St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor - Saint Ides Brewing Company

c014572

Illinois

2.55/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

My second favorite AML behind Steel reserve. Heavy corn adjunct smell and taste, yet very palatable for a cheap high gravity malt liquor as long as you don't let it get too warm. Actually a nice hops balance and not overly sweet. Did a 40 hands with this and forgot what planet i was on, all for less that $5.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 04:31:10 | More by c014572

TTAmod

Michigan

2.73/5  rDev +23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Picked up a 4-pack of 16 oz. cans for $3.50. Best by date of July 8, 2013 stamped on the bottom of the can.

A: Doesn't look too bad for a malt liquor, actually. Clear golden color with a decent sized white head that maintains it size for awhile.

S: Smell is almost non-existent. There's a grainy, grassy smell and a fairly harsh astringency.

T: Not the worst beer I've ever had. It's actually pretty damn good for a malt liquor. Tastes like a standard adjunct (corn, grass, husky grains, metallic bitterness) with a huge kick of fusel alcohol at the end, as many other malt liquors have. Shrug. Not horribly offensive, but not something I would say I enjoy.

M: This beer is a bit thicker and smoother than other malt liquors I've had. The carbonation isn't as abrasive, either. Mouthfeel is actually pretty decent here.

O: Not a horrible beer for the price, and it will definitely get you drunk. If you're in the mood to get shitfaced and happen to see this sitting in the cooler, I'd say have a go at it. It's a pretty legendary brew and everyone will think you're O.G. if you drink it...just sayin. Also, beware, this brew is for advanced drinkers only. Treat this beer with the utmost respect because you'll pay dearly if you don't.

RIP Tupac

Serving type: can

03-03-2013 04:46:27 | More by TTAmod

chugalug40oz

2.9/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I went to the local Stewarts down the road after class to get a drink to start me off for a night of monopoly with a friend, and as I was walking to the store I was mentally weighing the positives and negatives of buying the usual suspects. Big Bear or Olde English? When I walked to the cooler, though, I was shocked to see this beauty!!! At the price of an Olde English (about 3.60 and change), I could be swilling 8.2 percent malt liquor!

I was ecstatic as I brought my new drink to the counter, barely able to control my excitement long enough to get out the door with the cap intact on the bottle. I took a back-way to my buddy's house, deciding to sample this 40 the right way: in public, while walking in the shadows of a ghetto neighborhood.

My first impression as I twisted the cap was that this thing was no joke. The cloudy appearance should have given it away, but this thing is packing some heat, and the smell really lets you onto just how much business this thing is packing.

The taste was pretty satisfying, once you got past the initial shock of the sheer amount of alcohol this thing contains, with some pleasant notes of sweet grass and toasty grains, with a slight musky flavor as others have noted.

The mouthfeel was on par with other 40's I have had, with the slipperyness and astringency expected from the high potency in this particular malt liquor.

Overall, I would highly recommend this brew to anyone who needs to get a great buzz going on a budget. It is by far the most economical beverage I have seen (although Big Bear and Natty Daddy are close up there.) The taste is pretty decent. I suggest drinking this outside in the winter for premium flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 22:32:33 | More by chugalug40oz

GuyIncognito

Maine

2.93/5  rDev +32%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a 40 oz. bottle in a brown paper bag in a strip club parking lot.
A- couldn't see it through the brown paper bag
S- smelled like a blackout
T- caramel, stripper biscuit, elderberries, asphalt, no grapefruit, slightly boozy
M- felt like vomit before it comes up
O- it lives up to the hype, but only if you can find it extremely unfresh

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 17:43:54 | More by GuyIncognito

buschbeer

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

22oz bottle
Served in a pint glass

A - It is a beautiful golden beverage. A shy inch of white head was seen out of the corner of my eye.

S - It smells skunked. I get a little grain and alcohol.

T - It tastes like Ice Cube smacked me in the mouth.

M - Thin but velvety smooth.

O - I have to Bow Down to this malt liquor. It'll make you Check Yo Self. You don't have to be Men of Steel or Natural Born Killaz to enjoy this beer. Stay True to the Game and You Can Do It. All you have to do is Do Ya Thang. Really Doe.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 01:18:33 | More by buschbeer

BrewMaven

New York

2.91/5  rDev +31.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The one Brown Bagger out of the big three that I haven't yet tried..Was I unconsciously avoiding it?

Pours a deep, clear gold and builds a nice temporary off white head that recedes to a ring..all the while leaving a more than fair amount of splotchy lace.

The smell of this one was no big surprise with grain, slight corn and a hint of that airy mustiness I notice with a lot of the common malt liquors.

