Steel Reserve 211 Triple Export - Steel Brewing Company

bigmitchperez

Georgia

4.54/5  rDev +84.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I don't know why others have been dissing this one,I love it!!! I found it at a local Ingles for 99 cents a can,and an 8.1 abv!!!! It feels like there are a lot of beer snobs out there!! I drink a lot of non-alcoholic beers,too!! But once in a while,it doesn't hurt to kick it up a notch!! I'll be buying more of these,down the road!!

Serving type: can

03-06-2013 23:28:05 | More by bigmitchperez

industrialswill

Washington

4.38/5  rDev +78%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm surprised to see the [lowly] consensus opinion about this beer. This was the first time I had ever seen it on sale and I tried a 24 ouncer. After comparing labels with the silver canned swill, I was left wondering what the difference would be. I drank mine straight from the can, so my appearance rating is based on the beautiful art work on the can...
I think this tastes smoother than the silver 211. Like comparing a filtered cigarette to a Lucky Strike. When I'm in the mood for a cheap malt liquor, this one will be at the top of my list.

Serving type: can

02-22-2010 03:37:48 | More by industrialswill

ElCommodoro

Texas

3.73/5  rDev +51.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Finally got my hands on this one! Don't know why, but I only know one gas station that carries it in my area. I like to check everywhere I encounter to see what minor variations in selection they have, and this just popped up out of nowhere. Wasn't expecting to ever find it.
The smell is sweet and not unlike other malt liquors, but the taste is unlike anything I've ever had in a malt liquor before. I'm surprised the reviews aren't higher because this is clearly an attempt at changing up malt liquor for the beer connoisseur. It tastes STRONGLY of yeast, like it was bottle conditioned. Or, I guess, can conditioned in this case. It takes a lot away from the sweetness and the thinness that is the status quo in malt liquors. As a fan of some malt liquors, I'm not sure if I like this significant departure, but as a fan of quads, I enjoy it. So, I'm torn as to whether it's really OK for it to be somewhere in between. It is so far from what I was expecting. It's like someone tried to make a lager into a quad with really low quality ingredients, but with plenty of know-how nonetheless. Strange, but enjoyable. I think I'm going to have to rate it pretty highly. One problem is that it's not as refreshing as other malt liquors or as quads because it lacks that fruity quality. It's just pure yeast flavour. It retains a bit of that chemical flavour of regular Steel Reserve, but the yeast covers it up pretty well. Weird, wild stuff and definitely quite different from ordinary silver-canned Steel Reserve.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 07:54:39 | More by ElCommodoro

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.25/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Steel Reserve 211 Triple Export has a thick, stark-white head and a clear, somewhat bubbly, golden appearance, with almost no lacing left behind. The aroma is funky, meaning sickly-sweet grain husk. The taste is rich and bold: sweet grain, minimal hop bitterness, corn, and sugar. The mouthfeel is medium to heavy, and Steel Reserve 211 Triple Export finishes crisp and mildly refreshing. It's gameyness limits its drinkability. This is interesting and even good. I say it is at least worth trying.

RJT

Serving type: can

07-20-2012 15:32:05 | More by RonaldTheriot

bboven

Texas

3.15/5  rDev +28%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I actually expected this to be a lot worse.

Dark yellow color with a silk-thin head. No lacing.

Smells very sweet, like a mixture of corn and sugar. Slightly dusty and metallic.

Again, surprisingly sweet taste. There is not a lot of upfront hot fusel alcohol, but it finds your tastebuds in the end. It also heats your belly quite a bit.

Highly carbonated, very drying.

For what it is, it's actually a little better than average. I wouldn't buy it again, but I like to try new things.

Serving type: can

09-24-2008 22:41:06 | More by bboven

esurreal

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev +24%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

All in all this is an average beer. In my opinion it's slightly better than a lot of the macro brewed st.louis beers.
The head is non existent.
Smell is not bad. Citrus and alcohol smells. I like it actually. Could be a lot worse.
Taste is kind of like pbr mixed with ommegang, chimay, etc. Seriously. I think it's the high alcohol content. It has that slight burning aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is definitely avergage.
Drinkability is good. I could pound a few of these no problem. For the money, I think its a good beer.

