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

JayQue

Virginia

3/5  rDev +14.5%
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 -48.5%
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 +65.3%
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 -29.4%
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 -11.1%
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 +3.4%
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 +10.7%
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 +14.5%
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%
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 -11.1%
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 +4.2%
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 +0.4%
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 +19.5%
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 +2.3%
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 -43.5%
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

Gobzilla

California

3.15/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a golden yellow with a finger of head that left good blotchy lacing on the glass. The grains and sweet malt dominate the aroma that also had slight wheat and spice notes; pretty simple nose. The taste is pretty much the same as the nose with the grains and malts playing the main role which also had caramel and slight ctiric accent. the brew was medium body with a good amount of carbonation that had a slight sweet and malty finish. Overall its an average lager that goes great paired with shrimp tandoori which also drank very well and was really refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 05:18:08 | More by Gobzilla

Clockwork420

Missouri

2.1/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Served from a large bomber into a glass stein.

A - Gold. Slightly hazy. Pretty patterned bubbles. All forming lines.

S - Smells deceiving. It smells flowery, and potent with alcohol. But its really smells sweet. Sugary, malty.

T - Smell was sort of what I tasted. It had a strong presence of alcohol. In the start its sweet citrus, middle is buttery and slick, really slippery, then finishes with a bite of strong alcohol taste.

M - As stated buttery. Slippery. Sweet and carbonation was okay. Could have had more to it and it would have been okay.

D - Nil. I wouldn't drink more than one or two.

The fact I got this from a little liquor store could be a factor in this review, and I state it in full. The Indian beer I have had I have not been impressed with. Strange. I didn't know that Illinois was in India?

I wouldn't drink this one again, unless served very cold, and for a great price at a restaurant. Factor in freshness also. If it was new I would try it again. This one sat in my fridge for a month or so. And the regions of where it came were shady. Theres my disclaimer.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 21:54:01 | More by Clockwork420

spointon

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I tried this beer last night at an Indian restaurant Oak Brook, IL - poured from a 22oz brown bottle into a tall pilsner flute glass.

A= This lager poured a very slightly hazed yellow color with a 1/2" loose white head. The head took longer to drop than I expected and eventually settled to a thin ring. Very little head retention and no lacing to speak of.

S= Sweet maltiness in the nose with a very slight bit of sulfur.

T= Flavor started off on the sweet side, but with only a light malt flavor. Slight corn notes throughout. Hops were pretty much a non-factor in the flavor. Finish was drier than the start, but still fairly sweet.

MF= Light to medium bodied with a crisp feel and spritzy carbonation.

D= This was an ok macro style lager that paired well with spicy Indian food. If I was having this by itself I would have struggled to finish it. Actually, by the time I was done eating I still had about 5 ounces in my glass and I found myself not too interested in finishing it.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 16:10:44 | More by spointon

Bookseeb

Washington

3.05/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is a cloudy straw golden color with a quickly dissapating head. Smell is lightly sweet that has a malty graininess to it . Taste has a malty/adjunct light sweetness leaving a bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light having good body with crisp carbonation. Actually not bad for a fairly high alc. adjunct beer which is fine until it gets to the bitter end.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 01:50:48 | More by Bookseeb

jarmby1711

Australia

2.93/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This pale gold lager is crystal clear , which in my experience does not bode well as it gives the beer a manufactured rather than brewed quality. This beer frothed up a decent head , but really is very plain and unremarkable.
It is all derinkable and enjoyable but thats about it.
It is the sort of beer to have over a business discussion on a warm afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2010 23:26:31 | More by jarmby1711

kshankar

District of Columbia

2.93/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pour is pretty good. Clear and pale yellow, with a rocky foam. Looks like a kristal weizen!

...Too bad it doesn't smell like one. It smells metallic. And rather beer-like. Not much else.

Does it taste like a kristal weizen? No. It tastes metallic too, with a very slick mouthfeel. Pretty unoffensive, but then again, its also really bland.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 02:14:31 | More by kshankar

mjaskula

New York

2.88/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up an Indian beer to go with my meal. Served in a pint glass. Looks like a macro lager, clear and golden. The thin white head disappeared quickly.

Aroma is mild, sweet and malty. Flavor is crisp, clean and mildly malty. Nothing special, but not really bad either. Mouthfeel and carbonation are both light. Easy to drink with spicy food.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2009 02:55:30 | More by mjaskula

cudmud

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured out of the bottle with a big head, with extra large bubbles. The head dissipated into nothing with no lace.

The aroma was nothing to be desired. In short, it smelled like beer. The hops were noted, but no malt or esters were detected.

Again, the taste was average. There is a big taste of hops and peppery-like notes.

The drinkability was nothing special. Overall, most folks would rather drink a beer that's aromatic and full bodied. Same with the mouthfeel, nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2009 01:30:49 | More by cudmud

farrago

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev +25.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Even with an aggressive pour, not much of a head, mainly comprised of larger, quick to pop bubbles, no foam, white in color, minimal lacing left behind. Raw grainy nose, like unshucked corn, metal, iron notes without mineral water foundation to fall back on, some fuller bread notes, sour grapefruit rind, has a saline quality as well, nothing about it that jumps out as fruit, overall the smells don't piss you off, it just smells like generic "beer." Medium-bodied, broad-shouldered carbonation which lasts easily through the finish. Pretzels, sourdough, rye, more cooked than raw, if indistinguishable as elements, certainly makes it evident that this is a straight down the middle of the plate lager beer. Sour mixed white citrus, more iron flecks, an uptick in apricot to peach fruit, pits and skins, maybe fig. Due to the carbonation doesn't lose weight/palate presence through the finish. Old coriander powder. Without faulting it, or its place of origin, too much it falls exactly into line with expectations. You're in a cheap Indian restaurant scarfing down some vindaloo chicken and nan and this is the beer you drink there. No mystery, no failure to meet a certain threshold of quality. Great, no, contextually viable, absolutely.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2009 03:39:54 | More by farrago

BeerSingh

India

2.63/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Haywards 5000 is a sought after strong lager available in India, and probably the best known brand after Kingfisher.

Poured into a Beer Mug from a 22 oz bottle. Darkish yellow in colour with a big head. Smells of typical adjuncted beer - metallic. Tastes of distinct alcohol and grain separately. Mouthfeel is thin and fizzy.

I have stopped drinking this beer post my tryst with Belgians

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2009 07:37:42 | More by BeerSingh