Labatt Blue - Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.

tugdriver7

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

As "American Macro Lagers" go, this one is a pleasant anomaly. I have tried to find something besides AB/M/C products that I could have around the house for my less adventurous beer drinking friends. This one seems to fit the bill because it's a name they recognize and it's one I'll actually drink from time-to-time.

Pours nice, slightly hazy gold with a fluffy head that stays briefly through the first sip or two. The smell is almost non-existent (which is a good thing for some macros) but there is a hint of clean malt in the nose. It seems to be slightly more of a mouthfeel than most macros... but it may just be that I hoped it would feel that way. Regardless, the taste is clean malt, with just enough hops to provide a delicate bitterness that makes Labatt Blue very drinkable and refreshing.

Not bad. Not my "regular" beer, but not bad at all. I can't wait for summer to mow the lawn and enjoy one of these.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 01:31:03 | More by tugdriver7

Bighead6365

New York

3.6/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Labatt Blue is right in the middle of beers with expense and flavor. If I don't want to spend a ton of money and have a beer that I can always drink whether it's out to dinner or at a bar, Blue is it. First the USA headquarters is in Buffalo so I have a little hometown pride.

Labatt does a good job at making a beer that is good to drink, has a slightly sweet hoppy feel to it, and goes down crisp and smooth. When drinking its rival Molson Canadian, I find that, that is too nutty/grainy tasting.

When watching hockey or just sitting after a day of work and classes Blue is normally a good choice. And if I don't wanna get drunk on something that is too horrible to stomach, Blue is also my choice.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 04:05:45 | More by Bighead6365

Stunner97

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev +34%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- light golden yellow with a perfect white foamy head, slight carbonation on the glass

smell- corn grain and hops, not overwhelming but pleasant refreshing odor leaves you wanting first taste

Taste- slight malts and grains, decent bitter hop finish crisp light and refreshing flavor, very well balanced lager, enjoyable overall, refreshing as a macro lager can be

Mouthfeel- light thin bodied and easily palatable to drink, good slamming brew

Drinkability- Very highly drinkable, so refreshing crips and enjoyable a good example of the lager style, worth a try, OH CANADA!

Serving type: can

04-06-2009 23:38:55 | More by Stunner97

beeragent

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz. bottle. The beer pours a light gold, without forming any kind of head or lacing. The aroma is a suprise. Considering it is a macro-lager style, there are actually hints of hops on the aroma. The taste is a little more flavorful than your typical American macro lager. Not by much, but there are hints of hops and malts in the taste. The mouthfeel is also a little bit thicker for the style. A very drinkable lager. Overall, I was impressed. This is a step up from from the usual BMC lager. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2007 05:13:23 | More by beeragent

BBri

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I like this beer. Smell is grainy, a bit sweet. Appearence is pretty typical of N. American lagers. Medium to light yellow, minimal head. Taste is good. Goes down smooth with a little bit more bite than US Lagers which I find enjoyable. You can drink this beer all nite long and not go wrong. Best for watchin hockey, the Canucks know what they're doing when it comes to beer (and hockey)!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 14:44:08 | More by BBri

teovaldi

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light yellow with a big foamy white head.

The smell is a very slight hop/malt mix. It doesn't smell offensive compared to other AAL's

The taste is a bit of malt and hops that finishes crisp and clean.

The mouthfeel is clean, medium bodied and highly carbonated.

Can easily, and many times have, pound back quite a few of these a night. This is my go-to AAL.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 09:30:11 | More by teovaldi

LouieF

New York

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: I don't actually know...I've only had these from cans.
Smell: Slightly metallic with some malty sweetness.
Taste: Wow, totally not what I was expecting. Starts off bitter, much stronger than a regular american macro and finishes with some light sweetness. Hops are very present.
Mouthfeel: Not bad at all, pleasant carbonation. I wouldn't say that this is a "full bodied" beer but there is definitely something there.
Drinkability: Very easy...I could drink one after another. For what it is worth, this is a decent beer. I would hardly say that it is the best out there however if you are looking for a cheap beer with a decent taste this is the way to go. I'd also recommend eating it with some sort of beef.

Serving type: can

09-11-2008 22:41:04 | More by LouieF

Monsteruss

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The foam was light wheat in color and dissapated quickly. The color was deep golden yellow with some amber highlights. The taste had a balance of hops and wheat, a fruity and flowery undertones with a bit of tartness and end. Mouthfeel - medium to light bodied with a smidgen of dryness. Drinkability - smooth, somewhat dry and a little bitter. Ok session.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 01:31:21 | More by Monsteruss

MMansfield

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up an 8 pack from the Musquodoboit Harbour NSLC for the years first fishing trip.

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear, yellow straw colour with a fluffy bone white cap. Settles a bit slowly to a thin layer, leaves a little lace.

Aroma: Very sweet, honey, grass, corn, possibly some light floral hops.

Taste: Mostly Kellogg's Corn Flakes. Sweet and grainy, some hops, not much. Low bitterness, not much at all in the finish.

Mouthfeel: I guess this is where it becomes a 'pilsner'. Somewhat soft, not as much carbonation comparable macros.

