Mayday
The Napanee Beer Company

I imbibed Mayday at refrigerator temperature in a tall Erdinger wheat beer glass.

It isn't bad, it's just bland.

A wheat beer should have a lasting and resilient head. A wheat beer should have a more pronounced aroma and taste of banana, bubblegum and cloves. A good wheat beer should have a slightly thicker mouthfeel.

This beer is like a picture which has been photocopied too many times and has subsequently lost clarity. You can make out the brewer's intentions but you aren't satisfied with the results.

Of course, I urge people to support local businesses, but there are many better wheat beers on the market.

But you know what? I bet you will enjoy it cold after cutting the grass on a hot July afternoon.

Purchased at an LCBO.

473 mL can from the LCBO; the date stamp printed over the rim of the base is mostly unreadable, though I do know it ends with "24". Served well chilled.

Pours clear golden-amber, boasting an inch-thick crown of fluffy, soapy white head. It erodes almost completely within the next couple of minutes, leaving behind a narrow collar and not much in the way of lace. Bubblegum and banana on the nose, accented by clove and backed by a crackery, wheaty malt backbone with a subtle hint of fragrant citrus peel oils. I admittedly served this beer way too cold, yet it still smells quite nice - and the supporting evidence only builds as it warms to room temperature.

It's not bad - though it is a little too sweet for my tastes, bordering upon saccharine. Grainy, crackery wheat malts and overripe banana make up the bulk of the profile at first, with notes of grassy/earthy hops, orange peel bitterness and clove/pepper spiciness developing towards the finish. Medium in body, with lively carbonation that prickles the tongue; feels crisp on the palate, but its drinkability is limited.

[Updated Sept 3 2020]

I just had to try this one again, so I picked up another can; dated Jul 27 2020 and served slightly chilled. A big, fluffy head erupts from the surface and fizzles off within a couple minutes, flinging a few patches of lace about in the process. Still quite sweet on the nose, with bubble gum and wheaty malts doing most of the heavy lifting. After that, the experience was largely identical to last time - very saccharine, no depth. Honestly, I liked it more yesterday, possibly because I served it much colder (which helps mask its faults).

Final Grade: 3.44, a B-. Napanee's Mayday is a halfway decent interpretation of a Belgian pale ale, and I finished my two glasses without much complaint... but there's a lot of room for improvement here. The banana/candi sugar aspects are kind of overbearing, and overall it's a pretty straightforward stab at a style that is capable of much more depth and complexity. I don't think I'll be returning to this any time soon.

I see some pretty low ratings here, but I had a fresh can, and would have to say this is a passable utility beer. It's not gonna light the world on fire, but it's decent.

Look is clear orange gold with a two finger head that breaks quickly.

Smell is sweet candi sugar and spices with a slight metallic tinge.

Taste is sweet and has some spices you'd expect from a Belgian pale. That metallic tinge is still present though, and that costs it some points. Interesting malt profile.

Feel is medium bodied with good carbonation, a bitter (oddly) finish.

Passable.

A beer I tried on the weekend. Malty and some floral notes. A Belgian Pale Ale from The Napanee Beer Company in Ontario. Not something I’d want all the time but well made and enjoyable.

 

Can...clear amber orange ale with a massive cap...aroma of floral hopping , rich malt and a Belgian funk yeast tone. Flavor profile is rich in malt body with an adequate hop offset, some yeast funkiness, earthiness, smooth and rich with long wet finish where hops and malt fight for dominance...light bitter aftertaste. A decent light Belgian ale...rich and robust yet quenching..top notch patio beer.

473 ml can served cold into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for around $3.25 CDN. Canned February 21, 2018.

Appearance- Mostly clear, rich golden color. Some visible bubbles and a slight bit of haze. Pours a finger plus of long lasting white head that leaves behind a swatch of foam.

Smell - weird vegetal aroma, thinking cooked green beans and peas. Follows with some leafy hops and candid sugar, but that first note is a quite unpleasant. There is improvement as it warms. Mint leaves?... in there too?

Taste- very leafy and somewhat vegetative. Earthy and poked vegetables are here, again following up with leafy hops. A touch of candidate sugar to close and the yeast is present here, but doesn't remind me of some of the well made Belgian pale ales.

Mouthfeel - ok here, a touch heavy, carbonation is fairly expressive and appropriate. Finish is moderate and not a done of dryness.

Overall - while Mayday is pretty looking, the taste and the nose is a let down with some highly vegetative aromas and flavors coming through, I think this misses the mark.

A nice gold colour but zero head. Has that Belgian aroma to it. The taste is certainly Belgian style, bitter sweet with spicy notes. A very good Belgian pale ale
Nov 20 2022

Nope. Not even a good try. Bland across the board, only hints at what a Belgian should be. Looks smells tastes like a cheap beer. Industrial in character, low grade grim. Rough edged. I'd pass.