Steel Reserve 211 (High Gravity) - Steel Brewing Company

Heeatherette

Washington

5/5  rDev +107.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I LOVE this beer! I don't see how people are being this great beer such low ratings. This beer is the best beer! I will pick this beer over any other beer any day! It gets you drunk, and I think it tastes pretty good! and I think this great beer deserves a 5 star!! People who are giving this beer low ratings are probably the people who think bud light is the best beer or something. Anyway I wish you could buy this beer in a 24 pack! Not so I could drink it all in one night, but just so I could have some Steel Reserve in fridge for days!

Serving type: can

04-10-2013 03:42:01 | More by Heeatherette

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A-yellow with bubbles and no head

S-very light hint of grains and honey. Such a faint scent, almost nothing here

T-comes in with a fair taste of grains, slightly roasted with some honey. It's really not a terrible flavor. The end has a certain bitterness and bite to it that probably comes from the high gravity. This basically tastes like cereal with a kick. Could taste worse.

M-low creamy carbonation with a semidry finish

O-well I doubt any of y'all are gonna pick this up with high hopes. You don't buy this for flavor or drinkability. You buy this to get as drunk as possible while paying less. Eh it could be worse, it's on the same level as BMC beers

Serving type: can

04-02-2013 03:20:49 | More by AdamBear

bbluemzbeer

California

5/5  rDev +107.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am of the belief that a true beer lover ought to love all kinds of brew - from craft beers to dirt-cheap malt liquors. (I paid $1.99 for a 24 oz can of Steel Reserve at Rite Aid. Drank this beer very cold not warm. It taste very foul warm. Just warning !

Appearance : One inch head . It disappeared real quick
Smell corn mash, pale malt, alcohol and faint hops.
Taste : It tasted malt, sweet malt, cereal grains some hints of metal and a small amount of hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel It was average, the body medium and the carbonation good. Best when damn near frozen, . If you gotta go Malt, it's a cheap, classic choice. This beer is best of the American Malt Liquor!

Serving type: can

03-29-2013 16:27:00 | More by bbluemzbeer

VonSpyder

Georgia

3.7/5  rDev +53.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Apparently all I can get in GA is the 6.0% ABV, so bare that in mind when reading further...

12 oz. can poured into beer glass at home...

Smell:
Light hoppy aroma, but nothing to write home about...best way to write mom about it would be to say "It smells like beer"

Appearance:
Clear, light golden lager appearance with carbonation similar to that of Miller High Life (which isnt surprising since its made by the same company) Certainly nothing dissuading about the look of it.

Taste:
Fresh out the fridge cold- Very crisp, gentle carbonation, light malty hoppy flavor...very light. Just shy of cloying. No bitterness at all which is impressive for anything 5% ABV or higher. All in all very refreshing.

Slightly warm- I let it sit for a minute so I could get the full effect. After a while It loses it crispness and the carbonation dissipates pretty quickly as well, though the light malty hoppy flavor still remains...and is still very light. A little less cloying but also slightly bitter, but only slightly. All in all tolerable which is impressive for a malt.

Mouthfeel:
Thin, almost waterlike in texture excepting the carbonation. Its an easy beverage to get down and get down quickly if one so chooses.

Overall:
I actually enjoy this beverage infrequently and will pick up a case every few months. It's great after youve been doing some yardwork or other household project and you want to relax a moment. Among the malts I find it to be the best, though thats not to say there arent other malts I dont enjoy as well. It goes down easily and its very smooth...of course its also the 6% version so that may have something to do with it but still enough to achieve a decent buzz. Best of all its very affordable and available almost everywhere.

Serving type: can

03-28-2013 02:24:45 | More by VonSpyder

mfnmbvp

Illinois

1.48/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

24 fl oz. can, acquired last night after midnight at the local 7-11 for $1.79. Bottom of the can says best by August 12, 2013. My can also confirms it holds an 8.10% abv rather than some lower alcohol versions received by some other states. I would have preferred to have tried this from the bottle, but whatever. I was drunk when I bought it and needed a palate cleanser, but I held off on this one for today. Pretty low expectations, but I'm going in as unbiased as possible.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a clear, somewhat dark gold colored body with plenty of bubbles sticking to the sides of the glass and floating up to the top to meet a two finger slightly creamy, audibly sizzling, off-white head. Head fades away into virtually nothing within a minute.

S - Corn adjuncts / corn husk. Stale dusty malt. Doesn't smell like much at all, really.

T - Adjunctive corn, again. Disturbingly aggressive artificial sweetness. Cherry corn syrup medicine like taste. More corn. Carbonation isn't ridiculously excessive, but it is definitely noticeable. No malted barley or select hops, as the can claims, that I am able to detect.

M - Mouthfeel thankfully isn't as sickeningly sweet as it tasted on the way down. Grainy corn kernel taste, with some leftover carbonation lingering on the tongue.

