Best Features: good versatility, low alcohol content

Bowen Island Brewery has several beers that are in the "economy brand" range available at most BC Government Liquor Stores. Bowen Island Special Light is one of the newest releases from the brewery. We often avoid reviewing "light beers" because they often lack taste and beer characteristics. Bowen Island Special Light is light in calories (4%) but still has several regular beer qualities. In the glass the beer produced a thin head with loose wispy bubbles. The aroma is fairly light; sweet with some resemblance of malted barley. For traditional light beer drinkers, this beer might be considered heavier in body but the body is average and similar to other lagers. On the tongue, the beer has a medium amount of carbonation and a mid-range mouthfeel meaning that it does coat the tongue for a period of time. Bowen Island Special Light definitely has a full flavour from start to finish. Although the beer is fairly sweet with limited bitterness, the pleasant flavour remained on the palate for a long period of time. Overall, Bowen Island Special Light is very different from other light beers on the market; it is not too crisp and it does not seem water down or lacking in flavour. This beer will be fairly versatile and will match up well with several foods, similar to full strength lagers (usually 5% in alcohol). Try Bowen Island Special Lager with light cheddar cheese (even a grilled cheese sandwich), roasted garlic potatoes and chicken wings. This is a good transitional beer for people who have not tried too many microbrewed lagers.

Beer Fact: Bowen Island Brewery is one of the few breweries in British Columbia that offers all of their products exclusively in cans. Cans are easier to