Schlitz High Gravity V.S.L Very Smooth Lager - JOS. Schlitz Brewing Co. (Pabst)

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Another in my long series of shitty broke beers. Here's another from Schlitz - the Raging Bull of bad beers.

Drank from the can. Smells "beery" - grainy with a tinge of hop in the back. This one has a very sweet almost citrusy note but I think it's more likely creamed corn that it's reminding me of. Tangy and sweet smelling. Just OK.

Not too bad actually and the extra alcohol is covered up. Sweet mostly but not overpowering or cloying. Not the best thing ever but it's not your run of the mill malt liquor. Some vegetable note in the middle there which isn't super pleasant, but overall a sweet malty, if forgettable, lager.

Serving type: can

09-28-2012 20:58:50 | More by BucBasil

Dave7500kl

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +66.7%

05-16-2013 23:04:34 | More by Dave7500kl

Big_V

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev +20.4%

03-28-2013 18:56:59 | More by Big_V

ferrettman687

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -25.9%

03-14-2013 03:14:00 | More by ferrettman687

longbongsilver

Missouri

2.75/5  rDev +1.9%

03-13-2013 01:33:03 | More by longbongsilver

Falcone

North Carolina

2/5  rDev -25.9%

03-03-2013 01:56:23 | More by Falcone

fivetime

Idaho

2/5  rDev -25.9%

01-28-2013 02:03:18 | More by fivetime

mikeg67

New Jersey

1.35/5  rDev -50%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

24 oz can. Pours straw with tall, foamy, white head and nice lacing. Smells like fermented apple juice and hints of grassy hops. Body is full and smooth. Taste is alcohol, fermented juice and peppery hops. Finish is long, dried by alcohol. Nice drain opener.

Serving type: can

12-30-2012 23:51:06 | More by mikeg67

Fatehunter

Oregon

1.08/5  rDev -60%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

24oz can with the bull. Poured as quickly as possible, four fingers of foamy head. Medium to light straw colored body.
Smells like a dank sock left in the bottom of the gym bag for a week or three.
Taste = Sweet and gross.
Sticky texture, low carbonation.
One drink and done. Drain gets the rest. Wow, truly the worst beer I have ever had.

Serving type: can

11-16-2012 02:22:01 | More by Fatehunter

troobie

California

3.03/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Schlitz VSL, AKA Gold Bull, has the highest ABV out of the Schlitz malt liquor line at 8.5%. Schlitz proudly displays that on the top of the can.

A: I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pour this out of the 24 oz. can. No, not even a little bit. This is meant to be consumed from the can, and what an awesome can it is. Looking into the drink-hole I can see that this is a dark golden color with some redness to it.

S: Smell is definitely not a strong point. Very boozy. Cheap. The alcohol is prominent. I can faintly smell a relation to the rest of the Schlitz line. "Smells like Schlitz!" I'm not picking up that grape smell that malt liquors seem to develop as the ABV gets higher. A restrained sweetness. Unfortunately the smell is telling me to hold on for dear life!

T: Oh boy. This is strange and familiar all at the same time. Very different from Schlitz Bull Ice despite being only .3% ABV stronger. Like the smell, the taste is boozy. The alcohol comes across on my palate but doesn't really warm my throat. A great mix between a dry, clean finishing malt liquor and a sweeter, lingering malt liquor. Think Hurricane High Gravity versus Steel Reserve 211. Once you pick up on the Schlitz taste this becomes much more enjoyable. The taste seems much harsher than is necessary. Compare this to Bull Ice and notice the difference. Still, at 8.5% it could be MUCH worse.

M: Well, it better be smooth if they're going to call it Very Smooth Lager (haha, lager.) Not sure where the smooth part is supposed to play a role. Definitely not the smell or taste so that only leaves mouthfeel. Carbonation is a little lower than I would like but fits in with the Schlitz line at about medium and leaves a mild sting on the tip of the tongue. Chewy and thick. You have to swallow this, it doesn't just go down. Seems needlessly thickened just to call it smooth.

O: This is better than the sum of its parts. At 8.5%, and being a malt liquor, and being reasonably priced, and considering the target audience, VSL is above average. I can't understand why Schlitz felt that there was a need to make a beer to bridge the 8.2% ABV (Bull Ice) and 8.5% gap? At 9%+ this would be much more impressive. If I'd never had Bull Ice I'd find VSL to be much better, but unfortunately Bull Ice is one of my favorite high gravities and it kicks the hell out of this overall. I guess Schlitz made this to appeal to the high gravity drinker that appreciates a harsher taste?

