Beck's Light - Brauerei Beck & Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

1.55/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

This review is part of Macro Smackdown VIII, another in a series of head-to-head matchups in which I compare and contrast macro lagers or light lagers. This bottle of Beck's Light will attempt to defend the pride of German brewing against the challenge from 'America's #1 imported light beer', Holland's Amstel Light. Beck's may be at a slight disadvantage right off the bat since it sports a green bottle as opposed to its competitor's snazzier looking brown.

Lucid pale amber; slightly lighter than Amstel Light. The head is bright white and maintains its structure longer than the competition. Less lace reaches the glass, although not significantly less. I'll give Amstel a slight edge due its richer color and greater amount of glass coverage.

The nose is so weak that it's hard to come up with much description at all. Watery grain, slightly metallic. As always, the lack of strength means that off-odors are also kept to a minimum. This nose won't offend anyone, but it won't impress anyone either.

Beck's Light doesn't commit the same sin as Amstel Light (in your face bad flavor), but that's only because it doesn't have much flavor at all. I'm relucatant to give it any credit whatsoever, though, since it's just as bad in its own way. Again, stale grain leads the way.

The mouthfeel is even lighter than the mouthfeel on Amstel Light (how that's even possible is hard to fathom), but the carbonation is much more to my liking. That is, it isn't nearly as fizzy. Frankly, I don't like either one.

Beck's Light is lousy beer and is the loser of Macro Smackdown VIII. Somehow I think the German brewing industry will survive this little setback. It hardly makes sense to pick a winner when both beers do absolutely nothing to distinguish themselves, but that's half the fun of the MacSmack series. I'm still looking for the other half. Bottom line: avoid Beck's Light like the plague.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2006 13:51:12 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

1.75/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured a dull straw yellow with a big white fizzy head. Lots of visible carbonation, but the fizzy yellow water type, no lace. The smell was very faint, if there at all. What I could pick up was maybe a hay, or wheat smell. Again very very faint, and hardly there at all. The taste was very light and non descript, but that is about what one would expect from a light lager. A light grain, just enough of a taste to know I was not drinking water would be the best way to describe it. Decent feel, again just the cold well carbonated. Crisp, and a clean finish, no aftertaste. Overall this was totally forgettable, as I imagined it would be. Their version of Bud Light I imagine and if thats the case, it is spot on. Nothing to see here, move along people.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 18:55:27 | More by mikesgroove

WesWes

New York

2.85/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours an almost clear color with a slight yellow hue. It has a thin white head that quickly fades to spotty lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a clean, crisp pale malt scent with some adjuncts. It's light and has that green bottle aroma. The taste is less than average. It has an almost tasteless flavor. It's like flavored water. There is little malt or hops present; very light. The mouthfeel is average. This is typical for a light lager. They're low bodied with good carbonation. This is an easy drinker, but it's not an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2005 00:46:15 | More by WesWes

jwc215

New Jersey

1.6/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Best before 8/06.
A friend of a friend brought this...figured I would give it a shot...
Poured a pale straw yellow with a few bubbles that quickly died out.
Smelled of skunk and sulfur. Some vague hints of something decent quickly die out.
The taste was of water mixed of really bad chemicals.
It was watery, chemical-like and had a cheap skunk taste.
The water somewhat saves it, but this is perhaps the worst beer I've ever had. I understand it is light. But this is just not good at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2006 00:15:31 | More by jwc215

Wasatch

Utah

2/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Pours a pale yellow color, nice carbonation, nice little white foamy head, with some sticky lacing left behind. The nose is grainy, ricy,very slight hop note. The taste is slightly sweet, grainy/ricy, slight hop note. Light Body. Not much going on with this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2011 01:00:57 | More by Wasatch

Jason

Massachusetts

1.8/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Presentation: 12 oz clear bottle with a gold foiled neck, “best before end” freshness date on the back label.

Appearance: Very pale yellow, one of the lightest coloured imports I have ever ran into. Decent head retention, sticks well to the glass and holds a two fingered head for a while.

Smell: Astringent grain in the aroma, light hop and a ghost like skunkiness. Odd smelling.

Taste: Saying it is light bodied is not even close. Malt flavour is minimal. Hops are annoying with a lightly brash bitterness. There seems to be an astringent grain flavour that plays tag team with the hops on your taste buds in a bad way. Thin in flavour with a watered down biscuity grain in the dry finish.

