Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Beer Review: Big Flats 1901


Unlike a lot of other beer bloggers out there I do my best not to discriminate. I don't drink craft or imports only. I try to find the love in all beers. I'm notorious for being seen at Avenue Pub drinking a Miller High Life and I don't care. As I've said many times on this blog I'm a beer geek not a beer snob.

Whenever a new beer enters the market I want to get my hands on it and let you readers know what I think. And I promise you I will judge that beer appropriately according to it's style. Sometimes the beer just sucks that bad and others we find are better off than expected.

That brings me to Big Flat 1901. I was contacted via text by a buddy of mine Travis Combel regarding a beer he saw at Walgreens for $3.49. Yeah he said $3.49. No, that's American dollars not Pesos. I looked it up and it looks like Walgreens has their own beer. It's pretty common amongst chain grocery stores and drug stores to have a brewery contract brew some beer for them to sell. I'm sure many of you remember Schwegmann's beer or K & B beer. Both of those were brewed by Dixie Brewing here in New Orleans.

Stolen from someone on Flikr

Anyways, I HAD to pick some of this up and give it try. $3.49 for a six pack? Unreal. AND it comes in cans which is very smart marketing with Mardi Gras right around the corner. Perhaps it could be the perfect cheap Mardi Gras beer? Let's check the review and see....

Brewery: Says Brewmaster's Choice but it's Genesee Brewing Co.

Beer: Big Flats 1901

Style: American Adjunct Lager

ABV: 4.5%

Louisiana Availability: Yes. Only at Walgreens.

Appearance: From the can the beer pours a very clear golden color with tons of bubbles and huge white head which dissipates quickly.

Smell: Has a very grainy quality to the aroma. Not much else. At all. Even after they use the "choicest hops". Their words not mine.

Taste: Can we say adjunct grain? That's ok though because let's be honest it's a cheap American Adjunct lager. And for the price this one really isn't all that bad. On that note enjoy this one VERY COLD.

Mouthfeel: Watery and highly carbonated.

Overall: I picked this up at Walgreens for $3.49. No that's not a typo. $3.49. A six pack. Should we expect this one to be the next Pliny? Of course not. But for the price it really isn't all that bad. I say if money is tight and you need a beer get yourself to Walgreens.

Score: Photobucket 2.5 Buddhas out of 5

4 comments:

Pat Marren said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I buy this every now & then at Walgreens here in Auburn, NY, and it's pretty good cold, on a hot day. And I do like to drink craft beers a lot, I spend a lot of time in the beer aisle in Wegmans. But, I'm not a beer snob. I like most beers. If it's hot out, and the beer is cold, I'm all over it!

Anonymous said...

if you are having a party, this is the beer to serve. after the first one, they all taste the same anyway.

Anonymous said...

$2.99 in Houston, TX!!

I'm also a beer geek, not a snob. I'll drink Dogfish Head 60 minute one day and King Cobra the next. To me this Big Flats stuff is on the same "goodness" level as PBR, just a hell of a lot cheaper.

Anonymous said...

Its now 3.87 out the door in monterey ca,
Not worth it to me I can get better beer for alittle more.