Serving type: can

08-13-2012 07:39:14 | More by troobie

michaelwilkens

4/5  rDev +48.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I personally enjoy this beer. At only $0.99 a can, you really can't complain, unless your a rich snob that drinks 3 Floyd's every night which is produced in my hometown of Munster. Anyways its not all that bad. It doesn't have tat high alcohol taste, which I personally like, yet it still gives you a decent buzz after two cans or so. This is coming from someone that is young, yet has tasted almost every craft beer sold in your typical "nice" liquor store. It may not be the best around, but its a good value for those looking to save money and get a buzz without the swill hangover.

Serving type: can

07-15-2012 02:10:33 | More by michaelwilkens

Sailracer

1.5/5  rDev -44.4%

03-24-2012 13:46:44 | More by Sailracer

Kingghidorah

Connecticut

3/5  rDev +11.1%

01-16-2012 14:48:03 | More by Kingghidorah

animal69

Louisiana

1.5/5  rDev -44.4%

01-09-2012 22:18:54 | More by animal69

BrewMaven

New York

2.95/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Who needs sleeping pills when 8+% "smooth" lagers are readily available?

Clear, golden and lively on the pour with crazy carbonation. Good looking can graphics by the way...

Typical nose of grain and ethanol although both were muted..or is my schnozz just defective?

Taste was smooth, somewhat sweet grain with a mild wash of alcohol on the finish..not an offensive beer by any means. Fairly thin mouthfeel that is somewhat boosted by the strong carbonation.

Really not a bad choice when you need to settle down and don't want to open that lovely Ommegang that waits patiently in the fridge for a worthy night.

Serving type: can

01-06-2012 02:32:00 | More by BrewMaven

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.08/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From the 710 ml. can marked: APR0212-E07020447. Sampled on November 30, 2011. Poured into a Heileman's Old Style pint glass...well why not? It is a highly agitated, carbonated pale yellow to off-gold with a goodly amount of fizzy head. The aroma is of corn and sweet malts with a crisp hop drop. It does not smell high in alcohol. The body is a little better than light but not quite medium. The taste has that bitter malt liquor taste but a bit more palatable than other malt liquors out there. An almost clean aftertaste. I said "almost" because there is a rather biting lingering effect. I rated this by style not by its craft.

Serving type: can

12-01-2011 01:45:23 | More by puboflyons

pezfiend

New York

2.33/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

24 oz tallboy to a tulip pint glass

Appearance is straw, highly effervescent little bubbles with a decent 1 finger head which stays around the edge for the whole beer. Smells like hay, alcohol, and corn. Sweet and nostril burning. Taste is Tangy like grape fruit drenched in honey, almost no hops whatsoever mainly because they're run out by the high alcohol content. I also agree with emerge077
that it's like cheap champagne (not to be confused with MHL the champagne of beers). Sticks to the mouth in probably the most unpleasant way like drinking (not rinsing with) a glass of mouth wash, finishes with an alcohol tingle and perhaps stale beer funk like what i used to smell in my grandfathers basement. Overall, definitely not good. However not the worst high gravity I've had, decent if i was still in college and looking for a cheap pre-gamer buzz before a kegger or a night at the bar.

Serving type: can

07-30-2011 01:57:45 | More by pezfiend

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.2/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crystal clear deep straw bordering on golden color with a good two finger bubbly white head that shows some decent staying power and lace. Yup looks like a macro lager all right. Smells of sweet grainy malt with faint wisps of creamed corn and alcohol. Smells a little better than I thought it would. Taste is kind of what I expected, sweet grainy malts with maybe a hint of cherry or apricot. Really! Bitter alcohol burn into the finish. Lots and lots of bubbles, medium body with a sweet slick mouthfeel. Honestly if they put some hops in here it wouldn't be half bad. As is this serves its purpose, a cheap quick drunk. I do enjoy purchasing 24 oz of 8.5% beer for $1.69, if only today's craft brewers could bring us that level of value for our money.

Serving type: can

06-23-2011 23:23:13 | More by johnnnniee

emerge077

Illinois

2.08/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Big 24oz. can into a fluted pilsner glass. AUG0811

Pale straw gold, sharp clarity. Super fine suspended micro-sediment visible when inspected closely in the light. Fizzy head that dwindles to a threaded ring of tiny bubbles at the edge of the glass. Rising soda carbonation on the second pour, with the remnant of the can shaken and poured, it generates some (artificial) lasting foam on top, and even a little lacing.

