Haywards 5000 Super Premium Beer - Shaw Wallace & Company Ltd.

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3.33/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.25

Sheryl said it best… "This looks boring." It does. It looks like any domestic I have ever had. I did have two cans of Coors Light yesterday, but I was playing golf. Yesterday was National Beer Day, or something like that. I got two badges on Untappd, so there must have been something going on.

Past hoppy beers, I am not sure what else comes from India. This is an Indian premium beer, but based on what I am smelling, as I pour, this is going to be pretty boring. Oh well, they can't all be good!

In the Glass: The beer pours like any domestic I have ever seen. Think Bud Light meets Coors Light meets Miller Lite. I wonder why they spell it like that… Anyway, the beer produced a thin white head, and there is no lace to speak of. I am sure, just based what I am seeing, this beer will be very drinkable and I am excited to chug it! If nothing else so we can move on to the next beer. Oh, it's cheap, too.

Nose: I could smell yeast as I was pouring it. It has a very obvious grain aroma to it. I get more of that when I smell the beer, and while I am not typically into this style, I have been on a Euro pale lager kick lately. I grabbed a few bombers of that style last week just to see what they all taste like. I spent too much time on the wrong side of the aisle at Total Wine & More.

Flavor: All things considered, this is not a terrible beer. It has a nice sweet flavor to start, and as the flavor explodes across the back of the tongue, you are hit with some severe carbonation. It does remind me of a Euro pale lager. I am curios why the style on this is "malt liquor", as that makes me think of hard lemonade, or something. Oh well, I am digging this flavor, and could see myself drinking a gallon of this on a hot summer day. I wish more golf courses carried a better selection. This IS better than a Coors Light.

Mouthfeel: There isn't much going on. It's thin and boring at first, and as you begin to swallow, a ton of bubbles rage on the back of your tongue. From there, the swallow is quick, boring, and leaves you wanting more. Beers like this are quite drinkable, and I can see them getting me into trouble! I wonder how readily available this is in India. I sure hope this isn't what people in India think of when thinking of craft beer.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste isn't bad. It has a nice subtle drying sweetness to it. Again, it reminds me of the Euro pale lager experience. (If you drink this, don't burp. You can thank me later!) I bet this beer would pair nicely with a hamburger or hot dog.

This beer IS boring, but the subtle sweetness keeps me drinking. I wouldn't order this again, but would like to see this on tap if and when we visit India. I also wonder where the 5000 comes from… maybe I will do a little digging. Cheers, people!

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 21:53:17 | More by rickyleepotts

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

2.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

22 oz bottle, no date.

super clear pale straw color. soapy bone-white head. smells of pale malt, grain, cracked corn, mild and clean. to style. taste is actually okay when cold. clean, but lingering off-putting after taste. but as it warm, it takes a turn to pretty bad. thin body and fizzy carbonation. appropriate.

bought this just to see what this beer was all about with the goofy name. weird that this Indian beer is basically and American Malt Liquor.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:28:01 | More by jmdrpi

Cyberkedi

Georgia

2.64/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Aroma is crisp, malty and a little fruity - typical, but at least OK. Pours a clear, rather wan yellow - not too good, but at least the white head is thick and somewhat persistent. Flavor is - not outstanding, but for a pale lager, a snip or two above average. Malty and fruity, satisfying. Texture has OK body and OK fizz. Overall, fair to middlin’. If not great, at least potable. Good for a party, or with a meal.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:22:40 | More by Cyberkedi

TMoney2591

Illinois

1.75/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Served in a Walter Payton shaker pint glass.

Startin' the day off right with an Indian malt likkah. 'Cause why the fuck not!? This stuff pours a clear pale straw topped by a finger-and-a-half of white foam that dissipates rather quickly. The nose comprises bushels of corn atop a small pile of wheat and grass. It's not bad, but certainly nothing I can call "good". The taste is of perfume-y rubber (walk down the tire aisle some day...), diseased corn, and lead. Wow, I did not expect such a foul taste, especially given my sick predilection toward most malts. Damn, this is some intensely godawful shit right here. It physically hurts during and well after the stuff rampages across my tongue. Damn. The body is a lithe medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, this has got to be one of the worst beers I've had in a long time. I don't think I can properly put into words just how this makes my tastebuds want to flee the country for fear that their families' lives are at risk. Ouch! (I took another drink for some masochistic reason...)

