Olde English 800
Miller Brewing Co.

Olde English 800Olde English 800
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Miller Brewing Co.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
Malt Liquor
Ranked #46
ABV:
5.9%
Score:
53
Ranked #28,570
Avg:
2.14 | pDev: 41.59%
Reviews:
374
Ratings:
1,168
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 18, 2024
Added:
Apr 11, 2002
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  228
There are two variants, a 5.9% ABV and a 7.5% ABV version.

Olde English 800 is one of America's leading malt liquor brands. Commonly referred to as "OE800," it offers smooth, rich taste with a slightly fruity aroma that is a favorite among malt liquor drinkers. OE wears the crown because it is the King of Malt Liquors.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of Beertsipper
Reviewed by Beertsipper from New York

3.38/5  rDev +57.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
24 ounce can, 5.9% alcohol. Looks good. A light gold color with a white head. Nose is mostly malts, some grains, faint hint of hops and corn. The taste is very subdued. You can taste the corn syrup and adjuncts, but it goes down very smooth. This is going to replace two other 24 ounce cans I purchase, Bud Ice and Coors Banquet. For what it is, and the price point, you can't go wrong
Jan 18, 2024
Photo of Col
Reviewed by Col from Washington

3.82/5  rDev +78.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A - 16 oz can of 7.5% alchohol variant aggressively poured into 8 oz malt liquor glass has a 3 finger frothy head that leaves lacing on each swig. Lots of carbonation with many bubbles sticking to glass and racing to the top. Golden color clear in the glass that is a shade darker than an average AAL .

S - Adjunct lager smells with a familiar tangy malt liquor funk. No skunky smell coming from the can.

T - Strong barley malt up front with syrupy corn flake flavor. Similar to other miller products like high life or hamms but with more pronounced flavors.

M - This is a full bodied beer, it could be considered light and refreshing but more like a meal in a mug. You can taste all the calories of the malts and alcohol.

O - Never going to find this on draft at a pub, only available at gas stations and bodegas. Killer value for the 7.5% west coast version of OE, also available at 5.9% in other parts of US and 8.1% in Canada. An alternative to alco-pop Four Loco or fortified wine. A favorite of hobolos and the hobo curious. A solid beer without all the chemicals or preservatives of other high alch beverages. Everyone knows to drink this as cold as ice.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Death_Adder
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina

3/5  rDev +40.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
My 92nd beer review, and funny enough the gas station babe who rang me up had 1992 tattooed on her knuckles, fate? I think so. Dark yellow in color, carbonation for days, no nose to speak of, medium mouth feel, a bit of a creaminess kind of like Miller High Life, and a very subtle bite at the end. While it’s not something I’ll probably keep on rotation, it is a very good beer, especially for the price. Wish I could have found it in a glass bottle though.

Style: Malt Liquor | Tap/Can/Bottle/Plastic: Plastic | Abv: 5.9% | Rating: 3
Oct 20, 2023
 
Rated: 2.26 by AndyGG from California

Oct 02, 2023
Photo of BeastModeCloser
Reviewed by BeastModeCloser from Florida

2.8/5  rDev +30.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
The taste of my childhood, so there's that. For what it is, it's amazing, there's no possible WAY you could finish the warm backwash in that 40oz!!
Sep 03, 2023
Photo of Defianthickory52
Rated by Defianthickory52

2.7/5  rDev +26.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
bang for your buck. HIGHLY recommend.
Jun 18, 2023
Photo of Patty_ched
Reviewed by Patty_ched

2.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.25
man i don’t know where to begin. this product tastes horrible and is an extremely difficult chug. my olde english product was unfortunately expired which could have caused the horrible metal like after taste. would only recommend if you have 4 dollars lying around looking for a good time.
May 12, 2023
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev +53.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
A - Perfectly clear medium gold with light carbonation.

S - Big sweet corn grain malt aroma with some malt sweetness.

T - Corn grain sweetness that finmishes on the sweeter side.

M - Light medium body.

O - Not as terrible as the overall score suggests. Not great, but not terrible.
May 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.06 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

May 06, 2023
 
Rated: 2.74 by Wilkolaczek94 from Connecticut

Apr 27, 2023
 
Rated: 2.73 by npendres from Wisconsin

Apr 14, 2023
 
Rated: 2.73 by TakiMan42

Apr 05, 2023
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

2.87/5  rDev +34.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
42oz plastic bottle, best by July 31st 2023

On the pour a surprisingly springy white 3 finger head formed with surprisingly decent retention, with a slow recession to a rocky slightly foamy appearance. Body is highly carbonated and a golden straw. Almost laces, but not quite.

Aroma is immediately skunky but present classic American and or noble hops. A bit of a Metallic aroma backs the skunk somewhat pleasantly? Surprisingly light aroma.

Flavor is sweet and bready woth a touch of that skunky hop still present. Arguably almost syrupy sweet, but not a bad beer. Actually quite smooth and soft with an almost nutty malt character.

Feel is very full. Again verging on, if not full blown syrupy.