Taste was par also..slightly sweet, a crack of bitterness midway and a clean, sweet, semi-dry finish. Mouthfeel is north of thin with mild carbonation.

I'm sure I've said it before but this is levels above the mainstream macro lagers in refinement and drinkability. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 00:15:19 | More by BrewMaven

7beerphil

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev +88.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Partially poured from the 24oz can into a pint glass. Has a deep yellow color, with an airy 1.5-inch head.

Ides has a strong alcohol smell, but is to be expected. Taste and mouth feel are on par for this type of brew. Flows down easy, but has a strong beer/high alcohol content taste. Not much hops/bitterness. Sweetness is key in the after-taste. This is totally unlike most OG malt liquors (Colt, OE, Mickeys).

Ides does it right, however. At 8.2%, you get feeling good quickly and at a budget price!

Serving type: can

02-01-2012 04:44:14 | More by 7beerphil

Wegomlegging

Virginia

1.38/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I didn't look much at this since I really didn't care what it looked like, as most would agree. It's beer-colored. It smelled like sweet bad strong beer, which can be o.k. Sometimes. I must say the flavor forced me to end the experience quickly, which was also a o.k. Overall it gets you drunk, and quick. Don't worry, nobody takes it seriously.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 02:10:54 | More by Wegomlegging

ZenAgnostic

Texas

1.33/5  rDev -40.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Dec 12 11 stamped on bottom of 24 oz can poured into a mug.

Appearance - Pours big foamy white head that holds shape well and with decent retention. Patchy stick. Once the head is gone, it's gone - not even a small continuous paper-thin head. Clear dirty gold body.

Smell - Musky corn and alcohol. A bit of bubblegum. Not appetizing at all.

Taste - Sickeningly sweet. I dry heaved after taking the first sip. The musky smell combined with the strange artificial sweetness is going to do me in. We may have a drain pour on our hands. Has a musky finish and aftertaste. My absolutely first thought was "there must be sugar added" just by how unbelievably sweet it is for a beer that has no indications of being a novelty hybrid beer. Prominent booziness in the body.

Mouthfeel - Astringent, sticky, and solvent at the same time, some how. Not refreshing or appealing in any way.

Overall Drinkability - Even for someone looking for a nice small buzz, this has a chance of being a drain pour. Definitely not a tasting or session beer. Avoid.

Serving type: can

12-13-2011 06:42:26 | More by ZenAgnostic

emerge077

Illinois

1.83/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

The Crap-in-a-Can-Crusade™ continues!

Where did this come from, hell if I know. Some random dingy liquor store i'm guessing. "OCT3111" on the bottom of the can.

Pale gold, slowly receding head of white soapy foam, rapid trails of rising carbonation. When backlit, the glass shows some suspended micro-sediment. Thin skim across the surface and even a little bit of lacing here and there.

Dishrag smell, musty and minerally, raw sweet corn, wet grains.

Ooof. Alcohol shows up on the first couple swigs, dull malt sweetness, dusty stale stick of gum from a baseball card pack. Grapey wine yeast. Harsh astringency, medium bodied with lower carbonation. Gross sticky saccharine aftertaste, bad taste and bad decisions. This ain't good. Had worse, but this is somewhere in the lower echelon.

St. Ides, gets your jimmy thicker...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcZ3Fs9758E

Serving type: can

12-09-2011 01:02:45 | More by emerge077

drabmuh

Maryland

3.1/5  rDev +39.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

At the time of this review, this is the #31 top American Malt Liquor on the Top Beers - American Malt Liquor category. Also #71 on the Bottom of the Barrel list, that would make this, that's right, bad beer Thursdays. Baby is sleeping edition.

Beer is yellow and clear with a nice white head, lots of lacing, decent retention, moderate carbonation, looks like beer.

Aroma is super weak, smells sweet, not much else.

Well, beer doesnt' taste great but there is no aftertaste, tastes almost like nothing, mildly dry finish. Lead off is a mild sweetness, some alcohol, but the finish is nice actually. I don't hate it, I doubt I'd have it again but it is not poison, which is pretty good for the style. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 02:58:06 | More by drabmuh

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

1.48/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Small bubbled yellow and orange beer out the can. Tallboy. Lacing even! Horrible aroma of cooked corn and vegetables, as if they were rotten before cooked.

Sweetened corn syrup like taste, mixed with solvent or industrial cleaner/fluid. Gasoline breath afterwards. Plenty of carbonation in the mouthfeel. Not watery, but bad tasting. Like they put a shot of vodka & a shot of gasoline together with sugar packets.

