Steel Reserve 211 (High Gravity) - Steel Brewing Company

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

FizzyGlory

3.08/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Im reating this beer souly on value for drunk. I mean, 3 bucks a pop and one of them gets you buzzed, 2 your stumbling, 3 your doing something your going to regret. The bottle doesn't lie, it really does turn the gravity up. I drank this brew from a 40oz bottle and a 3 foot funnel, no need for a glass. The taste is slightly sweet malt with a smooth after taste of hard liqour. Mouthfeel, creamy and thick. If this brew was fizzier it would be leagues better. Overall, this beer is the best beer if your as broke as a crackhead and need a cheap buzz to wash away your sorrows. It definenitely a mans drink and you can't beat this brew if your poor and just want to get drunk.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 01:51:27 | More by FizzyGlory

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

joshcmn

Minnesota

3.08/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

24oz tallboy can marked 8.1 ABV

A - I didn't even bother pouring this into a glass so I can't comment on the appearance.

S - Smells like an ethanol plant, urine

T - Semi-mettalic, super sweet malt covering the high ABV very well.

M - Moderately thick and syrupy.

O - I think this is one the best malt liquors I have ever tasted. For the style, it's actually quite good and a nice contrast to the IPA I just finished. I paid $1.37 for this can and I definitely feel like I'm getting my money's worth on the alcohol front:) Malt liquor is malt liquor...drink fast and get your buzz on. I don't particularly care for this style of beer but I drank many a Mickey's Ice big mouth 40 in college and this tastes much better and has a higher ABV to boot. Definitely drink COLD. Not that I'm advocating slamming this beer but the alcohol starts asserting itself agressively as it warms up.

Cheers!

Serving type: can

06-03-2012 06:54:43 | More by joshcmn

intensify

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Drank straight out of a 24oz can. for 1.55+ tax this is a pretty good deal. and 8.1% abv? get outta here.

Nose gave off the typical metallic like aroma you get from malt beer. Wet hay and a sugary presence as well. Taste followed closely behind with no hops in the picture what so ever. However, it goes down smooth and doesn't leave a bad taste in your mouth. I find nothing offensive about the taste. It's actually refreshing and masks the alcohol pretty well.

Overall - Better then the average malt liquor. Would I buy this again? For a cheap buzz, yes. Not bad at all.

Serving type: can

05-02-2012 05:42:42 | More by intensify

lonewolf1959

4/5  rDev +66%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I kinda like this stuff. It goes down well and is extremely economical. It is fairly smooth and doesn't leave the nasty after-taste of many malt liquers. It seems a bit "thick" as if it were higher-gravity. It gives a good buzz and I don,t get buzzed all that easily. Must be popular as I have to keep asking the manager at Rite-aid to stock some more. He always seems to have it, just not in the cooler. That or theres only 1 can left. Sure, there are way better and stronger beers but not for $1.29 per 24oz!
I can get a pretty good buzz on 1 can. I drink it in about 10 minutes, "normal for me" and thats about as cheap a buzz you can find in these parts.

Serving type: can

04-12-2012 17:06:42 | More by lonewolf1959

jimmah120

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz tallboy can into pilsner glass

Clear pale yellow with sudsy head, minimal lace, and plenty of rising bubbles. Smell is soapy grain, corn, and a touch of hop skunk. It feels light and crisp on the tongue at first, with the same soapy grains and corn husk as the nose, but ends syrupy and cloying. There is also the unmistakable Steel Reserve taste- somewhere between witbeer spice and garbage juice. The alcohol is hidden well making it drinkable enough.

Not a bad beer, esp. considering the $$ to ABV ratio. If you're trying to get slammed, try this out.

Serving type: can

04-07-2012 03:22:21 | More by jimmah120

jdprmd

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev +38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in snifter, 8.1% abv version

A - White head dissipates quickly, has a nice golden color

S - Slight sweetness. This is the worst part of the beer, smells like your average light beer (miller-coors, AB)

T - honey, malt and slight caramel. Alcohol burn... non in my opinion... people must be crazy or only drink AB if they say this has alcohol burn

M - Its smooth as hell... great for drinking in hot weather or grilling!

