Colt 45 High Gravity Lager - Pabst Brewing Company

Lacesoutcody

North Carolina

3.08/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Drank from a tall boy can, 8.5%

A: I don't believe in pouring this style of beer into a glass, nor do I think it should be drank from one.

S: Bitter fruits, corn, and metallic afternotes

T: A little artificial sweetner bite, with typical malt beer after taste, not bad for the style.

M: A little heavy in my opinon, dry as a bone, should be a little more crisp.

D: Good, I wouldn't buy all the time, but it's def. something to try if you haven't already, one of the better high gravitys on the market.

Serving type: can

06-24-2010 00:29:04 | More by Lacesoutcody

JeffSuttonTX

Texas

2/5  rDev -26.2%

03-11-2013 01:42:38 | More by JeffSuttonTX

DmanGTR

New York

1.5/5  rDev -44.6%

01-29-2013 20:16:41 | More by DmanGTR

spycow

Illinois

2/5  rDev -26.2%

01-17-2013 06:32:29 | More by spycow

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev +10.7%

12-05-2012 04:00:23 | More by t0rin0

Antonius08

Florida

2/5  rDev -26.2%

08-25-2012 20:44:09 | More by Antonius08

emerge077

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Another "top ten" AML, currently sitting at #9 on the style list. Found this at a neighborhood bodega, surprisingly it's not all that easy to find around town. The black can is dated JUN1112" on the bottom, a possible production or best by date (assuming best by, considering the source).

Crack & glug, as ol' Woody says... pale urine gold with slow trails of carbonation rising upward. Copious amounts of foam, a good 3-4" on top, though it quickly fizzles out to a feeble broken skim on the surface. Second pour was 1" with a creamy surface texture. Some spotty lace clings inside the glass.

Smells ok, not bad not good. Believe me i've whiffed worse. Pretty tame, grainy and dry, no trace of the alcohol yet.

Tastes pretty nondescript, like white wine and cereal grains. The alcohol is present as it warms, and not all that pleasant. Slightly fusely but not too astringent really. The first sips deaden the tongue a bit, and the low carbonation gives it a certain slickness. Pretty drinkable considering the style, actually drinking it as opposed to dumping it.

Is it bad? Not really. Wouldn't seek it out, and I think there are better tasting budget options out there like Hurricane and Natty Daddy.

Serving type: can

08-06-2012 22:13:26 | More by emerge077

fastrodney

North Carolina

2/5  rDev -26.2%

05-13-2012 02:39:59 | More by fastrodney

ForWhatAlesYou

Minnesota

1.63/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

24oz can poured into an old jar (I thought it was the most appropriate glassware for this style. A paper bag could have worked nicely.)

A: Champagne-like creamy clear yellow. Heavy carbonation bubbles. Soapy white head falls most of the way but hangs around. Lace coats the entire glass.

S: Like a bowl of rice krispies swimming in cheap vodka.

T: Actually, there is some intrigue here. This is very unexpected. If it were a little sweeter, I might be convinced I'm drinking a hard cider. As it is, the flavor is harsh, boozy, anf lacking dimension. Rice, Red Bull, apple peel...

M: Alcohol warms and cuts through all texture. Heavy carbonation. Overly dry.

D: Really?

Serving type: can

12-13-2011 15:55:57 | More by ForWhatAlesYou

JoLight

Georgia

1.8/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

This beer is light gold in its appearance, with a soapy head that doesn't stick around.

The aroma is mainly straight-forward alcohol, balanced with sweetness, corn & generalized graininess.

The taste is a big punch of alcohol, and alcoholic bitterness, with no hops and very little grain/malt presence. Then the aftertaste leaves a slight trace of barley malt. To be quite frank, it has sort of a wine aspect to it.

It's clean, crisp, super dry, and very carbonated.

Overall, it's just too alcoholic for my preference for beer. I don't mind the alcohol taste at all, but it's almost just that, and no beer aspects whatsoever. There is no skunkiness or fowl aromas or tastes to it, but it's just too unbalanced for me.

Serving type: can

09-28-2011 00:48:50 | More by JoLight

Bendurgin

Maine

2.1/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured into my Wolverine pint glass. Awesome. Pours a clear golden straw color with a cap of white head that fizzles away almost as soon as it forms.

This has your run of the mill sweet corn smell. Just as I expected, nothing more to it just sweet corn. The flavor is a lot like the aroma. Sweet corn with a little bit of rubber thrown in to the mix. The alcohol isn't shy here either, it makes a strong burning presence.

The feel is light and the carbonation is a little low. Overall this serves a purpose, but not really much of one for me.

