Skol Ultra
Cervejarias Reunidas Skol-Caracu

 

 

Light, clear yellow, fizzy, very little smell or taste other than some corn and fermented grains, light malt, very little hops. Very clean taste at least, with no strange aftertaste, very clean. I really dislike when the carbonation eclipses the taste as is the case with this beer. However, it is not awful and is drinkable in large quantities at any temperature.

Yellow color with a fluffy thin head with short retention and very apparent carbonation.
Slightly sour aroma with notes of lemon, mild sulfur and malt sweetness. Although this is pure malt, it does not smell much different from an Adjunct Lager (at least cold).
Flavor with notes of malt sweetness, lemon drops, maybe floral hops and that is about it. Very clean.
Light to watery body with good carbonation.
I believe they made a beer that can be drunk in large quantities without you getting a big belly, that is cool once is pure malt with the upside to limit off-flavors that in general exponentially increases with temperature. Sure, some exposure to light given its transparent glass doesn’t help. In bar tables in Brazil you see beers left on the glasses given the temperature strip tease effect to what a beer really is. So this might help. This might also compete with Mexican type of beers that becomes awful once it warms up. That said this beer is very plain, it is a thirst quencher. I would increase hops to make it more fun. As it warms it becomes rather sweet.

Finding a beer specifically marketed as a light beer in Brazil is like seeing snow in Las Vegas; sometimes you'll find it, but you're more likely not to see it. Skol Ultra looks to be Skol's entry into the light beer market. With 4.2% alcohol, 99 calories per 310 ml, and a slim can packaging, it certainly markets to people who are afraid that regular Skol (130 calories, per same serving size). Having a number of Skol's during previously trips, I think I have an idea for what I am going to receive. On to the beer:

Not too bad at the start. This light golden colored beer forms a small soda-like white head which has okay head retention and lacing. Bubbles run from bottom to top. With a few whiffs of the weak aroma, I'm reminded of a shadow of the standard Skol. I smell vague cereals which yield a sticky yellow corn sweetness. There's a metallic aroma too. While I've had worse aromas, the nose for Skol Ultra is still bordering gross.

It's hard to describe the taste when there is little to describe. I will give credit to AmBev with one aspect though; the essence of Skol has been captured well in this lighter version. I will admit that Skol, given the background of hot weather, churrasco, and good people, can be a decent refresher for one's thoughtless thirst. Skol Ultra, on the other hand, is making me involuntary grimace with each sip I take. There's a seltzer water character to it that makes me gag, the sweet adjuncts causing imbalance on my palate. To add insult to injury, the mouthfeel is a festival of watery character with a quick zip of bubbles. It feels like beer that was left over from last night's frat party.

Given the hot weather common throughout in Brazil, I'm surprised that no major brewer tried to hoodwink the market with a watered down version of their popular lagers. I think what happened here was that AmBev poured a 600 ml bottle of Skol into the Amazon River and left a bunch of slim cans at Belém for canning to make Skol Ultra. For tasting this accomplishment, I have one man to thank; Ciro, you the real MVP!!!