Bucanero Fuerte - Cerveceria Bucanero S.A.

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

350ml bottle poured into pint glass 29/8/12

A clear light copper with lots of tiny bubbles feeding a two finger bone white foam that hangs around for a few minuets leaving a few partial rings of lace

S soap, purple candy, and a chemical thing that leaves something too be desired

T a little sweet caramel malt and faint citrus helps its cause a little compared too the smell but its not nearly enough too salvage this one, soapy chemical flavors hard too enjoy

M medium bodied with good carbonation, perhaps a highlight for this ones a average mouth-feel

O nothing I´d want too drink again, tastes and smells pretty lousy, I finished it but only because I´m quite thirsty

so I´m guessing the beers no better in Cuba then Mexico, a Country tic but that´s about it

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 19:00:53 | More by wordemupg

jaimenavarrog

Mexico

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

05-19-2013 00:31:42 | More by jaimenavarrog

Spook

Ontario (Canada)

1.6/5  rDev -39.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.75

Had lots of this beer on tap the most recent trip to Cuba. The beer was extremely overcarbonated every time, you would take a few sips then have bad gas. The beer was so light it hardly had any taste. It reminded me of a can of pabst blue ribbon that had been rolling around under your car seat for 6 months and then you find it and drink it. There was always no head, unless it was from a freshly cracked keg. Overall very poor. The worst beer I have drank to date.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2013 18:14:29 | More by Spook

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

12oz can brought back from Cuba for me by my buddy Tyler

Appearance - Clear gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for 2-3 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, corn, alcohol

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste corn mixed with some bread and grains. There is also some light hops and a light metallic flavour and a bit of a alcohol harshness. It ends with a grainy/corn aftertaste.

Overall - When I first opened the beer and it was cold, it was much better than when it got to room temperature. When warmer I could really pick up on the cooked vegetable/corn flavour. Regardless, I could still down a few of these ice cold while on the beach.

Serving type: can

02-11-2013 17:25:08 | More by spinrsx

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

01-15-2013 12:16:37 | More by papat444

Tarks

Manitoba (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

11-13-2012 02:58:38 | More by Tarks

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +13.2%

11-11-2012 00:56:54 | More by cfalovo97

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.38/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

rates with the worth of them. Deep yellow with chemical cleaner bubbles. A little cheese and chemical aroma. Sharp taste, almost no drinkability. Some malts, nothing else to ingest. Thanks Radek for the mixed six-pack.Sugar, rice. Light after the astringency.

Serving type: can

07-15-2012 22:42:30 | More by northyorksammy

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

1.7/5  rDev -35.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

I just got back from Cuba and having had the bottle, can and on-tap version of this beer, I opted to go with the on-tap as it would seem to be the most charitable (and resort available) medium for this beer. Here's from my notes

Appearance: The body is a deep gold which is nice, and despite pouring with minimal head, it still managed to retain well enough. Not much in the way of lacing though.

Smell: Has a slight raw sugar scent to it, but it's buried beneath a very muddy smell that I don't think is being caused solely by hops. It's however mild enough to not be offensive.

Taste: It starts with a slight sweet sugar and rough grain taste that immediately makes a vicious turn into an excessively bitter taste that is somewhere between mud and wet sand. This taste just keeps pressing on until it's down.

Mouthfeel: Well the carbonation is decent and accentuates every part of the beer, making it a bit of a double edged sword in this case. The transitioning is terrible, but the lack of aftertaste is what saves this one.

Drinkability: By no stretch of the imagination would I call this beer smooth. It starts out rough and quickly turns vicious and does not sit down well. There were a couple times my stomach was beginning to reject it. The only salvation likes in the fact it somehow manages to refreshingly quench your thirst.

Final Thoughts: This beer was awful and wore out it's welcome after the third cup, but somehow I ended up drinking a lot more then I wanted to. Either being handed a cup in the pool, the lobby or a can on the balcony. I switched to Rum fairly quickly. I ended up buying a bottle at the airport because I wanted the bottle cap and it fared no better. A word of advice, stick to Cristal or Rum when in Cuba. Even though it's apparently the "Lady's" beer of Cuba and Bucanero the "Man's" beer (due to the ABV) I enjoyed it far more then this stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 03:46:08 | More by TheHammer

Wordslinger

Ontario (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%

05-05-2012 10:53:36 | More by Wordslinger

BretSikkink

Mexico

2.18/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Light brownish gold in color, clear body, insubstantial white head with no lacing or legs. Nothing to see here…the aroma is full of DMS, light fruit and a lovely cornstarch note.

Grainy with a hint of breadiness, pale fruit but nothing interesting, slightly metallic. Thin with a carbonated finish. Nothing interesting whatsoever, but I enjoyed it with some moros y cristianos at a Cuban joint in Mexico. The authentic flavor of a crappy domestic!

