Castle Lager

Brewed by South African Breweries (SABMiller)
Style: Pale Lager
Sandton, South Africa

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Lager glass, Shaker

I go on sampling these identical international lagers in the hope I’ll find one that stands out. Somewhere, deep down, there’s an interesting, unusual and unexpected fruit flavour here. At least I’d recognise this if I tried it again.

Pretty average right down the scale. Nothing to complain about. I would rather have one of these than many of the Amercian Standards.

Has an initially skunky aroma upon opening but mellows a bit to a not unpleasant wort-like concoction. No head whatsoever - light golden, almost see through appearance which turns cloudy after a while. The flavor and grainy texture remind me somewhat of some slavic lagers I have had. Has a sort of dusty, wort-like unfinished flavor to it. A bit of sweetness seeps through to redeem it after a while though. Has a metallic mouthfeel - finished poorly.

I was hoping the South Africans would have something better than this. I’ll keep searching...

[Bottled] Clear golden colour. Light sweetish nose, light hoppy. Adjuncts here, it’s maize alright. Light hoppy in flavour with a light body, yet sweetish, on the edge of being cloying at this level. Boiled vegetables. Bit papery bitterness.

Flat pale beer, with a slightly chemical aroma and flavour to accompany the light hopps. A poor beer overall.

Appearance: Pours a clear, deep gold body with a half-finger-high head of bubbly, white foam. Smell: Ah, a sweet-smelling aroma of light corn syrup generously brushed over some simple, basic barley. Taste: Then, it’s flavor time! Lightly grainy, excessively pale malts with sweet hints of sucrose and corn syrup. There’s a lacking hop presence and accompanying bitterness, leaving the beer to finish somewhat sweet. Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: A bit of a disappointment. Particularly adjunct-laden and I’d prefer it to finish a bit drier. Ah well!

From P.E. Can, 250910. Yellow with bubblehead. Aroma weak of malt. Flavor with corn and DMS