Cerveza Cristal - Cerveceria Bucanero S.A.

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

2.6/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Well Cristal is an appropriate name for it as a very pale yellow color with foamy white head reminiscent of sea-foam mark this beer. Surprisingly good retention on the find of head, but alas no lacing.

Smell: Sadly absent, as I think I might be picking up some light corn and maybe a hint of sugar or molasses but that's it. Nothing offensive, just not a lot of bang in this department.

Taste: Starts on a sweet grain note that despite my earlier comparison doesn't come across as corn. Seems a bit too sweet for barley though, but given sugar is one of the ingredients I think we have our culprit. It then turns a lot more watery and subdued before a light dust of sandy tasting hops finishes it off.

Mouthfeel: It's a little moist, but I really can't hold that against this beer. It's meant to be a hot weather drinker. The carbonation is good, it doesn't commit to any aspect which is kind odd but a good change of pace and leaves only a small hop aftertaste that sadly builds upon the last beer.

Drinkability: As much as this is what this beer was designed for, the end dusting that continues to build as more is imbibed doesn't sit right with me. It's also a bit heavier in the stomach then you'd think it would be. Refreshing all the same though.

Final Thoughts: This to me came out as the superior beer compared to Bucanero Fuerte in Cuba. Right now it holds the dubious distinction of being my bronze Caribbean beer behind Red Stripe and Presidente. That still being said, it's a guzzler and don't expect to find an epic craft beer in Cuba. Cuban Rum is really vastly superior the Cuban Beer, although that isn't really fair because I don't think anyone does non-spiced Rum as well as Cuba and Havana Club.

Serving type: can

05-06-2012 04:06:17 | More by TheHammer

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

2.4/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On tap in Cuba, pale yellow with a fluffy white head with little retention or lace, smell is stale biscuit and corn, taste follows the nose, light body with loads of carbonation, slight bitterness that lingers in the finish, not overly crisp or refreshing which is a must for this style, overall swill from a tap.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 10:47:47 | More by Stocean1

treque

Mexico

2.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

the beer shows a yellow pale, completely traslucent, a totally white head is generated, the carb is constant and permanent, there is no residual

A small smell some bitterness and biscuit, corn and butter

The taste is flat, some bitterness but not deep enoug, dry finish, corn flavour

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 00:35:41 | More by treque

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

2.2/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

330ml bottle 4,9% Abv.
Served cold in a pilsner glass.

Appearance: Standard yellow gold body with a white, fast dissipating head. Looks dreadfully over carbonated.

Smell: Not much going on here, almost no aroma. Some stale grain and sweet adjuncts it warms a little.

Taste: Not as offensive as many lagers I have had but still dreadfully bland! Pale grain, sweet, light metallic, no hops and no bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light and well over carbonated.

Overall: Not as bad as some macros, but far too bland to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 21:00:05 | More by Thehuntmaster

MMansfield

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I've been to Cuba a couple of times and have drank far too many of these to count so will base this on memory alone.

Appearance: Very golden, clear, straw colour. Bone white cap, decent retention and lacing for a macrolager.

Aroma: Grainy & corny, slightly sweet.

Taste: The colder the better as many of these reviews have said. It's grainy and corny like you'd expect. Bit more bitterness than standard carribbean beers.

Mouthfeel: Very light and refreshing (if cold).

Final Statement: Sure, there's a thousand beers I'd prefer to drink on a blistering hot beach, surrounded by a beautiful tropical paradise, but this beer isn't the worst. It's a drinkable macro lager which is produced in co-operation with Labatt's. It's better than most American & Canadian beers in this category. But on a beach, I'd still rather have a stout.

Serving type: bottle

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

joe1956

United Kingdom (England)

2.35/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle. Average bubbly white head that mostly lasted. Fair display of lacework. Clear sparkling body with a pale yellow color. Aroma of cardboard, corn, grass, caramel. Over the palate soft malty sweet notes and mild grassy feel. Light bodied with an average carbonation and thin texture. Light sweet and bitter flavor. Light dry and grassy finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 17:10:36 | More by joe1956

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.68/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap in Varadero, Cuba.