I've come to find that a lot of other people like this beer too. My local gas station is either out of it or stocked so heavily, the beer cooler is half filled with it. While making small talk with the clerk, I say, " you guys sell a lot of this stuff. You're always running out." His reply was, "yeah, the whole neighborhood is on it." haha, this stuff is all about a buzz for cheap.

Serving type: can

08-10-2006 05:35:04 | More by esurreal

Neehan

North Carolina

3.05/5  rDev +24%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this on the way home looking for a cheap, quick buzz after a long day and figured I would down this and then get a few laughs making fun of it in my review. Not the case, this is actually a decent brew, one that you can't complain about considering the price.

Pours a pale gold with a head that rises high and disappears quickly. Quite bubbly in the glass.

Aroma is mild of hops and some barley not bad but not spectacular.

The taste was surprisingly mild, smooth and dry. If you've ever had the High Gravity, you'll realize that this is much better balanced and not overly sweet in comparison. Nothing complex, but not bad.

The mouthfeel is a bit heavy on the carbonation, not too stimulating, but hey it's a dollar for a 24 oz.

Drinkable, smooth enough to have a few if you can tolerate the alcohol. Depends on what you are after here. A college kid's dream if you know what I mean...

Not as bad as you may expect. Tastes like a good American macro beer (if you believe in such a thing.)

Serving type: can

09-22-2006 03:07:35 | More by Neehan

SaCkErZ9

Florida

3.03/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dispensed from a $.99 black can into an imperial pint glass. Very little head formed and then left a film on the top of the beer. Great carbonation action going on. Looks extremely effervescent and crisp.

Aroma wasnt bad. Caramel malts, citrus hops, chardonnay, and cheap wine. Smells close to a batch of wine I made a year or so ago. That wine didnt taste very good. Lets hope this taste better.

Not bad tasting. Malty. Alcoholic. Pretty sweet. Right on the border of being cloying. I am pleasantly surprised by this. Some faults like rubber and corn rear their ugly heads.

Not bad. For one dollar, I think it is quite a bargain. After five or six good beers, this may taste better and would certainly put the buzzed over the top to drunkeness. I cant decide if it is a good buy or not. Yes, it is. Taste is okay but for the money, worth it. Its only $1. Seriously.

SERVE VERY COLD!

Serving type: can

03-27-2006 21:35:24 | More by SaCkErZ9

ReebShorts

Washington

2.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Got one of these for .99 on my way home, also picked up a silver (regular) still reserve which i intend to review next.

Decent head, 1 finger, faded at a medium pace, even some lacing.

Aroma is cooked sweet corn, malts, maybe the slightest hint of hops.

Flavor is corny and too sweet, mouthfeel is a bit syrupy, but overall this is better than i expected. It goes down pretty smoth, and for a 99 cent "get ya drunk" beer, it's better than most i've tried in this category.

Serving type: can

10-28-2006 03:50:21 | More by ReebShorts

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 24 oz. can. Has a light golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Lots of carbonation. Smell is big on corn, some other grains, maybe hay. Taste is corn, some alcohol and grains, a touch of malts. Feels light in the mouth and overall, while I wouldn't want a steady diet of it, considering the abv and price point, it's not the worst malt liquor out there.

Serving type: can

11-13-2012 00:50:30 | More by tone77

burnstar

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours gold with a small head that dissipates quickly. Smell is slightly sweet with some alcohol and adjuncts. Taste is quite sweet. Corn. Some grape notes as well. Definitely some alcohol too. Finishes dry. Medium mouthfeel, maybe a little heavier than your average malt liquor which I'm not sure is a good thing or not. Somewhat drinkable. Overall this is definitely just a dressed up malt liquor.

