of Pumpkin Ale-like character. My complaints about feeble spicing don't apply nearly so much on the palate; this tastes like pumpkin pie. Each sip provides an instant flash of Thanksgiving - it turns out to be fall-appropriate after all.

The trace of clove on the finish is subtle, but it's enough to hide the presence of adjuncts (assuming they were used, as they are in others in the Rickard's lineup). It may be bland and uninteresting, but at least it's not distasteful and cloyingly sweet (brown sugar is advertised).

Most reviewers are quick to bash anything Molson puts out; they're not entirely unfair in doing so. A lot can be said about Rickard's Cardigan but since I’m the one doing the saying, not all of it is bad. The lack of adjuncts and passable level of seasonal spicing make it an acceptable option. It's also a step in the right direction for a brewery that desperately needs new wind in their sails.
Dec 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Dec 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by jmkoscie from Canada (ON)

Nov 27, 2013
Photo of spinrsx
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

2.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Tall can from the Ottawa LCBO for $2.60

Appearance - Slightly hazy yellow colour with an average size fizzy/frothy white coloured head. There is a high amount of carbonation showing and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, clove, all spice

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, breads, grains, and nutmeg/clove/cinnamon. There is also something along the lines of apples.

Overall – A little too heavy with the spice for me. It's like someone shook an all spice shaker into a basic lager. Not something I'd pick up again.
Nov 14, 2013
 
Rated: 1.5 by Ianleesrivette from Canada (AB)

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by MJ63 from Canada (ON)

Oct 26, 2013
Photo of TerryW
Reviewed by TerryW from Canada (ON)

2.81/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Attractive golden-amber colour under a moderate white head that gives good lace. Looks pretty decent.

Pumpkin pie spice on the nose with a whiff of sour apple that makes it smell like a cider. Surprisingly sour bite on first taste, malty sweet up the middle with a drying bitter finish.

I'm not overly impressed with Rickard's approach which seems to boil down to picking up on whats hot in the craft market and packaging up some sort of mock <insert beer style name here>. Makes me feel like I'm drinking faux beer every time I pick one of theirs up. And it's essentially the same bland faceless crap over and over again. Maybe I can just cut and paste my review once Rickard's <insert beer style name here> comes out.

Drinkable. Dull.
Oct 22, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by KrisDLSmith from Canada (ON)

Oct 20, 2013
Rickard's Cardigan from Molson Coors Canada
Beer rating: 75 out of 100 with 46 ratings