O - This is what bud light platinum was trying to do, but failed at. If your looking for a cheap, and when I say cheep... the cheapest thing on the market, and drinkable beer you found it. This beer is not claiming to be anything great, and for 6.99 a 12 pack, it actually has flavor. The 4.5 rating is given based upon the price you pay for the taste. My favorite style of beer is american double/imperial stouts and I can drink this one with ease w/o complaining. Great beer for float trips/camping/grilling with the guys.

Serving type: can

04-06-2012 06:46:07 | More by jdprmd

jsisko01

Michigan

2.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance - Pours a clear golden color with an inch thick, fluffy white head.

Smell - Slightly sweet with maybe some citrus? Not much in the aroma..

Taste - This beer is horrible. There isn't much in the taste except for some bitterness and a strong alcohol bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Medium to heavy bodied with medium carbonation.

Overall - Don't buy this beer unless you can handle the strong flavor of alcohol.

Serving type: can

04-02-2012 01:41:46 | More by jsisko01

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.85/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes.

A. Typical malt liquor clear golden pee yellow with a fizzy head that destroys itself in thirty seconds or less with minimal lacing.

S. For reasons unknown, at first I smelled peanut shells. A blink of an eye later, that smell had morphed into wet cardboard mixed with green apple tartness, solvents, and a faint cereal grain aroma.

T. Actually has a distinct dry malt presence in the middle of all the corny adjunct sweetness, at least relative to other malt liquors. Not as bad as I had feared. Fusels are also not as severe as in other malt liquors as well...but they *are* there.

M. Medium body and carbonation levels, slightly greasy in feel if allowed to warm up for a bit.

Actually not all that bad when compared to other malt liquors offered in my area.

Serving type: can

03-17-2012 22:32:00 | More by WastingFreetime

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.2/5  rDev +32.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from can into pint glass

Appearance- Pours a medium golden color with a thin white head. The head fades to give moderate lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – Very mild. I only pick up fait hints of rice and some paper aromas.

Taste- Very surprising taste. It has a biscuit and cereal body with corn mixed in. While many claim it sweet, I disagree; in comparison the many malt liquors it is much drier. The tastes are not to astringent and somewhat smooth. At the end the alcohol really comes into play, warming the mouth, but leaving it with a very strong boozy taste; almost like you get from a shot of cheaper run. Actually, its not really that off putting.

Mouthfeel – For an 8% abv., the mouthfeel is quite light. The carbonation is a little bit above medium. The alcohol at the end creates a very dry feel in the mouth.

Overall – For the price I paid for this brew ($1.50 for 24 oz.an) it gives you a great bargain. While by no means the tastiest beer out there, it wasn’t awful and did give a very nice warming feel. On of the best stronger malt liquors out there.

Serving type: can

03-14-2012 00:21:23 | More by Darkmagus82

Lockedin

California

2.63/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed "To Style". Malt Liquor is definitely not my favorite style, but I have trouble turning down a gift beer.

NOTE: Parts of this are a dual review, read on to find out.

A: Nice deep golden color in the clear 40oz. bottle (proper glassware for style IMHO). About 1/2 finger of bone white, soapy head when opened, and surprisingly sticky lace.
Part 2 Wife (thankfully) put 3 small lemon wedges in the bottle after I was about 1/4 into it, didn't improve the appearance other than it gave me hope that the remainder wouldn't be as funky as the 1st 1/4.

S: I avoid this as much as possible with this. I'm not going to kid myself (or anyone reading this); Soured sweet corn, fresh grated steel, wet cardboard, a bit of skunk (not the good kind), there just might be some malt in there.
Part 2: (After lemons) Citrus seems to mitigate the most offensive sour corn scents, I'm getting lemony citrus that's still got a bit of creamed sweet corn in it, more malt, less skunk than above (though the skunk has turned more "herbal"...)

