Rickard's Dark - Molson Coors Canada

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Wait...this is supposed to be a Porter and not an English Dark Mild?! That can't be right, let me check their website. You have got to be kidding me, Rickard's own website confirms it. Well, this is going to make this review a lot less charitable then.

Appearance: Poured with two fingers of well sustaining head that produced ample lacing. The body boasts a redish hue, which if it was a mild dark would be solid, but as a Porter is far too thin, clear and bubbly.

Smell: Dark sweet caramel malt that with only a touch of burnt smell. The background has a mild maple smell, which seems to also have a slight metallic hint to it. Once again, for a Dark Mild it's quite good and reserved but for a Porter it has a ways to go.

Taste: In a word, mild...almost like a...Dark Mild Ale. Mild sweet malt with a smoky touch gives way to a strong maple flavoured molasses and ends with a roasted touch of hops and smoke with a light brush of anise and metal.

Mouthfeel: <sigh> You are probably noticing a trend by now but once again, for a Dark Mild it's fairly good, as light carbonation helps out the entire beer in a humble and mild fashion and transitions well. However as a Porter it's far too thin and not at all creamy to taste. Cloys a little too much too, but at least the sweet aftertaste is subdued, although not what I typically desire from a Porter.

Drinkability: This is kind of tough for me, because once again as a Porter it's far too light bodied. However, because it's so mild it becomes a lot easier to drink, albiet perhaps a little too much. The carbonation is solid and it settles down nicely so, I'm gonna give it a bit of a free pass here.

Final Thoughts: It's a good beer, but it's not a Porter! Why on earth Molson thought calling this a Porter on their website was a good idea I have no idea. Probably because a Porter is more marketable then a Mild Dark? I dunno, either way as a Mild Dark, just about every category would have received a .5 bump from me, which would have pushed this beer around the 4.0+ area. I like to think the Brewer intended it as such, and not as a Porter, but I suppose this should be a lesson in knowing what you are selling. You would think that Molson would have learned a lesson from it's rival's at Labatt venture with Alexander Keith's "Stag Head Stout"

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 03:54:05 | More by TheHammer

Kendo

New York

2.9/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured from the bottle into a Sam Smith's nonic-style pint glass. Body is cola brown with a very small khaki-colored head.

S: Not sure what it smells like, though "Porter" does not come to mind. Maybe a bit of husky grain and faint burnt grains. Something just seems off but I can't really describe it.

T: Thin. I may be serving this too cold to get a lot of flavor, or, more likely, I'm serving it cold enough to kill the off flavors. I get some light caramel malt/toffee, cola-like flavors, a touch of maple syrup and maybe some corn syrup. Better yet, think of the "fake" maple syrup that is basically made of high fructose corn syrup. But that suggests that there's more happening here than I'm really getting.

M: Light in heft, carbonation is modest and inoffensive.

O: So-so. Certainly doesn't seem like much of a Porter; more like a watered-down Brown Ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 21:53:42 | More by Kendo

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a deep amber to black in color with a light tan head. In the aroma, a caramel roast and a mellow lager note. In the taste, a small sweet caramel roast in a lager like beer. A small bite, but mainly smooth and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry note of caramel in a lager. A sweet caramel roast in a lager, if this is supposed to be a porter, it is really thin.

Serving type: can

08-23-2012 16:40:39 | More by OWSLEY069

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

2.7/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a chestnut brown. Finger of head settles pretty quickly. Web of lacings to the finish

Light grainy nose, I can't really pick out any dark or roasted malt.

Quite light up front, less flavour than their Red. Oddly you do get some roasty chocolate flavours at the midway and they're not half bad. Vaguely sweet throughout, but actually pretty restrained, especially from a macro using maple syrup. You do get a touch of maple in the aftertaste, kind of pleasant.

Rickard's is a bit of a standby for beer fans in Ontario stuck gonig to chain restaurants and bars. The dark is a not bad addition to the lineup, I'd happily drink one given no other options.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 18:53:48 | More by CanuckRover

Brad007

Vermont

3.9/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a mild brown with a brown head into my glass. Scratch that. It's more of a chestnut brown.

Sweet with hints of brown sugar and cocoa. Simplified in a way.

Taste is much the same. Sweet. Chewy. I think the maple sugar imparts something unique.

It shows mostly in the mouthfeel, which is slickly sweet.

Very good for the style. A traditional english porter.