A pallid golden colour with a white soapy head that shares a great resemblance to the foamy waves that wash over this island's sandy shores. Befitting to its name, it is crystal clear and again I am reminded of the sparkling translucent waters that surround this nation. It's an appearance truly appropriate for Cuba's national beer.

The aroma is uninspired, offering only a faint hint of corn syrup. (Hint: keep it cold enough and you won't smell much of anything coming off it. Needless to say that letting it warm would be anybody's guess as to the smells you could expect to find.) No matter, the beers of hot tropical climates are not for smelling, they're for drinking.

Which is why this doesn't need to necessarily taste good either - it just needs to be drinkable and refreshing and thus, consequently, cold. For macro lagers it is often the case that temperature can be more important than flavour. This idea certainly bodes well for Cristal, its flavour can only loosely be grasped and described as 'corn water'.

But again, that's not what this beer is all about. It's meant simply as a cold refreshment amidst the humidity and never-ceasing sun. For the record I'm not one to usually drink force carbonated, palate-sullying, bland corn-syrup based macro lagers, but with white-sand beaches and lucid turquoise waters it's not hard to please me.

The Cuban Royal Palm Tree (on the label) is extremely significant to Cuban history and culture; its seeds are used for oil and as livestock feed, its leaves and wood are used to build houses and its roots are used to treat diabetes. It has many uses and serves Cubans greatly. Cristal has only one use, but it too serves its purpose (and the Cubans) well.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2009 18:36:00 | More by biegaman

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

BB 21/05/10. White sudsy head was two fingers to begin with floating atop a clear pale yellow liquid with hints of lime green. The head retreated to a half finger with foam lace but did not have a lot of retention. Smell of wet grass, very mild citrus. Tasted crisp malt middle, earthy finish, slight sweetness ... about average for the style. Keeping in mind that this doesn't try to be any more than an American adjunct lager, albeit from Cuba, it's not half bad. I imagine that on a sunny day, it has potential given a white sand beach with its light body, refreshing lemon-lime slight spritz mouthfeel and fair refreshment value. A bit gassy. Looking at the scores, I'm surprized this compared so poorly against certain macros on the list of adjunct lagers. Not a beer to seek out but one you might accept given the climate in which it's offered, a few of these might prove very quaffable in the hot sun. Thanks to Jan for bringing one home for me.

Serving type: can

07-07-2009 02:36:59 | More by ThatWineGuy

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.78/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Green 33cl bottle with a month of life left according to the neck.

Poured into a 'La Chouffe' stemmed tulip glass, I wanted to give the beer every chance of getting a decent score.

Lives up to its name, crystal clear and very pale golden in colour. The white head consisted of large bubbles but these soon fell away to leave next to nothing sat on top of the body.

Truely odourless, gets my standard 3 for a non-smelling lager.

Sharp and crisp, not bad really. Not sure there is a great hop/yeasty/beery flavour, but it does have a taste that isn't metallic, cardboardy or nasty. It is however thin and without any body.

As I drink my way around the world I can't help noticing how crap some lagers are, this is just above the worst pile, but not very far away.

Plus points, it is my first ever Cuban beer, it is also going to be my last ever Cuban beer (unless someone buys me another one!).

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2009 21:14:11 | More by BlackHaddock

Otterburn

Quebec (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +56.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This was my favorite beer during my week in Varadero,Cuba november 2008

Served on tap at the bar of the Hotel,

Appearance is champagne like, medium/high carbonation, medium, white head, laced out on the glasses..over and over..
the smell is light so is the taste.
The taste is good and has something sweet. it is a very refreshing. Drinkability is good.

Altought its a light beer, it is probably the best thing you wish to drink under the tropical weather of Cuba.

Light doesnt always meens bad!

