King Cobra Premium Malt Liquor - Anheuser-Busch

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

1.65/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Sampled from a 24 oz. can that is 'cooler' than most, especially if you dress all in black, have a heavy chain on your wallet and homemade tattoos on your hands. Pale amber-gold with a bright white head that has a surprising amount of substance and persistence. Pathetic lace, but some does manage to stick.

The aroma is inoffensive, but that doesn't mean that it's appealing in any way. It consists of sweet corn, cereal grains and an off-aroma that I can't quite place. No sourness and no skunkiness.

The flavor is another matter entirely. Sharply bitter, harsh, undermalted, thin and mineral-like seems to cover it pretty well. It stops short of grimace-inducing, but barely. I know that I've asked this question before, but why would any brewer with even an ounce of talent (and I'm sure those at A-B have plenty) brew liquid swill like this?

I'm sure that by throwing millions of dollars into advertising, they could manage to gradually wean macro drinkers onto decent tasting beer. Why should I care, right? More power to whoever buys and enjoys this 'beer'. You too can be cool, just make sure that people see you with the bitchin' can!

King Cobra should die a quick and painless death (I'm not completely heartless). Where's a pissed off mongoose when you need one?

Serving type: can

09-17-2004 15:25:58 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

1.35/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

So this I have no excuse for other then trying to knock out the bottom of the barrel list as quick as possible. A short trip to the store revealed most of these sitting there, rip for the taking. Decided to try a few last night and just go with it. Served cold and right from the bottle, this was consumed on 08/11/2010.

Why oh why do they even make these still. After having a couple out on the beach, I figured I should try and knock another one out since it was on sale for 1.99 for a 40oz. The pricing is just absurd to me, considering what I normally pay for things, but as I would find out, you certainly get what you pay for. Very pale pour, I think this might be the lightest of the malts I have tried over the last week, with the same fizzy white head that disappears almost instantly though the ever present streams of carbonation all seem to still be coming up from the bottom of the glass. Aroma is corn, alcohol, and a mess of wet hay. Just not what you want to come home to. This follows over to the flavor almost exactly as it was just all over the place, but maintained that almost day old bread like taste mixed with astringent alcohol and moldy cereal. Slick feel and just an almost gag inducing aftertaste. Just not built for this one at all.

Overall this may have been the worst of the bunch, just not something I would ever go back to.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 00:38:43 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

2.48/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: A very pale golden yellow color with minimal white head.

S: Incredibly sweet and sugary. Almost apple juice like.

T: The flavor is definitely analogous to apple juice. A fruity and sugary sweetness that you only seem to find in mal'likka.

M: The body is incredibly light and bubbly.

D: Just far too sweet for me, but fairly unoffensive as far the style goes.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 06:29:23 | More by womencantsail

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev +32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The King Cobra title is quite appropriate as this malt liquor is leaner (not as sweetly malty as most) and meaner with a surprising touch of hops (light, but present nonetheless).
It pours a crystal clear golden body that's topped by a full and creamy bright white head. It drops shortly to a thin, creamy collar and some whispy surface foam but, surprisingly, it leaves some nice lace about the glass. The nose displays some lightly grainy and sweetish malt (obviously adjunct laden), a splash of alcohol, a touch of mild fruitiness (apple), some mild dimethyl sulfide (or is that just corn?), and some very low-key background hops. The body is light and it's crisp in the mouth. It's a far cry from the dull, semi-thick bodies that some of the sweeter malt liquors have! The flavor delivers a thin malt that's fairly well-balanced between a well-attenuated and only lightly sweet - but very basic - malt (read as adjunct!) and a subtle underlying bitterness. The alcohol is present, but not really intrusive; although you can feel it almost immediately in the throat. It finishes with a swatch of lingering corn-like malt and a wash of drying alcohol.
It's an interesting brew because it's fairly well done, yet it doesn't hit the mark. It's subdued enough that at first sip it seems almost like a regular beer, yet it quickly turns to show many of the negatives associated with the malt liquor style. It's a little bit more drinkable than some due to it's less sweet nature; yet it offers less character - an odd "Catch-22". Faced with a double-doored cooler full of malt liquors, I think I'd look for something else first.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2003 16:27:15 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.1/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Served in a snifter.

The final entry in this miniature torture chamber known as SwillFest 1.5. It pours a clear apple juice topped by around a finger of short-lived white foam. The nose comprises corn, corn syrup, lots o' rice, and hard water. The taste holds notes of vinyl, corn, wheat, and rice. The word adjunct comes to mind. Don't know why. The body is a hefty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a watery feel. Overall, the only thing this really has going for it is its low price. But, even at such a bargain basement level, I would not want to ever revisit this purposely.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 03:56:14 | More by TMoney2591

MasterSki

Illinois

2.15/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Got this as a joke gift for a New Beer Sunday. Poured the 24 oz tallboy can into a pint glass. I'm going to try to objectively review this as best I can.

