Kokanee | Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.
Brewed by:
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.
Ontario, Canada
labatt.com
Style: American Adjunct Lager
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Kokanee has been one of B.C.’s best-selling beers for more than ten years and was awarded a Silver medal at the 1996 Brewing Industry International Awards. Brewed using a blend of Pacific Northwest hops, Kokanee delivers a smooth, clean and lightly hopped taste.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 04-25-2002
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 207 | Reviews: 98
Reviews by Swedes21:
3/5 rDev +14.9%
Swedes21, Dec 13, 2011
More User Reviews:
1.82/5 rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Appearance Light yellow in color with a foamy white head that poured big and laced the glass.
Smell Stale grain with no sweetness noticeable. The only fresh thing in this glass was a baby skunk.
Taste I got a little bit of sucrose in the taste, but the nasty grain showed up as well along with some funky kind of hop flavor. This was almost as bad as Heiny-in-a-can.
Mouthfeel Very light and thin, which was disappointing.
Drinkability I barely got this one down. They should have left this one on top of the glacier
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look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
Appearance Light yellow in color with a foamy white head that poured big and laced the glass.
Smell Stale grain with no sweetness noticeable. The only fresh thing in this glass was a baby skunk.
Taste I got a little bit of sucrose in the taste, but the nasty grain showed up as well along with some funky kind of hop flavor. This was almost as bad as Heiny-in-a-can.
Mouthfeel Very light and thin, which was disappointing.
Drinkability I barely got this one down. They should have left this one on top of the glacier
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3.47/5 rDev +33%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
This was much better than expected, and much better than I remember it being. I didn't realise it was bottle conditioned, and maybe the time it took to get to me in Australia improved it. I didn't think it was as bad as most people say it is - the hop flavour was still intact and not skunky, and with the sediment in the glass it was quite enjoyable. Artificial-looking gold colour, reasonably good head retention, nice taste for a macro brew, definitely better than our working-class beers here in Australia. Some chemical undertones as are to be expected. I may even buy another one at import price just to confirm my satisfaction.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
This was much better than expected, and much better than I remember it being. I didn't realise it was bottle conditioned, and maybe the time it took to get to me in Australia improved it. I didn't think it was as bad as most people say it is - the hop flavour was still intact and not skunky, and with the sediment in the glass it was quite enjoyable. Artificial-looking gold colour, reasonably good head retention, nice taste for a macro brew, definitely better than our working-class beers here in Australia. Some chemical undertones as are to be expected. I may even buy another one at import price just to confirm my satisfaction.
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3.2/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The appearance of this headless lager its not immediately appealing, just like another beer served with some fizz and a flat head. It strength is definitely in the clean crisp taste and drinkability. When served cold this beer has little detectable flaws and has a minimal adjunct tastes. This refreshing beer is lightly malted and finishes with a mild degree of bitterness.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The appearance of this headless lager its not immediately appealing, just like another beer served with some fizz and a flat head. It strength is definitely in the clean crisp taste and drinkability. When served cold this beer has little detectable flaws and has a minimal adjunct tastes. This refreshing beer is lightly malted and finishes with a mild degree of bitterness.
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2.28/5 rDev -12.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Yellow pour, white head, a decent amount of lace for a fizzy yellow beer, but nonetheless, still uninspired. Corn and egg smell. And not in the good breakfast way.
Taste, again, uninspired, just blandness, far from the worst AAL, but being middle of the road for this style is usually pretty bad regardless. Mild corn flavor, sugar water, thin mouthfeel, non existant hops, tons of carbonation. A pretty watery experience, which is good, because non of the off aroma stuff came into the taste.
The most intriguing aspect of this beer was where I found it. In the mexican food store on the southside of Milwaukee. Its like, all these central american lagers, and then bam, kokanee for $7.99 a 6pack. Why the price is that high, I have no idea, no marketing, no advertisements, no ingredients = a price slightly higher than the everyday price for SNPA?
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Yellow pour, white head, a decent amount of lace for a fizzy yellow beer, but nonetheless, still uninspired. Corn and egg smell. And not in the good breakfast way.
Taste, again, uninspired, just blandness, far from the worst AAL, but being middle of the road for this style is usually pretty bad regardless. Mild corn flavor, sugar water, thin mouthfeel, non existant hops, tons of carbonation. A pretty watery experience, which is good, because non of the off aroma stuff came into the taste.
The most intriguing aspect of this beer was where I found it. In the mexican food store on the southside of Milwaukee. Its like, all these central american lagers, and then bam, kokanee for $7.99 a 6pack. Why the price is that high, I have no idea, no marketing, no advertisements, no ingredients = a price slightly higher than the everyday price for SNPA?
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3.86/5 rDev +47.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Served from a bottle. Dark yellow and translucent. Decent head. Minor hop aroma, more cereal grain. Good lager taste, good mix of hop and grain. More on the grain side. Thin mouthfeel.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Served from a bottle. Dark yellow and translucent. Decent head. Minor hop aroma, more cereal grain. Good lager taste, good mix of hop and grain. More on the grain side. Thin mouthfeel.
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1.36/5 rDev -47.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
pours a pale straw color into a clear light yellow body. almost half inch head that dissipates hella quickly. weak, stringy, transparent lacing. slightest appearance of haze and sediment.
smells of rice, stale glacier water, hay, old bread, and, oh yeah, pee.
no taste whatsoever. bland, dead on-bringing to wet, watery finish. flat-to-staunch aftertaste. comparable to old apple juice sitting in a cup all day, then bitterly consumed.
picked up a 6er of this in port orchard before an open mic, wanting to try something new. big, big mistake.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
pours a pale straw color into a clear light yellow body. almost half inch head that dissipates hella quickly. weak, stringy, transparent lacing. slightest appearance of haze and sediment.
smells of rice, stale glacier water, hay, old bread, and, oh yeah, pee.
no taste whatsoever. bland, dead on-bringing to wet, watery finish. flat-to-staunch aftertaste. comparable to old apple juice sitting in a cup all day, then bitterly consumed.
picked up a 6er of this in port orchard before an open mic, wanting to try something new. big, big mistake.
