Big Flats 1901 - World Brews

jettjon

Florida

2.8/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

OK, Walgreens beer? After confirming that this stuff was not TERRIBLE, I decided to throw in for 299 pennies. From a 12 oz can with no visible freshness markings into my Sam Adams glass (thanks, guys!), it's a pale clear golden yellow color with vigorous carbonation streams fueling an initially fizzy one-finger head of whitish foam that settles to a thin cap and ring fueled by constant release from the nucleation sites. Beautiful clarity; I'll give it that. Nose is bready and a bit over-sweet with notes of grass. No off-scents noted. Tastes of sweet malt and corn/grain and malt liquor. No hops. Finishes on a watery, subtly dry, ever-so-slighly bitter note. Flavor profile is extremely unassuming and neutral; it's like drinking slightly malty carbonated water. In the mouth it's watery and a bit crisp, not as much as the lively carbonation would lead one to expect. It certainly goes down easily. Drinkability--well, this is straight up lawn mowing swill; easygoing and very neutral.

Overall: This is the kind of beer I'd give to people who say they hate beer. It's the closest thing you can get to non-beer while remaining in the "4-5% ABV American adjunct lager" category. And, at 2.99 a sixer, you really can't go wrong. Not something I'd seek out again, but no worse or better than the average big-label adjunct lager out there.

Serving type: can

01-17-2011 23:55:03 | More by jettjon

kojevergas

California

2.13/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Acquired at Walgreens at a cost of $2.99 per 6 pack. 12 fl oz aluminum can with uninteresting label served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are low.

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a four finger white colour head of nice thickness, okay cream, and above average (~3 minute) reention. No lacing. Body colour is a clear pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Looks pretty typical for the style.

Sm: Dirty malts, pale malts, caramalts, artificial sweetness, malt extract, and sugary sweetness. Way too sweet. I'm not excited to try this one. An average strength aroma. No yeast character or alcohol comes through.

T: Overly sweet. Really malt-forward. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. Cloying malty build is syrupy and sugary but not enjoyable. Clean. Weak; devoid of flavour. Borders on watery. Horribly imbalanced. Poorly built. Bland. Boring. Generic.

Mf: Pathetically thin. Overcarbonated. Smooth and wet. Very pedestrian. Doesn't suit the flavour profile well.

Dr: Downable swill, and probably a better bet than your run of the mill macro adjuncts. For my money, Simpler Times is a far better choice if you're after budget brews. People are being pretty harsh with their reviews on this, but it's not terrible. It's just bad.

Low D

Serving type: can

05-12-2013 22:54:16 | More by kojevergas

Rope

Illinois

1.94/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Ahhh Big Flats...

Appearance-
Pale yellow, one finger white large bubble head.

Smell-
Very slight standard lager smell, really have to sniff to get at it.

Taste-
Like impoverished college beer, light sour hop, bready finish.

Mouthfeel-
Sharply carbonated, cleanses the pallet.

Overall-
If you are buying this beer, it is either out of morbid curiosity... or you aren't looking to be tasting for subtle hints of flavor.

Serving type: can

04-16-2013 22:30:56 | More by Rope

2befree

California

5/5  rDev +96.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I went to wal-greens the other day to buy some cold medicine and saw some great looking beer in a special looking can, with a very nice price. I never buy cheap beer; it’s like going to McDonald’s and expecting hot food, wishful thinking. Well I walked into the house with this untested brew. My wife said why did you buy that beer it’s cheap and you know you’re not going to drink that, I poured me a tall glass full of the Premium Beer BIG FLATS 1901. It was very tasty, a beer fit for a king. I suddenly found my maker it was BIG FLATS the Beer fit for me, man it was good.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 06:05:13 | More by 2befree

harpus

Alabama

3/5  rDev +17.6%

03-25-2013 15:15:45 | More by harpus

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -21.6%

03-14-2013 19:27:48 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

troobie

California

1.55/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 1.5

Interestingly enough, the worst beer I've ever had was/is contract-brewed exclusively for 7-11 as a store brand (Game Day Ice.) Here is another contract-brewed beer made exclusively for Walgreens as a store brand, and it's just as horrendous. I'm noticing a pattern.

