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Single Speed Outlaw
Issue #5
 

Taproom

Inspired by one reader's suggestion of reviewing some of the less expensive beers out there the Taproom Crew rounded up some budget beers for evaluation. Five brave souls offered up their tastebuds for research purposes. Yours truly is the only one who knew what was behind each offering. In true cheap beer style they were served up in plastic cups with greasy subs following the local Wednesday night ride. Only after a winner was picked were the brews revealed. Each beer was evaluated in the following categories: sight, smell, taste and touch. A bit sophisticated for these choices you might say, but you've got to have some guidelines to keep it fair. A sampling of the tasting notes are provided below. - JW

Have a beer you think we should try? Homebrew and want to send us a sample? Send communications to: riderx@singlespeedoutlaw.com

First Place: Pabst Blue Ribbon
You knew this one had to be on the list. It can usually be had for cheap but it's become somewhat of a hipster beer these days and the local liquer store wanted $3.99 for a six-pack. What's that shit about? Regardless, you shouldn't pay that much if you are drinking it. This working man's beer has been around since 1844 - old school baby.

  • Sight: "I can see through it" - "Pale, urine yellow - fluffy white head" - "Sweat Stain"
  • Smell: "Let's not" - "Bar Towel" - "Sour"
  • Taste: "Not Awful" - "Pretty Good, slightly sour" - "Bitter, no body"
  • Touch: "Light" - "Fizzy" - "Coarse and thin"

Second Place: National Bohemian a.k.a. Natty Boh
This beer has it's roots here in Baltimore but has since been bought out by Pabst. Another old school beer, brewed since 1885. This is the stuff you put away by the case in high school but we picked up the 40 oz. for the test. Drink it while you can because who knows how long Pabst will continue to produce this. It's a regional delight.

  • Sight: "Pale, pale yellow" - "Lemon yellow" - "No head, pretty pale"
  • Smell: "Smell?" - "Very faint American lager smell" - "Very little smell"
  • Taste: "Poundable, more taste than a Bud Light" - "Weak but clean" - "I could catch a buzz off of Nyquil faster"
  • Touch: "Slightly crisp, thin" - "Like air" - "Watery"

Third Place: Fosters Special Bitter
I spied this in the cooler next to the 40s, a 25 oz. oil can of handy beer packaging for a bit over $2. The container is handy for bicycle transport and the can smashes down nicely for stashing when you are done. As a bonus it's a cheap beer with more bitterness and flavor than the others (or so I thought). Despite it's Austrailin heritage the stuff we get in the US is brewed in Canada.

  • Sight: "Iced tea with a head" - "Nice head, rich color" - "Decent head, good color"
  • Smell: "Cat pee" - "Like my duffel bag at the end of WUSS" - "Not good"
  • Taste: "Bland" - "Not good, not smooth" - "Slightly bitter"
  • Touch: "No body" - "Flat" - "A little on the thin side"
 

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