You might find me on the other side ... that's likeitis
You might find me on the other side ... that's likeitis
Member since:12.06.2002
Reviews:547
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MIDSUMMER. It conjures up all kinds of images of pagan celebrations, doesn't it? No, it doesn't for me either. What it does mean to me is that these are the longest days of the year. In my part of the world, it doesn't really get very dark - it just gets dim for 2-3 hours. Now this would be fine if the sun was shining and indeed this is usually when we get our best weather. But not today. I can't see even the most miniscule bit of blue in the sky - at least the sky is a kind of LIGHT GREY though, and it's not raining...YET. It is 1pm and it is 15C, or 60F. PHEW! Midsummer? You can stick it.
Anyway....
Summer's the time for picnics and BBQ's, isn't it? Of course it is. So time to peel a few haggis's, baste those neeps in virgin olive oil, deep fry a couple of mars bars and pop open the Stella Artois. Now why in the heck would the good folks in frozen Caledonia - land of the most excellent malty ales - crack open bottles of foreign fizzy lager. Easy peasy. Due to the outrageous and punitive duties and taxes, there is a thriving market for alcohol and tobacco that has been brought into the country from continental Europe. Therefore, if you know a guy, and everybody does, you can get a case of 2 dozen 330ml bottles for less than £10 - much cheaper than the price in the shops.
So if you are planning to have a BBQ and invite a few of your vulture-like friends - the ones with the hollow legs - you don't want to be feeding those philistines the quality ales. No sirree. In these situations it's quantity and not quality, that counts.
~~~~~~~~ THE BEER ~~~~~~~~
Stella Artois, brewed in Leuven in Belgium in the Bohemian Pilsner style using fine Czech Saaz hops, is very popular in the UK and other Northern European countries.
In my view Belgium, a very small country, produces an astonishing variety of great beers. However, whilst Stella Artois is a GOOD beer I would not rate it as among the best that Belgium has to offer. Not even remotely close. Stella compares more favourably to beers such as Millers and Budweiser from the USA rather than classic Belgian brews.
~~~~~~~~ THE POUR ~~~~~~~~
Stella Artois pours to a slightly hazy, light and very pale golden colour with a big, pure white, frothy, lacey head. Lots of bubbles. Clean smelling with grain husk aromas and a slight malty sweetness. Unless, of course, you dispense with the hassle of using a glass and slurp that baby by the neck.
~~~~~~~~~ THE TASTE ~~~~~~~~~
Upfront this brew is full bodied with some biscuity malt flavour. It has a light malt mouthfeel with some sweetness and a distinctive metallic edge. There's a little skunkiness and then a grassy, slight hop bitterness and mild sharpness. It turns a little dry towards the end. Although the flavour is definitely not as complex as you would find in premium ales, for a lager the taste is quite subtle. It should not be drunk warm though, the bitterness takes over completely as it warms up and it tastes a little vegetable-like. (Like it's going to last long enough to get warm!)
~~~~~~~~~~~ THE VERDICT ~~~~~~~~~~~
Stella Artois lager is a bottom fermented blond pils with an alcohol content of 5.2% ABV. Full-bodied but none-the-less exceptionally thirst quenching, it should be served cold at 3° C. An extremely drinkable lager, with a dedicated following in Belgium and Britain, you'll find this beer on tap almost everywhere in those countries. It's a pretty decent pilsner beer, but having said that, it is still one of the least interesting beers to come out of Belgium. Nice and cold, it's perfect for a midsummer's day whist nibbling on chicken with Sam and Ella.
Thanks for reading, Slainte
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I tend to buy the cases of the wee bottles when Aldi has them on special. Handy to have in the fridge and palatable to boot.
kenny_khaw 23.07.2004 11:42
I like stella but it's expensive here in my place. Ken.
Aball 20.06.2004 07:12
It's the only Belgian beer that I have had. And from what I have heard of Belgian brews, this can't be a typical beer to come from that country. But I like it. Joshua
Advantages: Tasty, clean crisp flavour, Moorish, can drink it all night Disadvantages: Expensive, can remain over the limit for driving for the whole of the next day
Jul 5th, 2002
(Jul 8th, 2002)
very helpful by (100%):
