Hite - Hite Brewery Company LTD

1234Jack

3/5  rDev +20%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Interesting can label. Almost looks like a soda. "Clean & Pure!" is kind of an amusing catch phrase.

I couldn't find out where this was from anywhere on the 12-pack box or on the can. I finally found out here that it was from Korea, which makes sense since I had never seen it before (which is why I got it when I saw it at an Asian-style grocery store). It was a good deal ($12.49/12).

Smell out of can is basic can-beer smell.

Taste out of can is ok. Carbonation is there. It's not flavorless. Slightly sweet. Cereal aftertaste, but not off-putting.

In glass, color is a brownish-yellow. No head.

Out of glass, feel is creamy, with carbonation. Flavor is not too noticeable out of a glass, but I'll go so far as to say this beer is pleasant.

Serving type: can

09-11-2012 03:53:46 | More by 1234Jack

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +56%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

My first beer of New Beer Sunday (Abeyance Week 1)! I got this CAN through BeerDocT after I reviewed if from a bottle and realized that it was also available in CANs. I then put some feelers out among previous CAN reviewers and Doc and I set up a small trade to keep The CANQuest (TM) humming along. This is how we do ...

From the CAN: "The open mark turns blue at optimal tasting temperature"; "Clean tasting, Refreshing beer"; "preserved by F.T.K. (Fresh Taste Keeping) System".

Ha! As a retired sailor, any time F (foxtrot) is used as an abbreviation, the default position is "F*c*", so I CAN see this as F*c* This KAN! That's just me, though. Hey, when did FTW become "For the Win", vice "F the World", which is what it always used to mean?

Onward! A Crack followed by a no-holds-barred Glug produced a massive two-plus fingers of fizzing, foamy bone-white head with very limited retention. Hey, if I'd have known you were going to leave so quickly, I would not have bothered showering! Ya hear me, ya jagov?!? Bye! On an up note, the color was a deep-golden yellow to make Midas and Croesus proud, coupled with NE-quality clarity enabling me to read the postcard offering me a a complimentary entree for my birthday. I will be headed to PHL tomorrow to the University City Mad Mex to take them up on their offer. Once again, I digress ... Nose had the sweetish smell of pure unadulterated lager, no adjuncts, and my mouth began to water. I swear, there are more CANned AALs than I would have ever imagined. Mouthfeel was a tad thin and it tasted like lager with Noble hops, slightly tangy, mellow in a grassy way. Yum! Finish was semi-dry and definitely refreshing, so kudos for them for truth in advertising. It really is not a bad beer and I would probably fill a cooler with it for a day at the beach. YMMV.

Serving type: can

02-19-2012 15:38:34 | More by woodychandler

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev +39.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I've had Korean beer before (O.B.), but had never heard of "Hite." It was cheap, and I thought, "why not." Results follow.

Poured from a can into a glass, and also consumed right from the can.

-Appearance 3.5: Very attractive, deep golden color. Not at all what I was expecting. Big head, about an inch. Head completely dissipated very quickly. Small carbonation bubbles present all over the beer.

-Smell 2.5: Very little bouquet, but still has a pleasant "beer bouquet." I smell lots of grains, but that's it.

-Taste 4.0: Pretty darn good. Nice, deep, lager taste. Nothing like what I expected. I can taste the grains, but not as much of an "adjunct accent" in the taste as I expected. Great balance of sweet and dry. Clean aftertaste with a nice hint of malt. I'm sure this would be a fantastic beer with food.

-Mouthfeel 3.0: Just average. Not bad, not good, the right amount of carbonation for this style of beer. This is a "the brewer needs to get this basic thing right" category and these brewers did get it right.

-Overall 3.5: This would be a fabulous session beer. Tastes great, nothing artificial, no weird aftertaste, just good lager beer. I would recommend this beer with food, with football, whatever. Nice.

I purchased this at Lotte/ Assi Plaza in Atlanta; $4.99 for a six pack. 4.5% ABV.

Serving type: can

08-31-2011 02:59:27 | More by BeerDocT

UCLABrewN84

California

2.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a clear light yellow with a 1 inch bubbly white head that fades to a few bubbles on the top of the beer. No lacing whatsoever. Smell is of grains, rice, and cooked veggies. There is also a sulfur smell that comes out as the beer warms. Taste is of grains, bubble gum, and vegetable broth. For such a bubbly head the carbonation level is on the low side with a somewhat flat mouthfeel. This is a pretty bad beer. Their motto is "cool & fresh" which I would have to disagree with on both claims.