Serving type: can

07-16-2012 00:02:37 | More by Brad007

maclean25

British Columbia (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I poured it with a big fluffy-creamy, light brown head. It reduced to a thin head with lacing along the sides. The body is clear with a dark brown-red colour. On the aroma I get rootbeer and roasted grains, though it isn't particularly strong. The taste isn't really really I expected. I taste licorce, molassas, and smoke. It is supposed to have "a hint of pure Quebec maple syrup" but I don't get it. Makes me wonder what it would taste like without that ingredient. The mouthfeel is smooth but watery with a thin body. Overall, it tastes basically what I'd expect a Rickard's porter to taste like.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 02:48:11 | More by maclean25

CMUbrew

Michigan

2.8/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes

473ml can poured into a small plastic cup generously provided by my hotel.

A: Beer initially poured with a large head, which faded to a nice cap of foam that stuck around for quite a while. Nice brown color with a lighter brown/ruby color at the edges. Lacing stuck to the cup nicely.

S: All I'm picking up in the nose is a slight roasty smell. Not much else.

T: The taste is very straight forward. I get some roasty malt taste, but not much else. Roast becomes slightly more pronounced as the beer warms. The can says this beer is brewed with maple syrup, but I can't even get a hint of maple flavor.

M: Medium body I suppose. Carbonation seems about right. Slightly drying finish.

O: This was my first porter, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I can tell this is an average offering of the style. It does, however, leave me wanting to try more porters. Glad I tried it.

Serving type: can

03-10-2012 20:27:00 | More by CMUbrew

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This Rickard's may be darker than the others, but it's far from black; the chestnut-brown coloured ale has, not only a bright and shimmering auburn hue, but also immaculate clarity to boot. Despite a steady presence of bubbles, its head lasted a minute maybe - two, tops - and left not a drop of lacing anywhere on the glass.

The nose has an identifiable sweetness to it, courtesy of the maple syrup (and, likely, corn syrup too). Blended with some loosely-ascribable-as-dark maltiness it takes on faint hints of caramel, nutty-toffee and a trace of plum. It's underwhelming so far as porters go but it's a world better than what others in the Rickard's lineup have to offer.

Speaking of which, to put it in perspective, Rickard's Dark is a bit more grainy and a bit less pallid than Rickard's Red, which, mind you, isn't saying much. Unlike the latter, I'd say it's much less offensive (except to the style purists out there, of course). At least grain succeeds syrup on the palate, although the roastiness is so mild as to maybe go unnoticed.

Rickard's Dark will appeal to some and infuriate others. Indeed it's possible to write two entirely different reviews: the first might shed a general good impression of the product insofar as it exceeds Molson's usual standard of flavor and integrity; the second, judging strictly on stylistic merit, might fairly consider this the worst porter ever conceived.

This is no more a real porter than that person sending you the emails about Viagra is a real doctor. And if you're looking for a substantial, malty dark ale then I'd say it's also every bit a scam. Don't get me wrong, it may be the most flavorful offering in the Molson lineup - and isn't too hard to drink - but let's just not call it a porter and keep expectations reasonable.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 19:49:35 | More by biegaman

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: It has a nice dark brown/amber color to it. It has a nice tan head that dies down moderatly and leaves surprisingly nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas give out hints of roasty malts, light maple syrup and a light nuttiness.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a roasty character to it, some dark fruit and a slight nuttiness.

Mouthfeel: It has a medium carbonation with a light overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with bland flavors and aromas.

Serving type: can

12-08-2011 21:33:01 | More by SebD

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Deep copper in colour, like an old penny. Off-white head disappears in under two minutes. No lacing. Aroma smells sweet; light prune notes. Very meek and inoffensive. What little aroma to be found is more like brown ale than porter. Mild dried fruit flavour with even milder, nearly non-existent, roast. Slight acidity. Medium-bodied but slightly overcarbonated for my liking. Not as horrifying an abomination as Keiths Dark. I'll damn it with that faint praise.

Serving type: can

11-23-2011 00:23:39 | More by mintjellie

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Root beer brown with a finger of beige head. Head doesn't last and falls to a thin cap.

Light roasted aroma with a mix of caramel and burnt sugar. Smells ok.

Taste mirrors the smell, but adds a lingering herbal/vegetal finish.

There is a touch of body to it, and carbonation is about average. Could use a hint more creaminess.

Altogether it is alright, but as a porter fan there are several better options.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 01:59:22 | More by elricorico

TheDeuce

New York

2.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Rickard’s Dark…..on tap at Taco Tequila in Downtown Montreal…

Appearance-brown black color with a heavy creamy head that cascades up and down quickly leaving a hole of foam with rings around the glass.

