As a previous reviewer noted, this beer has been "somewhat forgotten," and often languishes on shelves. However, the Bowen Island Bitter happens to be one of the better bottled BC brews. The roasted malt flavors are reminiscent of toasted dandelion root. It’s a balanced beer with a decent body. The mouthfeel is soft. Best served not too cold.

A somewhat forgotten beer in the BC scene, having languished for years under the indifferent ownership of Big Rock. Slight golden hint to an otherwise unattractive dull brown colour. The aroma is earthy, caramelly and not much else. Thankfully, the flavour delivers quite a bit more. It’s predominantly earthy, woody hops, caramel and toasty malts and the subtle, almost indefinable complexity a true English bitter should have, in the form of robust earthy notes (that remind me of Black Sheep’s yeast) and random fruity hints. It’s a bit robust and toasty for something you’d find on cask in England, and seems clearly modelled more on the stronger bottled English bitters that get sent across the Atlantic. Still, it’s gratifying to see that the new owners retained this brand (and Black Bear) because it’s pretty good...if only they’d get the aroma and appearance up to the level of the flavour.

12 oz. bottle, delivered by my Canadian housesitter. Pours deep copper brown with a large beige head that diminishes leisurely leaving some lacing. Aroma of toasty malts, with a hint of earth and prominent floral and herbal hops. Flavor is classic bitter, toasty, a bit dusty in character with more of the aforementioned floral and herbal hoppiness giving way to a lingering bitterness with a bit of wet cardboard - this may be getting a bit on the old side. Light to mediium body with crisp carbonation. Pretty good and actually better than I expected.

Bottle. Light chestnut eggshell, big foamy head, big bubbles. Nutty, light roasty and fruity malt, good kick of green hops, bitter/dry finish. Medium to light body, good chewyness. IPAish bitter.

Bowen Island Special Bitter (Bottle): Pours a dark copper with a medium off white foamy head that keeps it’s shape well with modest lacing. Aroma was appetizing. Sweet caramel with a fruity hop smell. Flavour starts great, nice understated earthy malt sweetness being overtaken by a growing bitterness. The finish was a bit flat for me with a lingering sourness. Very enjoyable, excellent Canadian Bitter.