Heineken vs Becks

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Brilliant_pickle4122, Feb 12, 2025.

?

Which do you prefer?

  1. Heineken

    23 vote(s)
    25.8%
  2. Beck’s

    27 vote(s)
    30.3%
  3. Neither

    39 vote(s)
    43.8%
  1. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    As if anyone rates to-style anymore (or even understands the concept. :rolling_eyes:).
     
  2. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Might as well throw in Hamms as well. Pretty sure I know which category would prevail in the poll.
     
  3. beershrine

    beershrine Pundit (819) May 29, 2004 Idaho

    I defer to neither I haven’t had in over 20yrs. Those brands I consider to be priced at what you look like when you r holding one.
     
  4. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Becks for me and not even close. I usually buy Becks 6er at least once a year.
     
  5. Brilliant_pickle4122

    Brilliant_pickle4122 Initiate (102) Feb 9, 2025 New York

    I find Becks to be mighty tasty myself! I always wondered how different the current American brewed version is compared to the one brewed in Germany. Someone should do a side by side taste test!
     
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  6. mikeinportc

    mikeinportc Grand Pooh-Bah (3,735) Nov 4, 2015 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    The real question is "Why?" :smirk:
     
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  7. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    late to the fight.
    Becks over Heineken pre 2005. But Heineken better in cans
    But now? Had a can of Heineken..its terrible also probably brewed in Canada. both absolute shit
    I am sure brewed here..where flavour goes to die
     
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  8. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What happened in 2005? Interbrew bought Beck's in 2001 and ABInBev's US subsidiary Anheuser-Busch started brewing Beck's in the US for the domestic market in 2012.

    You've seen Heineken labeled as being brewed in Canada? That'd be pretty big news. The TTB is pretty strict about such labeling in the US, even though it can be relegated to the perpendicular fine print section.

    (Pretty sure the last time the US got Heineken brewed outside of Holland was 1940 after the ****s conquered The Netherlands and the company started exporting Heineken brewed at their brewery in Java, Dutch East Indies. But the Japanese soon put a stop to that.:grimacing:)
     
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  9. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It actually deserves higher than that, imo- it's more 'snappy'.
     
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  10. Packman13

    Packman13 Initiate (157) Aug 17, 2024 Wisconsin

    Neither one.
     
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  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    According to the internet:

    “Heineken beer is brewed in many countries, including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, and more.”

    And:

    “HEINEKEN Panama begins local production of its Heineken ® beer. Investing more than $8 million dollars in local production.

    01 May 2024”

    Cheers!
     
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  12. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’d take Heineken, but I’d try to find something better if I could
     
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  14. TrojanRB

    TrojanRB Grand Pooh-Bah (3,779) Jul 27, 2013 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    After touring the Heineken brewery in Amsterdam last year, I have a renewed appreciation for the beer.

    And yes, it tastes much better fresh.
     
  15. LAFreeway

    LAFreeway Zealot (669) Aug 2, 2023 California

    I bet it is good fresh at the brewery. Does anyone here actually like the skunk flavor? It’s hard for me to believe that anyone prefers a skunked beer, but I remember reading that Jester King was purposely skunking some of their beer because the owner likes it.

    It’s really amazing to me that a beer with such a huge flaw like skunked Heineken could be so popular. Canned or draft Heineken is a great hop forward beer for my taste, but that skunky shit is awful.

    I had high hopes for Becks Sapphire that came out a decade or so ago, Sapphire has a nice noble flavor, Becks just doesn’t use enough.
     
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  16. nasty15108

    nasty15108 Pundit (991) Jan 21, 2008 New York

    Man, back in the day both of those beers were sooooo much better. The old style bottle Heineken with the paper label and the old Beck's that was actually an import. Hell, we can even throw old school St. Pauli Girl into the mix, that was good back then as well! I remember in college we'd buy a 12pk of both and crush them. I actually really like Heineken Dark, which I haven't seen in NY in ages!
     
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  17. LAFreeway

    LAFreeway Zealot (669) Aug 2, 2023 California

    Was the skunk issue addressed on the tour?
     
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  18. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yep! Love that skunky goodness. Fits the beer perfectly, and with the green bottles, I assume it’s as intended. :beers:
     
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  19. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    How so?
     
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  20. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,837) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think those skunky thiols pair well with a beer that’s relatively crisp, lightly bitter, slightly metallic and has a light-to-medium bodied, somewhat fizzy mouthfeel to begin with. IMO, it’s a great base to add some light sulfur to. :beers:
     
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