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 12:49:14 | More by TMoney2591

donmonkey1

Tennessee

3.38/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours golden with nice carbonation, a nice thick white head that laces well.

Smell: Not much smell, typical macro.

Taste: Strange, but not bad. Sweet but not too sweet. It's the malt liquor taste that I notice.

This is an average beer but different enough (barely) from most macros to try. It's a session beer and nobody is going to love it, but it's alright. I'ts the best malt liquor beer I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2012 21:17:47 | More by donmonkey1

smcolw

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The color is as one would expect, grainy yellow. Nearly no head. No lace.

This has what I refer to as a refrigerator aroma. It's not stale per se, but it doesn't give any of the smells one would expect.

The flavor is a marked improvement. I can even detect a mild hop bite. Light grain. The body is decent with a slightly elevated carbonation level. For the style, I'd say this is better than the typical suspects, but it is still suspect itself.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 13:07:58 | More by smcolw

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a brown 22 oz. bottle. Has a pale yellow color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of grains, corn. Taste is not very good, something metallic and medicinal is present, a bit of malt and grain. Feels light in the mouth and overall is a subpar beer, most American made malt liquors are better.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 04:08:24 | More by tone77

homebrew311

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in bottle at India House. Appearance is gold and clear with minimal head. Smell feature sweet malts, dry bread, mild corn, and other grainy qualities. Taste matches nose with sweetness up front, dry grains and light hop bitterness come though as well. Pretty decent flavors for a malt liquor. Mouthfeel is moderate with fizzy carbonation. Overall, nothing offensive here (which I fully expect with the style), so in that realm, this is pretty good. Otherwise, pretty standard lager.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 23:08:35 | More by homebrew311

barczar

Kentucky

2.2/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a brilliant golden color with a solid one inch ivory head that fades quickly into a layer of foam.

Aroma is dominated by corn and grain, slightly sweet and alcoholic, with perhaps a touch of herbal hop and diacetyl.

Flavor reveals more diacetyl, buttery, cloyingly sweet, with heavy grain and slightly bitter hop, ending fairly alcoholic and peppery. The malt backbone is fairly nutty, and a metallic note surfaces as it warms.

Body is on the heavy side, with moderate carbonation. There's an unpleasant slickness present. Some astringency lingers in the finish.

Overall, it's the typical profile for a malt liquor, but a bit fleeting in the malt department. One is more than enough...way to sweet.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 05:14:16 | More by barczar

Tresha

1.18/5  rDev -55.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I found this beer to be very very strong. Of course, it is 5000 and the stronger version but it was very bitter. The aftertaste is strong. The colour is like any lager, but a little darker yellow compared to other Indian beers. Very strong and can get you very very drunk. Have only one and share with friends. You won't know what hit you!

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 11:55:43 | More by Tresha

JayQue

Virginia

3/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased at Grapes and Hops in Fayetteville NC. about 6 months ago. Didn't know it was a Malt Liquor till I I got back home. It is what it is - not that bad...not that great either. Poured into a pint glass as a pale yellow color. Medium size white head that fades fast. minimal lacing.

Smell is sweet and malty...a little skunk as well

Taste is a malty beer somewhat overly sweet. Don't detect the 7%. It went down fairly well with some Cajun shrimp/peppers and okra.

Mouthfeel is about average for this type of beer. No nasty aftertaste. Basically a standard malt liquor. Mild flavor and a bit too sweet.

Works as a lawnmower beer or with spicy food. Not that bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 01:04:07 | More by JayQue

drpimento

Wisconsin

1.35/5  rDev -48.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Oh dear, I'm in a fix; only one more chilled beer and there's this: Poured cold from the fridge with a small to medium foamy, frothy, off-white head, that quickly settled to an island and ring, with no lace. Color is a clear, pale yellow with lots of large and small bubble trails. Aroma is the best thing about this beer - sweet with a little beery, malt, hop. Flavor isn't so good; mainly neutral sweet, carbonic tang, hint of bitter. Body is there, but not pleasant and carbonation is too strong and clashes- heck, everything clashes in this brew. Finish is like flavor and of medium length, which is way too long. Bleh.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 02:14:30 | More by drpimento

JoLight

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +64.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light golden in appearance, Haywards 5000 has stark-white, soapy head that dissipates down to a small ring/surface of foam that retains its own throughout.