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:37:53 | More by BretSikkink

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

04-11-2012 04:27:16 | More by ThinkAgain

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

From a can on the beach in cuba, wanted to like this one but was disappointed. Poured a fluffy two finger head that was short lived, some lacing, light amber color.

Smell was a grainy corn with a funky stale bread and some pale fruit.

Taste followed the nose.

Slightly bitter this was light bodied with lots of carbonation, not entirely smooth or refreshing.

A disappointing brew.

Serving type: can

02-17-2012 10:53:36 | More by Stocean1

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

1.8/5  rDev -32.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

350ml bottle 5,4% Abv.
Served chilled.

Appearance: Clear, light golden body. Small white head that dissipates really quickly and leaves not lace.

Smell: Ah, the joys of shitty lager. Sweet, corn starch, metallic, stale malt and cooked vegetables.

Taste: As with the smell, sweet corn, stale malt and metallic.

Mouthfeel: Light, watery and massive carbonation.

Overall: Pretty much what I expected. Another horrid macro...

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 09:09:21 | More by Thehuntmaster

DIM

Pennsylvania

2.17/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

a: This was a clear, extremely pale golden color. It poured with a short lived fizzy head.

s: One of the ingredients listed on the side of the bottle is sugar. I found that and little else in the aroma. Maybe a bit of pale malt, but that might be wishful thinking.

t: Sweet overall. Lots of corn syrup with maybe a little honey thrown in. I can't really discern any malts or hops.

m: Wet and fizzy.

o: Its not all that bad I suppose, but I wouldn't ever get another. I just wanted to experience the novelty of a Cuban beer while I had the chance.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 15:51:51 | More by DIM

cambabeer

Florida

3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- deep gold yellow color with fast off white head and pretty big carbonation... boring.

S-Very sweet and malty. Obvious barley and fruityness with a little hops.

T- Again, sweet with toasted malt. Just a little bitterness, not strong enough. A little burnt and some ethanol. Not too bad but nothing to stand out or make it unique.

M- Medium bodied with big carbonation and a very clean feel.

D- Easy, I'd have another.

Serving type: can

05-11-2011 22:31:07 | More by cambabeer

metter98

New York

3.43/5  rDev +29.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and poured with a finger high white head. A very light of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of grainy and sweet malts in the nose.
T: The taste is rather malty and has flavors of bready and grainy malts.
M: The beer feels light- to medium- bodied and very smooth on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It has a fuller body compared to other beers in the style.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and has some qualities that make it refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 03:48:29 | More by metter98

jeranbrews

New York

2.83/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - low less than one finger of loose fizzy head. Clings to the side like bubbles of fish breath. Pale amber color sammon apple vinegar. Fizzy but without head.

S - vague sweet sour apple cigar vinegar. Bits of brown sugar. But mostly adjunt malts. Presumably cane sugar unclear. Label lists ingredients as barley malt and hop.

T - weak maltyness sweet bland. Smooth enough no off flavors. Also no hop or yeast.

M - fizzy soda like light bodied. Fine for a lager

D - Very proletariat but much better than I expected. Very simple too simple sadly. A fine beer for the masses but never going to win an award.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 11:57:02 | More by jeranbrews

karait95

Mexico

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pale yellow translucent color with a small head almost white color.

S: Vague barley aroma some cereal bread smell.

T: Malty taste with a little sweetness and little hop bitterness.

M: Refreshing tasting but really light body with almost no ending.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 02:19:44 | More by karait95

MMansfield

Nova Scotia (Canada)

2.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed based on memory as have had countless times in Cuba.

Appearance: Standard macro golden straw color. Thin bone white head, leaves a bit of lace, more some if on tap.

Aroma: Sweet, corny & grainy.

Taste: The same sweet & grainy. This one is stronger than it's sister, Cristal as it's had sugar added in the brewing process.

Mouthfeel: Light and heavily carbonated.

Final Statement: At first I preferred this over Cristal while in Cuba. But this really grew tiring. It is what it is. Would I drink it in Canada? No. Would I rather have something else in Cuba? Yes. But is it ruining my experience on the beautiful island? No.

Serving type: can

07-07-2010 02:12:22 | More by MMansfield

cilldalua

New York

2.28/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Sitting in a bar in Mexico that actually has decent beer but I spotted bar signage for this and I had to try it. So while I know you shouldn't downgrade a beer because of personal likes I am being very realistic with this because its keeping me from a London Porter or a St Pete's cream stout.