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1/5 rDev -61.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Wow, just like Carlton Cold, only Canadian and with even less flavour, can't remember having too many blander beers than this. Some plastic flavours and some pee. I can't remember having too many blander beers than this, and i wish i didn't have a character limit in my review for this beer, because i can't anything else more about it.
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look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Wow, just like Carlton Cold, only Canadian and with even less flavour, can't remember having too many blander beers than this. Some plastic flavours and some pee. I can't remember having too many blander beers than this, and i wish i didn't have a character limit in my review for this beer, because i can't anything else more about it.
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2.35/5 rDev -10%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Serviceable lager, with a light body with a bit of fluffly white head. Light colour, only some metallic taste and refreshing malt flavoured water.Inoffensive mild taste, and scent, even when not ice cold after skiing. Fizzy carbonation. Not bad for Labatt.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Serviceable lager, with a light body with a bit of fluffly white head. Light colour, only some metallic taste and refreshing malt flavoured water.Inoffensive mild taste, and scent, even when not ice cold after skiing. Fizzy carbonation. Not bad for Labatt.
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2.84/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Brought a can of Kokanee back from Canada. It is typical of most North American beers. Golden clear in color with white head that eventually dissappears...no lacing. The smell and taste are mostly grain with enough hop balance to make it smooth. Mouthfeel tends to be light in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent drinkable beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Brought a can of Kokanee back from Canada. It is typical of most North American beers. Golden clear in color with white head that eventually dissappears...no lacing. The smell and taste are mostly grain with enough hop balance to make it smooth. Mouthfeel tends to be light in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a decent drinkable beer.
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2.97/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours an effervescent gold/hay color with 3+ fingers of fluffed up pearl colored head. Below average head retention & lacing
S: Corny & a bit lemon hops as this warms
T: Lemony hops, a bit of cereal (corn flakes), honey malt & some grassyness up front. Dryness, honey & cornyness are there as this warms. Finishes crisp, but way too thin
MF: Light & soft bodied with moderate carbonation, balances too sweet
I could do about 2 of these & I'd have to move, way too sweet. Could be worse, just not that tasty
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours an effervescent gold/hay color with 3+ fingers of fluffed up pearl colored head. Below average head retention & lacing
S: Corny & a bit lemon hops as this warms
T: Lemony hops, a bit of cereal (corn flakes), honey malt & some grassyness up front. Dryness, honey & cornyness are there as this warms. Finishes crisp, but way too thin
MF: Light & soft bodied with moderate carbonation, balances too sweet
I could do about 2 of these & I'd have to move, way too sweet. Could be worse, just not that tasty
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2.06/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Maybe its the glacier water they use. But there is some funk here that is simply not good.
Pours a standard lager yellow, if a little ememic, pale. Creamy head, no lacing.
Smells really sour, and not much else. Seems like its "missing something"
Taste sort of reminds me of drinking diet pop for some reason. Tastes like beer, looks like beer, just something kind of chemically, funky. The sweetness seems manufactured. This is all brought together by a decent hopiness and a good helping of the funky glacier water. Tastes rather watery.
Feels like you're drinking Perier water. Water + funk = Kokanee.
The only thing this stuff has going for it is the hops and when served cold its pretty refreshing. I'd drink this stuff if i was thirsty and there was no other beer around.
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look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Maybe its the glacier water they use. But there is some funk here that is simply not good.
Pours a standard lager yellow, if a little ememic, pale. Creamy head, no lacing.
Smells really sour, and not much else. Seems like its "missing something"
Taste sort of reminds me of drinking diet pop for some reason. Tastes like beer, looks like beer, just something kind of chemically, funky. The sweetness seems manufactured. This is all brought together by a decent hopiness and a good helping of the funky glacier water. Tastes rather watery.
Feels like you're drinking Perier water. Water + funk = Kokanee.
The only thing this stuff has going for it is the hops and when served cold its pretty refreshing. I'd drink this stuff if i was thirsty and there was no other beer around.
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2.53/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.92/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was once a go to beer before I began my journey in beer advocacy, lets see how its stands up today...
A - light straw golden, short white head dissipated to quickly to a thin covering
S - grassy, grainy, and metallic mustiness
T - corn and grainy malt flavours with faint hint of leafy hops, but its generally watery and mild
M - light and and watery, a slight dryness on the finish, easily chuggable but not much character
O - it is what it is, a mass produced american lager competing for a market that does not reward risks but rather light flavour and drinkability, it achieves those goals but not much else, although when push comes to shove I will always order a Kokanee over Bud, Canadian, Coors, and the rest
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This was once a go to beer before I began my journey in beer advocacy, lets see how its stands up today...
A - light straw golden, short white head dissipated to quickly to a thin covering
S - grassy, grainy, and metallic mustiness
T - corn and grainy malt flavours with faint hint of leafy hops, but its generally watery and mild
M - light and and watery, a slight dryness on the finish, easily chuggable but not much character
O - it is what it is, a mass produced american lager competing for a market that does not reward risks but rather light flavour and drinkability, it achieves those goals but not much else, although when push comes to shove I will always order a Kokanee over Bud, Canadian, Coors, and the rest
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Kokanee from Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.
2.61
out of 5
based on 207 ratings.