Review: Granville Island Lions Winter Ale

Usually when I try out a brewery's beer, and end up rating it as just "meh" not only once, twice but thrice, I wouldn't try another one of their beers, but considering I'm the same person who reviewed CLIT last month, I give every brewery a shot, no matter how bad the beer may be.

Before Granville Island was purchased by Molson a few years ago, I heard rave reviews of their Lion's Winter Ale, as it was the standard winter time BC beer, and being me.. I love to try anything beer-wise that's the "local micro staple"

Appearance: Pours a dark reddish brown, slightly clear, cream head that clings gently to the side of the glass.

Aroma: I sense some vanilla extract, almost a "faux vanilla" sort of aroma. Also, a bit of an Aunt Gemima-like syrup sweetness in there. Almost dollar store candy like, but not horrible.

Taste: Sweet, slightly syrupy and the vanilla does make a presence but I'm not too keen on it. A bit of a nuttiness, which fits in well with the season. There's a bit of a bitter aftertaste left by the vanilla, not sure what it is, almost tinny.

Overall Thoughts: Not horrible, but not great either. I'd rank this among a higher end Rickard's beer, sure not a micro in any sense as it has a flavour that you would expect from Rickards. It doesn't lack on flavour in any sense (unlike Rickard's Oakhouse) but the Aunt Gemimaesque syrupy sweetness is a bit irritating to the taste buds.

Costs around $11 for a 6 pack, 5.5% ABV.