The appearance is the best part of this event, it pours with a full head and a robust golden color. The smell though is reminiscent of a bar the morning after a college beer pong event and the taste is very syrupy after the initial burst of carbonation. Other reviewers said that they have sugar in the ingredients but I didn't see it on the bottle, but then again it is in Spanish. As a Fuerte the mouthfeel isn't as thin as most Island beers but this really just means it has no drinkability even on a hot summer day. All in all it makes me think fondly of Gennesse cream ale!

The bar by the way is Kings pub in Polanco in Mexico city (there are 3 other locations)and it has a very good bottle list. Mostly English but they won back this Irish guy with a Slainte over the bar!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 01:16:45 | More by cilldalua

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Can brought back from my Mother on a recent trip to Cuba. This Cuban gem pours a pale yellow and is topped with a frothy, but short lived white foam. Nose of corn and sugars, some grass and a bit of honey. Tastes initially sweet of malts and some adjunct, almost syrupy, leading to a bit of grassy hops and melon frutiness. Finishes a bit heavy, but overall better than expected.

Serving type: can

08-03-2009 13:26:29 | More by mrmanning

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

2.53/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bucanero Fuerte is made in the province of Holguin in the Eastern end of Cuba. Three and a half years ago I was married in that province, and Bucanero Fuerte was available everywhere. A few months later we were in Havana, eating rice and beans and knocking back cold mugs of Fuerte to alleviate the crushing heat. Tonight, the oven is blasting away, sterilising jars, and I'm making raspberry jam at the stove. Marriage does this to a man. Bucanero Fuerte is at my side, like a loyal friend. Macro lager in appearance, with its pale, crystal clear body and minimal head, there is now way you could call this beer a beauty, yet its redeemed by being merely average when compared to its rivals. The can reads, water, hops, malted barley and sugar, the last of which makes itself more than apparent in a sickly sweet, adjunct laden aroma. The flavour (sometimes I feel I insult the word) is corn syrup over some pale malts with a touch of honey and the lightest kiss of hops in the finish. For a few moment I think its undrinkable, but then I recall how bad bars sell bad beer, and I thre my glass in the freezer for ten minutes. Thank God it dials down the sweetness a touch. The only quality I truly like is the slight warming feel the beer gives, almost like a ginger beer, and this belies its ABV (this isn't fuerte for a craft drinker). The body is light and on the fizzy side, but not as bad as I';ve seen or heard of in this category. Definitely a beer for the Carribean sun, and not for the discerning BA.

I still have fond memories of Bucanero Fuerte. It may be a truly awful beer, but in the heat of the Havana sun with a Cuban band playing in the background it fit the moment.

Thanks to biegaman for allowing me to relive a few memories.

Serving type: can

07-21-2009 13:48:05 | More by bobsy

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On-tap in Varadero, Cuba.

Sweet yellow corn - how appropriate - with outstanding transparency. It appears irreproachably clean although that is, it should be said, very typical for adjunct lagers. Honestly, I'd say the condensation occurring on the glass is about the only thing making this look the least bit desirable. It seems to have fewer bubbles than most, which is curious given its head scales pretty high up the glass.

I don't consider this to smell like high-fructose corn syrup, I consider it to smell like ultra sky-high fructose corn syrup. It is sweet like soda pop, showing every bit as much glucose and fructose (but no signs of malt or hops). To many, it troubles me to say 'most', this may smell like nothing at all (perhaps because glucose-fructose has pervaded so much of our food) but to me it simply smells bad.

The taste and texture both strongly resemble corn syrup as well (if you haven't clued in by now, the "adjunct" in "adjunct lagers" generally stands for corn). An untrained palate might detect no taste at all where as a trained one should detect nothing but the taste of corn syrup. The texture is sticky sweet, stale and starchy. About average for the style, just be sure its temperature is close to 0 before starting to drink it.

Cuba has lots of culture; its beer does not. As popular as beer is with Cubans (it and rum really being their only options) none of the offerings proportionately represent the culture of the island. The beers are bland, without character or story - quite unlike the people. Actually, it is funny to think that for all their differences - ideology, language, history - Cuba's national beers taste just like the American ones.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2009 17:37:51 | More by biegaman

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

BB 04/06/10. Pale yellow, a flash of light auburn, fizzy white head quickly shrinks to a wispy surface. Very low to almost no carbonation observed. Lace made a speedy exit but a ring stuck around. Smell is feint, corn adjuncts is my guess. Taste follows suit, macro adjunct lager, corn, sweet with a syrupy mouthfeel. This beer has an artificial presence that I didn't find with the Cristal, also more gassy than the Cristal. Glad I tried it, you might also find one is enough. Thanks again to biegaman for bringing this from Cuba for me, much appreciated.

Serving type: can

07-07-2009 03:07:51 | More by ThatWineGuy