Sweet grape and papery aroma. An odd, mildly sulfuric smell that is jarring at first, with a little whiff of alcohol in there too.

Grape juice and bad champagne, astringent fusel bite, stale wet grain and soggy manila folders. Apple jacks cereal and envelope glue. Aftertaste nearly induces the gag reflex, it's like chewing on a pencil soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Fizzy soda-like carbonation scrubs the palate, but it doesn't relieve the insidious taste, instead staging a baleful destruction of said palate's tastebuds. You know how your mouth feels after licking a dozen envelopes? It's like that.

A crescendo of foulness as it warms, potentially culminating into vomiting and passing out, or vise versa. There are better ways to anesthetize the mind... though I guess they don't get any cheaper than this.

Serving type: can

06-02-2011 01:33:11 | More by emerge077

Cyberkedi

Georgia

2.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Aroma is actually better than I expected - nothing to write home about, as the old cliche goes, but rather nice. It is strong, fruity - mainly apple - and malty, better than what I expected from a beer of this type. It pours a rather uninspiring clear wan yellow with a rather typical white head. Flavor is not too shabby, though - stronger and fuller than I expected, malty and fruity with a bit of a nip. It’s actually a little enjoyable! Texture is smooth and just a bit fizzy, no big shakes, but better than most industrial swill I have had. OK if there isn’t much else to drink.

Serving type: can

05-29-2011 21:42:45 | More by Cyberkedi

ElCommodoro

Texas

2.17/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured out of a 24 oz. can into a beer stein. What head it had disappeared within seconds leaving absolutely nothing. The colour was surprisingly light. It looks like a light beer. It's light yellowish gold. The smell is that of sweet metal. That's it. I was afraid to taste it, but was relieved when I did. It tasted much better than the smell. I'd even say it tastes better than all the high gravity lagers I've had other than OE HG800. It has a bitter taste that tastes lightly of metal. It really is quite smooth. Some alchol burn, but not until the aftertaste. It's somewhat sweet, but not cloyingly so. The nauseating bit is the taste of the actual malt. It's pretty bad. Within the category of malt liquor, this stuff's pretty bad. However, I think that modern "high gravity lagers" should not be considered in the same category. It's a totally different style and within that style, there are worse things for sure (ahem, Steel Reserve).

Serving type: can

05-11-2011 04:34:10 | More by ElCommodoro

superdavex

Washington

2.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Hmmm...what to say about this. It was bought at a gas station. I had no idea what it was when I saw it. I bought it because I was in the geto-curious mode. I drove home thinking it would taste like leprous piss. I was pleasantly surprised when I did not vomit upon swallowing. It had a very sweet corn-adjunct taste and not much alcohol. They hid the before taste very well and the aftertaste was near non-existent. I may buy it agian when in the geto-curious mode.

Serving type: can

04-06-2011 06:16:03 | More by superdavex

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.03/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Boy does this one bring back some memories. How can anyone forget a name like Schlitz. This brew was a high octane attempt from a low end brewery. Yellow in color, white head rather fluffy that fades quickly. The can design was probably the best part of this brew. I drank it with a meal just to help with the drinking process.

Serving type: can

03-24-2011 02:36:46 | More by Knapp85

generallee

New York

3.58/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: It was poured from a 24oz can into a big mug. The can has the abv (8.5%) and a freshness date of "JUL1111" printed on the bottom.

Appearance: The body had a light yellow color with very good clarity. This was a lighter than I was expecting but not out of place. On top the tall three finger head of bright white foam settles down to thin cap which actually hangs on well. Lacing is minimal and very slick.

Smell: It is fairly light with pale cereal grain, grassy hay like hops and minimal sweet corn/vegetable notes.

Taste/Palate: The flavor matches the aroma exactly with a fairly dry finish and offers it up in a light-medium body with smooth but lively carbonation.

Notes: It's surprisingly light and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 18:18:35 | More by generallee

beerprovedwright

Georgia

1.45/5  rDev -46.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Dense two finger head, quickly fading, but leaving a broken and clinging lace. Color is a 4 on the SRM beer color chart. Smell is a muted odor of wet and musty cereal grains. Taste is that of wet malt, and cereal grains, very unpleasing to my palate. Mouthfeel is poor, there is a bit of tingle from the carbonation, but it is sticky and dry on the top of my mouth and soft palate. I will make just about every excuse to not drink this again, unless I am really drunk.

Serving type: can

02-28-2011 17:00:54 | More by beerprovedwright