Overall, it is lightly bodied and masks it's high 8.10% abv very well, as I couldn't really detect much alcohol. However, there are better American malt liquors out there if that's really your style, they just might not be as high in abv as the Steel Reserve 211 High Gravity. You basically know what you're getting yourself into with this one if you so choose to walk that trodden path. A classic example of the standard alcohol delivery vehicle.

Steel Reserve 211 High Gravity ---1.5/5

Serving type: can

03-06-2013 04:50:16 | More by mfnmbvp

kojevergas

California

2.56/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

8.10% according to my can. I got interested in reviewing this after having Full Sail's malt liquor last night. 24 fl oz aluminum can served into a Uinta pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average relative to the style. Best before July 29th, 2013 according to the bottom of the can.

Served very cold and allowed to warm slightly over the course of consumption. Side-poured with lessened vigor as overcarbonation is anticipated. Cost was $1.79 at the grocery store.

A: Pours a four finger beige colour head of slight cream, decent froth, nice thickness, and good retention for the high ABV (~4 minutes). Body colour is a pale yellow-copper. Clear and translucent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Somewhat dull in terms of vibrance. Typical of the style.

Sm: Corn adjunct, clean barley, light floral hops, and stale malts. Clean and crisp, if off putting. A mild strength aroma.

T: Heavy corn adjunct with some off-putting artificial sugary sweetness. Bland pale malts. Clean barley. Light bland floral hops - strictly a preservative here. Emphasis is on ersatz corn and the malty build. Fairly balanced for what it is. I don't think it's as boozy as many others have noted. Caramel malt - a highlight here.

Mf: Crisp and clean. Light, smooth, and wet. Artificially smooth, with a bit of unwelcome syrupy character. Overcarbonated and biting. A bit buttery.

Dr: A great choice for getting sloshed, but an unappealing beer all around. Still, it may be one of the best choices at its price point if you're looking to get knackered. And it tastes better than most adjunct lagers. At least, it tasted different in a blind taste test I did with friends. I'll be pairing what's left of this with some pizza shortly and I think that's one of its best uses. Hides its ABV decently.

Low C-

Serving type: can

03-02-2013 04:24:29 | More by kojevergas

dantose

Massachusetts

2.91/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I picked this up from the Class Six on post today. If I had known it was a millercoors product, I doubt I would have even tried it.

It's a high gravity, low hop american style lager with moderately high carbonation and fairly low head retention.

On cracking the can, I was greeted with a pretty bad aroma instantly making me second guess my purchase. It poured well forming about 1 inch of head which lingered maybe a minute or so before dying down. At 24 oz, the can was just beyond what my imperial pint glass could take.

Starts clean, slightly sweet, with a touch of almond. aftertaste quickly turns sweeter, almost, but not quite, too sweet. and fades into a pleasant alcohol warmth.

Feels heavy, almost syrupy. This is helped somewhat by the high carbonation.

All in all, not a bad brew. Not outstanding, but probably the best high adjunct american lager I've had.

Serving type: can

02-19-2013 02:10:11 | More by dantose

basscram

Florida

4.31/5  rDev +78.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A malt beer. poured from a can, ice cold, beautiful light orange color with lacing down the glass as it is consumed.

smell is of roasted corn, hardly any sulphur as I'd expect.

Taste is a clean malt no hop bitterness and carbonation is as expected with a malt liquor.

mouthfeel. very thin, easy to drink and the alcohol is hidden very well and you could possibly drink this pretty quickly ice cold.

Overall a good go to beer for me for those cheap times. I really like malt liquor beers so I'm kinda biased. That said, I do this for all beers I review. I respect all the styles. This one is a wonderful malt liquor with wonderful clarity and lots of maltiness

Serving type: can

02-02-2013 08:34:21 | More by basscram

beermakesmefat

3.9/5  rDev +61.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

This is surprisingly good. A very full bodied, slightly starchy taste, but never overly sweet. Very little aftertaste, even when warm. I see no resemblance whatsoever to malt liquor. Really the only downside is the 8% ABV. I only wish they made a version with a little less alcohol and a lot more malt, I'd drink this stuff all the time.