Serving type: can

08-12-2011 01:32:25 | More by UCLABrewN84

dbaker61

Ohio

2.68/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

355mL can. Brew date: Sept. 6, 2010. 10.9 degrees Plato.

Appearance: Very pale yellow color. Wasn't able to coax out more than a finger of foam, which was gone in seconds. No lacing, nothing left to lace with.

Smell: Vague sweet aroma, nothing definite.

Taste: A watered down hint of sweetness. Merest trace of hoppiness, leaving me with the merest trace of happiness.

Mouthfeel: Light body. Lively carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall: Forgettable. Not enough flavor to be interesting, no major problems though. Could be a good companion to Asian dishes.

Serving type: can

06-15-2011 12:59:03 | More by dbaker61

xylophonica

Australia

2.6/5  rDev +4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a can but I have no idea what size it was as there was no labelling to confirm. Possibly 500ml...

A - Very pale colour, almost yellow tinted water. Virtually zero head.

S - Mild wheat. Touch of bread with just a hint of malt.

T - Very light on the palate. Some wheat with a mild pepper/spicy malt hit.

M - Quite lively & bitter. Good spiciness works well.

O - Fairly light & refreshing but a bit too busy on the tongue. Passable as a quick after work beer without any thought involved.
Oddly reminiscent of Heineken...

Serving type: can

04-15-2011 12:24:43 | More by xylophonica

bondjedi

Washington

2.08/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Not as bad as I was led to believe, but still bottom-rung stuff. The can that I had ice-cold was far better than my second, which was a little warmer. There is something to be said for numbing your taste buds when drinking this crud.

American marketers have made big-sellers out of crap beer like Heineken and Corona. Let's see them pitch this to the masses.

Serving type: can

09-30-2010 17:02:14 | More by bondjedi

zeff80

Missouri

1.75/5  rDev -30%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Had a Tin Can Tavern & Grille - Columbia, MO

A - Poured out a clear, straw yellow color with millions of bubbles of carbonation. It had a small, white, bubbly head that receded quickly and left no lace.

S - It smelled of grains. Really there wasn't much else for an aroma.

T - It tasted of grains and was a little watery. There was an unpleasant aftertaste.

M - Very thin and weak. A light bodied lager.

D - I tried this so I could say I've had a beer from South Korea. That's about all I'll ever say about it though.

Serving type: can

08-04-2010 02:27:58 | More by zeff80

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

3.38/5  rDev +35.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12oz can; Dude, it says "naturally fresh water" and "Fresh taste beer" on the can....shit, what did I get myself into?!

Smell: Very clean, light, and crisp; there's not a lot there, but what is is sweet and has a touch of malt

Taste: This is surprising; there's actually a light bit of malt and a decent hop twang; it's not great, but for the style, it's exceptional

Mouthfeel: Light/medium bodied

Drinkability: High

Conclusion: It is what it is, and what it is, is way above typical for the style

Serving type: can

04-03-2009 04:07:59 | More by BedetheVenerable

MerkinMan

Georgia

2.73/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a can with a thermometer on the side. I needed this to know when the beer was cold.

Beer pours clear and gold without much head. It is very light.

There is not much in the way of aroma here.

Tastes fine if you are expecting a thin and refreshing lager. Nothing wrong with that. I have seen that other reviewers note a skunkiness, so I would recommend the can since this beer is clean.

Very light bodied, not much to it.

An easy drinking beer, but I would not go out of my way to get any. Just slightly different than other macro lagers.

Serving type: can

12-27-2008 21:56:31 | More by MerkinMan

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.23/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance: Pours a clear, pale yellow body with a shamefully thin, white head.

Smell: Vague light pale malt nose with a cereal sweetness to it.

Taste: Light pale malts with the faintest hint of grain and a single, solitary drop of honey sweetness. No real hop character though beyond an altogether mild bitterness. Finishes crisp and clean (as there wasn't anything really there to begin with).

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Ugh. Hite doesn't exactly represent the height of lager brewing.

Serving type: can

10-20-2008 02:01:23 | More by ChainGangGuy

TheSarge

Illinois

2.48/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer really isn't too bad, because it only costs about 2 bucks for a six pack here in Korea. It is a refreshing brew to have for a Bar B Que or on a hot day relaxing outside. It's ultra clear with much carbonation. The head doesn't retain too long after being poured. The body of this brew is golden, somewhat comprable to Miller Lite. It does have a mild hop aroma, and you can taste the slight bitterness from the hops, but it's nothing to bring home to your momma. If you like ricey beer like Bud or Miller, you'll probably like this.

