Stroh's - Pabst Brewing Company

MikeP

4.73/5  rDev +78.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is flat out my favorite macro brew. What follows is based on fresh beer; in other words, consumption well before the freshness expiration date on the can and/or carton.

Consumed fresh, Strohs rewards you with crispness, body without heaviness, and flavor, flavor, flavor. And, hops. It's hoppier than the average macro brew. But, unlike most micro brews with an almost homicidal, rip-your-brains-out overly hopped nastiness, Strohs is optimally balanced, so that the flavors are ideally complimentary.

Because it's a touch lighter than standard for macros [I use MGD as a baseline here], you can drink it without feeling bloated or weighed down. Everything about it is quality, despite the low price. Everything is expertly balanced and blended, unlike so many wildly eccentric [or simply incompetant] specialty brews. If you're looking for a superb beer experience, seek this one out.

Serving type: can

12-13-2012 22:23:43 | More by MikeP

DrLivingston

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +54%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Yes, yes I'm definitely not a beer connoisseur as of yet. I'm a bloody 19 year old kid, so at least I'm somewhat prone to drinking this, right? Pabst this, Pabst that. I like PBR too, but for the price and taste, this really is the best American Macro lager out there. No questions asked. I too think most products from Pabst (well Miller) taste similar, but Stroh's really is in a league of its own, even though I acknowlege this isn't the premier league when it comes to beer. Actually this tastes similar to Pabst, except that this seems to have a little more taste going down, and it has a more bitter, but cleaner aftertaste when compared to PBR. Really, be grateful that this is still being sold in some parts of the country. If you're gonna get a macro American lager, check out Stroh's. It really is the most earnest in price and taste. Keep it alive!!

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2008 03:53:30 | More by DrLivingston

Dodt

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +50.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

picked up a six pack of this beer on a whim.
poured from the can into a pint glass
appearance pale yellow with a wispy head that goes away
smell is a bit grainy
taste wonderful not off putting .
for me this is another beer i can add to list of fridge beer for my none craft friends.

Serving type: can

06-17-2011 18:12:49 | More by Dodt

67cuda

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +49.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured a nice golden yellow, kind of similar to honey, with a small and short-lived white head. It smells nice and malty, much better smelling than say, a Budweiser. The taste is good and malty, much like the smell, with a bit of hops to balance it. Very, very good tasting for this style. The mouthfeel is nice and crisp, not too carbonated. This is a very drinkable beer, and at $7 for a 15-can suitcase, it's just about unbeatable in terms of value, especially considering how good it tastes.

Serving type: can

10-05-2005 16:46:31 | More by 67cuda

jekpc

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +47.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I have two different standards for evaluating beer. The first involves new or interesting brews and is not applicable to Strohs.The second applies to older brands and American mass brews, and it is to ask whether the beer in question tastes and feels like the first beer I sipped from a crockery mug while sitting on my mother's knee many, many years ago. Does it have"beer flavor" More tha any American beer I know Strohs gets high marks for"beer flavor" and I rate it highly.

Serving type: can

09-18-2009 20:32:31 | More by jekpc

jamesdr1968

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +46.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Me and my friends used to drink this during our college days in Pittsburgh (the fine years of '88 to '90 - I think Stroh's was the first to do the 30-pack, please correct me if I'm wrong). What brought me back was a few years ago Consumer Reports rated all of the domestic beers and Stroh's won. I was like WTF??? Really? So I bought a 30-pack of cans, and wow, was I surprised. Not the crap beer that I remembered, but a decent, smooth, American lager. My friends laughed in my face when I told them I was drinking it again - ah well. Pours a nice, deep golden color, good foam and lacing. Taste is above average for a macro. A great session beer. And the price? $15 for a 30 pack? Tough to beat. This is a great one to just have on hand for whenever you need a good, after a long workday beer.

Serving type: can

06-24-2007 02:27:31 | More by jamesdr1968

frankbro

Rhode Island

3.88/5  rDev +46.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A good beer. Excellent for mowing, yard work, and hanging around. Certainly not like Bigfoot. Decent head, minimal lacing, crisp smell with just a hint of hops. The hops are more noticeable in the taste. Really nice American Lager. Makes Bud look like the crap it is. A bargain wherever you buy it. My only macro beer(maybe amber bock, too)

Serving type: can

07-02-2007 22:00:42 | More by frankbro

rabsten

West Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +45.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a can to a pint glass. Decent head that disappears. No lacing to speak of. Dark-gold yellow coloration.

Smells like American Macro Lager, but without the obvious corn scent.