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 01:32:54 | More by beermakesmefat

GhostKidd956

2.6/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Clear yellow lots of bubble running to the surface. Thick white foamy head

S - slight sour smell, very sweet, grains are very forward

T - Sour malt, little bitter, can taste the sweet grains a lot which was surprising

M - semi heavy, carbon could be a little less but over all kinda of okay

O - This beer really isn't that bad is if you factor in that i only paid 2.00 for it and it very favorful compared to your domestics such as budlight, budweiser,bush...etc and the fact that its 8.1 abv which mean pretty much a party beer :)

Serving type: can

01-04-2013 05:27:36 | More by GhostKidd956

Commoda

3.88/5  rDev +61%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this is a common ML found in many 24hr conveinience stores.

oddly, at $1.39 this is a very drinkable ML.

i always keep a number of empty frozen glass mugs in my freezer (found cheap at goodwill stores) and thats all i drink cheaper beers from and steel-reserve to me tastes superior to the king of beers..bud, icehouse, miller etc.

it does have a heavier texture than the other beers mentioned..but when ice cold this is an attribute.

at 8+ percent alcohol i suppose if you need to get lit quick it will do that.

i have it in a frosty mug with some italian sausage hoagies and its a tasty and economical pour.

its got good gusto.

Serving type: can

12-27-2012 00:34:01 | More by Commoda

wekieboom

Texas

3.65/5  rDev +51.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is by far the best of the "embarrassing" beers! True you may be ashamed to carry out a 40 or a tall boy, but this beer is actually good. I would choose this beer any day over the run of the mill beers that lack flavor and texture.

It is sweeter than expected but also carries a smooth creamy texture that mellows it out. The taste is somehow both bold and distinctive but not overbearing. Alcohol is high and leaves your mouth in a way to make sure you remember it but isn't as bad as liquor... of course.

Overall, is this a beer I would ever crave or seek out? No. But I can't help but wonder what we would think if it wasn't a gas station over sized beer being sold with the likes of Boone's Farm, interesting thought for you to ponder while rolling back your paper sack for another sip!

Serving type: can

12-19-2012 23:39:10 | More by wekieboom

Sunshine

1.2/5  rDev -50.2%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Smells like cheap apple cider made with hops.

People who drink this are easy to identify, because their breath emits an unpleasant high-octane aroma.

I'm curious what process is used to give this beer such a uniquely poor flavor and appearance. I've googled the company, but can't seem to find any information which pins down the difference.

Serving type: can

12-10-2012 16:47:32 | More by Sunshine

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.03/5  rDev -57.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

A - Clear yellow with a massive frothy white head. Loads of carbonation. Slight lacing.

S - Odds grains, Skunk, Sweaty socks, farts

T - Sour malt, aluminum, sweat, pee

M - Heavy carbonation with a heavy body

O - This is the worst beer that I have ever had, Hands down. I would never drink this slop again. EVER.

Serving type: can

11-17-2012 21:29:04 | More by SometimesIfart

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.45/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Two fingers of head with descent retention. A few bubbles floating up in the clear, light straw colored body.
Smells like wet grain.
Tastes like malt, sweet but not overbearing. Not a hint of bitterness.
Light body, low carbonation with a slight stickiness to it.
For a high gravity lager it's one of the better ones.

Serving type: can

11-17-2012 03:40:01 | More by Fatehunter

nUgZ

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +55.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

6.0% Version

12 ounce can poured into a pint glass.

A: Light golden color with a 2 finger head and some lacing.

S: Malts and alcohol...not much else.

T: Sweet biscuits, malt, corn, and some alcohol. About as good as you could ask for out of a malt liquor.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

O: Top notch as far as malt liquors go. I've had the 8.1% as well and the 6% is the way to go. It's much easier to enjoy than the higher alcohol version.

Serving type: can

11-12-2012 23:48:26 | More by nUgZ

deathpulse42

Indiana

1.7/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Could not finish --> drainpour. The only thing remotely beer-like about this is its appearance, which reminds one of a very pale American adjunct lager. Pungent, metallic taste. I realize that malt liquor shouldn't merit high expectations, but I'm not exaggerating when I say that you'd really, really, REALLY have to want to get drunk to drink this beer.

Serving type: can

11-12-2012 21:02:23 | More by deathpulse42

michiganminer

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +51.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

It is what it is. You can't expect anything more. This is an easy to choke down, er I mean Drink Malt Liquor. Let's face it. it's 8.1 its got a chemical taste, youve got to drink it cold but if you can cope with it 1 can will get ya good and buzzed quick. at $1.19 it's my go to Malt.

Serving type: can

10-29-2012 02:37:30 | More by michiganminer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Steel Reserve 211 (High Gravity)
Steel Brewing Company
Style: American Malt Liquor
ABV: 8.10 %

LOOK: Pale yellow color when poured, much better straight from the can. Fizzy, light yellow beer, a typical look.

SMELL: Spent grains, creamed corn, cooked veggies, small whiff of alcohol.

TASTE: Mildly sweet, with an astringent bite, strange bitterness, metallic flavors. Minerally hop and loads of corn, malt and sweet alcohol notes.

FEEL: Light to medium bodied, not quite crisp.

OVERALL: An average malt liquor, with a good kick for the price.

Serving type: can

10-10-2012 19:27:10 | More by Stinkypuss

obrike

Texas

2.68/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

1.99 24 oz can at the corner store....what the heck!