Smell-subdued sugar upfront with roasted malt background, slight touches of coffee beans and syrup as well as alcohol

Taste/Mouthfeel-notes of maple syrup in both taste and the thin body, alcohol mix with some sugar bite on the way down. Ok smoothness with medium mouthfeel, alcohol is hidden, as is hops, as is, well more discernable flavor. Tastes gimmicky and the flavors don’t entirely work, clean finish. Overall it was ok but not great.

Overall-again, this feels more like a gimmick and it’s a largely forgettable beer. I didn’t hate it but I do not recommend seeking it out. Went ok with my meal though.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2011 19:46:01 | More by TheDeuce

Matt1516

Quebec (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Never look a gift-can in the...

Pours up like so much root beer: Dark, super fizzy and watery.

Roasted smells.

It came from a cold can so I couldn't taste the maple syrup which was supposedly there. It had a certain sweetness and roasted notes but far too carbonated for the style and watery for any depth of flavour.

Even free--it's hard to drink a beer when the can proudly states the Molson-Coors provenance.

Serving type: can

07-08-2011 03:33:03 | More by Matt1516

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

2.73/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Style interpretation aside, at least Rickard's names their beers appropriately - the Red is red, and this is most certainly dark - but has Molson actually made a decent porter?

A single tallboy can picked up at the LCBO. Served at slightly warmer than fridge-temperature, Rickard's Dark pours (unsurprisingly) a dark brown colour; more or less opaque. The head is nice; light beige in colour, and a little more than a finger thick. Retention is ok, it lasts a few minutes before dissipating into a fine coat of lacing. Say what you will about their flavour, at least Rickard's beers look nice. The smell is of sweet roasted malts; also some vanilla extract, caramel, and the maple syrup boasted about on the can is apparent as well. Appealing, but not exactly anything too special for the style.

First thought - man this is a thin porter. Roasted dark/caramel malts are not just the dominant flavour - they are pretty much the only flavour. Maybe a bit of a bitter coffee grind thing going on in the finish, but it's very diluted and doesn't last. Slightly sweet-tasting overall. The maple syrup that was detectable on the nose is invisible until the beer has warmed a bit, and even then it's barely apparent. Light-bodied for the style, and slightly creamy. The carbonation level is also too high for my liking, but it's not like there are any complex flavours for it to interfere with.

The appearance and smell are the high points of this beer, which is typically not a good thing. The taste is alright, but bland and undeniably one-dimensional; frankly I expect more from a porter. Another underwhelming Molson product, I guess this is their answer to Keith's Dark, which is equally lame. Not going to pick this up again.

Serving type: can

07-03-2011 06:14:06 | More by thehyperduck

ChrisCage

Alberta (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours a clear root beer color with a decently thick head, that is beige colored, but fizzy nonetheless. There seems to be a fairly heavy carbonation in this beer and the lacing is very much lacking, with small wisps of foam barely hanging on to my glass. Nothing really special here unfortunately....

S- Muted porter aromas are present, with the roasted malts, toffee, burnt toast all there, but just not where a comparable product would be. The hint of maple syrup is noticeable, with notes of brown sugar and the aforementioned syrupy goodness. Hop presence isn't really noticed, but there is an underlying dryness.

T- More of the same here....the flavors are there but are shallow. This is sweeter than other porters, due to the maple syrup used, and that itself is upfront. No bitterness on the finish either. I actually like the flavor of the beer, but to me it sits more along the lines of a honey brown than a porter.

M- Medium-ish in body and the carbonation isn't offensive at all. There is a drying sensation on the sides of my cheeks after the swallow, very much like the tannins in wine or tea would do. It is generally creamy and feels smooth like buttered bread.

O- I personally don't understand why Rickards is slammed so much....no this is not the best porter out there, but there is some flavor and it's easy to drink, especially in the warmer weather. I think this would also make a great steak marinade and will try that sometime down the road. I would buy this again. The Rickard's lineup and this in particular, is decent beer...it just doesn't stand out.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 02:36:06 | More by ChrisCage

BasementBer

Manitoba (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Oddly cursing the guy that left 10 rickards in my fridge. The height of snobbery when free beer is a bummer.

A: Decent head of light brown foam, overly carbonated, but good ruby color.

S: Smells roasty and slightly matly sweet with a hint of floral hops.

T: Finishes far to quickly, but a short bitter and roasted chocolate flavor. But before you know it, its a coke.

M: The fizz conflicts too much with smooth finish.

D: Its a so-so commercial porter since few really put that style out there. But I know I have made one much better.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 04:33:01 | More by BasementBer

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Can from the Beer Store, dated C011. 473ml into a pint glass.