A - Pours out a transparent golden-yellow color. Huge foaming head that has surprisingly good retention and solid lacing. Massive amounts of carbonation present - the sides of the glass are covered in bubbles. I'm getting bloated just looking at this - but all joking aside, other than the obligatory urine reference this doesn't look all that bad. I've seen worse looking brews...

S - Yuck - I had to take a second whiff just to be sure. It smells like metal, but with a hint of corn sweetness. There's actually a little bit of spice in there, but I'm not sure what is causing it. It's pretty bad.

T - This is bone-chillingly cold, so it doesn't taste like much. There's a little bit of sweetness at the back end. The smell is actually much worse than the taste, although I suspect if I left it out it'd get worse. I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, as I don't want to wait around just to find out.

M - Watery, thin, overly carbonated - not really much going for it. I guess it isn't gritty, chalky, or sludgy. The texture isn't gag-inducing. Largely neutral here.

D - There is no way I could drink a 24oz can. I'm getting bloated after a few sips, and my stomach is beginning to feel a little funny. The huge can is sitting there mocking me, so I'm just gonna give up and pour this guy out.

If this were the only thing available on a hot summer day at the ballpark I might be able to force down 8oz, but as it stands I don't see any good reason to subject my body to this punishment. Perhaps this will aid in unclogging my bathtub...

Not the worst thing I've ever tried, but pretty bad nonetheless.

Serving type: can

01-20-2009 00:28:10 | More by MasterSki

Halcyondays

California

2.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 3

24 oz. can,

A: Pours the palest of yellows with a surprisingly long lasting head.

S: Corn, apples, fusel alcohol/boozy.

T: Very light flavour. Mild apple/acetylaldehyde and alcohol, that's it really.

M: Extremely thin and fizzy, overcarbonated. Bud Select 55 may have more body than this.

D: In the realm of malt liquors this is a lightweight. Tastes and feels like a light lager, boring to drink. The fact that it's not particularly offensive is the only plus side.

Serving type: can

04-07-2010 01:44:09 | More by Halcyondays

WVbeergeek

Ohio

1.5/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Another malt liquor like you really need another one after Hurricane...appears a clear glden tone with a large white head leaves behind even lace but it dwindles quickly. Aroma has a slight metallic grainy note that has a sort of semi sweet alcohol corn and rice appeal to it and of course cooked veggies with a touch of fruity tart apple. Flavors collide to form a harsh metallic grainy offness on the palate wow this is rediculous has how bad it is but a mild sweet tone with evident alcohol and finishes with a very chemical edge to it, definitely will induce a headache drinking this stuff on the regular. Mouthfeel has high carbonation light bodied some stickiness to it all but c'mon another beer within the same damn style. Drinkability mass produced malt liquor beer you buy when your broke and don't care about taste...what more can be said this one sucks.

Serving type: can

12-11-2006 11:46:45 | More by WVbeergeek

Wasatch

Utah

2/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a light yellow color, nice carbonation, small white head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, with some hops, slight caramel. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, slight hop note. Light body. Not drinkable, would not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 15:17:53 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

2.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Presentation: 22 oz clear twist with a wide mouth, "Born On Date" on front label for freshness. This sample was not poured into a glass and was consumed out of the bottle, as any premium malt liquor should be.

Appearance: Pale yellow with a champagne like carbonation.

Smell: Cooked corn with a ghost like hint of grain.

Taste: Light bodied and effervescent with a evident cooked corn flavour throughout. Hop bitterness is unnoticeable ... malt character is minimal leaving hints of grain. A bit of an alcoholic punch is felt after a few gulps as it warms the chest. The finish has a modest grain with more cooked corn flavour yet is remarkably clean.

Notes: The name says it all and who they are marketing for. As for the quality? If you like to drink flavourless beer with a kick of alcohol this is for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2002 06:10:26 | More by Jason

Zorro

California

2.15/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a standard ultra clear yellow brew.

Smell is all adjuncts, mostly sweet corn smell.

Taste is sweet and not much else. Tastes like a Budweiser.

Mouthfeel is Budweiser, present but not good.

