16 Ounce Macro Lager Can Shootout

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by ZAP, Mar 2, 2019.

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  1. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Recently completed a blind taste test of eight macro lager beer in 16 ounce cans.

    The field:
    Bud
    Coors
    Grain Belt Premium
    Hamms
    High Life
    MGD
    Old Style
    Pabst

    The Process:
    One 16 ounce can of each beer was placed in my beer fridge.

    Over four days my wife would randomly take two of the beers out and I would close my eyes. She would open them and then keep a key of what was what. I scored the beers from 1-10 based on how they tasted right out of the cans. I dictated some brief notes and my wife wrote them down.

    After I was done rating and reviewing I left the room and she poured them into glasses and disposed of the cans in a special paper garbage bag so I could not see what beers I just had.

    After the four days were up all the beers had been tasted and rated...once. Time to do the exact same drill again. Again, she chose random beers to face off 1-on-1 and I rated them again.

    Finally after another four days of tastings (not consecutive) she revealed the scores and notes.

    I also tried to predict what was what. I nailed Bud and Premium both times, and the Miller products both times but got them mixed up once. I hit Pabst, Coors and Hamms once as well. Mixed up Hamms and Old Style one time.

    Results (scores are the average of the two taste tests)
    1. Coors Original (8.95): Clean, smooth pleasant maltiness.
    2. High Life (8.8):Grainy..sweet malt
    3. MGD (8.6): Sweet malty macro lager
    4. Bud (7.95): Fresh, nutty, ricey
    5. Hamms (7.2):Sweetness on finish. Not a lot of flavor. Lightly sweet
    6. PBR (7.1):Chewy sweetish malt..old time beer taste
    7. Old Style (6.85): Light flavored, clean, basic.
    8. Premium (6.45): Sweet malt aroma, apples...bad after taste.

    Final Thoughts/Tidbits:

    I do not know the dates on the beers. Should have written them down.

    Is High Life and MGD same beer? Tough to tell. Flavors and scores are real close and the difference could be due to the age on the beers.

    What about Hamms and Pabst being the same beer? Personally I thought they tasted different but their scores are remarkably close.

    Bud was easy to pick out as were the Miller products. I drank a lot of Miller products growing up (back in 3rd, 4th grade) and have always liked their flavor so there may be a slight taste bias for me.

    Still, Coors was clearly the best of the lot both tastings and right now as I type this from a fresh 12 pack I just bought and I feel the same drinking it now. It is now my macro of choice.
     
    #1 ZAP, Mar 2, 2019
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  2. Maestro0708

    Maestro0708 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2015 Kentucky

    I did something similar to this once. Its good fun, and can be eye opening how different your opinion on a beer can be when you dont bring your brand bias to the table.
     
    #2 Maestro0708, Mar 2, 2019
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  3. Oktoberfiesta

    Oktoberfiesta Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2013 New Mexico

    Cool stuff. I would have thrown in a perceived 'better' craft lager to see if It can detected amongst that bunch. Or maybe now, do a craft pilsner/lager sampling and see how Coors matches up.

    I've had some terribly mediocre craft lagers that are upwards of 1.8x the cost of the macro beers. So that's where my next experiment would be, If this was me.
     
    #3 Oktoberfiesta, Mar 2, 2019
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  4. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I’ve always loved me some yellow bellies.
     
    #4 GetMeAnIPA, Mar 2, 2019
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  5. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    My understanding is that the only difference is the High Life is flash pasteurized and MGD is cold filtered.
     
    #5 dennis3951, Mar 2, 2019
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  6. MikeP64

    MikeP64 Zealot (661) Jan 24, 2015 South Carolina

    Nice to see that even a "Poo-Bah" can enjoy macro beers......
     
    #6 MikeP64, Mar 2, 2019
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  7. miwestcoaster

    miwestcoaster Grand Pooh-Bah (3,981) Jan 19, 2013 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    Thank you for your insight. I took a peak at the average ratings for these beers on BA. The top five are:
    1. Grain Belt Premium 3.26
    2. PBR 2.94
    3. Old Style 2.83
    4. Hamm’s 2.8
    5. Miller High Life 2.69

    I drank my share of Premium back in the day, but I can’t get it in Michigan. Now Hamm’s is a staple in my fridge. IMO Hamm’s or Old Style are superior in taste to Founders Solid Gold Lager or Short’s Local’s Light Lager at a less expensive price. Cheers!
     
    #7 miwestcoaster, Mar 2, 2019
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  8. JackHorzempa

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

    #8 JackHorzempa, Mar 2, 2019
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  9. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I personally thought Premium might finish pretty high but for some reason it did not score well or taste good. I did look at the dates on that one as I had others in the fridge after the taste test was completed and I was a bit surprised. The dates were actually fresh on that one.
     
    #9 ZAP, Mar 2, 2019
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  10. Wiffler27

    Wiffler27 Pooh-Bah (2,092) Aug 16, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    I've recently started buying 12 packs of Carlsberg 16oz cans. 5% each and $13 works out fine for me. Ideally I could get something in a similar format for less money. 16oz cans are perfect, 12oz cans are a pain.

    They're perfect for FUT weekend league.
     
    #10 Wiffler27, Mar 2, 2019
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  11. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    We can? I didn't get the memo!

    A buddy of mine is into craft and macro, and his macro of choice is Coors.
     
    #11 bbtkd, Mar 2, 2019
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  12. Hoos78

    Hoos78 Maven (1,327) Mar 3, 2015 Ohio

    Premium is certainly different from most other AALs. Its sweetness is so strange.
     
    #12 Hoos78, Mar 2, 2019
    ZAP likes this.
  13. TongoRad

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

    "even"? :rolling_eyes::wink:
     
    #13 TongoRad, Mar 2, 2019
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  14. Tilley4

    Tilley4 Pooh-Bah (2,811) Nov 13, 2007 Tennessee
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hamm's for the win IMO.... it's my beer of choice once the weather gets warm... cheap and tasty in the pool
     
    #14 Tilley4, Mar 2, 2019
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  15. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Coors Banquet on draught is even gooder.
     
    #15 Bitterbill, Mar 2, 2019
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  16. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Shoulda thrown a Montucky Coldsnack in the mix.
     
    #16 BBThunderbolt, Mar 2, 2019
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  17. TongoRad

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

    I did something similar with my son a year or two ago, and came away pretty impressed with the Naragansett.
     
    #17 TongoRad, Mar 2, 2019
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  18. Zorro

    Zorro Grand Pooh-Bah (3,258) Dec 25, 2003 California
    Pooh-Bah

    No Steel Reserve? What about Colt 45? :wink:
     
    #18 Zorro, Mar 2, 2019
  19. jesskidden

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

    That used to be the case since the latter's creation in the 1980s, but currently MillerCoors' "Nutrition and Codes" pdf lists a slight variation in ingredients - MHL notes only "hop extract" while MGD lists "hop extract, hops" :thinking_face:---- and there is now a 1 calorie difference:rolling_eyes:

    Also, AFAIK MC's pasteurized bottles and cans are tunnel-pasteurized, not flash.
     
    #19 jesskidden, Mar 3, 2019
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  20. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I used to be a PBR guy. I read the article on the brewers tasting AAL and that’s how I found Hamms. Cheap and good. Less harsh than PBR. I also really enjoy High Life in a bottle. I should revisit Coors. I had a draft in CO a bunch of years back and it was very refreshing.

    I tried Solid Gold last week for the first time. This was left at my house. It was far from bad but I prefer the taste of Hamms and High Life. Once you factor in the $ it’s a no brainer.

    Enjoy
     
    #20 Giantspace, Mar 3, 2019
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