Leinenkugel's Canoe Paddler - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.69/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

MAY0613 marked on the bottle neck.

Appearance: Pours out a clear, light yellow body with a medium-small, tight, white head.

Smell: Minor malts with a bit of grain, a dash of corn sugar, and modest hop hints.

Taste: Ultra faint, ineffusive maltiness with a slight touch of rye and light cereal sweetness. Lacking hops, low bitterness. Light finish with a light, lingering hint of malt liquor gankiness.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Overall: A weak offering, a rather poor Kölsch. Didn't finish this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:41:28 | More by ChainGangGuy

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Paddlin' the school canoe? Oh, you'd better believe that's a paddlin'... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear pale brass topped by a finger of relatively short-lived off-white foam. The nose comprises banana, light wheat, toast, very light lemon zest, and funky water. The taste brings in more of the same, with a stronger lemon and wheat component. The body is a hefty light, with a moderate carbonation and a dry, crisp finish. Overall, an okay kolsch, but one that doesn't seem to utilize the rye very well, and one that misses the style's mark just a bit regardless.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 06:02:47 | More by TMoney2591

zeff80

Missouri

3.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A - Poured out a clear, highly carbonated golden color with a one-finger white head of foam. It left little to no lacing.

S - It smelled of caramel with floral notes. Didn't detect anything rye-like.

T - It had a nice sweet caramel flavor. Mild spiciness from the rye.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A light bodied brew with a dry finish.

O - This is an okay kolsch-style ale. It didn't really get the rye, though.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 02:17:08 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

3.6/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is crystal clear straw yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface and a thick collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of grainy malts and notes of floral hops are present in the nose. Hints of fruity yeast become noticeable as the beer warms up.
T: The taste has flavors of cracker and grain malts along with a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, rather dry and a little crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink; the crispness and dryness also make it particularly refreshing. It is a good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 23:15:17 | More by metter98

jwc215

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours yellow golden with very small bubbles rising to the top, forming more of a lasting wisp than a head. Minimal vanishing lace slides down the glass.

The smell is grainy, cereal-like. It's yeasty with a hint of floral notes.

The taste is of sweet grain balanced by a hint of lemon-grass and peppery spicing in the finish. The aftertaste is of a macro-lager with some pepper.

The feel is light and smooth with a bit of fizz. The finish lasts a bit.

It doesn't really fit in with "Kolsch" style. It does have a certain dryness to it though - from the pepper. I didn't really catch the rye that was added. It's not bad - but...well - they tried something different that was light. It's okay.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 16:15:35 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.76/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Lawnmower beer status, light pale golden bright egg shell white head forms fine speckled lacing between sips. Fizzy flowing carbonation streams of bubbles from the bottom of my glass. Aroma has a biscuit malt sweetness, lemon tartness, and light grassy hop character going on. Not detecting rye yet let's see if it shows up in the flavor at all, crisp smooth biscuit malts with some bread dough yeast characteristics, a light lemony grassy finish pretty nice mix of flavors even if it's done in a session beer from Leinenkugel's. Some might say it's too watery or lacks the depth of some if it's German Kolsch style ales, but for me it's working just right not bad at all. Mouthfeel is crisp refreshing light bodied base beer clean finish all day, if working in the yard just keep these coming.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 18:59:17 | More by WVbeergeek

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Bright lemon-gold with a pristine clarity shows a healthy dose of carbonation. A frothy ivory white head is strong on the hold while the lacing sticks well.

S: Light tart lemons, faint fruitiness of lime and fresh green pear with a hint of dry delicate apple cider. Surprisingly has quite a bit of zing for a kolsch style.

T: Crisp and delicate tart fruitiness backed by a hint of wheat and pale grain sweetness. A touch of lime and green pear. Really clean tasting, soft fruity hop dryness and some bread.

M: Crisp mouthful, carbonation comes through with a light body that turned frothy on the hold. Light tartness of fruit and acidity.