Drinkable like a Budweiser, but Budweiser Ice tastes much better.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2004 03:54:31 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +81.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale gold. Tan head. Little lace. Aroma is a nice blend of crisp, cool freshness, exotic spices, sensual woods, and seductive musk. It gives a fresh warm sensation. The flavor really surprised me. Sexy citrus, lavender and woods. Top notes play with pistachio leaves, iced lavender, Chinese ginger, and mandarin peel. Following up are middle notes of celery greens, wild tiger lily, Indian basil, and Kashmir saffron. The finale comes clean with brisk bristlecone pine, patchouli, and clear musk notes. Interesting to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2006 02:48:41 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

1.33/5  rDev -35.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25

Ugh. Why not, we're already trashed? Pours like bright yellow wizz. No nothing. Smell, like the brewery floor of a major. Seriously, go on a tour, you'll know what I'm talking about. Or go huff the underside of an alcoholic's couch cushions, this stuff is probably in there.

Taste, hey, there's something not entirely disgusting, dare I say, fruity aspect of some minimal yeast strain carries well with whatever adjunct they used, probably corn syrup.

I guess mouthfeel, drinkability wise, it doesn't get worse, once you get over those first few sips, you can make it thruogh the rest, begrudgingly.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2009 11:13:32 | More by Beerandraiderfan

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

1.2/5  rDev -42%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Woody continues to do the CAN-CAN. What else would I do on Christmas Day, 2009?

A nice tallboy of this to start the day. Yum! The CAN mentions "... for your drinking pleasure and complete satisfaction". Fair dinkum. If this doesn't come off as advertised, I'm going to call the 1.800 number on the CAN and inquire about a refund, especially if it becomes a drainpour. I really do not think that it will require a full 24-ounces to get an idea of what is going on.

I have never seen a finger's worth of bone-white head disappear so quickly. It was as if Harry Houdini had commanded it to "Vanish!" Color was a light golden-yellow, causing it to look like liquid sunshine in a glass when peering out my kitchen window on a dreary afternoon. Clarity was NE-quality and I could see that it was now starting to rain outside. Nose was really fusel, ghastly. I want to go across the parking lot and offer to buy something good for anyone who might be drinking this garbage in a gesture of goodwill and peace on earth. Mouthfeel was watery-thin with a grape soda pop-like taste in the mouth. How did they achieve this? The esters were all reminiscent of bubble gum. Whew. Finish left me breathless, but not in a good way. This was like a punch to the solar plexus.

Time to make a phone call before heading to the sink.

Serving type: can

12-25-2009 17:34:09 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

2.8/5  rDev +35.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Drinking this from a 40, which I haven't bought in years. Pours a mild yellow color with head that fades fast into carbonation. Seems quite active for carbonation. Aroma is strong with hints of corn and some residual sweetness. Taste starts out with corn and sweetness and fades to a bit of an alcohol burn at the back of the throat. It's really bland in-between and doesn't have much of a bite.

Inoffensive and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2007 23:14:02 | More by Brad007

largadeer

California

2.5/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Too much good beer lately, needed to ghetto it up a bit. Consumed a few days ago, reviewed from notes (that's right, I took notes on malt liquor).

Appearance: Clear pale yellow, looks like delicious corn water. Head retention is horrendous despite massive amounts of carbonation.

Smell: Sweet, grainy and adjunct-laden. Slightly sulfuric. Signature malt liquor aroma.

Taste & mouthfeel: Light bodied, corny, somewhat slick on the palate. Moderate sweetness persists through the finish. Not as dry as the better malt liquors out there, and as such not as easy to drink. Best served at near-freezing temperatures in order to numb the taste buds.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 21:20:21 | More by largadeer

twiggamortis420

Texas

2.8/5  rDev +35.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

40 oz clear bottle with a stamp on the bottle of 9197, I am thinking brewed on July 16. Pours a medium yellow color with a loud, fizzy white head that fades very fast to just a sheen. Highly carbonated, as many bubbles stream upwards from the bottom of the glass. Am I sure I wanna do this?

Smells very sweet, even for a malt liquor. Corn syrup, light graininess and a whiff of alcohol. Does not smell very appetizing.

Taste is pretty smooth with very little alcohol bite for this rather mild and tame malt liquor. There is a hint of unexpected bitterness in there that helps offset the sweetness of the brewing grains. Not as overly carbonated as some of the others I have tried. A bit of fruitiness comes through as well. This one is actually not that bad of a ML, a little above average for the style in my mind.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2010 18:42:34 | More by twiggamortis420

AgentZero

Illinois

1.68/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This stuff is awesome. It's called KING COBRA and it's a kickass can with a f'ing COBRA on the can. I mean seriously, that is some mean a$$ shiznit. Nothing says cool like drinking a malt liquor with a motherf#$*ing snake on the plane, I mean can.