TheSarge

Serving type: can

06-15-2006 11:11:53 | More by TheSarge

stoutman

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +54%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Downed 2 quick ones in Nagoya while waiting for the train. This stuf is NOT BAD. Somewhat watery with lots of head when poured. Clear color with a little lace. Some hops detected and better than any domestic lite beers. I cracked up when I read the can... "Brewed with water found under the ground" .. Doesn't have a whole lotta flavor but there is something about a cold beer on a hot day after eating wasabe coated sushi.

Serving type: can

11-27-2005 03:10:15 | More by stoutman

mwrseeley

Ontario (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pale gold. This lager had a promising start but unfortunately, it couldn't retain its tightly formed head. The lace made a vain effort to survive but to no avail.

Smell: Faint. Burnt rice or corn, perhaps?

Taste: Lightly hopped and slightly burnt sweetness. Aftertaste has a hint of bitterness. Just a bit too watery for me. But really not too shabby for a generic beer that was designed to be consumed with spicy food.

Mouthfeel: Faint silkiness. It feels fine in the mouth. Not heavily carbonated.

Drinkability: Well, this isn't really up for negotiation. In Korea, Hite and O.B. (Cass) rule the scene and, as it is considered rude not to drink when everyone else is doing so, you really don't have much choice in the matter. I guess, if you really wanted to, you could impress your Korean friends and order soju instead.

If you enjoy American macrobrewed beers you won't find too many faults with Korea's best selling lager. Goes down nicely with red pepper paste (with a drop of sesame oil) and dried cuttlefish and anchovies.

Serving type: can

11-10-2003 03:36:05 | More by mwrseeley

Mustard

District of Columbia

1.53/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Presentation: 12oz. can; no "canned on" or "best before" warning.

Appearance: Pours a pale, straw-colored gold; fine, two-fingered head; not much in the way of head retention or lacing.

Aroma: Largely or cooked corn and grain; slight vegetal hints.

Taste: Lightly sweet upfront with a faint bitterness in the finish; predominant flavor characteristic is of grain; light bodied; crisp mouthfeel.

Notes: One word, "s-hite".

Serving type: can

09-06-2003 08:04:56 | More by Mustard

Sunnanek

Sweden

2.46/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

A: Pours all white head at first, angrily sizzling. After a little while the uneven head is almost gone, replaced by pale golden liquid. Only poor lacings.

S: Very light in smell; some detergent-like malts, sweet, together with rice. Only very faint hoppy bitterness.

T: Rather smooth and well balanced in taste. Don't get me wrong, this is a mild macro-beer, but considering that, not too shabby. Malt and some bitter hops together with a little rice, makes this a soft-tasting beer.

M: Short aftertaste, a bit bitter. Body is light and carbontion is strong and aggresive.

O: This is a poor product with a big adjunct-vibe to it. If that's what you're into, this could be gold, otherwise - avoid!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 16:15:06 | More by Sunnanek

Caskaway

Illinois

2.18/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.25

12oz bottle from a sampler, poured into a pint glass. I mistook this beer for an adjunct, probably should have used a more tapered glass.

Beer pours very thin, head is more reminiscent of 7-up than lager. No lacing, very light in color. Smell is slightly better than expected given its appearance. Something unusual in the smell - akin to bathtub gin. Mash?

Taste is poor, mouthfeel is downright awful. Only redeeming quality is a faint sweetness that helps it avoid a skunky flavor.

Honestly, this was one of the worst beers I've consumed. When I think about my least favorite beers, this ranks better than only Corona and perhaps Bud Select.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 14:11:28 | More by Caskaway

JohnBender

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +68%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 1

Sometimes I think that asian beer isb underrated and then I'm like hey man fuck that hites ggood beer beer beer I enjoy beer but especially watered down hite gice it a chance yiull love it and if you don't FUCK YOU. Come onnn man oh man they want youb to get pretentious as shit on these reviews butt when it comes down to. It yum is yum- ehhh

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 02:57:01 | More by JohnBender

Douberd

Netherlands

2.9/5  rDev +16%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle of 330 ml, at home. Part of a World of Asian Beers packet. Ingredients are water, barley malt, corn starsh and hops. Poured into a lager glass.
The first thing I notice while I pour it, is its high carbonation, that kills the thin white head straight away. It's a matter of seconds and while I am putting my glass down, the foam has disappeared. After that, no activity in the glass anymore, except for some forgotten bubbles that are finding their way to the surface. I could count them if I was not so lazy. The colour of the bee itself is a golden yellow one.
Light malts on the aroma and stale bread. Nothing insulting, nothing appealing either.
NIce refreshing and typical lager taste. Mostly sweet with a very tiny bitter finish that also doesn't last long. Clear and crisp.
Quite light body and a hell of a carbonation.
I think this would be great with spicy asian food, to rinse your mouth a bit, but it doesn't stand so good alone. Maybe on a hot summer day, but then, with so much carbonation..