Taste is well above average for its style. Minimal hop presence but the malt is pretty good. Not sweet, not bitter. It tastes "heavier" than BMC and has a pleasant finish.

Mouthfeel is good for the style. It has a "roundness" to it that makes it a very drinkable beer.

There was a recent discussion thread on "best bad beers," or something like that. I voted for Stroh's based upon years of service. This makes a good picnic beer. It goes well with hot dogs and hamburgers and is a solid choice for those places you can't take bottles, like pools and state parks. I picked up a 15 pack to keep around for when I don't feel like cracking open one of my Stone bombers or the like. And as a bonus, it's cheap.

Bottom line: beats the hell out of BMC.

Serving type: can

04-20-2006 22:04:49 | More by rabsten

MirkoCroCough

Croatia (Hrvatska)

3.85/5  rDev +45.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

12oz. can purchased at local VFW for 75 cents poured into standard beer mug.

Golden straw color with supreme clarity.

Smells like beer of this kind.

Light and beery, with a faint hint of hops in the finish.

Very smooth. More still than carbonation sting.

Not filling at all. Good for when you want to get drunk for little money or play flip cup or whatever.

Never had this beer before actually. Tried it because it was extremely cheap, but mostly because at the end of the Stooges live album "Metallic KO", Iggy says "Hey man, somebody threw a Stroh's!". I had to try it and glad that I did.

Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed. It's cheap beer after all.

Serving type: can

11-08-2009 01:04:05 | More by MirkoCroCough

ThirstyBird

Germany

3.8/5  rDev +43.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ah Stroh's. My first beer back in 1979.

Well It pours a pale gold with plenty of carbonation resulting in a modest one finger head which doesn't stick around for a minute.

It smells slightly sweet along with a typical macro lager smell.

Taste is quite pleasing. A delicate lager with slight malt taste and sweetness. I could see drinking this with sushi, a burger maybe pizza.

Mouthfeel. Decent for a macro. The carbonation is a little course for my liking but it's not atypical for an American Macro.

Overall, I feel that this beer is underrated amongst it's American macro lager peers. A nice addition to any cook out or to quench your thirst after chasing your dog around the neighborhood.

Serving type: can

07-20-2008 19:17:09 | More by ThirstyBird

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.8/5  rDev +43.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Stroh's has a medium, white head and a very clear golden appearance. Carbonation is medium to high. The aroma is typical for an American-style lager (subdued to nonexistent). The taste is more delicious, fuller, and balanced that others in its style class. A relatively higher hop bitterness is noted. Mouth-feel is light and watery. Stroh's finishes crisp and refreshing, with a nice bite to it. Overall, I'd say this is a well-made ASL lager, and I'd recommend giving it a try. Stroh's is NOT sold in Louisiana. I bought this six-pack on a road trip in Maryland in June, 2010.

RJT

Serving type: can

07-28-2010 12:18:30 | More by RonaldTheriot

alabencki

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +41.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is good old, classic, Michigan beer. Brewed in Detroit until 2000, after the Stroh Brewing Company was bought out by Pabst.

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

It looks like your typical American Adjunct Lager. Very pale, white head that recedes within the first minute and a half to two minutes.

Smells of pale malt, lager yeast and some corn adjunct.

Tastes fairly crisp. Almost a clean lager flavor, with little adjunct detected, but there was some there. Very refeshing, with very faint, almost undetectable hop presence.

The mouthfeel was very light and watery, but still a very crisp, clean taste.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 04:12:49 | More by alabencki

epiinephriine

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +39.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

If what you're looking for is a cheap beer to keep your fridge full, this is my first suggestion. It's not much different from others in this category, ie. macro brew adjunct lager, yet the one thing that sets it apart is hops. Granted it's no IPA (I'm no noob, I'm a certified hop head) but I swear to you, there is an essence of hop oil in this beer; certainly more than can be found in High Life. Oddly enough, I find it to be most present when imbibed directly from the can and not so much from the bottle or glass. Put it in a keeper-cooler on a hot day and get it before those annoying hipsters do (this'll be the next PBR on campus).

Serving type: can

03-10-2011 19:53:14 | More by epiinephriine

mynie

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev +38.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On the box this beer is a deep orange gold. In reality it pours out light yellow with almost no head. Unimpressive.

Smells of nice malt and grain. A bit of corn, a bit of spiced hops. Not very complex, but nice.

What a nice and spicy malt flavor! It's kind of a burst with no distinct stages but for a macro this is wonderful.

The body is crisp and smooth, quite refreshing, and it goes down easy.

