Friday, December 17, 2010

Big Flats 1901 Lager Beer and Big Flats 1901 Light

Big Flats is the new Walgreen's store brand beer.  It says it is brewed by Brewmaster's Choice of Rochester, New York.  I hear that it is contract brewed by Genesee.  The can says, "It's the water that makes it".  Well, that is true as far as it goes, as you could not make it without water.  Let's check out the beer.  It now also comes in Light.

The beer pours a light, pale golden in color, with a quarter-inch of foamy head that dissipates rather quickly.  It is amply carbonated.  The aroma is fairly light, sweet, a bit of malt grain, and a slight hint of green apple.  The taste was better than expected.  It does drink very light, but has some malt, cornbread, and a touch of hop bitterness.  Many beers of this "caliber" have metallic, sour, heavy green apple or other off tastes and aromas.  This is a solid cheap American adjunct lager.  I would take it over most beers of its price range, but also over Coors Light, Busch, Budweiser, etc. on most days.


Light - The beer pours straw golden in color with a half inch of tight and vigorous white head that leaves a fair amount of lacing down the glass.  It has a whirlwind of carbonation in the glass.  The aroma is very light grain, corn, with a light grassy/floral aroma that approaches, but does not arrive at, light green apple.  The taste is very light grain and very light lager hoppiness.  The head settles down to a creaminess over the slightly watery mouthfeel of the beer.  Of the two, I prefer the regular.




29 comments:

  1. Just picked up a $2.99 sixer of this stuff from Walgreen's. I'm not expecting much, but i'm still looking forward to trying it.

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  2. I think it will exceed your expectations for a $2.99 six pack. Let me know if you agree.

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  3. What a shocker! It actually tastes like beer. What do you expect for $2.99???? A very good $2.99 beer. Of course I still drink PBR and that is almost $5.00 so I can appreciate a $2.99 beer that doesn't taste like Dunks!

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  4. just hit the walgreens and saw the big flat. $2.99, im game. very tasty in a small glass. enjoyable. i would buy it again.

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  5. Shocked as well...Of course I paid $3.49 here in Alabama.

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  6. for $2.99 a six pack, I'm going back for a few more....thanks walgreens

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  7. Almost nothing is cheap at Walgreens, so when I saw this at $2.99 a sixer, I grabbed one. Judged against my standard drinkable cheap lager Milwuakees Best, it was just a tad (corn) sweeter and fuller in the finish. Like MB, preferred over Bud Light or most lagers, and certainly at this price will buy again as one who consumes occasionally in volume!

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  8. Actually much better than many more expensive beers that I have drunk. Very palatable and fairly intoxicating. Worth much more than the 2.50 for 6-pack new year eve price!!

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  9. I just grabbed a sixer and I'm very impressed with the flavor & finish, especially when very cold and at the price! Any idea of the abv?

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  10. From Costa Rica used to drink REAL beer Imperial and such. This has a very good taste and for 2.99 is more than I expected.

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  11. When I lived in New York State I drank Genesee and enjoyed the taste and realistic price. Now that I live in Florida I Have found that Big Flats is very similar. Thanks Walgreen!

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  12. I cannot tell anyone how good this beer is. Miller Light is like water compaired to this. Will the clubs start carring this next and if not so what. I will just go to Walgreens. Thanks Big flats !!!

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  13. I live in Kansas City, MO and they're selling it for $2.50 a 6 pack here and it's not too bad!

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  14. Wow- so all of these "reviews" are from "people" who have no profiles attached to their reviews! Nice move Walgreens!

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  15. Just picked up a six pack and it's really worth the price. Stuck the cans in the snow outside the door and we're consuming it with homemade hot wings! Definitely will buy it again. Great taste for the price!

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  16. This is a surprise. Full flavor with a pleasing after taste.

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  17. The Hi-point Arms of beers.

    Better than most "light" beers but the "brew snobs" won't admit it.

    Well worth the price, but then we're not supposed to pay just $3 for a six-pack.

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  18. This is good beer. If you don't like it it then your a girl in love with strawberry, banna rum drinks. It's only $3.00 here in Washington State. Walgreens just made the store of the year list.

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  19. I didn't expect much when I first picked-up Big Flats, but for the price, it was something of a surprise. It's a decent beer, very drinkable and perfect for washing down pizza, burgers or even curries. For $3, it's worth a shot.

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  20. Recently, I was in Kentucky on a golf outing and picked up a six pack of Big Flats for $2.99. I was truly amazed at the quality and taste of this brew. I live in Ohio. Where can I get some more, locally?

    Bill Melver - Akron, OH

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  21. Had 4 beers yesterday. I've been on the toilet all night. I ate a normal meal that I've had many times. I don't believe food contamination was an issue. Just want to know if anyone else has suffered the same problem.

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  22. Hard to insult a beer that tastes decent and comes this cheep. I picked up some out of curiosity on my way home from work today and I am half-way through 2/6. This would do service for a light drinking, sip-while-grilling beer. Way tastier than bud, the initial taste is full and pleasant, though it finishes a tad watery (though not as watery as Keystone and other Coors products.) 8/10 on the cheap beer scale, imho

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  23. Good Beer, for the Money. Walgreen's Rocks!

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  24. I purchased some out of pure curiosity. For that price I thought it was worth the gamble. At worst I thought it might taste something like Milwaukee's Best. I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. At best I thought it might taste like Red Dog. Turned out like neither and I actually like it better than many 'common' beers. But still, who is going to offer their company less than $3 beer.

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  25. I thought it was going to taste like shit, boy was I surprised tasted like Coors or Budwieser, I will keep on buying it for the price and taste.

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  26. I don't think of price when I drink beer, only when I buy it. Big Flats is as good, if not better, than most blue collar beers. It tastes like beer and that's the best part, not the price.

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  27. If your beer smells skunky it's been cooled and allowed to return to room temp too many times, or it's been setting in the sun too long before it's initially cooled. Protecting beer from the sun is important. That's why the bottles are amber. Skunky beer has no brand. It will give you a headache, diarrhea and foul smelling breath. Best throw it out.

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  28. I finally decided to try and actually it is not bad. Not skunky, a very light beer, no weird flavors, will probably buy again. Actually it is a smooth drinking beer. Not sure if it provides a hangover yet

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