Serving type: can

01-19-2008 01:31:34 | More by burnstar

tdm168

North Carolina

2.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A small amount was poured into a juice glass for appearance and aroma. The rest was consumed from the can.

A - copper gold with a large, dense, frothy, pure white head that has great retention

S - warm, metal, corn, grains

T - corn, grains, warm, alcohol, sweet, metal

M - medium bodied, warm, smooth, decently carbonated

I'm basing this purely on style. The appearance was quite nice but everything else was quite typical. It's cheap and it'll get you a buzz. Otherwise avoid.

Note: The can claims "We believe this to be among the very best beers in the world." That's disconcerting.

Serving type: can

06-30-2012 01:34:08 | More by tdm168

CNeilP09

Georgia

2.65/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

before you think i'm crazy about my rating of this beer, hear me out:

The appearance of this beer is typical: light and golden, hay-ish with a touch of watermelon juice. it looks like a full bodied LIGHT beer.

The smell is a bit atrocious--out of the can it smells of sour gin and prune juice. out of a glass it smells like lemon dish detergent. (hint for those who don't catch on so quickly--it has no nose when poured in glass).

Taste. Interesting point. It actually has a sweet candy-ish note with a complexity of foul malt and soured corn. almost smutty, if i could define a taste to smut. But there is a touch of sweet cream on the finish, before the harsh alcohol bite. I also found some reviving qualities in the sip of this one, there is a funny warmth that is completely welcome on my palate (even given the fact that this is a cheap, quick-drunk beer) -- which allows for some redemption in quality. But that's about it.

Mouthfeel. Abundant. Qualifying. Satiating, yet considering the aforementioned, disturbing. it's like Motley Crue just did a show and squeezed the sweat from their undies into a beer. Greasy alcohol, basically.

The drinkability of this beer is quite simple: drinkability hardly exists with this beer. this is the beer a homeless guy drinks just to quicken the downward spiral. if you are one that champions this beer, give up, cut your wrist, and let your loved ones know you're a failure at spelling failure. Think about it.

Serving type: can

03-06-2008 06:15:15 | More by CNeilP09

jadpsu

Georgia

2.58/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Let's be honest this has to be cheapest way to get a quick buzz. Pours yellow gold and what comes through in the smell is malty alcohol, with the emphasis on alcohol.

If you have more than two of these and you won't care what you are drinking. Really not as bad as you would expect.

Acceptable tasting inexpensive beer that is sure to give you more bang for the buck toward a quick buzz.

Serving type: can

04-23-2008 00:25:55 | More by jadpsu

clayrock81

Virginia

2.55/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had this in the black pounder can in GA and it is not that bad considering how cheap it is, and how high the alcohol content is. The black can catches the eye, hence the the 2.5. It has a aluminum smell w/ alcohol, but the taste is a tad smooth and doesn't have that swillish backlog most malt liquors do. I rated this a little higher than I should have, but compared to its peers its not bad. I couldn't have more than a couple of these at the same time w/o getting ill.

Serving type: can

01-11-2008 20:15:09 | More by clayrock81

PatrickJR

North Carolina

2.55/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured from a 24 oz can into nonic pint glass.

A - Clear, golden yellow. Suprisingly, a full three fingers of head form. Retention is fairly decent for the style and ABV and a patchy film remains. A bit of lace sticks as well.

S - Dry grain husk and a fusel alcohol aroma. A sort of sickening candy sweetness pulls through also.

T - Overall this is probably an average tasting malt liquor, but the alcohol is entirely too noticable. Typical malt liquor sweetness, very saccharin like. Grain husk tries to dry things out but huge alcohol astringency pulls through and makes things unpleasant. Finishes with a strange sweetness.

M - Almost medium bodied, almost cloying. Carbonation starts out strong but fades quickly as the beer sits, adding to the cloying factor.

D - A little less drinkable than some malt liquors because of the huge alcohol presence. Sweetness grows as the beer warms. It is ok if you wanna get wasted, but I'll either be choking the rest of this 24 oz down or pouring it down the drain.