Serving type: can

08-12-2005 18:59:54 | More by mynie

PBRstreetgang

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +37.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light gold with one finger head. Poor head retention but nice lacing. Aroma and taste are a pleasent balance of malt and hops. Smooth, and the crisp bite that is familiar to the all-malt lager style.Pabst brewing company excells at making affordable session beer with above average flavor. While not very different than your american macro, the absence of adjunct malts and smooth drinkability make it superior, even to other popular all-malt lagers.

Serving type: can

08-01-2005 05:54:05 | More by PBRstreetgang

Bockrules

New Mexico

3.63/5  rDev +37%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from the can into a pilsner glass

A - Pours a pale yellow with a two finger white head that quickly disappears to a thin ring of lace. Almost perfect clarity and plenty of carbonation. The thin ring of lace stays intact nearly all of the way down the glass and a moderate amount of lacing is left behind.. pretty good for a macro

S - Not a whole lot here, but nothing bad either. A bit of sweet grain smell and a little bit of adjunct corn tones. Typical Macro

T - A few light grain notes up front followed by a sweet corn grit body with hints of hop flavor and a little bit of grassyness. The finish is very dry, leaves a grassy-corn grit aftertaste that slowly comes into existence after the dry finish.

M - Light bodied, but heavier than many of the macros out there. Lots of carbonation.

D - This has now been added as one of my go to cheap beers. I never saw this beer until I moved down to Oxford, OH for my internship this summer. This is a decent summer beer that has hints of a German pils and a sweet looking can. Would I seek this beer out when I'm in other parts of the country?.... hell no, but for the summer it gets a place in my fridge

D -

Serving type: can

07-07-2009 05:45:43 | More by Bockrules

jakester

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I got this in a trade with a buddy of mine. (Abita Turbodog)

Pours a crystal clear straw yellow with a one finger head of white foam after a strong pour. Looks kind of fizzy. The head eventually drops to islands and a ring with decent lacing on the glass.

Aroma is on the grainy side, with definite DMS right there. In a beer like this, though, that is a common trait and kind of pleasant. Smells crisp and clean, with some light spicy hops way in the back.

Tastes like it smells; crisp, clean, light pilsner malts, and some residual sugar. For the style, this is pretty damn good. There is a light hop bitterness to this to balance the sweetness. Aftertaste is slightly grainy and pleasant.

Mouthfeel is crisp and tingly from carbonation. There is a sweetness here, but the beer is definitely crisp. The finish is crisp and on the dry side.

If you review this beer objectively, according to style, this is pretty damn good. No off flavors whatsoever, and one of the tastiest "macros" I've ever had. Maybe the fact it's an all barley malt beer has something to do with it, but if you're looking for a good macro, this would be the one.

Serving type: can

08-26-2005 15:13:45 | More by jakester

bearrunner44

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Time to revisit one of my favorite standby macrobeers.

Appearance: Medium amber, with a thin, fizzy head. The color and the clarity is nice.

Smell: A slightly sour, malty aroma with very slight hints of spicy hops. It's not particularly attractive, but it's inoffensive.

Taste: Mostly malt-heavy, but it has some of the most pronounced hop flavors that I've ever tasted in a canned budget beer. Granted, Stroh's won't knock the socks off of HopDevil fanatics, but having readily identifiable hops in a canned macrobeer is a pleasant surprise.

Mouthfeel: The body is about average for a mainstream lager, but it's outstanding compared to most B/M/C products. It's also pretty smooth.

Verdict: Wow. I've been on a bit of a macro kick lately, and drinking a Stroh's so soon after drinking a Budweiser really puts this beer into perspective. While this certainly isn't a standout beer by BA standards, it's a fantastic budget beer that tastes way better than it has any right to.

Serving type: can

01-05-2005 17:50:04 | More by bearrunner44

veech

Tennessee

3.58/5  rDev +35.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I tend to have a soft spot in my heart for some of the retro beers: PBR, High Life, Olde Style, Schlitz etc. I remember drinking "fire brewed" Strohs on tap during a beach trip after my freshman year of college. I have to say like many of the aforementioned granddad beers it has much more taste and character than BMC. The color and carbonation was right on for American lager. The smell was mostly corn, but enough malt to note. Taste was more of the same, but really pretty pleasing considering the style. Mouthfeel was fine, again relative to style, and the drinkability was very high. It is no longer sold in my local market, and I was glad to have found some on a recent roadtrip in a 30 pack for 12 bucks. Definitely a better bargain than most macros. If only it still said "Firebrewed" whatever the hell that means.