A - Pale beer, little carbonation head, not a ton of stick on the sides.

S - How many ways can I say something smells like pale malts and corn? That's what it is.

T - Sweet pale malts, corn, slight bit of alcohol, watered down.

M - Carbonated, a little too much, and light bodied.

O - I don't like this beer other than the great packaging because you don't want to mess with a KING COBRA.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 20:33:28 | More by AgentZero

tdm168

North Carolina

2.65/5  rDev +28%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I'm reviewing purely on style. A small portion was poured into a juice glass for appearance, head, and aroma. The rest was consumed from the elegant twist cap 40 oz bottle.

A - dark copper with a thick, soapy, bubbly, white head that has little retention

S - warm, metal, grainy, sweet, metallic

T - grainy, sweet, metallic, slightly bitter, warm

M - alcohol warmth, crisp, light to medium bodied

This is a typical, high temperature lagered, grainy lager with the typical off flavors for the style. For a cheap buzz it's solid otherwise avoid.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 02:23:15 | More by tdm168

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev +46.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a clear 40 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is mild, some malts and corn. Taste is malty with some corn, fairly smooth, not overpowering with alcohol. Feels light in the mouth and has average drinkability. Overall this is not a bad beer for this style.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 18:21:45 | More by tone77

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

It's Friday night and the 24 ounce snake wants outta his can, so I suppose I will finally oblige.

Appearance - poured into a Bud pilsner glass with a light yellow colored skin. It rears up and foams at the mouth a bit, a fingerbite's worth of crispy, frothy foam around its fanged head. However, I have somehow unwittingly charmed this thing as it settles down quickly. What'd I do? This critter doesn't look nearly as imposing in the glass as it does in the can basket. Some stray lacing.

Aroma - a very light aroma of sweet grain and corn husk. Nothing bad, it's just that I can barely pick up anything at all.

Taste - mostly hiss, not much bite. Baseless taste, some light graininess that is quickly overcome by bubbles (likely responsible for most head-bite incidents the morning after). Turns cereal-like with an alcohol aftertaste, geez is this a cobra or a cornsnake? Starts to wear out its welcome as it warms a little. Finishing this serpent off won't take much effort though as I've beat it down mostly while it was still cold.

Mouthfeel - thin body for a cobra but more smoothness than I expected given the high carbonation level.

Drinkability - I can't see it. This may have it's contingent, perhaps the diehard A-B crowd. From the can it's not bad, but it's lifeless for any purpose beyond basic inebriation.

Serving type: can

07-14-2004 03:24:00 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Floydster

California

1.58/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Tall can from a liquor store in Redlands on Orange Street

Light brown when poured into a glass with a soapy head and the taste was pretty nasty

Meant for mass consumption and a quick buzz

Not very drinkable though, must have been because I was so repulsed by the taste

Not recommended

Serving type: can

09-12-2007 18:04:07 | More by Floydster

Reidrover

Oregon

2.2/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Ok 22 oz clear bottle bought for 93 cents.
I went to the bother of pouring this in a glass.
Not very impressive beer to look at, but its a bit better than some MLs I have had, anyway no one in their right mind LOOKS at a ML.
I was quite surprised by the aroma..in that it didnt totally stink of badger p*ss....its mainlly very sweet smelling malts..shockingly inoffensive for a ML.
Taste is like a slightly beefed up Budweiser..with a curiou sweet cloying smoothness at the end..sounds odd, but thats what i picked up.
Kinda oily at first on the palate..then very sticky.
Not a beer I would buy again..but t tell the truth its an OK malt liquor..better than Budweiser.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2004 07:15:06 | More by Reidrover

Overlord

California

1.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

King Cobra! I shall never forget thee.

The real problem with The Cobra is the low ABV. I mean, you're buying this stuff to get drunk when you're 18, and there were better options out there.

Poured a sickly yellow. No head. Skunky flavoring, watery mouthfeel. Ah ... good memories.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2008 01:23:35 | More by Overlord

clayrock81

Virginia

1.68/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

This, to me, is the most gutteral of the 40 oz malt liquors (I always rate 40s on their color, not how they pour because you don't pour 40s). It is like Budweiser's run off that they catch and bottle for cheap. This stuff has a decent golden color, for malt liquor, and the smell is like other malt liquor 40s (you know, real alkie). This one has the worst taste though. To me at least, it seems a little slimy and then there's this dryness left in my mouth. I never made it through a full one yet w/o just dumping the last 10 ounces (piss warm by this time) and grabbing something else)

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2008 19:13:01 | More by clayrock81