Final Statement: This last one poured into a pils glass at home was no where near as enjoyable as the 7 I drank from the can on the lake. I guess there's just something about throwing cans of beer in a rucksack and drinking them in the wilderness. Regardless, this is one of the better macros, and its filled with memories of watching Labatt Blue Jays Baseball as a kid, so I go to it every so often for certain occassions. I'm reviewing it as a macro lager, but a macro lager is still a macro lager so I can't exactly give it 5's even though its one of the better ones.

Serving type: can

04-26-2007 03:44:48 | More by MMansfield

punky796

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours a clear golden amber, about a finger of white head that dissipates pretty quickly, not much lacing.

S - Malts, alcohol, hops. Beer.

T - Malts, alcohol, toastiness, a certain chewy muskiness (a good word someone else here used) that I would use to describe beers such as this or Molson, Black Label, etc.

M - Not too bad, actually. Dry without too much of a macro kick. Medium-high carbonation and satisfactory aftertaste.

O - Pretty good. One of the best adjuncts/macros.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 05:30:30 | More by punky796

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A crystal clear golden body rests below a short, creamy, bright white head. The retention is limited, and it shortly drops to a thin surface covering; although it does leave some thin streaks and spotty lace. The nose offers a twist on the generic beer aroma with the addition of some mild, hay-like graininess; a touch of fruitiness; and some very "background" hops. The body is light/medium ; and its crisp in the mouth with a vibrant carbonation. The flavor delivers a thin, sweetish, obviously adjunct-laden (there's no real grain flavor present) malt that's balanced by a firm bitterness. It finishes clean and dry with little residual aftertaste. It's not a bad mass-produced lager by any means. In fact, it's probably one of the better ones. But the slightly elevated hop bitterness leaves me wanting more, and it's just not there. No real hop aroma, no hop flavor, no real graininess. Crisp and well-balanced, but lacking in character.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2003 02:55:49 | More by NeroFiddled

bluHatter

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Yellow golden, clear, pours with very little head that disappears instantly. No lacing.

S: Classic clean beer smell. Light and easy. Wheat, grain.

T: The taste of this beer always reminds me of beer and peanuts at a baseball game. Brings back great memories - but it's nothing too special. Just a really really easy to drink refreshing delicious beer.

M: Light carbonation. Easy on the palate, slight tingle.

O: Just a descent all around beer. Of the basic cheap beers, Labatt Blue is a favorite. Easy to drink and as refreshing as water.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 00:02:26 | More by bluHatter

jdmorgan

Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I agree with the previous comment that there is indeed a hype about Canadian beers. I do, also, agree that I appreciate there not being adjuncts in this beer. Anyway...

This beer pours a pale yellow with a medium white head. It has a very thin aroma to it with a bit of malt and a mere hint of hops. The taste was light and crisp with not much depth or body. Hop flavor was only slightly present. The body was, however, free of adjunct corn and rice flavors which was a plus. Consistency was thin and carbonation was medium/high.

Not much here as far as depth of taste, but this is definately an upscale beer of the style. It is very drinkable as a session beer, and it is popularly used as such. It should definately be chosen over many American rivals, but does not have any miraculous quality for being Canadian.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2008 05:19:37 | More by jdmorgan

BierFan

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a 24 ounce can into a tumbler glass.

Appearance: Decent white head. Clear yellow colored body.

Smell: Smell of pale malts. No skunk, no hops. It actually smells really good, I'm surprised.

Taste: Taste is of pale malts. No hops are present. Kind of a metallic taste.

Mouthfeel: Watery mouthfeel, but that's par for the course.

Drinkability: Pretty drinkable. This might be my new go to beer for places that have bad beer selections.

Serving type: can

10-19-2008 05:34:49 | More by BierFan

Lacesoutcody

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from a bottle to a pint glass.

A: Extremely clear faint yellow, with a slightly frothy head that dissipates after about 30 seconds with some small lacing clinging for dear life on the edges of the glass.

S: nothing much to speak of, a hint of floral adjuncts, maybe some corn. All in all it's very faint.

T: Smooth, watery, a few notes of lager citrus sweetness, and a slight hint of metallic. Very inoffensive flavors, but on the flip side nothing to really hold you attention.

M: Extremely smooth, probably one of the best parts of this beer.

D: Upfront, it really isn't much to speak of, nothing jumps out or draws you to it, that being said it's not terrible and is a good doppelganger to the american macro's. All in All you can knock back a plenty of these, I'd drink again.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 00:42:35 | More by Lacesoutcody

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Very pale yellow, more so than Molson in my opinion. Also lots of carbonation at first, then it goes away.

Smell: Sweet, in a weird way. Kind of piney. Not gross, but not like beer. Very odd.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Also kind of sweet and piney. Neither hoppy nor very malty. Kind of watery and sticky as well, but it's above-averagely smooth.

Drinkability: The watery texture makes it drinkable, but the taste makes it average.

Overall: My overall grade for this will probably leave the impression that I don't like this beer. That's not true thought. However given the grading criteria, Labatt Blue is an average beer, much in line with BMC products. It probably tastes better, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost. There are good domestic alternatives.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2010 23:24:02 | More by tjsdomer2

Sachsenfreude

Germany

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A decent example of the style that is more drinkable than others.