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 22:28:14 | More by Douberd

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

California

4.28/5  rDev +71.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at "Super A Foods" in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles/California/USA.

A: transparent.

S: fine aroma of beer!

T:Very smooth. I like how mellow this beer tastes. Not too much carbonation. Not too flat. Just Right. Not salty. Not Bitter. VERY NICE!

M:Melts into beautiful flavor. No drama with this beer...

O:I like drinking this beer. I was able to get a large bottle for $1.59. I prefer beer that is economical and mellow.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 05:02:02 | More by xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.85/5  rDev +14%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

My first beer from S. Korea. I would guess this more resembles an adjunct than Euro Pale. But, really, there's not much difference anyway. Let's see....

For the style this one isn't all that bad. It has a constant grain sweetness throughout with a bit of a lemony zing on the end. Though this is quite subdued. Thin body feel to it, almost slick. Lingering aftertaste of stale malt.
One bottle is enough

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 04:23:08 | More by Mebuzzard

dannydetox

California

2.73/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

hite beer - works well with the garlicky, spicy cuisine of its country of origin, but less satisfying on its own. pale golden color with a foamy, soapy head that diminishes within a minute. hints of dishsoap along with cooked cereal grains on the nose. mildly bitter in the way foreign lagers tend to be, but not in a big hoppy sense. i taste sweetness for a second up front, followed by a bit of sourness as the beer slides back. perhaps more texture than your big three domestics, and more than i would have guessed for a 4.5% brew. when the bottles are super-chilled and the weather is scorching, i find hite a refreshing beer (kind of like high life in that regard). as the beer rises in temperature it loses that appeal.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 02:36:28 | More by dannydetox

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.03/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Oct 2012. Picked up a while back from the Chi Yip asian supermarket in York. Cool & Fresh! The rear label mentions the use of Yakima hops.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear pale-gold colour with decent carbonation. Forms a large head of white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a surface layer. Aroma of light malt with a faint hint of grain and a whiff of stewed leaves/veg.

Tastes of light malt with a crisp, dry finish. Hints of stewed hops and subtle grain. A very mild bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is light, dry and tingly, with an insubstantial body. Aftertaste of faint stewed leaves and veg.

Another bog-standard macro lager. It's relatively clean tasting and refreshing, but bland and dull. Wish they didn't mention Yakima hops on the label, it gets your hopes up that there might be some hoppy aroma. Couldn't really recommend unless there was nothing else available.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 20:47:31 | More by jazzyjeff13

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.15/5  rDev +26%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled at a Korean restaurant in Aurora, Colorado on September 6, 2012.

The pour is the typical adjunct straw yellow with a quick burst of fizzy white head and busy carbonation.

The aroma actually was of pale barley malts and the slightest hint of bread and grass. The adjuncts simple do not present themselves as other reviews seemed to imply.

The body was light and creamy.

The taste seemed to bring out a slightly more grainy character but I was not put off by it in anyway. I thought it went very well with the barbecue beef I ate.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 03:31:31 | More by puboflyons

depechemode1983

Texas

2.13/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Golden straw in color. White head that fizzes away like soda pop. Tons of carbonation can be seen coming up. No lacing on this one. Looks bland. Similar to a Budweiser actually.

S - A corn like sweetness right up front with some weird chemical smell i can seem to identify. But through the middle there is mostly a smell of corn husk. The finish has a wine wine thing going on.

T - Wow. Horrid. Just like the smell but with a stong taste of alcohol. And its only 4.5%. It literally taste like someone put about 1/4 a shot of vodka in the bottle.

M - Watery and unpleasant. What happened to all the carbonation.

O - Horrible beer. The only reason it scored this high with me is because I don't really like giving 1s unless the beer makes me puke. Not worth the buck I paid for the single 12oz bottle. Steer clear from this on people.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 02:21:46 | More by depechemode1983