Boris Bold
Brasserie Licorne

Boris BoldBoris Bold
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From:
Brasserie Licorne
 
France
Style:
European Strong Lager
Ranked #58
ABV:
8.6%
Score:
61
Ranked #28,445
Avg:
2.2 | pDev: 30.45%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
34
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 22, 2024
Added:
Jun 10, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  4
No description / notes.
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Photo of mlemieux85
Rated by mlemieux85 from Canada (ON)

1.83/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
Bought at the Beer Store. Tasted vile, very rank alcohol aftertaste. A struggle to finish. Cannot recommend in good conscience even for a cheap buzz.
Jan 22, 2024
 
Rated: 2 by emiliobaratta from Venezuela

Mar 04, 2021
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

3.62/5  rDev +64.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
500ml can, purchased across the border in Dunham.

Beers like this bring back memories of all of the strong lagers I enjoyed back in the late 1980's and early 1990's in Europe. Some were harsh and some were sweet, all have a fun memory tied to them. Bright and perfectly clear golden hued brew. Mild sweetness with a bready maltiness in the nose and on the palate. Faint cooked veggies and some faint caramel hit the tastebuds. Ample hoppiness for the size and the dryness of the beer, alcohol is very noticeable ... warming but not out of place. With each sip this brew grows on me, enjoyable.
Jul 31, 2019
Photo of ShoeIn-BrewWin
Reviewed by ShoeIn-BrewWin from England

4.3/5  rDev +95.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
I guess this is the first positive review of this brewery, but I actually really like it. The high abv is masked by the sweetness and it is an extremely smooth beer. The color is an attractive, clear, dark gold. To compare this to Budweiser is harsh. I find it quite delicious and I can't wait to try the even higher abv version.
Sep 25, 2017
Photo of DamianNYC
Rated by DamianNYC from New York

1.77/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Tastes like flat stadium beer with higher alcohol.
Sep 11, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by Marc_Nation from England

Nov 15, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by Socialiste from Canada (QC)

Sep 22, 2014
 
Rated: 2.75 by DreamDeath from Canada (NB)

May 18, 2014
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

2.37/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 1.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Boris Bold is not a looker - I thought the French had a flare for fashion? There's nothing aesthetic about this (supposedly) golden lager, it is regrettable in every single aspect: the tarnished tone and dulled highlights, the polluted complexion, the total lack of head or lace.

Boris, however, is Bold alright - it smells boldly of sugar, corn syrup, and alcohol. I had someone else try it first just to make sure it wasn't poison. It's almost as if the brewery was attempting to make caramel by dissolving sugar in hot water and then, for whatever reason, they opted instead to ferment the mixture. This is sweet enough to pass for a children's cereal.

Though largely insipid, the flavour still manages to be unpleasant. It tastes like a watery concoction of white sugar, ethanol, and creamed corn kernels (with either the yeast or alcohol adding vaguely fruity esters that lend it a kind of cleaning product characteristic). Hints of brown sugar or caramel are constantly sprouting, but they are without accompanying texture (very watered down) and quickly extinguished by the burn of alcohol.

The skepticism with which I re-approached this beer has proven to be well-founded. I first tried Boris Bold at a time in my life when I found Corona and Heineken perfectly enjoyable lagers - and even back then I found this revolting. It's been years since I could consider those mass-produced lagers even remotely acceptable, so imagine what I make of this now.

Boris Bold is the polar opposite of Boris Organic, which is clean, agreeable, and flavourful - it is it's evil brother. Alcoholics looking for a quick fix could do worse - and, to be sure, that seems to be the brewery's targeted demographic - but no average drinker should subject themselves. The vintners of Alsace, like the German brewers across the Vosges Mountains, have nothing to fear of Brasserie de Saverne; this is no threat to their reputations.
Dec 29, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by TheBeeraholic from Canada (ON)

Jun 15, 2013
 
Rated: 2.25 by Odri from Canada (QC)

Oct 12, 2012
 
Rated: 2.25 by RedAleMan from Canada (ON)

Aug 12, 2012
 
Rated: 2.25 by Ivanhoes_Backpack from Canada (NB)

Apr 02, 2012
 
Rated: 2 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

Jan 17, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by ThinkAgain from Canada (ON)

Jan 06, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by oldp0rt from Canada (QC)

Nov 24, 2011
Photo of Otterburn
Reviewed by Otterburn from Canada (QC)

2.88/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
from the can, into the pint glass

small white head foam

medium carbonation

medium dark blond beer

smell like a 8% beer. alcool, and stuff, cereal

taste is not great, but not bad. a bit on the alcool side.

mouthfeel is alright, medium body. medium carbonation. after taste of 8% beer, a bit cheap

overall its not that bad, good one after a work day!
Oct 05, 2011
Photo of spinrsx
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)

2.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
500ml Can

Appearance – Amber colour with an average size frothy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some really good lacing. The head lasted for 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell – Malts, alcohol, grains/bread

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, grains and corn. It basically tastes just alike a regular euro-lager but with some added not so well hidden alcohol. Almost like someone added rum/vodka to a beer. It finishes with a boozy grainy aftertaste with a touch of corn syrup sweetness.

Overall – Figured I'd give it a shot.. and basically got what I was expecting.. A harsh tasting beer that I'll never want to drink again.
Jul 08, 2011
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

1.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
500ml can. Stored in the coolers' section of a low-rent liquor store, for some reason...

This beer pours a clear pale golden colour, with two fingers of thin creamy, foamy white head, which leaves some random chunks of lace around the glass as it settles. It smells of sweet corn/rice grain, and mild warming alcohol. The taste is more sweet corn, and strong fusel alcohols, very reminiscent of all those times I didn't huff the mouthwash. The carbonation is fairly moderate, the body medium in weight, somewhat smooth, and cloying. It finishes with a leveling off of the sweetness, right into an abyss of alcohol.

I see now why this was placed where it was - while still beer, it's one big sweet boozy mess.
Feb 13, 2011
Photo of BBP
Reviewed by BBP from Canada (ON)

1.97/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
A- Copper with little head which immediately receeded.

S- As soon as I opened the can I could smell alcohol and a sweet aroma. Can't really smell much else.

T- Despite the initial pungent alcohol smell the alcohol taste was fairly background. It starts with more of a sweet toffee syrup taste. It's almost sticky. It tasted a bit too sweet for me and there wasn't even the bitter aftertaste that most beers have. It's almost like an alcoholic pop with little carbonation.

M- Felt strange as if it slid off your tongue but held on to everything else.

D- Not a bad drink if you want to get drunk quick. I would never recommend this for anybody aiming to try a tasty beer though. Tasty for a cheap high ABV though. It didn't offend me as much as some people, but at the same time it didn't impress me like others.
Aug 21, 2010
Boris Bold from Brasserie Licorne
Beer rating: 61 out of 100 with 34 ratings