Labatt Blue - Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.58/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Lucent flax. The bone white head is actually pretty decent. It has a creamy frothiness that one doesn't often see in a beer of this style. Still at two fingers at the several minute mark, it leaves an unimpressive amount of weak, quickly melting lace.

There are no surprises in the nose. It isn't as assertive (and therefore not as bad?) as many other macro lagers. I can appreciate moderately sweet grain with a minor tickle of floral hops. Although it's forgettable, at least I don't cringe as I bring the glass up to my mouth.

Labatt Blue is definitely on the lighter end of the style scale regarding flavor. Again, I'm having trouble thinking of that as a negative. There's very little bitterness, just a barely perceptible bite to go along with the lightly sweet, light corny flavor that is especially noted on the back end. Short, clean finish.

I haven't had one of these in at least a decade, but it used to be my favorite beer. Actually, it was my first favorite beer. Then I discovered Guinness Extra Stout and Bass Ale and never went back. I don't remember it as being this weak, but then my palate has undergone major changes in the past few years.

I imagine that calling Blue an *American* macro lager pisses off those from the Great White North who can be bothered to be protective about a macro. I would never buy it by the sixer, but as a poundable, 'don't wanna think about it' kind of beer, this stuff ain't bad. It has no real negatives, unless one considers a lack of positives to be a negative.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2005 00:07:42 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2.85/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

So this I have no excuse for other then trying to knock out the bottom of the barrel list as quick as possible. A short trip to the store revealed most of these sitting there, rip for the taking. Decided to try a few last night and just go with it. Served cold and right from the bottle, this was consumed on 08/11/2010.

This one started out much like the rest of the night would, with a light and fizzy yellow pour with a small head of white on top that hung around for just a few brief moments before falling back down to earth. Light aroma of grain and corn, I could swear there was a touch of light piney hops, but quickly overrun as it warmed up. Crisp and clean, very smooth body made it almost tolerable as I take the first few sips. A light bready and grainy taste, but mostly just very clean with a light dryness in the finish which served to clean the palate and ready you for another quite quickly.

Overall I have to admit it was not terrible. I am not admitting I would go by this one again, but it was certainly not the worst thing I had last night.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 00:37:39 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes.

Poured into a pint glass. Golden color with a white head that stays around for a bit at a single finger. The nose is a bit of light grain and some husk. The flavor brings a few too many grain husks. Light body with a lot of carbonation. Drinks well enough, but not all that good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2010 01:32:40 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.15/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

11.5 ounce bottle - $1.79 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a clear, yellow body with steady effervescence feeding an already tall, white head tha-- oh, nevermind, it's dissipating at a steady if sad rate.

Smell: Mild blend of pale and pils malts with a hint of fresh-steamed veggies served up with a ramekin full of light corn syrup. Not exactly an aroma that screams "DRINK UP!"

Taste: Sweet, disparagingly corn-laden flavor starts with some simply pale and pils malts. A tad husky initially and growing huskier by the minute. Blue is nearly entirely lacking in hop flavor and bitterness, though it does eventually dry out on the lightly husky finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Drinkability: A dreadful product, really, that's both unpleasant and unrewarding and should be generally avoided.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 01:14:47 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bottle - Standard macro brew with no real head retention or any aftertaste. Aroma is almost non-existent. Body is really light to ensure you can drink a lot of this crap brew, not that you would want to. Not much else to say except I won't be seeking this anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2003 17:28:21 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

1.95/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Sampled qutie a few Lagers and Pilsners during this session. This beer turned out to be the most sulfuric and ill-balanced of the bunch. Starts off with a typical crystal-clear, fizzy carbonated, active beer, with a head formation that failed to retain. Aromas of cereal grains / adjuncts and light pilsner malt are dominated by sulfury aromas of cooked vegetables (corn) and a harsh match-stick burning sensation in the nose. Flavors also pick up on the corn flavors (from sulfur and pilsner malts). A residual corn-like sweetness proves quite distracting. A follow-up of astingent husk flavors and green apples round out the beer. A bit heavy / oily in the mouthfeel with a finish that emphasizes the unbalanced sweetness. Those crazy Northerners will apparently drink anything.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2007 17:03:15 | More by BEERchitect

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

WesWes

New York

3.08/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a very light golden golden with a thick frothy white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is terrible. It is weak and watery. It has breadlike qualities and seems a bit musty. The taste is watery and simplistic. It has little malt complexity and flavor. The mouthfeel is perfect. It has a bunch of carbonation. This is a very low bodied beer. It is very drinkable despite all it's shortcomings. This was my first favorite beer. I drank more than my fair share of this beer in my late teens and early twenties.

