Side Pocket High Gravity Malt Liquor

This is a big 10.5% ABV malt liquor from Universal Sales (City Brewing) of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. A 40-ouncer of malt liquor seems fitting for the 4th of July weekend (not sure why, but it just does).

The beer pours a strange orange honey golden in color. There is a tall, fizzy head of white foam, but it fizzles out very fast. The aroma is sweet, lots of apple, some bubble gum and malt o' meal type sweet grain cereal. The taste follows the aromas, it is both sweet (cloying), yet tart at the same time. The mouthfeel is of a light syrup, yet with stinging carbonation in the background. This is gross, but unlike many of these high alcohol cheap malt liquors, it does stay just this side of drinkable.