Notes: Why? There is no need for this, we have our own light beers to make fun of. This is damn near close to water … tap water at that. If I want light beer, not that I ever do, I’ll just stick to domestic light beer. Don’t waste your time on this one. Has a similarity to Amstel Light though the head is better in this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2002 20:11:49 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

2.13/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Green well known bottle, with, suprise, best before dating. Pours Pissy yellow, clear, medium bubble white head. nose is blandly vegetal. As expected, there is not much to like with this one. Light bodied, minimal pleasing malt character, limited bitterness. What flavor is picked up is skunky, cardboardy. Low carb, low cal, low enjoyment---pass this lame stuff by, I will next time.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2005 12:15:59 | More by Billolick

ppoitras

Massachusetts

2.63/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12ozer bottle purchased in a two pack with a bottle of Beck's at Austin Liquors, Shrewsbury, MA. Some sort of special promo packaging, only $0.99 for the pair!

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a fluffy 2" white head above the clear, light p*ss-yellow brew. Head fades as fast as it can, but does settle down to about 1/4" of bubbles, and lacing is okay. Aroma is that usual "seems skunky" scent that Beck's and Heineken seem to have, although perhaps even more so. Taste is almost non-existant, seeming more like slightly smoothed water, with a small bitter kick at the end. I know it's a light beer, but come on. Mouthfeel is okay, if this is what you're looking for, but I expected beer characteristics. Drinkability is high, but then again so is water's. This is me, keeping away from light beers...

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2004 17:17:09 | More by ppoitras

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

1.98/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Terrible yellow appearance with lots of clarity, no head. Aroma, instead of the nice skunk of regular Beck's, you get a much more watered down aroma. Not bad, but I'd like a descriptor better than 'water' for the aroma of a beer.

Taste, slight bitterness, more water, this seems like it was made for a yuppie guy who doesn't like beer but wants to appear at least a little bit exotic in his choices. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. A smidge of saaz hops I'd guess.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 18:18:03 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

2.25/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

As a rule, I would not touch a beer labeled “Light”, but “Beck’s” makes some drinkable beers. On the pour a light clear gold, the head a bright white, the lace decent. Nose is malt, a tad sweet, clean and crisp. Front is malt, the top thin, the finish is dry, highly acidic, lightly hopped, and as I expected, something that does not appeal to me, not that it is bad, just not my style of beer, but would appeal to the occasional beer or light beer drinker.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2003 11:09:45 | More by Gusler

plaid75

New York

4.15/5  rDev +86.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Not only the only light beer I drink, but one of the few imported beers too. This beer is an excellent example of what a light beer should taste like. Very similar in taste to the standard Becks beer, but just slightly understated. In my opinion, the lighter, clean taste makes the beer much more drinkable. In a perfect world, this beer would replace Amstel Light as the standard high end light beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2005 20:17:38 | More by plaid75

ZAP

Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Best before 04.01 it reads...does that mean April 2001?? Man...no wonder it was 50-cents a bottle...doesn't taste skunked...light straw color...mild graininess on the nose..taste is very light but there is some OK graininess emerging...body is thin, but not obscene..Compared to some of the other lights this is OK...I'm not a big fan of Beck's and would never buy this again...It is much worse than S.A Light but ok when compared to Coors Light etc...

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2002 21:40:49 | More by ZAP

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev +38.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a green 12 oz. bottle. Has a pale yellow color with a small head. Smell is a bit on the skunky side. Taste is crisp, a touch of malts and hops, slightly sweet. Feels light in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall not bad as far as light beers go.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2010 13:39:30 | More by tone77

Floydster

California

2.88/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle from a local liquor store

Poured into a pint glass with a golden color and a small head that tamed very quickly

Smell was pretty weak with some oat and barley, but that is about it

Taste was smooth, but not much to it

Could drink a lot of these because they are not filling at all and go down easy

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2007 03:41:33 | More by Floydster

Overlord

California

1.6/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

If I want something this putrid and non-beer like, I'll get the sixty calorie Beck's.

Pours a pale yellow. Smells skunky, tastes skunky, with some malt. No real flavor, no mouthfeel ... not as over carbonated as some other light beers, but it just feels off.

I'll actually say it's less drinkable than the ultra.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2007 06:44:22 | More by Overlord

ADR

Pennsylvania

2.1/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Tough to guess the style on this one, its more watered-down Pilsner than an American Light Lager...clear bottle, even has a nutritional label (103 calories and 6 g of carbohydrate in case anyone is interested)....

Pale, pale, greenish yellow, "champagne-like" head that lasts for 20 seconds and then is completely gone. Skunky aroma, "Beck's-like" in first impression but very fleeting. The skunk/crisp combo makes is seem mildly "German import-like" but the taste finishes with a distinct distilled water taste. Anyone want the rest of the six pack?