Although its hop aroma presence reminds me of Saint Pauli Girl or Becks, the barley malt notes remind me of Coors N.A. You get a basic balance of lightly toasted, euro-like malt, and a noticeable hop presence, sort of floral and sweet I'd say.

The taste is much like the aroma: lightly toasted barley malt, a slight sweetness, and the small bite of hops and carbonation at the end. Although the aroma is slightly floral with the hops, there isn't much of that in the taste, although there is a slightness of a taste note I can't quite put my finger on. Not offensive at all, though. And I also detect no adjuncts in the taste or aroma whatsoever. This sort of reminds me of a euro pale lager, even though BeerAdvocate classifies it as a malt liquor.

P.S.
I detect no alcohol in the aroma or flavor, keeping the high(er) ABV in mind.

The finish is crisp, dry, and refreshing.

This is what a lager should smell and taste like. Buy it. You'll like it.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 03:42:54 | More by JoLight

welldigger888

South Carolina

1.85/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

OK wow, it is an american malt liquor brewed in India under SABMiller. Descent pale gold with a pillowy white head that fades fast leaving good lace.

Malty, maybe. Corn is for sure in play here.Weak aromas at best. Corny , for sure. Minamal hop presence,but there.

Don't say beer....So this is what the most populous country drinks to get a load on.

Well, this drinks thin and delivers thinner.

Shipped all this way and $3 a bomber, there is your answer. It does the job if you can stomach over a year old malt liquor from far away.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 01:51:39 | More by welldigger888

Groucho75

Georgia

2.33/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Was looking forward to this after going through a few more Indian beers from the store; my friendly neighborhood liquor man said he preferred this to the domestic Kingfisher and the Indian-made Taj Mahal.

Usually the words "650 ml", "7 % ABV" and "$3.09" make me a happy boy, but this one is pretty disappointing.

Big, undated bottle, ice cold and poured into a fluted pils glass. Loads of carbonation with a white foamy head that stuck around for a few moments and then evaporated. Strong gold color.

Aroma is where things start going south; sickly grass and a sweetness that wouldn't be out of place with some lower-market AALs.

The taste gets a little better, but not by much. Strong alcohol taste that suggests more than 7%. Some malt, but the adjunct-y taste is just too overwhelming.

Mouthfeel isn't terrible. It isn't great either.

All in all, I'd actually go for Budweiser before this unless I was enjoying a curry. For that matter I'd opt for a Molson's XXX if I wanted something strong with lots of body but not overwhelming in alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 23:56:52 | More by Groucho75

chinchill

South Carolina

2.71/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

From 650 ml undated bottle.

Pours a golden yellow; ample carbonation; short-lived off-white head leaves a lasting ring.

Aroma is not bad but can be described as a slightly skunky lager.

T – starts sweets and finishes mildly bitter. A hoppy lager in which the higher ABV is too apparent in the flavor. Has a pretty good finish.

M – Higher carbonation; too much tingle as a result of higher ABV plus carbonation level. Medium body. ABV also makes this slightly harsh.

O – Average quality, more or less, in a high ABV macro-lager.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 02:01:54 | More by chinchill

HoppingMadRedCap

North Carolina

2.9/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from a 650mL bottle.

Appearance - Pale yellow with a finger of head that fades quickly to only a little bit of foam around the top. High carbonation from the amount of bubbles that continue consistently throughout.

Aroma - Malty with a little note of yeast and some grain, maybe rice? Little to no hop profile on the nose.

Taste - Stronger rice flavors on the tongue definitely, it reminds me very much of a low grade sake that may be served at a restaurant. Only with a few others flavors such as the remaining grains used in production. Same with the aroma, no hop notes to speak of.

Mouthfeel - Smooth and easy going, but in the same sense it’s probably because there simply is not much there.