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 17:01:35 | More by Otterburn

rodenbach99

Quebec (Canada)

2.23/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3.5

bouteille de 330ml.

cadeau de passage à cuba

bière blonde très claire, la mousse blanche est mince et disparait rapidement, le nez est très léger (normal pour ce type de bière), la bouche est rafraichissante, légère, facile à boire, le parfait étanche-soif par temps chaud.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 16:49:24 | More by rodenbach99

Suds

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I grabbed this beer from the local market. It was a new beer selection. The label is identical to the one in the BA photo, except that it's in Italian and is labeled 'Palma Cristal' instead of simply 'Cristal'.
The brew pours a clear yellow color with an unimpressive head. It's an unremarkable and uninteresting beer by apperance. The smell and taste, however, are actually a step above the typical macro lager. There's a light, but notable malt theme that runs through the beer. It's fairly clean, and there are no real adjuct flavors at all. It's a faint and simple beer, but it's solid. There's a little floral hops as well, but they're really toned down. It's light and clean. A bit watery in the finish. Acutally, this is not a bad brew...average, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2007 20:39:34 | More by Suds

jdhilt

New Hampshire

1.6/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

From my notes 6/10/07 pours a one-finger white head that quickly goes to a ring, leaving a good lace. Crystal clear amber color. Hoppy nose. Light-medium carbonation and light bodied. Flavor is hoppy and rough, unpleasant lager, lingering dry, bitter aftertaste. S.Fr. 3.80 ($3.09) for a 330ml bottle from Drinks of the World Lucerne, Switzerland.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2007 18:31:32 | More by jdhilt

AlexLMS

Portugal

1.27/5  rDev -46.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

The beer poured with a pale yellow color and was sufficiently clear. The head was white, moderately low with an impaired retention and no lacing.

The smell was unpleasant and very grainy. Its taste, which confirmed the smell, was grainy and husky (no hops). The mouthfeel was gassy, low-strengthed and dry. Light body. The finish was short and a little astringent.

Definitely my first and last try.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 08:35:04 | More by AlexLMS

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

1.55/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Brought by a friend on her 14th trip to Cuba. This beer is a fairly pale golden colour, and generated a big loose white head. The head fades, leaving a touch of lacing. Almost a champagne appearance.

The smell consists of a lemony citrus tang and some sugar. Simple but unoffensive.

The taste is sugary sweet, this could be more of a soft drink than a beer. Odd lemon pledge flavour in the finish. Not good at all.

Feels like carbonated sugar water. Something about the carbonation reminds me of soda.

I'm not sure who snuck the strange tasting ginger ale into the can but I wouldn't recommend it to a beer drinker.

Serving type: can

01-02-2007 01:30:27 | More by elricorico

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

1.75/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a very clear and very pale straw/golden, almost no colour at all, big white head, very small bubbles, lots of lace and good retention. Smell is sweet and malty with some citrusy hops, not much else. Taste is very sweet, citrus, grainy finish, not very much flavour at all, kind of a sharp finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2006 21:12:58 | More by Viggo

fisherman34

Manitoba (Canada)

2.85/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This was the beer I had most frequently in Cuba (mainly because it was EVERYWHERE!) and had the chance to sample it in bottles, cans, and on tap. While the bottled sample was quite the gross and the can only slightly less so, the on tap stuff wasn’t too bad at all. Gold in colour with lots of carbonation. Light aromas of pilsner malt and noble German hops. Straightforward flavors of more light malt and green hops, but without any of the astringent gross adjuncty flavors (bubble gum, creamed corn, etc.) that many North American macros seem to have. There was a bit of corn flavor on the finish, but it had a nice toasted quality to it... almost like a tortilla chip. It’s still not all that great or special a beer, but still passable in its draught form

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2006 17:11:44 | More by fisherman34

benmiliron

Ohio

2.15/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

How does this stuff make it out of Cuba? Paid 89 cents for a single. Standard caribbean lager smell, beer and other "special" ingredients - sweat socks? Tastes a lot like Presidente from Dom. Republic, maybe a bit sweeter. Heavy carbonation. Thicker than most in the category.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2005 17:54:19 | More by benmiliron

tesguino

Mexico

1.58/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A poor quality beer, a friend recommended me this and bucanero, but this is bad, abuse of grains and malt, poor carbonation, this is like the mexicans wanna make sake or something; i try from the bottle, good for drink without food; taste is hard, very very soft; smell is like plastic, or acetone. 0% recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2005 20:40:50 | More by tesguino

Noelito76

New York

1.78/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I had to try this while in Canada just for the sake of it being from Cuba. Big mistake. Pale yellow in color, and a skunky smell to me. While it is pretty carbonated, the head came and went quickly.

