Big Flats 1901
World Brews

Big Flats 1901Big Flats 1901
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From:
World Brews
 
California, United States
Style:
American Adjunct Lager
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
61
Avg:
2.54 | pDev: 29.53%
Reviews:
155
Ratings:
317
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 13, 2019
Added:
Dec 11, 2010
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  41
Brewed by Hop House Brews, La Crosse. WI and Rochester, NY for Walgreens Drug Stores.
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Ratings by rundocrun:
Photo of rundocrun
Reviewed by rundocrun from Iowa

1.98/5  rDev -22%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 3
Read about this beer on CNN and amid my incredulousness, I just HAD to buy it.

A - very pale transparent yellow. very carbonated with a head that dissipates quickly.

S - The can says "brewed from only the choices hops" and I can smell a hint of these so-called "choice hops". Otherwise slightly grainy, sour smell wafting up.

T - Um.... well.... ok, i guess. I'm trying not to be swayed by the fact that each can costs a mere 50 cents. "choice hops" again come through amid the taste of adjunct grains and, well, water. Pretty bland.

M - Thin, watery, lives up to the slogan "It's the water that makes it"

D - The one redeeming factor (aside from the price - $2.99/6-pack) is the fact that I feel like I could pound all 6 of these in one sitting as long as they're ice-cold.
Feb 14, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.71 by Ceddd99 from Michigan

Oct 13, 2019
 
Rated: 2.6 by WickedBeer from Alabama

Apr 29, 2017
 
Rated: 1.31 by Determined_021 from New Mexico

Oct 03, 2016
Photo of acmurphy696
Reviewed by acmurphy696 from Georgia

1.66/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
They say an adventurous spirit is a way to know you're alive. So the idea of trying a beer that's priced as $3.50 a six-pack struck me as a "what-the-Hell" kind of thing to try.
Well...
It's better than Bud.
Jun 22, 2016
Photo of ChiefHowlers
Rated by ChiefHowlers from Oregon

2.76/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Thing is, it's better than natty ice or your other cheap lagers and tastes just as good or better. When I want a cheap beer, it's big flats or bust.
Jun 08, 2016
Photo of Squire
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi

1.5/5  rDev -40.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
Proof that the words "good" and "cheap" sometimes don't belong in the same sentence.

I can see how something likes this gets started. A major chain contracts for a house brand to sell at a low price and wants it to be just good enough to develop a following. Missed opportunity here, this stuff just doesn't cut it. Very light, watery brew that manages to be thin bodied yet medium flavored. Unfortunately the sweetish flavor isn't very good and makes finishing one a chore.

The appeal of this beer is it's cheap price but if they cut that low price by half I still wouldn't buy it again.
Apr 14, 2016
Photo of KMillard
Reviewed by KMillard from North Carolina

2.53/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Good cheap american beer. Made by Genesee and has less off flavors than Genesee lager, which has a copper-sweet, low carbonation problem. This is more uniform and less offensive, but still sweet. Worth the price and good cold.
Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by jgunther71 from Illinois

Mar 26, 2016
Photo of James954
Reviewed by James954 from Florida

3/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
To the point... at $2.99 +tax this beer is at the top of the American Adjunct Beer style. The price of this beer says more about the greed of big name brand breweries that have been selling beer that is of lower quality than this stuff. The only downside about this brew is a sweet aftertaste that gets stronger at the finish.

Start: sweet corn upfront
During: Sweet corn fades with more bread
Finish: more of the same.

Overall: Consistency is an issue that makes long term drinkability a problem. The sweetness really builds up on you and makes it hard to have anymore...still better than a buttwiper.
Feb 15, 2016
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

3.08/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Walgreens house brand, brewed by Would Brews. Poured from12-ounce can into a tall straight-sided mug. Nice-looking pour, crystal clear golden yellow with a snow white head that left some sticky lacing. It's downhill from there. Rather flat on the aroma, thin in body. Tastewise, not too bad. Refreshing, clean finish. Pretty inoffensive, and you can't beat the price ($3.50/6 tax, title, and out the door).
Feb 13, 2016
Photo of mfnmbvp
Reviewed by mfnmbvp from Illinois

2.71/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 fl oz. can, no canned on date or freshness information. Acquired a six pack of this, and a six pack of its brethren Big Flats 1901 Light from the local Walgreens for $6 plus tax.

Poured into clear tulip-ish stemware given to me as a gift from my brother.

A - Pours clear lager gold, lots of bubbles going crazy in the glass, nice clarity, and about two fingers of soft frothy fizzy white foam. Minimal spotty lacing. Doesn't look awful for what it is, in all honesty. Perhaps a bit pale, even for the style.

S - Aroma is cheap & dusty. Malty, corny, grainy, & husky. Slightly grapey & phenolic. Typical, but not pleasant.

T - Taste is the same : dusty, grainy, malty, papery. Notes of grapes, wet cardboard, and dusty corn / grain adjuncts.

M - Feel is thin & watery. Grainy, corny, & papery on the finish. Easy-drinking stuff.

Overall, in terms of what I paid for it, it's not half bad. A cheap affordable option, probably one of the best deals around.

Big Flats 1901 -----3/5.
Feb 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.86 by DKHNOVA from District of Columbia

Jan 31, 2016
 
Rated: 2.02 by Zazzi82 from Tennessee

Jan 27, 2016
 
Rated: 1.21 by Icampbell17 from South Carolina

Jan 27, 2016
 
Rated: 2.24 by Cocomojoe81 from Michigan

Jan 10, 2016
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.41/5  rDev +34.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
An unbelievable $2.99 for a six pack of cans. It was one of those rare occasions that it's EXACTLY what I needed for a particular situation. That will be considered into the final rating.

So with a few cans left, this pours as expected - a pale straw golden color...but a beautiful head forms on top, creating a display of 4 fingers, and not backing down for a good minute or two. Atop the beer is a creamy ring that's almost permanent, and lace is left on the glass. A solid 5 for the style.

Aroma is of stale grains, namely corn and barley; a touch of chlorine/clean water; and a slight phenolic character as well.

It's even better tasting out of the glass than out of the can. I get a bunch of pale malts, a snap of grassy hop, and then a bit of a skunky estery quality, finally fading out to almost nothing on a bread note. My first reaction trying this beer was that it tasted like a light beer, but out of the glass I'm noticing more of the flavors surface. If I had to closely compare it's probably about like a funky cross between Labatt Blue and Miller High Life.

Feel is what's expected - carbonated up front and then calming towards the rear, and a belly full of foam. Semi dry pasty parch at the end.

I think if price is considered - and really - whether we admit it or not consciously or subconsciously we factor price into these reviews (imagine if this was $9 a can), this beer is a knockout. Affordable, semi-tasty, and oh so poundable. I'll buy it again if I'm ever in need of a quick sixer for a special occasion.
Dec 25, 2015
 
Rated: 2.42 by pixarnick from Kentucky

Dec 05, 2015
 
Rated: 2.01 by Fargrow from Michigan

Dec 01, 2015
Photo of Angerhaus
Rated by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

1/5  rDev -60.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
This is what my cat's sweat would taste like if he drank energy drinks all day
Nov 12, 2015
Big Flats 1901 from World Brews
Beer rating: 61 out of 100 with 317 ratings