Heineken: 16

Taste: 5 Finish: 4 Visual: 3 Aroma: 4
Total: 16

Growing up, Heineken and Lowenbrau probably epitomized what good European beer was. In a new world where great craft beer can be gotten almost anywhere, is Heineken still a king amongst brews?

It has a very pale yellow color with a small head. The color is kind of generic. The aroma is what you'd expect for a light lager. Straw. A bit of hops. And it has that European pilsner aroma even though this isn't technically a pilsner. It's a pale lager which to me means generic.

It has a bit of a bitter bite up front. By the middle the earthiness of it opens up. Straw. Earth. I want a little lemon or yeast in it but there is none. And in the back is the flavor of boiled hops. It finishes cleanly with just a hint of hops on the tongue.

I mean, this has more flavor than any macrobrew from the US or Europe. So, in that way it succeeds. It's the step up from Bud that a more discerning drinker wants. So, great for a party to show your guests you have another choice. But, I can't figure out why you'd ever buy it for yourself to drink when there are literally dozens of better brews in the cold case. For those who think this is great beer, move a shelf or two down and get some Pilsner Urquell or Stella Artis. Or Harpoon. Or Sierra Nevada. Or...