Serving type: can

06-02-2011 23:01:19 | More by Beerandraiderfan

cpolking

Iowa

2.33/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a dark golden in color with massive amounts of carbonation, but there is only about one-quarter to one-half inch of foamy white head that dissipates rather quickly, but actually leaves a medium amount of lacing down the glass. The aroma is surprisingly akin to a Polish strong lager and much less sweet than I expected. There is some sweetness, fresh harvested dry fall grain, some straw and a touch of lager funk. Only a slight touch of green apple and no metallic notes.

There is much more sweetness in the taste, nearing cloying but just enough hops are in this to prevent cloying, barely. The taste is not as good as the aroma as an element of circus peanut sweet fruitiness enters in, and not in a good way. This is not really that good, it is borderline drinkable, but still on the drinkable side. Some high alcohol malt liquors taste so bad they are essentially undrinkable. I am glad I finally got to try the Ides, but when I am seeking out a repeat malt liquor, it won't be this one.

Considering it is a cheap malt liquor, I would give the appearance and aroma of this a 9 out of 10. However, I would give the taste a 3 out of 10.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 00:09:48 | More by cpolking

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

from the missing notebook!

The pour was better then I thought with a medium amber color and a head of about two inches that stuck around for a few moments before falling into the same path as the others with a crystal clear, dark color with tiny strings of bubbles that were coming up through the glass. Aroma is of corn, alcohol, wet hay, and just a mess. Really just astringent and not very appetizing at all. Every sip seemed to bring a similar reaction from me as I struggled to get this one down before finally pouring the rest out. Just not a redeeming quality as far as taste, and I generally do not mind the style terribly, but this was atrocious.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 02:22:45 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

1.33/5  rDev -40.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

Another fine malt beverage courtesy of Phil.

A: This one is a golden straw sort of color with a white head that disappears almost immediately.

S: Oh goodness, this one is not good. Corn, cooked vegetables, skunk, and alcohol up front. Actually, those aromas were pretty much present throughout.

T: Not a pleasant flavor either. The first sip (and each subsequent one) was tough to choke down. Alcohol, tons of corn, miscellaneous grains, and a synthetic/chemical thing going on.

M: The body is medium, for a malt liquor, I guess. Carbonation is quite high.

D: This was just awful. This one, I am glad I cannot purchase readily in California. Just to reiterate: awful.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 02:23:31 | More by womencantsail

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev +57.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor has a medium, white head with surprisingly high carbonation. The appearance is clear and golden. Aroma is stereotypical American-style lager, but maybe with an apple character and certainly a grain smell. It does have a harsh taste with some bitterness, and it's nice to get some hop profile in a malt liquor. This has a heavy and full-bodied mouth-feel. It finishes crisp and refreshing, which is a bit of a shock. Overall, this is a good malt liquor, and it is probably one of the better ones on the market. Also, I liked the cute can design of a vicious dog clutching St. Ides Premium Malt Liquor in his mouth and the slogan, "Hold it down!" written across the can, evoking the quaint drive-by, gangsta, beat-down life-style that we all aspire to.

RJT

Serving type: can

06-12-2010 21:37:20 | More by RonaldTheriot

stimulus

New Jersey

1.3/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Consumed from a 40 ounce bottle taped to hands.

A: Bright orange, like most common malt liquors, and very high carbonation.

S: Very little to the smell other than a bit of corn and alcohol.

T: This is where it really goes bad. Tastes like corn, alcohol, and perhaps gasoline. Whatever the final potent flavor is, it certainly is not good.

M: A ton of carbonation; it doesn't go down very well at all.

D: A 40oz of this is probably more than anyone should drink, but at $2 a forty, and 8.2%, a fun but quite foul beer to play drinking games with.

Having consumed Natural Light before, as well as Miller and Bud, and even OE and Colt 45, this is by far the worst beer I have ever tried. Probably also the quickest way to get drunk on beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2010 07:18:58 | More by stimulus

flarnrules

Indiana

4/5  rDev +80.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This 40 ounce bottle gives some dark reminders of its greek ancestry. I recognized it the minute I walked in the corner liquor store of my university. Drank some with my homies. I experienced an odd feeling of the most bizarre drunkenness within minutes of sipping this ghetto swill. Less than 8 ounces in, my motor and critical thinking skills had dramatically deteriorated.

When I drink this it makes me feel weird. For around 3 dollars a bottle, St. Ides HG malt liquor gives perhaps the best bang for its buck as far as experience. Interesting label; no smell; good taste; excellent drinkability; and the most unique feeling from ghetto swill you will ever experience.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 05:33:57 | More by flarnrules

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

16 oz tall boy with a stamp of NOV0209, not sure if that is the brewed date or freshness date. "Hold It Down" proclaims the doggie on the can with a can in her mouth...that does not exactly make me want to drink this bitch! Pours a light gold color with a fluffy white head that fades at a reasonable pace for a malt liquor and actually leaves quite a bit of thin lace on the glass.