Serving type: can

11-25-2008 02:50:08 | More by PatrickJR

rodrot

North Carolina

2.53/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Once again, I am subjecting myself and my taste buds to the misery of a malt liquor. I've resolved to try as many of these high gravity slumming beers as I can since my home state of NC lifted the cap to 15% abv. My other mission is to sample every DIPA I can get my hands on, a much tastier decision in my opinion. Now, onto the Steel Reserve. This beer pours a clear golden color with a 1 inch head that fades rather quickly. The bubbles rising to the top of my glass are large indeed, and I know this means that this beer is full of adjuncts. The first whiff confirms this as I can detect aromas of corn and a sweet, funky odor coming from the glass. The taste is of corn, adjuncts and overcarbonated water with a bit of a citrusy, sweet aftertaste. I tasted the alcohol early, but as I finished the 24oz can, I really didn't taste the alcohol anymore. Strange. For 99 cents, I guess this stuff isn't too bad. At least it didn't kill me.

Serving type: can

01-21-2006 13:21:56 | More by rodrot

womencantsail

California

2.53/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Thank you to Jacob for sharing this whale of a malt liquor.

A: The pour is a crystal clear yellow color with a short lived but initially fluffy white head.

S: Oh yeah, sweet corn, rice, and apple juice all the way on this bad boy. A bit of a grain/malt aroma too, which was surprising.

T: Grain husks, corn, rice, and overly sweet apples. Some extra high fructose corn syrup for good measure, too. Maybe a bit of alcohol, too.

M: The mouthfeel is pretty much what you expect for a malt liquor: thin and fizzy.

D: Surprisingly, not as awful as I was anticipating (given Steel Reserve's infamous reputation). I'd still rather have some Stack or Haffenreffer Private Stock, son.

Serving type: can

09-08-2010 02:57:12 | More by womencantsail

barleyman

Georgia

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

Poured from the 24 oz. can into my straight sided tumbler. White head quickly dissapates into no head. Dark yellow color is correct for malt liquour. Smell is not good, corn and no hop aroma present. Taste is below par and lacking in balance. Very little in the way of mouthfeel other than it sort of feels like beer in the mouth. All of my other reviews have been much easier, this one has the distinction of being very average. This beer is the one you pick up after the wife has been bitching about how much money you spend on alcohol...

Just a thought,

barleyman

Serving type: can

06-09-2007 23:21:44 | More by barleyman

troobie

California

2.45/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I'm quite familiar with Steel Reserve (AKA Silver Label) and getting to sample and compare its harder to find brother, Steel Reserve Triple Export (AKA Black Label), is very fun for me. I can only get silver label in my area, but boy can I get it. 40's, 24's, 16's, and 12 packs. Yee-hah!

Straight out of the can. I also picked up a few 40's of this as well. I expect they will taste slightly better. I'm saving them to do a back to back silver/black tasting.

No smell? This is a very cold can; too cold. I'm getting alcohol and grain. There is a sweet smell but it is not up to the level of the Silver Label. There is a high gravity grapeyness that is not at all present in Silver Label. Think Camo but not as strong. That grapeyness is off-putting and reminds me of 10%+ ABV high gravity malts.

Wow. Yep, this is labeled as beer and not rubbing alcohol. Maybe my palate is just off tonight. Nothing but alcohol. My throat, and stomach, are warm now. I'm definitely not a stranger to malts and high grav's, but wow. I guess all that sweetness in the Silver Label is covering up the harshness of the alcohol? This is only an 8.1% ABV high gravity and this much alcohol seems out of place. I can taste the 211 in this. Definitely from the same family. This Black Label is trying to be smoother. The taste is less in your face, except for the alcohol. Less bitey, less sweet. As it warms I'm getting more grain and less alcohol. This is also much drier than the Silver Label. Alcohol, alcohol, a little sweetness, grain, and done.

Low on carbonation. Too low. Silver Label has always been foamy but the carbonation starts off higher. This seems less of both. More carbonation would help.