Pours mahogany with some chestnut and ruby highlights found in the body. Relatively creamy head that lasts and laces quite well. Is this a Molson product? Nose has some non-descript sweetness, maybe some maple/sugar and a hint of some nuttiness? Muddled and too sweet. Not much else, some grain and a hint of metal. Taste has some dark fruit and some sweetness. Some sugar fro sure, but definitely not the 'maple' advertised on the can. More metallic notes in the finish. Body is light and borders on watery. Medium carbonation. This one was just too sweet for me and not something I'd intentionally revisit. Not horrible and a step up from other macro offerings, but not work seeking out.

Serving type: can

05-05-2011 17:40:11 | More by liamt07

heebes

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

500 ml can.
Served at a buddies - straight can.

Tasted decent when cold, held some porter qualities. Some roasted dark malt character, a bit of maple syrup which is said it's brewed with, but it lacks any body and true quality ingrediants. Seems like it was brewed with little to no thought about quality but rather with quantity in mind. Light and thin mouthfeel. Wasn't going to say no to my buddy! Decent overall but not going to ever purchase myself.

Serving type: can

04-03-2011 04:52:26 | More by heebes

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A fairly dark amber colour. Kind of transparent. A little creamy head that stays around at about half a finger.

S - Quite nice roasty malts and a bit of molasses sweetness.

T - Kind of a let down. Just malty with some sweetness in the end. There isn't a whole lot else going on.

M - Carbonation is nice. Medium body.

D - Decent. I could have a few of these at the pub, though it wouldn't be my beer of choice.

Overall, it's alright. I kind of like it and might drink it again, but there are better beers in this style that are easy to get and not much more expensive.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 02:35:29 | More by evlu1441

harley101

Manitoba (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

i think this is a very good beer, despite what others may say it is easily drinkable and very enjoyable. The maple taste is a bit forthcomming though. I find that the beer is lacking somethng though i cant quite put my finger on it! Oh well ill just st back and enjoy it i guess.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 21:47:24 | More by harley101

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Dark brown appearance with decent head. Smell is sweet and fruity beer, picked up a vanilla caramel scent as well.

Has a vanilla, brown sugar, roasted taste with a hint of toffee. Surprisingly light bodied with light carbonation. After taste is sweet and bitter.

Overall this is a decent attempt, starts strong but the lightness kills it and makes it an unballanced beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 05:28:19 | More by CrazyMike

A380

Manitoba (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried This Beer On Tap and must say if you have tried this out of a bottle or can and didn't like it.. give it another try if you can find it on tap somewhere in your area.
The head much creamier and you detect the sweet maple taste much easier on tap rather than out of the bottle.
Subtle coffee taste and the taste in gerneral is very sweet! Slight spice and very little chocolate flavor. Goes Down Very easy and its not as crazy coffee like as the other dark beers out there.
Definitely give it a try!
But i still think the bottle version is pretty damn good!

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 20:42:47 | More by A380

case4816

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark Auburn, Brown Color. Foamy Head that lingered for longer than expected.

S- very roasted, almost creamy. Hint of Caramel and Vanilla

T- Very light. Tastes like it's heavily roasted until it sits for a minute in your mouth, then you realize it tastes pretty watered down. Creamy feel in the mouth. No lingering flavors or feelings. I did not detect and "Quebec Maple Syrup"

D- Overall a very drinkable beer. Definitely not the best there is but acceptable for sure

Serving type: can

09-18-2010 05:21:12 | More by case4816

rarbring

Sweden

2.53/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The beer is dark red, brown and grey in the color, an off-white head with very small bubbles, some lacing.

The smell is mostly in the heavy roasted malt area, but rather subtle.

The taste is sweet, a bit like chocolate on brown bread, but also some tone of wet old wood.

Medium high carbonation, but surprisingly spritzy, giving a weak soda association.

This is not a good example of an English porter - at all!

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 02:38:39 | More by rarbring

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a nice dark ruby red, thin finger of head with little retention, and some sporatic lacing throughout.

S - The scent is largely bready caramel malts, some toffee and brown sugar as well. A bit on the light side and has the potential to be more pwoerful.

T - Taste is also a little light, but boasts some caramel and toffee malts, a bit of roasted coffee and burnt sugar.

M - The carbonation seemed right, but it just seemed a little too light and watery for the style. Could be a tad thicker to enhance the feel.

D - By no means a terrible offering, but lacking a bit of everything in all departments. Would easily order a pint of this again, but it's nothing special. A poor example of the style, but still a drinkable dark beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2010 15:35:13 | More by andrenaline