O: Overally i was fairly impressed by the offering, clean well to do by style, well attenuated and crisp. Lightly tart and fruity and very easy to drink. A delicate and hard style to appreciate outside of germany and not one done usually by american breweries. Have to add the rye contribution was very slight to the point of almost non-commiting and could easily be overlooked as well as easily left out for style sake. Refreshing and crisp for that easy drinking session. A bit fruity per style and the rye seems out of place but besides being outside the guidelines a bit still drinks fairly easily and the light craft, lager drinker will find enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 23:33:05 | More by beerthulhu

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

I am totally stoked to drink this beer! I have been a fan of Leinie's beers since my first visit to Madison, WI in 1992 and when I found this as a single in my neighbor's cooler, I pounced on it like a panther. I had to await my picture's (yep, that's mine) approval before I would open it and now the stars have aligned as I prepare for an afternoon and evening of college hockey.

From the bottle: "Refreshing Kolsch-style beer with a touch of rye and three specialty hops"; "Carefully brewed by the Leinenkugel family for five generations".

My unrestrained pour created a finger-and-a-half of fizzy, foamy, bone-white head that seemed determined to fizzle its way out of existence. Color was a straw yellow with NE-plus quality clarity and loads of CO2 bubbles in evidence. Nose smelled of lemongrass and silage (corn), the latter of which was not totally unpleasant, but not totally welcomed, either. Mouthfeel was effervescent with a very light taste of lemon and canned corn. It was more innocuous than unpleasant, IMHO. Finish was dry, slightly bland and generally unobtrusive. There was nothing intrinsically wrong with this beer, but it was just kind of bland, even for the style. It lacked Ooomph!, which I have gotten from other beers of the style.

Speaking of which, I was amazed at how many Kolsches I have reviewed on this site. Believe me, it was not by design as I am a self-proclaimed hophead and Kolsch can leave me unfulfilled.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 19:59:11 | More by woodychandler

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a dull and lifeless dirty golden color. Mostly clear, and with a thin foam halo around the glass. Aroma is sweet, grainy and tea like. The taste is quite sweet, just about cloying, with corn syrup and biscuity malt the major culprits. Little to no bitterness, and finishes pretty weak and watery. Where is the body? Flimsy medium bodied, ok carbonated, but bland and lifeless beer. Overall, another sub par offering from the mega conglomerate.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 04:20:27 | More by Stinkypuss

ZAP

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Not bad for a Leinie;s offering. This is a dryish offering with a light bready maltiness and a slightly spicy hop dimension...also a hint of lemon on the finish.

Clean drinking....light bodied but not real thin...works as a summer time thirst quencher type beer that craft beer lovers could drink. Just not sure this will have the crossover appeal to the macro drinkers that Leinie seems to target their beers toward. They're already closing out this beer with cheap specials at all the liqour stores in my town. My guess is we'll see something in its place next year but I kind of like it actually.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 23:45:41 | More by ZAP

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.93/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle pours a brilliantly clear yellow color with a decent-sized cap of white head. Retention is ok with a smidge or two of lace.

Nose is not quite as yeasty as most kolsches but if you dig deep enough you can get a whiff or two. Smells more like a sulfurous lager with some crisp grains and light bread crumbs. Not much in the way of hops, and there is no way I would be able to tell this had rye in it.

Taste is ok, really though...I would probably guess AAL if I had it blind. The rye is not prevalent enough nor is the kolsch yeast. That said, I would reach for this over a budweiser any day. The body actually holds pretty well and it is not as thin as first perceived. Meh...I won’t have any trouble finishing the sixer that I bought, but SA Lawnmower beats this hands down as a readily available kolsch.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 19:57:39 | More by twiggamortis420

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.24/5  rDev +34.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

12 oz twist-off bottle poured into a Leinie's imperial pint.
5.0% ABV, May0613 on neck.

A - Canoe Paddler pours a pale straw yellow color with bright clarity and a frothy white head that's sustained by the glass' laser etching. Thin fingers of lace are left on the glass as this sips lower the volume.

S - With more character than an average kölsch, Canoe Paddler starts off with a crisp and refreshing nose of European hops; a spritz of lemon citrus with herbal with spice notes that compliment the pinch of rye nicely. Clean pale malt provides a good base while remaining largely out of the way.

T - A touch of lemon dances on the tongue with the carbonation while pale malt lingers in the background, softly providing a simple base for delicate herbal hop notes and rye spice.

M - This is exactly what I look for in a kölsch; crisp, though not overly carbonated, light-bodied, refreshing, and generally clean with a nice trail of dryness and faint hop bitterness. The feel ties the beer together wonderfully.