Besides the taste of corn, I got what to me tasted like sour apples, the kind that surprise you and make you cringe. Mouthfeel was poor as a result and drinkability was worse as the slight detection of hops was overwhelmed by that sour apple taste. Maybe I got a skunky batch.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2005 14:09:44 | More by Noelito76

baiser

Massachusetts

2.05/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured a hazy pale yellow colour, with no head. Looked like ginger ale. Aroma? Slight sugar cane. Tasted like soda water, with some sweetness. A bit of bitterness at the back. There's nothing that offends you, but nothing that makes it taste like a beer either.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2004 00:02:03 | More by baiser

slitherySOB

Ontario (Canada)

1.68/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Ehh. What to say about this beer. It's boring, dull, unimaginitive swill. Pours a very pale yellow. I do mean pale. With all honesty, I do believe this is the palest, clearest looking beer I've ever consumed. Yes, lagers like this are supposed to be able to see through, but this is just pale. One would have to take a look at this to see how pale this is. Very little head. Starts off with maybe a 3/4 finger of foam that quickly disipates to nothing. Smells like old corn on the cob. Definitely use of adjuncts. Maybe a bit of malt. Their is a bit of a bread scent, but it's faint. No hops. What a surprise. Taste is bland. Unnofensive like water. Starts with a corn syrup flavour. Ends with wet cabbage. Blech. Maybe this could be nice on a hot day and I'm dehydrated. Well, it's a hot day, but I guess I'm not thirsty enough. Mouthfeel is carbonated like a shaken bottle of Sprite. Maybe, just maybe, drinkable on a scorcher of a day after tedious labor. But so is water, and I'd take water over this.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2004 01:33:49 | More by slitherySOB

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Ah! a unique pleasure to Canada, going down the block to enjoy a Cuban beer or cigar. The beer - Ok, better than North American national brands. Aggressive carbonation, quite a bit of malt. Perfectly clear appearance after the head dissipitates. Good with spicey food or at the end of a hot day. Thin, bitter, but lemony.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2004 02:54:05 | More by northyorksammy

Imbiber

New York

1.8/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Brought back from Cuba by a friend (thanks Jennifer).

From a green bottle. Very pale, very gassy; big fluffy head. Horrible aroma, strong corn and week-old-fish-and-chip-wrappers (well, I am English...). Little flavour, a slight sweetness and virtually no hop; lots of extraneous gas. Burp. A bit of burnt corn at the end. Gets a little more drinkable when the gas diminishes, but it is very thin in the taste department.

Basically, Cuban dishwater with few redeeming features.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2004 15:58:38 | More by Imbiber

Salpta

South Carolina

1.88/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

To say I wasnt impressed is an understatement. This beer must have been designed by Castro as his revenge upon the American drinking populace.

Appearance: White head, stuck around long enough enough to say "Here I am" then took a ticket back to the brewery. Beer itself is clear and fairly straw colored.

Smell: Smells like corn to me. Like a Creamed corn smell.

Taste: A musty efervescant taste, hardly hiding the alcohol at all. It claws its way across the four corners of the tonge without really having a Flavor. A bitter aftertaste lets you know they used some hops somewhere, but darned if i can pick out what type hops due to the lack of hop flavor. Just the bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: Honestly, if you like Bud, this might be a step up for you.

Summery: For me its towards the top of "Bad Beer". It IS worth a try however in order to learn how bitterness/carbonation taste, as thats all i can tell.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2004 23:49:18 | More by Salpta