Schaefer
F & M Schaefer Brewing Co.

SchaeferSchaefer
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From:
F & M Schaefer Brewing Co.
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
American Adjunct Lager
Ranked #224
ABV:
4.6%
Score:
63
Ranked #28,419
Avg:
2.64 | pDev: 28.41%
Reviews:
145
Ratings:
298
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 24, 2024
Added:
Aug 21, 2001
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  53
No description / notes.
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Ratings by semihobo:
Photo of semihobo
Reviewed by semihobo from Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours with an okay white head that is gone before you know it, leaving only a ring around the tub. Lots of bubbling, dead clear, with a straw yellow color. I have no trouble reading a credit card statement through the pint glass.

Smells grainy, with some corn and a little bit of skunky rice or something. Definite off notes, with a hint of hops gone bad. Although it's "average" for the style, it's not good, so I can't bring myself to give it a 3.

Surprisingly tasty and inoffensive! Very mild grain taste but it's my favorite type, that really pure corn taste that reminds me of Fritos. Present also in some Miller macro lagers. None of the skunked finish I was expecting ala a Euro Pale Lager, just more graininess. Faint hoppiness. Mmm graintastic.

Mouthfeel is very watery but hey, that's to the style. Carbonation is a little heavy, generating some burpage, but this is a "crisp" macro lager to use their preferred term.

I feel that the key to the macro lager style is inoffensiveness -- make an alcohol delivery vessel with a little something there but nothing to scare anyone off. That said, this really nails it. Drinking the Schaefer was not at all unpleasant compared to my normal macros (Miller Lite, Milwaukee's Best, Keystone, Labatt Blue). I don't know what the price was (I stole the can from a drunk friend) so I can't rate the drinkability higher, as cost is a huge factor in macro drinkability. Availability is also low in Ithaca -- I'd never seen Schaefer before.

Recommended enthusiastically within the category; Schaefer would make a great Power Hour or Beirut / Beer Pong beer, as it doesn't have any gross-factor that might induce vomiting.
Feb 23, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of bullwinkle88
Reviewed by bullwinkle88 from Isle of Man

4.08/5  rDev +54.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Tastes like the 70s. Corny, a bit dry. Very scarce in the northeast. Not particularly worth going out of the way for and it only comes in 30s. Fun change of pace for a party. Better than Budweiser
Jan 24, 2024
Photo of joeagain
Reviewed by joeagain from New Jersey

2.26/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
This was, once upon a time, a fairly decent typical American beer. You know, it's the kind of beer you'd have at a picnic, maybe mowing the lawn, sitting on the front steps yapping with some buddies while having a "cold one"... drinkable but in no way special.
Well, it seems a tad lesser quality than even back then.
Very light yellow, small short lasting head, very light corn and barley taste. Don't blink, you'll miss the hops!
In a nutshell, not a very good beer, even at it's inexpensive price of about 17 bucks a 30 pack!
Better off with Hamm's or Keystone light (yep... it's that bad) if you want some cheap brewskis.
Sep 11, 2023
Photo of rojoes
Rated by rojoes from New York

2.86/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Your value priced lawn mowing beer.
Nov 30, 2022
 
Rated: 3.51 by Hazey92 from New York

May 21, 2022
 
Rated: 2.53 by Campodog from Spain

May 19, 2022
Photo of bigdeuce
Reviewed by bigdeuce from Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
This isn’t bad for an adjunct lager. It looks like p*ss and smells similar. Has a corniness on the nose and a bright yellow color. It tastes good, though. Very smooth and not cloying. Can’t beat it for $17.49 a 30 pack!
Feb 12, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

2.48/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
310 ml can (10.5 oz). Label says "Puerto Rico" on it, not sure why as the label also indicates it was brewed in Milwaukee.

drank on the beach in St John USVI so all that mattered was that it was wet and cold. not much more to say, very mild pale malt flavor, thin and fizzy mouthfeel.
Jan 18, 2022
 
Rated: 2.31 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 2.79 by Wilkolaczek94 from Connecticut

May 06, 2021
Photo of hankp59
Reviewed by hankp59 from New York

2.18/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
Light refreshing, for tinted water, and very mild. This thing drinks quick, inoffensive, and utterly forgettable. There is nothing off here just simple light lager. If you’re hot and thirsty go for it.
Sep 26, 2020
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

2.53/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
A 12 oz. can poured into a clear pint glass shows a very pale straw colored, almost clear liquid. There's very little head, glass lacing, nor aroma. There is some taste, but it's mostly yeasty. Considering the category, at least there is some taste. This brand probably tasted better decades ago. The Puerto Rican version definitely was.
Sep 08, 2020
Photo of rvisual
Reviewed by rvisual from Texas

3.22/5  rDev +22%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
**Mandatory discussion based on trying a few 6-packs years in the past.

Schaefer was one of the brews available from regional brewers when I lived in Madison WI from 1973-78. IMO even that many years ago, Schaefer was not that popular b/c there were too many other options available and the taste and smell were for diehard fans only.

Around 1977 or so, Miller Lite came on the local scene and took a huge market away from the regional brews like Schaefers.
Aug 27, 2020
Photo of DCH
Rated by DCH from New York

4.47/5  rDev +69.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
The best AAL on the market.
Apr 02, 2020
 
Rated: 3.01 by nater919 from New York

Mar 23, 2020
 
Rated: 3.18 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Mar 20, 2020
Photo of 1009
Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts

1.45/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 2.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.75
Tastes like the metal bleachers of the stadium that used to bear its name. Literally any other beer would be better than this. The one beer to have when you’re having more than one. No thanks. I’ll have none.
Feb 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.45 by SargeC from California

Jan 20, 2020
Photo of Tantonys
Reviewed by Tantonys from Maine

2.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Drank a lot in college, stole a lot from my Dad. 4.6% great session brew! None of the floral I remember. Rather corny taste, decent bitter. Ok for cheap beer.
Nov 06, 2019
Photo of Kthorsland
Rated by Kthorsland from New Jersey

4.94/5  rDev +87.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I grew up in the ‘70s with all my family enjoying Schaefer and it is still the favorite beer of my extended family. Great beer!
Jun 13, 2019
Schaefer from F & M Schaefer Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 63 out of 100 with 298 ratings