I'd probably just step up to Night Train of Cisco given the opportunity. Not given the opportunity, SILVER LABEL IS A MUCH BETTER CHOICE!

Bottom line: mix 12 ounces of Camo Silver and 12 ounces of 211 Silver Label and you get this.

I am disappointed. I look forward to trying this again as I think something is off in this review. It may be me. I've had this once before I remember being impressed?

Serving type: can

07-18-2010 09:15:45 | More by troobie

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

2.42/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The beer poured into the glass with some fine particulates, but otherwise clear golden straw with an off-white and moussy head which rose tall and fell nicely to lace the glass.

The aroma was fairly high in sulphur and DMS (cooked corn). The aroma was malty with a light caramel and just a waft of alcohol.

The flavor was malty with a flavor that contained a strong presence of corn. The corn flavor was coupled with a sweetness that was not cloying, but that was not well done.

The finish was lightly corny with some alcohol into the aftertaste. The body was medium, but the carbonation was fairly low leading to a slightly watery mouthfeel. Not a great beer, the standard SR211 8.1% in the silver can was much more tasty.

24 ounce black can. $1.09 at Peace Street Market.

Serving type: can

12-05-2005 23:35:10 | More by GCBrewingCo

raoulduke25

Georgia

2.42/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I have to rate this beer more on overall than any of its components. Why? Because, it's nothing to look at, nothing to smell or feel, and the taste is barely tolerable. But in this economic climate, it makes sense that such a beer would be a bestseller. Why? I'll tell you.

1) If you're buying Steel Reserve Triple Export, you're not in it for the taste or appearance. You want a buzz plain and simple. This beer delivers.

2) If you're buying Steel Reserve Triple Export, you're not in it for the smell or the mouthfeel. You're in it for the buzz, period. This beer delivers.

Nothing about this beer says, "Share this with your friends." Nothing says that you should buy it for parties or hand it out at family gatherings. But for what it offers, it delivers. If you need a buzz and a bowel movement, this is your choice for ninety-nine cents. Nothing else can offer so much for so little.

Serving type: can

08-10-2011 04:04:31 | More by raoulduke25

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.35/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear golden body with a thin, fizzy off-white head.

Smell: A fainly sweet-smelling cereal aroma with a recognizable DMS character to it.

Taste: Sweet taste of grains, various adjuncts, and fusel alcohols. There's actually the lightest floral hop hints on the warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Thin-bodied. Fizzy carbonation. Watery mouthfeel.

Drinkability: I'm fairly certainly this beer has no allusions of being another other than a malt liquor in a tall, black can, and, while there aren't many pleasing qualities to it, at least there isn't anything too displeasing about it, either.

Serving type: can

08-20-2007 21:35:48 | More by ChainGangGuy

BucBasil

South Carolina

2.35/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Another in my series of terrible beers. This one says that "we believe this to be one of the very best beers in the world." Having had some of the best beers in the world, I can't wait to see how this stacks up.

Poured from the tall can into a pilsner glass. Not much to look at. Golden with little head.

Smell: Not to much to be had. Corn sweetness and some grain over metal.

Taste: Very sickly sweet corn flavor with a bit of medicine going down. There is a slight yeasty tang to it. Has an old vegetables must to it as well that just barely covers up the huge alcohol punch at the end.

Overall: Not a very good way to get a buzz here. The ABV indeed is pretty killer, but choking it down to get there is not too pleasant. There are easier ways to accomplish this, even with cheap malt liquors. That being said, this is one of the cheapest I've seen, soooo there's that.

Serving type: can

09-07-2012 22:01:46 | More by BucBasil

Cyberkedi

Georgia

2.33/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours a so-so clear straw yellow with a fairly thick but not persistent white head. Aroma is crisp and malty, fairly strong but nothing to enter on your blog. Flavor is malty and crisp, slightly sour, slightly sweet. Texture is smooth, a little on the watery side, just a bit tingly. Not too shabby, but I doubt I'll be seeking this one out.

Serving type: can

09-24-2009 00:48:07 | More by Cyberkedi