Actually kind of liked the look on this one. A golden hue and pretty sticky lacing...much more attractive then I thought it would be.

Smells of butane, corn syrup, and rock and roll. A bit scary.

Actually kind of liked the taste. A big grainy feel, followed by a boozy sweet shot of everclear...seriously...it's almost infused with alcohol. Not something I would drink on a regular basis, but a cheap way to drink beer and catch a buzz. This beer is not afraid to kick you in the tonsils and doesn't apologize for it. A bit harsh on the backend, especially if you let it warm.

What more can I say...a cheap as hell malt liquor that has a good punch. Drink it if you dare.

Serving type: can

09-21-2012 00:59:57 | More by obrike

scottfrie

California

3.78/5  rDev +56.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

24oz cans are a wonderful thing. Reviewed to style.

Pours a super pale piss yellow with a foamy bright white head. Nose is full of grains and adjuncts along with a lot of volatile alcohol. Slightly sweet smelling. Taste follows the nose, but flavors are very light. Slight notes of adjuncts and a malty sweetness come through alongside toasted grains. Alcohol is boozy but doesn't take away from the drinkability. Full bodied, semi-thick mouth, bubbly but smooth carbonation. Not all that bad actually. Maybe a bit rough around the edges but not undrinkable.

Protip: A leftover half-finished can of SR makes some great fluffy pancake batter the next morning.

Serving type: can

09-13-2012 18:14:25 | More by scottfrie

jslice99

New York

3.28/5  rDev +36.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Poured into a big mug. Looks a clear, pale yellow with lots of bubbles and a head that quickly dissapears.

S-Sweet corn and grain. Not much else.

T-Surprisingly not too bad for a high gravity malt liquor. Tastes more like a lager, pretty refreshing.

M-Decently carbonated and light, was expecting it to be more harsh. Tastes more like a lager to me.

O-Not bad at all, expecially for its price, i paid $1.50 for a 24. It does what its meant to do, it gives a cheap buzz.

Serving type: can

09-06-2012 03:52:17 | More by jslice99

iceburger97

Massachusetts

3.08/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

i sometimes drink a 24 oz can of this when i dont have much money. Its okay. Tastes like fishing sinkers and as if stale bourbon was added.Smells similar to the taste but add to the smell a musty burnt corn smell. The look of the beer as well as the mouthfeel and carbonation is good. For the price it is the way to go sometimes, some occasions call for steel reserve

Serving type: can

08-30-2012 21:27:31 | More by iceburger97

netrioter

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +46.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

6.0% version sold here in Durham NC...only the 211 Triple Export is 8.1% here and thats for another review

12 pack of 12oz cans = $6.50

drank from shotgun as well as 4 x 12oz cans from my 52 oz Coors Light pitcher

This is FAR better than the 8.1% version...its more like a regular lager with some bite...definitely worth a try if you see it.

Its not the "kick you in the junk and like it" taste like the 8.1% delivers...the 6.0 dont really qualify as a high gravity lager. Its my new "on the reg" regular beer now instead of Natty Ice because it tastes a hell of a lot better and its cheap.. less than 7 a 12 pack.

Its actually very smooth...its kinda funky if you let it warm up as expected.

there is a 3.2% version sold in Oklahoma...its hilarious actually...tastes like Carling Black Label or "BEER" (falstaff swill)

Serving type: can

07-20-2012 09:07:31 | More by netrioter

Beastdog75

New Jersey

1.73/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Aaah, Steel Reserve. No doubt about it one of the most recognizable names in malt liquor. I like how the can tries to portray this product as a high quality and classy beverage, with slogans on the can saying how it's brewed with double the malt and hops for extra "gravity" and the 211 stems from medieval times as 211 was the number of steel back then. This beer exists for one reason and one reason only: to get you drunk. The version I reviewed is the 8.1% version.

Steel Reserve pours a bright yellow color that is reminiscent of your first passing of urine of the day. A finger and a half of foam forms and lasts for just under a minute. The aroma struck me as peculiar at first, with my nose discerning an aroma that reminded me of grape juice gone bad, along with some corn, grain and alcohol scents. The mouthfeel seemed average for your standard fizzy yellows beers, with a moderate amount of carbonation. There was some slight stickiness present that stood out. The first flavor I detected was that of pure alcohol. Some sweet corny and grainy flavors were present as well. The beer was a bit harsh tasting at first, but it became easier to drink as I drank on. There was some metallic and alcoholic dryness and bitterness in the finish. The dryness continues on to the aftertaste, along with some light alcohol and grains flavors. The brew concludes with some decent alcoholic warmth.

I wasn't expecting much out of this beer, and it pretty much met my expectations. If it was slightly less harsh, it would have been one of the better examples of the style. If you're looking for a cheap buzz, I suppose one could do worse than this.

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 06:02:37 | More by Beastdog75