Overall this was a pleasant surprise. I've had a very expired OE before and it was terrible. This much fresher 2nd go round is much more pleasant and drinkable. A bit too sweet though.
Mar 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by morsa_95 from California

Mar 21, 2023
Photo of Papercut4
Reviewed by Papercut4 from Wisconsin

2.42/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Pours out of the can a crystal clear gold with minimal head. Smells slightly sweet and grainy. Taste follows the nose, while being relatively thin. It's not bad, but not the most prolific malt beverage.
Feb 04, 2023
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4.12/5  rDev +92.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Was able to have a beer of every style in 2022, so decided to end the year with class. Poured a clear, golden dark yellow with 1.5" head with good retention and minimal lacing. Nose was sweet corn and a bit of grain; no boozy or harsh notes. Taste followed with lightly sweet corn and malt, with enough bitterness to keep it from cloying. Mouthfeel had moderate weight and was rather crisp. A great example of the style and easy to get down in bulk.
Jan 01, 2023
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

2.93/5  rDev +36.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
cant believe i have not reviewed this until now, the stronger version at 7.5% abv out of the clear plastic 42 ounce screw top bottle to kick off our holiday bottle share, nice bring! i am immediately surprised at how this really isnt that bad, its got some body, some actual malt character, and doesnt present as cheap as it actually is. golden honey colored, super excited frothy cream white head with nice wispy retention, and visibly high carbonation, nice clarity too, looks just fine. the nose and somewhat subtle when this is cold, and thats how its best, falls apart a little at temperature, but cold its kind of brisk, a little nutty and sweet, only faintly metallic, no yeast or hops at all, but kind of clean, baked and bready. the flavor is a little worse, but when its cold i swear its not bad, its when it warms up a little that it gets sweet and heavy and weirdly alcoholic and a touch astringent too, sweet most of the way, a little corny or otherwise adjuncty, but there is decent pale barley malt in this too i am sure of it. i even get some minerals before the finish. i dont hate this, i know i should, but i dont, and in the context of a bunch of wild saisons and heavy stouts, i came back to this one a few times. the mouthfeel is both hearty and refreshing at the same time, and the value of this is off the charts. far better than its ratings and objectively better than most of its peers!
Dec 22, 2022
Photo of acmurphy696
Reviewed by acmurphy696 from Georgia

1/5  rDev -53.3%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
I am a big believer that you have to experience something before you have the right to comment. This usually applies to movies. For whatever reason, after seeing crushed cans of Old English littering sidewalks for years and dismissing the sight as, "Why would anyone drink that," I decided I had to man up and try it. So, I took my $1.99 and bought a 24 ounce can. Wow. In some ways it was more sad than bad.
I understand that in the past 5.9 ABV was a big deal, and dudes just purchased it to get their drunk on, but nowadays that's considered lightweight. Okay, those beers likely cost more than $1.99.
There nothing there taste wise. It wasn't horrible. It wasn't anything but a slight-very slight hint of fruitiness. Bland burger. Sad. I regret it all.
Dec 17, 2022
 
Rated: 1.29 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Nov 06, 2022
Photo of BeerBobber
Reviewed by BeerBobber from Nevada

2.85/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Dark gold, amber looking color. Had 1 finger of white head on the pour and quickly lost half that. Looks like the half left is slowly dropping as I type. Lazy streaming carbonation visible.

Nose is a touch sweet. Grain smell on the nose comes through. Like corn grain.

The mouth is sweet and a bit of a malt like flavor. Seems simple on the taste, lets put the two together, now we have sweet malts. Is it overly sweet? No.

Mouth feel starts as a bit medium and finishes surprisingly well. A touch of lingering sweet malt and yes there is the grain on the back of the mouth that sits there for a minute.

I am in las Vegas, NV and was able to get the 7.5% ABV version and I did chill the crap out of the 24 oz. can before I cracked it. I think if this higher ABV (higher than the 5.9% ABV version) were to get warmed up it may have that malt liquor taste I find unpleasant. Kind of that, "I am trying to be a lager, why the shit did they add this fructose syrup to spoil me?", type of thing. If this were to warm up and had a sweeter taste were to come out I would say no way. I will say I have had much worse malt liquor beers for sure. Still searching for my final opinion. The one thing I do not like is I find myself trying to drink it before it warms. And today is a warm day, even though I am inside.. O.K. Maybe that is what this is for, fast slam hopefully quick buzz on a cheap beer, kind of a Four Loko "beer" thing. Enough rambling. How about will I buy it again? The higher ABV warming does come through a bit towards the end as I try to chase a chilled product. Buy it again is still a questionable thought. I really do not think I would try this again unless I could get the lower ABV. More along the lines of an Icehouse beer. Yet there may be a fit for this with some heavy meats on a good BBQ day. Damn now I am just hungry? This has been an exhausting push and pull beer review. I really look forward to more people trying the higher gravity and seeing what they think. I think at 5.9% and being cheap, again around the Icehouse region, this might work. I know people look for the "higher gravity" one, yet now I seek the "lower gravity" one". So sorry for the ramble ladies and gents, Cheers!
Sep 18, 2022
Olde English 800 from Miller Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 53 out of 100 with 1168 ratings