Serving type: can

09-21-2011 04:42:44 | More by Bendurgin

ElCommodoro

Texas

3.53/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Smells de-lish. I smell a strong corn scent and some cheap malt. It almost smells like an Olde English, but not as strong. I can't wait to take a taste of this stuff.
The appearance is bright gold that is completely transparent. It's got a little bit of that glow that many high gravity lagers seem to have. I'm not sure what causes it, but I'm hoping radioactivity plays only a small role. The head is thick and frothy, leaving an impressively appealing lacing.
The taste is primarily of fusel alcohol. Despite this, it is surprisingly smooth. Almost dishearteningly so. I like a good dose of corn flavour in my malt liquor, and there's not a lot of that here. It's a bit sweet, but less so than many other malt liquors I've indulged in. So, it's a refreshing departure from the sweetness associated with the style, but I do kind of miss it. :'(
There's a bit of a banana flavour in there, but only slightly detectable. Not especially noticeable.
It really seems like a lot of what was in this lager was converted to alcohol. Not much cheap malt flavour. No cloying corniness. It's sad, but...interesting. I'm not sure what to rate this. I'm really in a fix. I'm going to have to rate it fairly high, i think, because it is superior to many other beers labeled "high gravity lager." It doesn't taste quite as much like a chemical factory despite it's very light overall character. I really wish it HAD more character, though. Not just lightly fusel-flavoured carbonated water.
It's certainly above average. That is my final word on the matter.
Not to mention one can got me totally drunk. Good stuff in that regard.

Serving type: can

06-19-2011 10:09:34 | More by ElCommodoro

keeganfrank

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Golden beer with a thick, foamy head that dissipates quickly. Smells very sweet and of fermented fruit. Tangy fermented fruit flavor as well, with some burnt grain aftertaste. Pretty drinkable for a malt liquor, especially a higher ABV variety. No musty, offensive flavors present.

Serving type: can

06-10-2011 19:28:48 | More by keeganfrank

longbongsilver

Missouri

3.15/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Heading back home from Columbia needed to get gas, and spot this 24oz in the store. I like regular Colt (seriously. For the category I'd only rank it behind Steel Reserve), figured why not?

Pours clear yellow, humongous white thicker-than-expected (resembles biscuit dough) head. Bubbling below the head vanishes. Sharp apple-ish smell, plus a whiff of the usual corn -- it is a malt liquor, after all. Hint of booze on the scent but not as much as I expected. Taste continues the theme, with a bit of melon in there somehow.

Honestly, this reminds of a low-budget barleywine minus the hop strength. It goes down thicker than usual for a malt liquor, as if some wheat was involved. Only point I'd specifically ding for mouthfeel is being too far on the flat side.

For the most part, the best you can say about a malt liquor is if it's close to a traditional beer taste and feel -- "this doesn't taste like a malt liquor" is a high mark, in other words. Well...this comes oddly close to not tasting like a malt liquor. High gravity Colt is within inches of bumping SR off its throne.

Serving type: can

04-20-2011 01:16:19 | More by longbongsilver

harpus

Alabama

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

A- No head, no lacing, yellow corn body with a lot of carbonation bubbles rising to the top of the glass.

S- Some malt, and a lot of alcohol smell no hops.

T- A lot of alcohol tastes and some malt. The alcohol overrides all the tastes.

M- Very watery.

D- The alcohol taste killed it for me.

O- Better then expected, did not expect much for only paying $1.50 for a 24oz can.

Serving type: can

12-09-2010 03:50:54 | More by harpus

Chaz

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Crack and a pour results in a rocky, off-white head of good duration -- better than adequate lacing is also present.

Golden-amber in color, reminds me of a Maerzen. Combined with the head and lace, the appearance is the most impressive aspect of of this brew.

Nose is, eh, pretty average: sweet, funky cat-piss and fusel alcohol, but nothing too out there -- no "off aroma", here.

Sweet, almost too-sweet, but a touch of bitterness creeps in here toward the end of the palate. Malty (duh), and with fewer off-notes than I was expecting -- actually pretty clean drinking altogether.

Both mouthfeel and drinkability are better than average for the style, hmm, something funny going on here . . .

Overall impression: this is a solid, good-drinking malt liquor at 8.5%, and *way* better than I was expecting. For $1.99 a can I have a new go-to boozer! Has the mighty 211 met its match?

Serving type: can

11-30-2010 22:58:42 | More by Chaz

7beerphil

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev +33.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from a 24oz can into a pint glass

definite alcohol smell with hint or cereal grain

deep golden, almost amber color. thick long-lived head with lots of lacing

sweet taste, but you can really taste the alcohol in this 8.5 abv brew

flows down smooth, could drink a few of these in a session, but there are better cheap macros. too bad they don't make 40's of these, as a 40 could make you feel good quick.

Serving type: can

11-28-2010 01:08:30 | More by 7beerphil

TMoney2591

Illinois

1.93/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Chicago Bears shaker pint glass.

Beer #9 during Swill Tour 2010. Somehow this one came out rather short and to-the-point. It looks just as pale yellow as pretty much everything else today, with the same kind of ADD froth on top. The nose is soapy, with a hint of burning flowers. The taste is of calcified rice syrup. The body is overtly light, with a hint of heft, a light carbonation, and a sweetly stale feel. Nothing else to say for something so crappy.