T: Soured sweet corn, metal (the steel in steel reserve?), a bit of wet cardboard, skunk - this bottle has definitely "seen the light", in a bad way.
Part 2: Wife's lemons (3 wedges shoved into the bottle) have done wonders for the flavor! The citrus flavor has morphed the skunk into "SKUNK no.1 herbal" flavor, the corn has been joined by a bit of rice (that's an improvement - really), wet cardboard is muted - but still there (let's not fool ourselves, this is malt liquor)

M: Great for style. A bit thick, med / light but slightly oily. Active carbonation attempts to scrub the tongue of off flavors,
Part 2: Lemons don't seem to play much here, MAYBE lightening it a bit.

Overall: One of the "better" malt liquors IMHO. It does the job, and quick. But honestly, if it wasn't a gift from a neighbor, I would have gone elsewhere. The lemon addition my Wife provided raised everything up more than a few degrees - one of the few styles I'd actually recommend a wedge of lemon, orange , (anything citrus) for.

Caveat: DO NOT line this up against Stone Ruination, or even Coors Banquet, Bud, or Miller High Life for that matter, this is an entirely different category of beer. I really tried to review according to style. That said, this is pretty close to top of the category, but bottom of my list.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:50:06 | More by Lockedin

tdm168

North Carolina

2.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a pale gold with a quarter of an inch of soft, white head that quickly fades away. The smell is fruity and grainy. The taste is similar; tastes like apples and sweet corn. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, smooth, and heavily carbonated.

This is a drinkable beer. The can I had said 6.0%. It's not very flavorful and honestly rather forgettable, but for the style it's not awful.

Serving type: can

03-01-2012 23:06:36 | More by tdm168

MirkoCroCough

Croatia (Hrvatska)

3.18/5  rDev +32%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bright and fizzy. Not gold but less than a strange artificial yellow.

Close to gross with a sticky, sugary malts and white rice.

Amazing versus the smell. Clean, sharp and smooth. Nice hint of bitterness in the finish.

Fizzy and light with some slick booziness in the finish.

Other than the smell, this is a good strong brew for the price. Far cleaner than horrid ice beers for sure.

Serving type: can

02-29-2012 01:47:01 | More by MirkoCroCough

staticparadox

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +44.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

For less than a couple bucks almost anywhere, it's hard to pass up a tallboy of Steel Reserve. The taste is fairly strong, though if you're accustomed to drinking high gravity lager a lot it won't seem as intense as a lot of other malt liquors. Because it's so inexpensive it makes a popular choice for anyone looking for a quick buzz. 75% of the time I head up to the local grocery store I'm often finding myself reaching way back for the last one. It doesn't taste horrible and it's very economical. It's easy to get used to without dreading the strong aftertaste from other beers in its category.

Serving type: can

02-05-2012 20:01:47 | More by staticparadox

J23hc

New Jersey

2.58/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Have only had this once out of a forty ounce and hated it. Will attempt it now again hopefully it is better from a 24oz can. Poured into big mug with round bowl bottom. Pours a color of ginger ale, pleasing appearance of the rising bubbles, creamy white head that does not last. Smell isn't too pleasing, sweet malt presence and metal. Taste also has a certain sweetness to it. Pretty rough feel. It is pretty decent for a cheap beer though, and the high abv isn't a bad thing.

Serving type: can

01-29-2012 23:43:20 | More by J23hc

DavoleBomb

Ohio

2.38/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then 1,000 beer reviews must be worth 1,000,000 pictures. Whatever the exchange rate may be, I find myself about to write my 1,000th review. Here I am deep into my journey of discovering beer, but in reality I've just scratched the surface. This will still probably be true by the time my 10Kth review is completed. In a way it seems fitting that this beer was chosen to commemorate this momentous occasion. Back to basics. Steel Reserve was not my first beer, but it does well to represent the sentiment that I had with my first beer (getting drunk with whatever was available).

Poured into a snifter (why the hell not?). 8.1% variety.

3.5 A: I must say that this isn't a bad looking brew. Clear light yellow color. Two fingers of surprisingly creamy white head. Retention isn't bad and some spotty lacing is left behind.