Nose is fruity as hell with tropical alcohol notes and a healthy dose of green apples. Booze is plentiful and there is a graininess to it that hints there were actual malts used in the brewing process.

Taste is most certainly alcoholic fruitiness, but there is a pretty stable backbone of cereal grains in there. Not as bad as I had feared. Clean finish with not alot of sweetness that lingers. Pretty good job of making a high ABV, light bodied lager and still be drinkable. I dont exactly like it, but I think I will be able to finish this can...barely.

Serving type: can

01-01-2010 20:38:07 | More by twiggamortis420

beer256

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

i used to drink this beer all the time when i was young LoL and have friends that still do.i think this beer is good if you need alittle liqiud courage or for a poor mans viagra.i dont know what they put in this stuff but if you just want to get drunk its cheap and works.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 04:40:40 | More by beer256

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

From a clear 22 oz. bottle. Pours a pale yellow color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malt and corn. Taste is rather yucky. Flavors of corn and alcohol. Not very pleasent in the mouth either. Drinkability is also low. Not much to recomend about this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 21:34:58 | More by tone77

puboflyons

New Hampshire

2/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

From the 40 ounce bottle no. Sep0709-DO5112102. Sampled on July 30, 2009.

Ah St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor; the last beer that did me in...made me hug the toilet...and caused me to pass out. And that was ages ago. I have not touched it since but I figured it was time to rate it so I had to twist off the top and dive in. It was unimpressive then and it is unimpressive now. It pours yellow with about two fingers of bubbly, white head and decent clarity. It looks like it is supposed to so I rate it average. The aroma emits a scent of corn, malts, and strong alcohol. The mouthfeel is a bit better than water but still pretty weak. It tastes like a sour, metallic shot of alcohol and leaves a bad aftertaste. It is a cheap way to get a buzz if that is what you are in the mood to do.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 23:14:53 | More by puboflyons

Overlord

California

1.4/5  rDev -36.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

A friend of mine (such a kidder) broke out one of these today.

Pours a golden yellow. Smells like booze and grain alcohol. Moderate white foam head.

Just an awful, awful flavor. Cereal grain, chemicals, and rotgut liquor. Ugh. So bad.

Drain poured most of it.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2009 22:13:47 | More by Overlord

BierFan

Michigan

2.15/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Clear glass 22 ounce bottle. Black and silver label depicts palm trees in a hurricane. No freshness date. Nothing about this says to me "delicious beer", but the side of the label assures me that it's "brewed with natural ingredients". I twist the cap and pour it into my trusty pint glass to inspect further.

Appearance: A hard pour produced a dark yellow beer that has little to no carbonation. Surprisingly though it has a big fluffy head, and decent head retention and lacing.

Smell: The smell is mostly alcohol. To make an odd comparison, the smell actually reminds me of a real boozy strong Belgian ale. Imagine if Maudite was brewed with corn and you have an idea of what it might smell like.

Taste: Imagine dropping a shot or two of everclear into a Busch Beer. Adjuncts and alcohol. Nothing repulsive in my opinion, but theres nothing good to talk about either.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2009 05:56:32 | More by BierFan

PintOHops

California

1.5/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Poured from a 24oz can into a pint glass.

Appearance/Smell - Appears pale gold/yellow with high carbonation, no lacing, and no head. Smells of very sweet malt with metallic alcoholic notes. Some tart grape, some corn, mostly an over powering metallic alcoholic aroma. Very unpleasant, and as it warms it only gets worse.

Taste/Mouthfeel - Tastes of very sweet malt, hints of corn, and a very pronounced metal alcoholic flavor. Sweet stale hop like aftertaste, a little citrus notes as well. As it warms, metallic/alcoholic flavor only gets worse. Mouthfeel is smooth, a little bitey from the carbonation, and has a lite-medium body.

Drinkability/Final thoughts - This Malt Liquor is not drinkable at all. I would only be able to drink 1-2 24oz cans of this, ice cold and shotgunning it.Even so, I don't think ill be buying this beer again. I just couldn't get over the extremely overpowering flavor & smell of metal & alcohol. Save your money folks, there are allot of other easy to drink Malt liquors out there.

For me, there has to be some kind of pleasure in drinking the beer. Serving it nearly frozen to mask flavor and smell, then shotgunning it, doesn't cut it for me. Id like to know the beer I'm drinking is actually reasonable, and drinkable. Not recommended, try another Malt Liquor to get messed up on.

Serving type: can

01-21-2009 01:02:12 | More by PintOHops