Bruz: A canadian 40 that doesn't taste like all the other dry canadian beer 40s to me... this tastes more like an american bad beer, like Piels or Schaefer or Milwaukee's Best. I also appreciate the rare small mouth canadian 40s, so that's a bonus in my book. Overall, 6/10 swills - not bad, but nothing special!

12/16/09 91firebird: Many thanks to boston40hunter for the hookup on the Bowes. This 4o kinda surprised me. I expected a typical Canadian beer like Molson or Labatt but like Bruz posted in his review, this is very similar to a basic american bad beer 40. This was on par with Piels or Black Label as a solid beer 40. Even though it tasted like a bad beer 40 it definately had that "dry" taste to it that Canadian beers are known for.

This to me is what a better version of Bud Dry would taste like in a 40. Overall this gets a solid 8 swills. Its an awesome bottle to the collection and one of the very few Canadian 40s that come in the standard "bullet" shaped bottle. One thing I didn't care for was there wasn't a crack or a hiss. Just a regular complete ring detatch that Canadian 40's are known for. And even that didn't dampen the experience.

11/11/09 boston40hunter: no crack what so ever when I opend the bottle. I took a sip and I feel it had that "canadian taste" mixed with a regular beer 40 ie golden anni. Very poundable. You could put this one down no problem. It gives you the tastes of a canadian without the boldness of most canadians. I feel most canadians are not poundable (black label, molson export). This one is. Its a very good introduction 40 if your looking to warm up to canadian 40s. Its a small mouth. A good taste with a decent buzz. A cool bottle

Taste 8/10
Buzz 6/10
bottle 8/10
overall a 7.5/10 40

10/17/09 SouthLyon40s: This will be the first "dry" beer I've ever had in my life.

Alright ... so far we've got a pretty good crack. Good hiss and now I'm OH MY GOD THE RING DIDN'T COME OFF. Yea yea I know what goes on in Canada.

This at first tastes Canadian. Big surprise... but I wasn't really expecting it to taste Canadian given the reviews. I was fully ready to disagree with all the reviews and liken this to... say an American Labatt Ice pseudo-Canadian 40, but the taste mellowed out into a rather bland, almost tasteless beer. When I say "tasteless" I mean it's certainly quenching, but the aftertaste is a fleeting. It isn't heavy. You really cannot taste the 5.6% - this DOES taste like a low ABV type like Piels.

I am fully satisfied with this beer right now. I'm sitting here just looking at a half empty Bowes Double Dry, thinking "this will do".

Even at the halfway point I can tell that no swill will even develop due to a bad beers resilience - it's ability to stay cold. For whatever reason a malt liquor will get warm on me and kind of nasty toward the end but the beers stay true.

And this thing did. Real good. Not perfect, but good. Stern, but fair.

Crisp. A beer like a late autumn day. Dusk time.

8.9 out of 10 for being everything I hoped it would be.

7/21/09 d07c0m: I'm a big fan of Bowes Double Dry in 12oz bottles and cans. I finally found full 40s of the lovely stuff today in Hull, QC. Was super stoked and bought a case right away for $51 bucks (including deposit, NOT BAD).

This is the only small mouth brown 40 in Canada and the only small mouth in Quebec. It is damn nice to drink something out of a small without having to drink OE which I have a love/hate relationship with.

To the beer: no crack but a good hiss (as documented on film). First swig was long and delicious. The 40s were ice cold when I bought them and stayed that way. Tastes like Bowes Double Dry! Which it should. To date my #1 go-to Canadian bad beer. Taste was consistent, a relatively non-descript dry brew with a nice corn/bread after-taste indicative of a discount beer. BDD is a quality brew and a new staple in my rotation. Super glad I found them so close to home and my only regret is not being here sooner to grab the other Bowes 40s (Cyclone, etc.)

Because I drank it fast for a video I got a moderate buzz and can't wait for more.

10/10 Taste
10/10 Bottle/Label
7/10 Buzz

Buzzcore: I seem to enjoy most brown bottled 40s, and this was no exception. Great crisp flavor and it didn't have that "smoked" flavor like most of the dry beers I've had from Canada. I kinda' like the look of the label too. A simple, classic design. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this sometimes hard-to-find Quebecois 40. If I needed to find a flaw, it's that with only 5.6% alcohol, it's quite lacking in the buzz department. Still a good solid 40 that I will most definitely drink again when I get the chance. 7/10.

Drastic Mezures: This review is for the old label. What's with these crazy Canadians and dry brew? This is my 4th dry 40 and all are Canadian. Overall there's not much to say about it except it sucks. It's called special 7 but it's 5.6% alcohol; who knows? What i do know is it was like ass end from top to bottom. the good points are its a small mouth and for a 5.6% 40 it packs a mild buzz. After drinking this I need some castle. I also have the new label so look for another review soon.

sippin apache: Just bought a case of these, 12 40's for 46CAD$.(new label)

This is a cool 40, small mouth, decent, yet regular tasting beer. 5.6% alc/vol. No after taste. Goes down real easy. Well carbonated. Good crack and hiss.

Nothing to add, it's a regular canadian brew, compares to molson dry yet much cheaper. Oh yeah, you can drink this one ice cold or slightly warm and it tastes ok.
7/10, cuz it could be stronger, at least 8-9% so you dont need to have 2 to get the buzz on.

ThUgWiGGa: AWESOME AWESOME 40!!!
sippin apache generously gave me a full one when we met up in montreal for the meeting
pounded it while watching a tribal naked nigger movie with the crew
This is my favourite 40 available in canada
tastes amazing, crisp, clean, refreshing, all-around GREAT
this is such a good brew
i want to return to montreal and buy a case... or 2
9/10