Serving type: can

09-27-2010 21:24:12 | More by TMoney2591

Vdubb86

Illinois

2.17/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Served in a pint glass

Drink #10 for the Swill Fest 2010...good lord

The appearance is of a golden clear color with a light lacy head. The aroma is of not much other than a slight corn syrup and malty sugar on the back. The taste is of alcohol most prominently. The flavors are of corn syrup and indigestion...caused by the thick alcohol. There is almost an effervescent flavor that is countered by the extreme syrup flavor. This shouldn't have a medium body, but it does. The drinkability is lacking. I don't like this...at all. Some malt liquors are drinkable, this one...not so much.

Serving type: can

09-26-2010 22:09:21 | More by Vdubb86

tone77

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of mild malts and alcohol. Taste is alcohol with some hints of malts. Not terrible but a tad unpleasant. Feels light in the mouth and is slightly below average drinkability. Overall this is a mediocre beer.

Serving type: can

08-28-2010 16:48:22 | More by tone77

puboflyons

New Hampshire

2.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

From the 710 ml. can marked OCT0410-D07021828. Sampled on Aug. 23, 2010. It pours a bright pale yellow with a good inch of fizzy white head that stays around for the entire time along with decent lacing on the glass. Malts, corn, and other adjuncts greet the nose with, dare I say it, a thin hoppiness around the edges. The taste is mainly grains and malts with a light hoppy bite at the end. But the 8.5% ABV is reasonably masked. But your head reminds you that it is there when all is said and done. This is very much like any macro high gravity malt liquor. Tons of punch but little in the way of character or taste.

Serving type: can

08-24-2010 01:30:35 | More by puboflyons

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

made sure i froze it an extra 20 min after refrigeration, drink fast and cold. 16 oz can that was dirt cheap.

Pours a bit deeper gold, though still crystal clear than a regular colt 45, the head is again bright white and foamy, it sticks a bit longer than the average malt liquor and leaves tom okay lacing, which is odd because it is higher alcohol than the regular, thank god for additives.

The smell is better here than normal colt, even more of the corn smell is gone, it has a fruitiness to it, slight adjunct feel, dare i say even a hint of yeasty smell.

When cold it tastes alright, bread, caramel, apple cider, hint of walnut, more corn than a regular colt imo though. More gravity inevitably means more corn unfortunately.

The colt 45 beers are probably the best adjunct lagers, but then again, only if your in a pinch would i recommend this.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 04:45:31 | More by crossovert

troobie

California

3.38/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been looking for this since it came out in 2009. I finally found it in Klamath Falls, Oregon. I don't think Colt 45 HG is available in anything but 24 oz. cans.

No, I didn't pour it out. You want to talk about appearance? This is a wicked looking can. Great graphics with black, red, white, and grey colors. I usually am not impressed by labels but this can has impressive graphics.

Ugh, off-putting smell. Extra high ABV high gravities, like 9.0% and above, have the grape tinge to them. This smells like it is going to have the grapey alcohol overpowering taste thing going on. Maybe a little malt smell, barely.

Does not taste as bad as it smells. Much less taste than I expected. Smooth, like regular Colt 45. Actually this tastes a lot like regular Colt 45. Extremely dry compared to most HG's (Steel Reserve 211, St. Ides.) Barely any sweetness at all. Smooth, dry, some alcohol heat, and it is gone. This is definitely brewed to not leave a lasting impression based on taste.

Carbonation is on the low side. Smooth and creamy.

Drinkability is high until the ABV hits you. At $1.29 for 24 oz. you don't have to stop until it makes you. I don't think Colt 45 High Gravity is close to overthrowing Hurricane High Gravity as the king of high gravities, but it deserves an honorable mention, especially at 8.5%.

Serving type: can

07-10-2010 08:47:44 | More by troobie

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.9/5  rDev +43.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Colt 45 High Gravity Lager has a thick, white head and a clear, golden color. Carbonation is moderate to high. The aroma is of corn and malt, but not particularly strong. The taste is surprisingly mild for an 8.5% abv drink; it is not stinging, if anything, it has a stereotypical beer flavor. Mouth-feel is moderately heavy. It finishes crisp, a further surprise. Overall, this full-flavored malt liquor is very enjoyable and satisfying, and I'd recommend giving it a try.

RJT

Serving type: can

06-11-2010 15:34:19 | More by RonaldTheriot

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bump Red Stripe and "Yay, Beer!" Howzabout "YAY, CANs!" as an alternative?

I had about a finger of bone-white head and while I was typing the proceeding, it evaporated. Whoops! Color was a beautiful sunshine-yellow with NE-quality clarity. Nose was slightly fusel, but not overwhelming. This was actually drinkable. Mouthfeel was medium with a taste of berries, sugar, and simple starch carbohydrates (think licking a raw potato). Not my favorite set of flavors in combination, especially where beer is concerned, but deadly, or drain pour-like? Hardly. This will get its users where they are going, but with minimal damage incurred on the trip. Just don't drive and/or operate heavy machinery afterward, babies! You'll be fine. Trust the monk. Finish? Dry. Like the Zephyr winds blowing across the Sahara. That is what happens when you suck all of the sugar away. Boo hoo. You want sweet, drink some white wine. This is unapologetic and so am I!

Serving type: can

05-09-2010 22:29:28 | More by woodychandler