Stella Artois

Good light beer off-gold. White fine foam. Smells stronger than American macro-swill. Taste is a good sharp hop with moderate malt. Satisfying draught. I remember first stumbling across this on tap at a waterfront bar in Seattle in 2005. I liked it then, I like it now.

Stella is cliche these days. It is commercial, but it’s not horrific. It’s aroma is subtle. It’s appearance is the standard lager look. It’s flavor, is average, consistent with the pale lager variety. Palate is pleasant. Nothing special here.

Bottle, 33 CL, when i opened this bottle i was surprised. Nice taste, nice color. It is very drinkable.

If I’m gonna go for something fizzy and yellow, I’d rather it be this. Pale straw yellow with a foamy white head and good retention. A faint nose of sweetness and a little skunk. Has a little more flavor that American Pale lagers. I really like the bitterness. Thin body. If this is the style you like, this is one of the better ones.

On tap at the Brick in Cedar Rapids. Pours a clear, straw-colored pint with a rocky, thick white head. Bready aroma. Flavor is a rather muddy blend of malt and hops--refreshing at first but a little skunky on the finish.

Bottle. Low and dense near-white head. Brilliant yellow/golden color. Clean, light bready aroma with a scent of citrus. Inoffensive and fairly sweet malt taste. Notes of sugar and mild bittering hops. Light-bodied and easy. Drinkable, boring and cleverly customized.

This beer pours and looks well in a glass but I’ve always found it skunky, whether bottled or on tap.

I have tried this beer via both keg and bottle. I cannot get past the overwhelming skunk factor in this beer. To me, the only redeeming quality of this beer is the pleasing color.