2.5 S: Dry, dusty graininess. Mild sweet corn. Not much else so not anything else to write.

2.0 T: Corny sweetness is the strongest flavor with some neutral malt second. This could use some more bittering hops to round out the flavor.

3.0 M: I'm quite impressed here. Light body, but it has a touch of creaminess, which I wasn't expecting. The carbonation is at a reasonable level, which I find even more surprising.

2.5 D: This isn't a good beer, but it's a hell of a lot better than I remembered it being. Perhaps it's no longer mentally associated with me drinking way too much of this in highschool and puking all over Pittsburgh. In any case, I thought this review would allow me to do some of my best bitching, but really this is just a top end beer from a really vile style.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 23:28:58 | More by DavoleBomb

Never2Dark

Minnesota

2.93/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

For 99 cents, these 24 ounces of 8% malt liquor can't be beat.

First of all this is not a good beer. It smells like cheap beer (sour and foul), it tastes like sweet corn and alcohol, it's over carbonated, but it finishes like an ok beer. There's something nice about it that make the 2nd and 3rd sips better and better. (maybe it's the 8% alcohol)

While it may be not-good, it is the #1 malt liquor I've tasted, and the price is amazing.

When I see a 4-pack of Abrasive Ale for $16.99, or the equivilant volume of Steel Reserve 211 for $2.97, I sometimes go for the malt liquor.

It's bad taste vs. good economics, and it's certainly a beer that will grow on you.

Serving type: can

01-15-2012 17:33:50 | More by Never2Dark

stckhndlr

Virginia

1.35/5  rDev -44%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

A- Pours a piss yellow gold with a huge white foam head. Champagne bubbles from the bottom of the glass. Clear with thin lacing.

S- Metallic corn with a touch of light malt caramel mixed with skunk notes.

T- taste like corn water left in a plastic bottle in the sun for a few days. Has a plastic taste to it. A bit bitter and sour.

M- Grainy and thin, leaves the mouth very dry.

O- Tried this just to say I tried it. Now that I have I can say I won't have it again. Terrible beer. Couldn't finish it. I'd rather have a Bud Light over this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 14:49:40 | More by stckhndlr

emerge077

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A budget buy, let's see if this is as bad as I remember... on public access they aired this hilarious episode of a "talk show", it was a couple of old guys demystifying the evil "coded symbols" you find on various malt liquors. Of course you have a slew of dangerous animals to be superstitious about (cobras, jaguars, wild cats, all pretty self-explanatory), but Steel Reserve? Where's the hidden meaning there fellas? The "211" sign is the medieval symbol for steel, but they went another route, claiming it had criminal meaning.

Here's an excerpt from the age old tome "A Story without Heroes: The Cautionary Tale of Malt Liquor"...

"LeeRoy Jordan, Jr., a health professional and independent consultant, was one of many who noted that 211 was the California penal code for robbery, and he added that the alphanumeric gang code translation of 211, based on the 2nd and 11th letters of the alphabet, was "Blood Killer." And there you have it: another malt liquor brand promoting gangsterism and violence."

Can says "JUN042012" so at least it's in code.
Skip those clear bottles.

Ultra pale gold, not much in the way of visible carbonation. A finger of whitey white foam, that settles briefly and leaves some irrregular lacing and a thin veil of broken skim on the surface.

Nondescript aroma of apple, wet grain husks, and sweet alcohol. Honestly it's pretty inoffensive.

Fruity flavor, some harsh alcohol astringency, cereal grains in the finish. The fruitiness isn't your typical apple juice box, it has some pear or similar sweetness to it that's actually not terrible, and a welcome change from typical swill, which this is too don't get me wrong. Feels like a medium bodied malt liquor, it gets a little boozy when it warms up, so don't let that happen. Leave the 40 in the fridge if you have to. Slight stickiness, there is a fair amount of sweetness but the alcohol tends to dry it out quickly. Pretty drinkable actually, which goes a long way in the malt liquor category.

Overall this isn't terrible, middle of the road compared to the bottom of the barrel malt liquors... Earthquake, Jaguar, Evil Eye, etc.

Serving type: can

01-03-2012 00:48:49 | More by emerge077