Overall - A simple, basic beer. I wasn’t expecting much other than Baird I often don’t hold out much hope for Asian beers. Would I buy a bottle? Maybe not, I got this from a rep as a sample. I can see it being a good move from the BCM market. But other than that, meh.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 20:19:27 | More by HoppingMadRedCap

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a very light yellow with no head or lacing.

Smell: Grainy and grassy.

Taste: Kind of bland but not unpleasant. No detectable hops.

Mouthfeel: goes down easy no complaints.

Overall: reminds me of a regular BMC product and this beer hides the alcohol well.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 00:29:53 | More by ejimhof

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.2/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

650ml bottle - $2.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours out a crystal clear, yellow body with a sudsy, quickly deflating, white head.

Smell: Washed out malts tones with a sweet-scented corn-hinting element to it and whiff of astringent cleaner.

Taste: Mild, meager pale maltiness with a sweetness of corn sugar powder. Lightly fruity, like a dash of Martinelli's sparkling apple-grape juice that had subsequently gone a bit flat and tired. No real hop flavor or bitterness, instead you get a small pinch of chemically alcohol. Warming, sweet finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation.

Overall: Unpleasant and coarse but not entirely undrinkable, it's like an India-born malt liquor.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 20:17:39 | More by ChainGangGuy

Derranged

New York

2.33/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 24 ounce into a large mug.

A- Clear golden color with a thick white bubbly head

S- Floral notes and booze

T- Sweet, skunky, boozy and metallic with a strange chemical almost rocket fuel taste. Not good.

M- Very carbonated and thin.

O- Not good. It was worth a try since Indian beer is not widely available where I'm from. But I doubt I'll have this again, unless I'm at an Indian restaurant and I plan on getting wasted. Or in India.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 03:48:45 | More by Derranged

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

2.73/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass, the beer pours a crystal clear dark gold with a half an inch of white, fluffy head and lots of carbonation bubbles. Strong toasted oat and corn smells from the beer, and not much else. Slightly sour grain taste to the beer, with a quick and dry finish. Minimal pale aftertaste, but tolerable. Standard lager, but great with spicy food.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 23:50:18 | More by GarthDanielson

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Dudes...anyone trying this beer must have done a tour of duty in India!!! I had my experience in Lucknow!!! What a PLACE! Anyone who has been to India....know what I am talking. The beer is typical of a macro brewed beer....clear golden/yellow in color not alot of head. Smell is iffy, and so is the taste! The alcohol makes it tough to do a session with it and overpowers the taste! However, when you are in Lucknow...any beer will do....and if I was in Lucknow right now drinkin the Haywards 5000....I would be smiling!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 01:10:13 | More by WoodBrew

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours a clear golden with a thin white foamy head. A bit of wispy lacing.
S- Husky grain. A bit metallic.
T- Starts with a metallic twang. Becomes a bit grainy. Finishes with a strange medicinal flavor.
M- Dry, slightly thin, but not bad.
D- Not a terrible beer. Hides the alcohol well. The metallic flavor really goofed this one up.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 02:43:30 | More by jsprain1

thekanna

Maryland

2.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Clear yellow with active carbonation and massive, foamy head.

S: Sweet adjunct malts and yeast; with some alcoholic undertones.

T: Astringent alcohol flavor could be felt all the way through. Slightly sweet malt flavor with almost undetectable hops, just the lingering presence of what tasted like rubbing alcohol in small quantities.

M: Crisp, light body and medium head.

D: This is what my Indian friends tell me that they got smashed off of in college; it was kind of their equivalent to a 40 oz bottle... I wasn't surprised that this didn't come in one.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 05:13:28 | More by thekanna

crossovert

Wisconsin

1.48/5  rDev -43.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Super Premium beer *rollseyes*. 650ml brown gold foiled bottle.

It pouts a bpss yellow with not much visible carbonation bubbles and a quickly dissipating white head with no lacing.

No smell really, maybe hint of corn and lemon.

Tastes like walnuts, almond extract, alcohol, lemon, and corn.

Mouthfeel is super watery.

It is not good.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 03:26:10 | More by crossovert