O - It seems a little early in the season for a beer such as this, but if it sticks around long enough, Canoe Paddler would make an excellent warm weather beer with it's delicate but well-balanced hop flavors and crisp, clean finish. Canoe Paddler will undoubtedly find a permanent place in my summer cooler.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 00:33:22 | More by BeerFMAndy

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.98/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

I can tell that this is in the Kolsch vein, can't tell the rye's there. Poured cold with a small, white, fizzy head that quickly settled to a few small islands and a ring with no lace. Aroma is fresh beer, malt. Color is a crystal clear yellow with plenty of bubble trails. Flavor's like nose. grainy malt cult with carbonic tang and a little bittersweet. Body is ok; carbonation a touch sharp. Finish is like flavor, easy drinking without much character. Average length.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 01:39:38 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

3.13/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

A - clear, golden yellow with carbonation bubbles rising to the top; thin, white, bubbly head that fades fast

S - grainy, faint lemon

T - grainy, very faint grassy hop character, very faint rye, a bit sweet in the finish

M - light to medium bodied, a bit crisp

This is a bit of a disappointing beer. The right flavors are there, but it's incredibly light. I would definitely take this over a standard American Adjunct Lager or Light Lager any day. There isn't anything offensive about this beer, and it's very easy to pack away. On a hot day I would definitely work through a six-pack of these if there wasn't anything else on hand.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 23:11:52 | More by tdm168

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a pale yellow color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of grains, some corn. Taste is light, mild, some corn, refreshing yet not very flavorful. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a mediocre beer, not bad, but just lacking.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:32:15 | More by tone77

harrymel

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Best by 13MAY13

Light grain yellow with white surface sheet. Smells like a kolsch, corn, grain, clean, touch of earthy hops. Clean, some corn, some rice, some grain, a touch of sweetness early on is countered with a decent bitterness and a cheap finish. Thin with hi carb and a dry finish. This is okay. I'd drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 04:56:34 | More by harrymel

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.06/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Slightly sulfur and Am. lager yeast aroma. Sure doesn't smell like the Kolsch's I like.
Dense white head caps a very pale gold body with plenty o' action of bubbles. Some soft lacing.
Lightly flavored all around. Pale malt first. Some flavorful citrus, soft hops and bittering and lightly dry on the finish.
Fully, and more fully carbonated. I feel full after two pulls. Yet soft . Lighter body.
Not really all that Kolsch like for my tastes. Just a version of an Am. lager really. A decent one of those and thirst quenching, but nothing more than that.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 19:53:02 | More by garymuchow

Pegasus

Texas

3.16/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Appearance: Clear, medium golden body, with a huge, dense and coarse white head, which retains well. The carbonation surges like the flakes in a slow globe, with thin and scattered lacing.

Aroma: Spicy rye, lightly toasted malts, cooked cereal and a modest herbal hop presence define the aroma.

Taste: Opens with a modest burst of herbal hops, soon followed by cooked cereal, some cracker malt, and a hint of rye. As the taste progresses, the hops intensify with a moderate medicinal presence. The hops although modest, dominate the latter part of the taste.

Mouth feel: Fairly full, with slight stinging carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Pleasant and inoffensive, certainly not a "top-tier" Kölsch, but then, you already knew that. Given a choice between this and a macro lager, Leinenkugel's Canoe Paddler wins hands down. "Best by" date of May, 2013.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce brown glass long-neck bottle with a twist-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

Source: Purchased at Wal-Mart in Texas as a selection of a Brewmaster's Choice build-your-own six-pack for $8.99.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 23:12:48 | More by Pegasus

homebrew311

Illinois

3.26/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is a bright clear copper with a velvety dense white head. Great retention and plenty of lacing. Nose has light grainy malts with waves of orange and wheat and a touch of corn. Taste is somewhat malty with notes of orange and corn. Almost like a cross between a wheat and a kolsch. The finish becomes overly grainy and corny, reminiscent of an adjunct lager. Mouthfeel is smooth and moderate bodied. Overall, another typical offering from Leinies, nothing special or particularly tasty, but also palatable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 20:03:50 | More by homebrew311