Pours a typical straw yellow with a white head that receeds somewhat quickly. Smells of blunt corn and mild hops. The taste has almost no bitterness and is mostly muted malts and corn. Still the flavors are blended well enough to make a smooth and crisp beverage. Slight corny sweetness in the finish and the alcohol is pretty well hidden. This beer taste a lot less watered down and processed than the BMC beers. Overall it's a lousy style of beer and Labatt made the best of it. A refreshing brew when one drinks cold.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 19:10:35 | More by Sachsenfreude

WVRadar

West Virginia

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1/2 inch fizzy white head that slowly dissipates to a collar around the top. Lots of bubbles rising to the surface. Clear, sparkling pale gold body with good lacing. Hint of corn? in the aroma. Initial medium bitter flavor, with a light short finish. Watery, light to medium mouthfeel with lively carbonation. Good lawn mower beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 00:21:44 | More by WVRadar

DannyDan

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A. A light pale yellow with a thin off white head that had a little lacing and retention and well carbonated.
S. Has the typical grains and malt smell that most mass produced Canadian and American commercial beers have.
T. The taste is a grainy and biscuit taste with some hops in the back to give your tastebuds some kick.
M. A very clean, crisp and easy drinking beer.
O. One of the very few commercial beers out there that I would buy again when I am low in money. The best AAL out there.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 06:23:53 | More by DannyDan

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden yellow color with a one finger head to it with a slight lace left behind. The smell is of corn grains and some faint floral hops. The taste is a sweet malt and some floral hops that give a hop bitterness to balance out the malt sweetness. The mouthfeel is a little watery and moderate carbonation. The overall drinkability is above average for this one. If you judge it against other adjuncts it is an above average beer, it has some complexity and some hops attached to the grains.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 22:49:01 | More by goblue3509

TheDeuce

New York

3.38/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Labattt Blue....

Appearance-pours a nice golden color with a huge three fingers of fizzy head, the head layers and then settles on top in a dense cloud.

Smell-fairly Budweiser like, hints of rice and grain, no real hop or malt aroma to speak of.

Taste-crisp taste, grainy on the tale end, a decent hoppy juiceness does come through and show itself here. Goes down smoothly and finishes wiht a slight hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel-grainy with slight malt, hop, and probably some DNS as well, but it does the job, minimal aftertaste.

Drinkability-stands up to any American style lager in this department, whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you, but for the style it's fine.

Overall-this beer is underrated, yes believe it folks. While it isn't by any means close to craft beer lager Labatt Blue is among the best Macro lager buys around. Crisp, refreshing, adequetely flavored, and smooth. Does the job in a pinch at places where craft beer isn't available.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2005 09:00:44 | More by TheDeuce

PBRstreetgang

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light gold with good clairty. Two fingers of head retain surprisingly well for a macro, doesn't leave any lacing though. Grain and pale malt are about the only aromas present. The taste is the same, with the addition of a semi-skunky hops that smooth mouthfeel and give it a crisp, dry finish. Light bodied, if not a little watery with even carbonation, and an almost nil aftertaste. The nice light flavor and drinkability make this one of your better macros.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2005 01:54:08 | More by PBRstreetgang

matty

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pale yellow colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma and taste are the normal macro cereal taste.When served cold this is a fresh pleasant tasting beer.Good for watching hockey games or any sport at that matter.I would recommend and purchase again!!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 05:23:42 | More by matty

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown bottle into a weizen glass. Has a pale straw color with 1/2 inch head. Hardly any aroma to speak of. Taste is crisp and not bad, although a tad bland. Refreshing in the mouth and good drinkability. Overall this is a very average beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 22:24:01 | More by tone77

ommegoose

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The head is extremely airy, but it fades very fast, after getting off to a good start. Goes to a patchy cap, and nothing at all after about halfway through. The color is pretty light. Carbonation bubbles are large. No lacing this time, but this has performed better for me on other occasions. What does it matter anyway, when there's a 99% chance you're drinking it from the can or bottle? Bonus for having an attractive can that could pass for a Pepsi or RC at a distance.

Smells unfortunately metallic initially. After this there's a pretty distinct aroma of sour apple and white grape. Would be better if there was any sort of potency to it.

The fruity notes in the flavor actually are noticeable on the palate as well. This is not bad at all. Reminds me much more of a Euro style than an American style lager. Definite suggestions of rice here, but I find that a bit better than corn, which is less apparent in this beer. Pretty sweet in a vaguely fruity way. Grassy in the back of the palate, with a minimally spicy bit of hops. Not a great finish if you choose to really dwell on it. The entire package outperforms most representations of the style.

Mouthfeel is light; moderately smooth. Carbonation is not a problem, but more tingly than I'd like.

Drinkability is pretty good. When this beer is on sale I don't hesitate to pick it up over other macros, just to have something in the fridge. And it's probably a little better than the score suggests.

Serving type: can

05-12-2008 04:54:57 | More by ommegoose