Old Milwaukee

Old Milwaukee

Purchased From: Plumsted Buy Rite Liquors

Serving Type: 16 oz. can, poured into a Guinness pint glass

This beginning paragraph was mis-attributed (by me) to Old Milwaukee. It tells the tale of Schaefer. That review will debut on Thursday December 2, 2010. Old Milwaukee, once the best selling beer in America has fallen from its prominent spot to the pits of the beer world. Only a few short decades the brand ceded its top spot to Budweiser, now it toils in obscurity. Is the beer’s fall from grace justified? Likely. Is Budweiser’s top stop in the American market justified? Far from.

Old Milwaukee now exists in the brand portfolio of Pabst Brewing Company. It was originally introduced as a budget beer by Schlitz. Schlitz and its brands were eventually purchased by Stroh. More recently, Stroh and its brands were acquired by Pabst. All of Pabst’s brands are contract brewed by MillerCoors.

The beer pours a pale straw body, overloaded with carbonation. The initial head is frothy and decent in size, but can’t muster anything substantial in the way of retention or lacing. The sticky sweet corn nose is mildly unpleasant and backed up with a fizzling sour graininess.

The high carbonation and ice cold serving temperature do all that they can to hide the beer’s flavor. There’s a corn sugar sweetness to it, but the flavor is thin overall. There’s barely anything discernable as far as barley malt goes. As the beer warms up the faintest taste of hops appear, but they’re far too late to do anything for this beer.

On the bright side, this stuff is cheap. A six-pack of tall boys goes for about $4.50 and its light enough to drink a few. A maintenance beer, perhaps.

Final Verdict: D-

Abita - Pecan Harvest

Abita - Pecan Harvest

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits

Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a pint glass

Pecan Harvest comes from Abita Brewing Company in Louisiana. Who knew that they made beer in the South? Made with real Louisiana pecans, as the label says.

It pours with a medium amber body with a glowing orange tint. The initial thin white head has no retention and leaves no lacing on the glass. There’s a mild astringency to the malts on the nose, but what’s also present seems like pumpkin spices and pecans.

The mouthfeel seems well carbonated at first, but it goes flat and watery in a hurry. There’s a slight toasty malt character, but they too seem watered down. No hops to speak of. The pecan taste comes through in the end, but they taste artificial (counter to the label’s claim). The aftertaste is medicinal and unpleasant. This is not a beer I’d seek out again.

Final Verdict: D-