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2002 11:00:14 | More by ADR

argock

Virginia

2.1/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Served from green 12 oz bottle with typical Beck's foil label
Appearance: looks like an American macro
Smell: nothing special at all, smells like an American macro
Taste: tastes like an American macro -- take your pick
Mouthfeel: very fizzy and thin but not unbearable, not unlike an American macro
Drinkability: probably nice on a hot day, but what beer isn't? 64 calories per beer is its best quality because I could fall into the beer cooler at any grocery store and find a beer as good

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2007 04:58:57 | More by argock

clayrock81

Virginia

1.65/5  rDev -26%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

This was a waste of my time. Poured an almost clear pale gold with a decent head that receeded quickly and left little lace patches. Rather metallic and morning dew like smell (read: cheap beer smell). Watery and thin and like wet grass, there is very little to like about this beer. It is bland and doesn't even go down smooth because of some ripe hopness on the backend. Had one, will not have two.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 17:56:38 | More by clayrock81

bditty187

Nebraska

2.2/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Translucent, very pale yellow hue, smallish white head that disappeared rapidly to a small ring around the edge of the glass. No lace. The nose has powerful influences of grain/husk/hay with an undeniable note of skunk, all in all the bouquet is similar to Beck’s… but lighter and worse. Not inviting. The palate is almost flavorless but what is detectable is largely undesirable… grains and light hops, faint cracker-like malt… the finish is very dry. Watery and thin mouthfeel, it lacks substance. Firm carbonation (if not a little too much). Clean and “refreshing”… mildly sweet aftertaste.

Purchased a single for $1.40. It is an okay specimen of a light lager, not recommended… a touch better than B/M/C light, not as good as Sammy though.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2003 19:18:06 | More by bditty187

TastyTaste

Minnesota

1.5/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a barely-there straw color, that is just a shade more yellow than water. No head, just tiny islands of white bubbles on the surface of the beer. SMells like most other euro lagers, of grassy malt. Slight doughiness also detected. Taste is of light grassy malt and soda water-like carbonation. A big glass of nothing. Not much flavor, not worth the price or the calories,

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2004 17:26:50 | More by TastyTaste

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Becks Light is not a very good off shoot of Becks regular...the beer pours golden clear with decent head and corbonation to start, both which fade rapidly. The smell is grain/barley and pilsner hops. The taste is sharp, pilsner hops strike first, then a slight balance of malt, the aftertaste is bitter. The mouthfeel is lacking because of the very light body, which is good if it is a hot afternoon. Overall it is a better than bud light...average beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 14:08:11 | More by WoodBrew

Pegasus

Texas

2.5/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Quite clear pale golden color with a moderate amount of slow-rising carbonation. The small off-white head fades to a paper-thin layer after a couple of minutes. The lacing is quite broken, but decent looking.

Aroma: Very pungent skunky aroma, a consequence of the clear (OK, it is faintly greenish) glass bottle. Beneath the skunk there is a sweet caramel note and some mild hops.

Taste: Begins with faintly sweet malt and a slight sting of carbonation. Towards the end of the taste, a lingering metallic hop bitterness appears. Finishes dry with astringent grain flavor.

Mouth feel: Overall this beer seems quite watery.

Drinkability/notes: The worst German beer that I have ever had. And when are brewers going to throw in the towel on clear glass bottles? Samuel Smith's seems to have finally abandoned clear glass, when will the rest?

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2003 19:48:16 | More by Pegasus

magictrokini

California

2.1/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Truly a Beck's Light. Has all the taste and aroma of the original, just watered down. Pours light yellow with a bubbly white head. Sweet, yet light, malt and saaz aroma. Bitter Beck's taste, with more water. According to my wife, and the commercial description, this is the lowest-calorie beer out there. I have to say it, this is really not that bad for a light beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 19:08:13 | More by magictrokini

BeerBelcher

Ohio

1.13/5  rDev -49.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

A lot of innocent American beer drinkers associate the flavor of the compound methyl butyl thiol with imported lagers (you know, green bottled beers like Beck's and Heineken). Unfortunately this flavor is skunkyness, and is caused by age, light, heat and abuse and this beer seems to have it engineered right in. This beer I belive has only 64 calories. And it appears to have all beer flavor cues removed from it - all that's left is the skunkyness.

Color is a barely-yellow sort-of beer color. Aroma is skunky and unappealing. Flavor is that same skunky methyl butyl thiol compoun. This is simply not good beer, light or otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 03:27:22 | More by BeerBelcher

Wildman

Ohio

2/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Okay, I am still waiting for the major brewies to get a light beer right. The Europeans still do a better job than us with things like this and Amstel, but they still don't touch what the smaller makers are doing.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2002 10:06:34 | More by Wildman