Serving type: can

12-07-2003 01:23:22 | More by WesWes

zeff80

Missouri

2.58/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Poured out a very fizzy, straw yellow color with a fizzy, short-lived, white head. It left no lace.

S - It smelled of corn, grains and adjuncts.

T - Tasted like most lagers of this style. Corn, grain and not much else.

M - It was crisp, sharp and very well-carbonated. A light-bodied beer.

D - This is an okay macro lager. Nothing to write home about, but it works in deep in the North woods.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2008 01:14:03 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

1.3/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

On-tap 2/23/07 at The Celtic Pub in Pawtucket, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a pale gold color, with a medium white head that fades quickly and leaves very little lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of skunky corn and other adjuncts, some malt almost no hops.

T: Flavors of grain and corn are the most prevalent with a little bit of macro sweetness. The malt character is very thin and there's not much of a hops presence either. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet.

M: Not crisp and not smooth, light-to-medium body, medium-to-heavy carbonation, dry and clean finish.

D: Not tasty at all, the fact that it's not filling is about the only good thing I can say about it. I definitely would not drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2007 16:09:21 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.48/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Labatt Blue is a pretty decent drinking beer. It's best when it's ice cold. It's much like other Pale Lagers, Yellow in color, dissipating head, and pretty smooth tasting. I'd go for a Labatt's before ever going after Miller or Bud. This beer gives us some good flavors and it could easily be much worse.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 22:43:02 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev +38.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had this on tap in minnesota was pleasantly suprised!

pours deep golden with a 1" white head. Good head retention & lacing

Smell: Slight fruit notes, not much else

Taste: Clean & malty with a slight fruitiness. Finished pretty malty

MF: Good balance & carbonation

Pretty darn drinkable. Was skeptical, so I had 2 more. This was tasty. I would say this beer must need to turn quick to stay in form, but maybe it just hit the right notes that evening

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2006 03:45:51 | More by russpowell

jwc215

New Jersey

3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours straw yellow - clear as a bell. A thin white head hangs on a little bit before becoming a vanishing patch.

The smell is of a hint of sweet grain. Inoffensive - clean as a whistle.

The taste is of some sweetness that is somewhat balanced in the finish. Clean, clean and crisp.

Light-bodied - not watery, though - but, fizzy.

The fizziness is pretty big and would get to me after awhile, even for the style, though it manages to keep something of a body. Very clean. Inoffensive. A bit of sweetness hangs on. Not a bad "lawn-mower" beer, though there are others that are cheaper that work just as well for that. Judged in style - could be better, could be much worse. I gave it the same score as Molson Canadian, but would probably take it over that.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2008 22:35:48 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First night in the Big Smoke for an extended work stay, and it's hot and humid, as expected. The only nearby place open after my late evening arrival doesn't exactly scream brewpub. Oh well.

This beer pours a clear pale golden colour, with lots of soapy white head, which leaves a ring of lace around the quickly-defrosting glass. It smells of white grain/corn sweetness, and mild skunky, weedy hops. The taste is mild corn sweetness, and very mild astringent hops. The carbonation is average, the body light and mildly cloying, and it finishes dry and crisp, no skunky aftertaste, which may very well be a testament to the serving coldness.

Not bad for a first time in a long time, and the environment sure didn't hurt impressions...

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2009 02:40:23 | More by biboergosum

tempest

Pennsylvania

1.83/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Wow, I didn't expect it, but it makes sense in hindsight. This tastes worse than it's light version. I guess the additional flavor is more than it can handle. If you're going to drink this beer, I guess the key is to not let it warm up at all. Chilled, its plain and sweet, but all sorts of nasties come out with warmth.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2007 02:56:43 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A can at the Meyer family reunion. Secretly consumed so as to not arise the passions of others.

A: The lager is pale and yellow, clear with a white head that slows pops up through the mouth of the can.

S: The nose is innocuous, grainy and not much more. I can smell the coldness and the refreshment that it offers.

