Stag Beer

Stag Beer originated in 1851 from the Neu and Gintz Brewery of Belleville, Illinois (home of famed alt country band Uncle Tupelo). The beer was originally named Kaiser, but the sentiments surrounding World War One led to a change to its present name.  There was an ownership change in 1912. The beer reemerged after Prohibition.  It was acquired in 1954 by Carling and grew rapidly. The beer became its own brewing company, the Stag Brewing Company, from 1975 to 1979. It was later purchased by G. Heileman, then by Stroh's and then by Pabst. It is currently a Pabst brand, whose beers are contract brewed by Miller.

I had this beer once before in bottles at a bar in the Ozarks region of Missouri in the mid 1990's. I didn't think you could find it outside of southern Illinois and Missouri, but I got a four pack of tall cans at the Ale Jail in St. Paul, Minnesota recently.

The beer pours a pale and clear straw yellow and golden in color. There is about an inch of pure white head that dissipates fairly rapidly. The aroma is somewhat sweet cracked corn, grassy, with a bit of green apple, and just the slightest bit of earthy, musky hops (a hint of a whisper). The taste follows the aromas directly, hitting all the same notes. The beer is light bodied, nearing watery, and very carbonated, giving a sting down the throat. A refreshing and respectable classic cheap beer, like most of its type, it drinks better from the can.