Brenden

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

This beercomes out looking a bit like champagne. It's a few shdes darker at a brilliantly bright and clear gold, but the spritzy, big-bubbled pure white head that forms and the continuing bubbly activity give it that champagne look. The bubbling does little for it, though, as the head dies off almost immediately. A bit of head does remain at the edges, leaving some creamy wisps that leg off here and there.
It smells dry and vinous, definitely giving off lots of white grape...definitely a good sign. If this is supposed to be a Kolsch, I think they got it right. Crackery malts, vinous, tart, dry: positive on all counts. However, while Kolsch is light, it can still have a presence. This meekly fades away after it's sat for a minute or two.
Unfortunately, that doesn't translate to the flavor. Instead I get grains and creamed corn notes over a tart sweetness. The good news is that as I continue to sip it , the other stuff backs off and lets the tartnss come out. I can't shake that initial flavor that continues to flash in and out.
The body is light, like it should be, but it shouldn't be flat. This isn't completely flat, per se, as carbonation is moderate and there's some crispness, but it doesn't have the bite or vitality of the good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:13:57 | More by Brenden

budgood1

Minnesota

3.39/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

pours a perfectly clear gold colour with bronze edges. slight head and sparse lace. clean malty aroma. a touch corny. the taste profile gives a little more...pale maltiness and some corny adjunct are ever so slightly complimented by a wispy spiciness from the rye used. a rough grassy herbal hop bite provides a balance to the medium sweetness. this is in the ballpark of the traditional kolsh style, so that's a plus. medium bodied. light crisp mouthfeel. ghost like lingering spice/bitterness. drinkability is fair enough. a lawnmower or yardwork beer as it does provide a degree of quenchability.

overall...about what one would expect from Leinies. drinks nice, quenches thoroughly, and brings just enough character to keep it (slightly) interesting. wasn't bad after a day of yardwork on a beautiful May afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 22:21:04 | More by budgood1

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a sixer the other day, as I am sucker for all things Kolsch, regardless of who makes them. Drank the first 5 from the bottle, poured the last one into a stange for review.

Pours a clear pale gold with a massive white head on top. Great retention - leaves lots of sticky specks of lace on the glass. Nothing much to the nose. Some citrus, dry grains, whiffs of veggies.

Crisp, clean body. Refreshing, light, easy. Mild lemon soaked husky grains make up the bulk of the flavor. Really not much here that would make me think this is anything but an adjunct lager. Just a short snap of bitterness on the finish. This was easy to drink and quite refreshing as I worked out in the yard today. I'd have it again, but there are far better examples of the style out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 01:14:11 | More by Onenote81

hosehead83

Ohio

2.84/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear pale yellow in color, with a big airy head of white foam.
Aroma-Pale malt
Taste-Weak pale malt, faint rye note comes and goes in a flash, leaving a clean, rather drying finish, but little else. A Macro-lager flavor takes over after a few minutes and stops everything dead in its tracks. Salvation comes only well-chilled on a hot summer day. (or so I would imagine) Not for the flavor-seeker.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 19:35:58 | More by hosehead83

shand

Florida

2.51/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Now, I love a good Kolsch, I love a good Rye beer, and I tend to enjoy Leinie's beers, so I was excited for this one. I must say, though, it kind of let me down. It pours out a clear golden with a finger of white head that quickly drops. The aroma is pretty decent, it's grainy and there's just a hint of rye spice. On the tongue, any hint of Kolsch or rye is quickly swallowed by a generic fruity character that strangles the whole beer.

Seriously, what's up with the fruity character here? I kinda get that fruit is Leinie's thing now, but it's just regrettably out of place here. I like the Shandys, I like the other seasonals, hell, I even like the Sunset Wheat. But this is just pretty thoroughly mediocre. I'd like to see the 1888 Bock again instead of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 17:26:09 | More by shand

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.34/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Best by July 08, 2013:

Into a stange:

A: clear yellow colored body, decent amount of carbonation is seen rising at a moderate pace, quickly dieing one finger white foamy head, moderate amount of lightly clingy foamy lacing

S: malty, some light rye

T: sweet through the previously mentioned flavors, dry sweet aftertaste, dry finish

M: light; sessionable; though adequately carbonated for the style, its still slightly felt

O: this is decent for the style, and decent to me. Though there are tastier Kolsches out there, this isn't bad for a cheaper option that is pretty light, I'd probably grab another when in a pinch

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 10:07:16 | More by kangarooAdam59