Serving type: can

01-23-2007 16:57:06 | More by veech

hulmanite

Iowa

3.55/5  rDev +34%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is the best you can get for the money. I mean, anything that beats the hell out of Bud, Miller, Coors, etc... and comes in a 30 pack for a few bucks less than most 24's, is a sure thing. I'm a poor college student and this is what I pick up all the time when I want to chill and have some cheap brews.

Serving type: can

05-27-2004 23:11:12 | More by hulmanite

maggotbrain

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured a solid yellow color with a half inch white head that dissipated after a minute or two.

It smelled like beer, for lack of a better description. A smell I associated with my father. Lightly sweet and earthy.

The taste was actually quite good. This is by far the best of the macro cheapies (i.e. Pabst, High Life, Schlitz, ect—which, are all better than their more popular and better selling cousins). Sweet, a bit grainy, with a touch of hop bitterness.

The mouthfeel was also quite good. Not too carbonated, but not dull and lifeless.

The drinkablilty of this beer was quite good. I could drink this all night with some friends around a camp fire.

Serving type: can

07-25-2005 02:51:46 | More by maggotbrain

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A - This beer is ridiculously clear and transparent....looks like those Blu-Blocker aviator yellow sunglasses. The head is about one finger and short lived. It drops to nothing but a tiny ring of suds after a minute flat.

S - Husky and grainy just like PBR. I can smell the Heilman's DNA here, and that's not necessarily a bad think since I think they make some of the best cheapo lagers out there...definitely better than BMC water.

T - Wow. This is A LOT more flavorful than I expected! This actually has some decent toffee malt flavors and a nice hop tang. Damn...this is mind boggling. It looks like crap and smells decent, but basically like every other cheap "grandpa" lager but it tastes so much more assertive than any other macro I ever had. I'm impressed.

M - Medium bodied (quite full for the style) and highly carbonated to give a hefty feel on the tongue, while remaining playful and light enough to session like crazy.

D - I'm floored by this one. If I could find this more easily this would be my cheap fall back session lager of choice...I currently drink PBR or Old Milwaukee (strangely, both Heilman brews) when I just want to drink four or five beers with my buddies on the cheap. Good stuff for what it is.

Serving type: can

07-29-2008 17:05:01 | More by pmcadamis

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: A clear straw-yellow color with a decent sized creamy white head with respectable retention. Carbonation appears to be lively. Leaves some patchy white lace here and there.

S: Rough grain huskiness, some vague, possibly herbal hops, and a touch of metal. Smells like beer?

T: A bit of malt sweetness up front, actually. The somewhat astringent grain husk flavor is also present throughout. Grassy/herbal hops also have a definite presence. Certainly not in-your-face or especially flavorful, but for the style it's nice to see them at least poke their heads inside to say hello. Call me crazy, but I taste some subtle dry white grape/champagne flavors as well. Some metallic flavor is also present, but not as noticeable as many other canned macros.

M: Typical medium body. Carbonation fairly active. The husky grains and muted hops lend a somewhat dry snap to the finish.

D: Some of the other reviewers for this beer compare it to PBR, and I don't think that's very far off the mark. Compared to Pabst, it's a bit maltier and not quite as bitter, so pick your poison I guess. Very drinkable as an inoffensive throwback beer and obviously quite affordable. Plus the cans have an awesome design. I'd put this on par with Bud, PBR, and High Life atop the dubious macro throne at this point.

Serving type: can

12-19-2008 20:32:32 | More by Clydesdale

hooverw1

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Local bar in town was selling 6 Stroh's in an ice bucket. Figured I'd give it a try. I had been surprised at how well I liked Schlitz. And Stroh's like Schlitz had been bought out by Pabst. I was surprised, had a really good taste, a friend with me said it is much better than Miller or Bud. I have to say I enjoy the Schlitz better for one reason, after a couple of beers the Stroh's was heavier on the stomach. But overall, taste was good and I'd drink it again. 6 cans of Strohs on ice, beats Miller or Bud on tap anyday!!

Serving type: can

12-30-2009 18:46:17 | More by hooverw1

proc

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Re-rate: 1/18/03: Hands-down my favorite, cheapie, macro-type beer. There is actual taste to this one. Pours out to a darker than usual gold for this style with a light aroma of grain. Taste is very refreshing and their is some actual hop and malt taste, albeit light, here. A staple of my 'fridge, next to Bell's Stout/Two-Hearted/Oberon.

12-14-01: When this beer was made in Detroit, it was hands-down better than other U.S. macros. When production shifted out of state, the taste suffered. Pabst has done a decent job of reviving it in recent years, but it is still a notch below what it was years ago. I still have a soft spot for this beer, but it isn't as widely available as it used to be. Good old Detroit Strohs was a very good American Lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2001 09:56:50 | More by proc