United Nations of Beer

Steelback Draught

by Ashley Cotter-Cairns
(UNOB HQ)

Steelback Draught

One of the many mega-can brews offered by Steelback is their Draught beer. Though a fairly standard 5% ABV, this 'draught-style' beer will surprise you, probably. It certainly caught me unawares... I had low expectations and was ready to be negative.

It's very very pale, pours with a reasonable head and won't leave you thirsty, unless 710ml of beer is a small serving in your household. (That's well over an English pint.)

The company website describes it as "Bringing home the authentic pub experience," which is pushing matters a bit. After all, nobody's bumped into me and spilled beer down my front in the hope of starting a fight, I don't stink of cigarette smoke or cheap perfume and I haven't woken up next to a fit, yet facially unmemorable 20-something with spiky hair and smeared eye makeup, or had my friends bothered for my phone number.

Ahem.

That aside, how is Steelback Draught? Pretty damn good, actually. I began by disliking it, but it's growing on me fast.

The smell is fairly neutral, not too threatening, but you might be put off initially by the rather fizzy texture. Fear not, this isn't a particularly gassy brew.

The taste is wheaty and light and, despite the company's claim that it's free of aftertaste, it's actually got quite a lingering finish, sweetish, pleasant. It would go very well with a curry or a Thai takeout and a session in front of the Xbox 360.

We all need a guilty pleasure. Something simple and cheap that's not going to break the bank or make our friends disown us.

Unless your friends are particularly snobby about their beer, drinking Steelback Draught in front of them won't rock the boat. It's the closest Canadian equivalent to Sapporo or Stella, without the ridiculous import price tag or the steely aftertaste.