I recommend drinking this from the can, however, I did pour two cans (not all at once) into a 23 ounce pilsner glass to review.

A: Big Flats 1901 is much darker than I had anticipated. Golden. There is a two finger head with tight carbonation. After several minutes there is a ring that lasts the entire glass. No lacing without chugging.

S: Very sweet. Fruity. I smell bananas that have been sitting on the counter for two weeks and are black on the outside. I can smell lager beer if I try really hard. Closer to cheap wine than beer. I'm having bad flashbacks of Game Day Ice.

T: Horribly sweet. Sugary sweet. The sweetness is the first thing I taste and it lasts well after I swallow. There is some bitterness. Some stale malt like Cheerios soaked in water.

M: Carbonation is medium. It's more substantial than I expected. Easily the best part of the beer.

O: It's rare that I find a beer that I would never buy again, but here you go. This is now the second worst beer I've ever had just behind 7-11's Game Day Ice. The saddest part is that at 4.5% ABV there isn't even enough alcohol to get you drunk enough to not care how bad Big Flats 1901 tastes! Hell, that's a basic rule that developed the ice beer market.

Serving type: can

01-25-2013 09:52:47 | More by troobie

dragoondingus

Florida

2/5  rDev -21.6%

01-20-2013 01:20:23 | More by dragoondingus

ShutOutTheSky

2.25/5  rDev -11.8%

01-17-2013 04:00:16 | More by ShutOutTheSky

spikechiquet

Indiana

3/5  rDev +17.6%

01-12-2013 05:57:12 | More by spikechiquet

mixed_master7

Florida

2/5  rDev -21.6%

01-10-2013 23:42:40 | More by mixed_master7

dsreeves

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +47.1%

01-07-2013 01:52:09 | More by dsreeves

josh00

2/5  rDev -21.6%

01-05-2013 18:44:34 | More by josh00

White

3.5/5  rDev +37.3%

01-02-2013 19:57:36 | More by White

Eaglefan344

Missouri

3/5  rDev +17.6%

12-24-2012 04:24:33 | More by Eaglefan344

beershrine

California

1.3/5  rDev -49%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Appearance - average to good , head drops fast

Smell - mild sweet

Taste- corn, veggie, mild after taste a little sour not smooth

Mouthfeel- mostly after taste is gross

Overall - disappointing, watery bland with weird astringistey.

6 pack @ walgreens are 2.99 ---forget it. Natural light is much better
The brewer should be embarrassed for this contract brew.

Serving type: can

12-21-2012 00:56:45 | More by beershrine

OCdrummer7271

Texas

2/5  rDev -21.6%

12-07-2012 05:52:56 | More by OCdrummer7271

kemoarps

Washington

2.5/5  rDev -2%

12-05-2012 01:09:19 | More by kemoarps

pmcadamis

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Clear vivid yellow with a decent little head (for the style at least). Darker yellow than most adjunct lagers.

S - Fruity esters and musty grain husk. Smells cheap.

T - Overripe fruit, and not in a good way. Tastes like rotten apples and bananas that have been left to ferment. Actually not too bad.... it's growing on me.

M - LIght and crisp. Thirst quenching.

Honestly, the rotten fruit aspect isn't really good, but at least it is pretty flavorful compared to some macros that taste like carbonated water. Not bad for the bottom of the barrel price.

Serving type: can

11-20-2012 18:39:16 | More by pmcadamis

Rmatuszak2

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +27.5%

11-17-2012 20:15:01 | More by Rmatuszak2

MrBoh

Maryland

1.75/5  rDev -31.4%

11-13-2012 02:59:39 | More by MrBoh

JRBecks

Illinois

1.5/5  rDev -41.2%

11-12-2012 16:56:54 | More by JRBecks

illini4x4

2.5/5  rDev -2%

11-12-2012 01:29:06 | More by illini4x4

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

2/5  rDev -21.6%

10-11-2012 00:57:58 | More by M_C_Hampton

mzeld

Michigan

2/5  rDev -21.6%

10-04-2012 02:22:16 | More by mzeld