T: As you'd expect, cold the lager is flavorless. As it warms, light cereals and biscuit pop up. Hops are nonexistent. The beer gets worse as it warms.

M: The mouthfeel is dull but quite drinkable. When cold, I'm guessing that I could have gotten through the can in under five minutes.

Serving type: can

09-03-2011 23:53:06 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appears fizzy yellow with a bright white head crystal clear body, and the head dwindles instantly as you pour it. Thin scant lacing is strung unvevnly around my pint glass. Aroma strong cereal notes very industrial lager in nature light grain notes with a mineral character with no real hops to speak of. Flavor is even unoffensive crisp and refreshing, definitely a solid option especially when 12 packs are 9.99 at the grocery store. Again American light lager prety boring not much to say no real hop flavor. Mouthfeel is overcarbonated thin water texture to me. Drinkability is alright for what it is, I do have good memories drinking this stuff my freshman year of college up around Erie seemed like this BMC and Yuengling were every where you went to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2008 04:31:12 | More by WVbeergeek

Wasatch

Utah

2.45/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a yellow pale color, some carbonation, small head, some lacing afterwards. The smell is malty, but skunky. The taste is malty, watery with a dry finish. Light body. Drinkable if given for free. I remember drinking this alot in CA, way better than Bud or Coors though.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2006 18:38:18 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

1.85/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a white, 5-finger-head that vanishes quickly leaving traces of lace. Clear, very pale amber color, similar to urine. Light carbonation and light bodied. Nose is faintly skunky. Starts with more malts than hops but sweetness fades to a slight hoppy finish. Slightly more flavor than Blue Light. $1.50 for a 340ml from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2005 22:50:30 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

2.28/5  rDev -14%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Borderline bad, not something I'd want to have to drink that often either even if it was handed to me at a party. A run of the mill cheap American Lager with a funny smell and a bland taste. There are so many other beers, even macro beers, that are better than this.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2002 15:51:55 | More by Jason

ppoitras

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can purchased as part of an 18-pack at a convenience store in Chateguay, NY.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed 3/4" white head over the oh-so-clear pale straw brew. Pillowy head lasts well, and lacing is surprising nice, with heavy foam coverage. Aroma is minimal, light sweetness and hops, kind of generic "beer" nose. Taste is sweet pale malts upfront, balanced and then overpowered by a bitterness that seems to come from some sort of homogenized hops, no real character, and a dry close. Mouthfeel is a bit harsh, with some overcarbonation appearing on the tongue, and the bitterness leaving a bit of an aftertaste, and the better sort. Have to admit, though, if this is what you're looking for, it is somewhat drinkable.

Serving type: can

09-13-2005 20:45:08 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

2.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

The old Blue...I got a free can at the in-laws and decided to try it out, since I haven't had it in about 7 years.
Appears a light straw gold with a small white head that dies off quickly. Lots of carbonation streams rise to the top.
Smell is of carapils, and munich malts, along with Napa cabbage and aluminum.
Taste is of the same but with a bad metallic taste that isn't appealing at all.
Mouthfeel...all metal baby.
Forget it. I had to try it out for old times sake.

Serving type: can

01-30-2006 23:38:30 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a little darker shade of Macrobrew clear yellow.

Smell is sweet and grainy with a buttery corn scent to it.

Taste is sweet like a Michelob with that buttery corn flavor. Lots of grain flavor to this, and a little bitter hit in the finish. Better than an American Macro.

Mouthfeel is good.

Passable brew beats the American macrobrews.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2004 03:25:28 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear piss yellow tone. Thin off white head. Minimal lace. Aroma is of soft, sweet malts. Nice graininess in the flavor. Also some malt sweetness and noticeable hop presence (for a macro). Mouthfeel isn't nearly as fizzy as most Macros and that's a plus. Body is about medium. This is an agreeable macro brew to ingest.

Serving type: can

04-03-2005 04:08:39 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The Canadian Budweiser. Gold, clear, lots of bubbles, good carbonation. Corn and grain BMC aroma.

Taste, prickly carbonation hides a lack of substance for a little while. No discernable hopping. Malt was warmed, but definitely not roasted or anything similar. Good as a palate cleanser, but not much else.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2010 18:24:51 | More by Beerandraiderfan