Castle Lager - South African Breweries plc

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

450ml can poured into a Pint Glass.

Poured with a 1/4in head that sticks around and leaves a bit of lacing. Farly well-carbonated. Very pale in colour. Smell is definitely soapy with very sweet corn adjuncts in evidence. A slight floweriness, but not much exciting.

Taste has a bit of alcoholic and metallic acidity mixed with a slight nutty malt character. The soapiness is in evidence, as are some earthy hops, but all in all this is a very light tasting lager. Thin and watery in the mouth, overcarbonated with a slight dryness in the finish and a bite on the tongue. Not offensive really, and drinkable in large quantities I'm sure, but not a flavourful beer in the least.

Serving type: can

08-25-2006 01:11:29 | More by trevorwideman

cadaugherty

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev +10.4%

05-09-2013 00:25:59 | More by cadaugherty

samanekag

Mozambique

3.5/5  rDev +40.6%

04-01-2013 21:10:08 | More by samanekag

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

2.61/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25

300ml Bottle for £1.49 (The Cave bottle shop, Glasgow):
Light and clear body that is a golden straw colour, topped with a half centimeter tall head that is quite bubbly looking and manages to last rather well.

A very light beer on the nose that had me struggling to detect anything much at all. There is a little grain and some clean smelling, basic lager malts. I also smelt some corn and a few vegetable adjuncts on top.

Clean lager malts and a faint, grassy hop aroma coupled with a slightly grainy taste and some light bitterness. There is some corn in there too.

A light body although not quite a thin one or watery but light nonetheless. There is a very light bitter feel and the beer is slightly grainy with a dry finish.

The beer looked quite nice and head retention was pretty good but other than that it didn't really offer anything else. Not a particularly noteworthy offering and a bit of a disappointment for my first South Africa beer, although not an entirely unexpected one.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:16:04 | More by flyingpig

BILF

Israel

1.5/5  rDev -39.8%

03-01-2013 21:56:03 | More by BILF

blinker97

North Carolina

2.5/5  rDev +0.4%

11-26-2012 01:52:43 | More by blinker97

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +20.5%

11-11-2012 00:39:33 | More by cfalovo97

beerpadawan

California

2/5  rDev -19.7%

08-25-2012 20:09:18 | More by beerpadawan

Thepumpkinpiper

3.3/5  rDev +32.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

First time ever trying this beer. Apparently if the liquor store runs out of it, there's a small cadre of customers who get quite upset.

A: Pale golden colour, lacey and rather foamy head.

S: Hoppy, slight bit of apples, little bit floral and herby.

T: A clear punch of refreshing taste at first, much like a Tiger or other smooth-drinking lager. Very clear and crisp, but then gives way to a distinct bitter aftertaste faintly reminiscent of a German pilsner.

M: Great - not too carbonated. Makes for easy drinking.

Overall: I really like this beer - it goes down very easily, but packs enough flavor to make for a satisfying drink. Not so big on the bitter aftertaste, but the beer goes down so easily that I can forgive that aspect. A great hot weather beer.

Serving type: can

08-09-2012 21:25:14 | More by Thepumpkinpiper

cdaddie

2.58/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

First time trying this beer, 440 ML can, very chilled. Looked quite good as it was being poured, smell seemed good as the pint glass was coming up, but the taste was merely "ok". Very plain, nothing overly distinctive about it. So not a really bad beer, but certainly not a really good one either. A good "hot day outside and I just finished cutting the grass" kind of beer, to quench a thirst, but nothing special.

Serving type: can

05-12-2012 23:23:47 | More by cdaddie

BrazilianAussie

Brazil

2.5/5  rDev +0.4%

04-08-2012 02:07:58 | More by BrazilianAussie

kylemckinnis

Oregon

1.5/5  rDev -39.8%

02-27-2012 02:26:32 | More by kylemckinnis

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -19.7%

01-17-2012 16:11:34 | More by irishkyle21

ehammond1

California

2.43/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bottle

Satara Rest Camp Gift Shop
Kruger National Park
South Africa

Clear golden yellow with a big, foaming, though wispy white head (which falls away quickly) that doesn't leave much to any stick down the glass.

The aroma is lacking much of anything at all. There's simple grain and a touch of something I can only describe as earthy minerals, but this is one of the faintest aromas of any beer I've ever found.

Grain, corn, and minerals combine for a simple, plain beverage. Low bitterness.

Thin mouthfeel with moderate carbonation.

A plain, typical example of an awful style. That being said, no matter what my objective thoughts on this beer are, it truly did "hit the spot" after a long, scorching, hot day out in the African bush.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2012 15:08:05 | More by ehammond1

SargeC

Japan

3.5/5  rDev +40.6%

12-30-2011 08:57:05 | More by SargeC

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

2.28/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A 330ml can with no visible BB date. Given to me recently by a friend visiting from South Africa. The blurb on the can specifically mentions the addition of maize to soften the palate.

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A clear straw colour with plentiful fine carbonation. Forms a decent head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a surface layer. Aroma is very weak - a faint hint of stewed veg/hops and little else.

Tastes of not much at all. Watery light malt with a hint of stewed leaves and corn. A harsh bitter note in the background. Pretty dry. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly. Quite good body for the style. Lightly astringent. Faint bitter aftertaste.

Hmmm - bland, watery and almost tasteless. At least it's clean; nothing too offensive going on. I guess this would be acceptable in a hot climate where no alternatives presented themselves. Otherwise, give it a miss.

Serving type: can

12-28-2011 22:13:31 | More by jazzyjeff13

nmann08

Maryland

2/5  rDev -19.7%

11-24-2011 19:27:46 | More by nmann08

waiting4lunch

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev +20.5%

11-23-2011 15:00:48 | More by waiting4lunch

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

1.55/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A: 1 1/2" white head that left a nice lacing over straw coloured liquid with excellent clarity.

S: Metallic, citrus, yeast.

T: Metallic and bitter, this beer leaves an acidic aftertaste.

M: Thin viscosity and low carbonation.

O: Not very drinkable at all. I thought it was stale, but it was within the expiry date period. Avoid.

Serving type: can

08-27-2011 06:01:32 | More by DaftCaskBC

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Landed in Johannesburg and headed to the conference in Sandton. Had a 500ml draght Castle with dinner. The beer was golden clear with good carbonation that gave a nice finger thick head...which laced down the entire 500ml pilsner glass. The smell was mostly grain and no-descript. The taste was along the same lines a Becks, Pils Urquell, etc. This beer had some sweetness to the grain and was very crisp, meaning it came off the pallete clean. This beer ranks with most of the big american brewers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 20:14:01 | More by WoodBrew

mdfb79

New York

1.9/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

From 03/27/11 notes. The third canned beer from Africa shared by Travir (RB).

a - Pours a clear golden color with an inch of white head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of corn, grain, and bready malts. Not good, but not as offensive as the Ndovu.

t - Tastes of grain, corn, bready malts, light sourness. A step down from the nose and a bit like a skunked BMC adjunct.

m - Light body and high carbonation.

d - Not as bad as the Ndovu, but not a good beer at all. Wouldn't want to have again.

Serving type: can

04-01-2011 14:59:20 | More by mdfb79

Thorpe429

Illinois

1.15/5  rDev -53.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Thanks to travlr for sharing this. Consumed in a SAVOR snifter.

Pour yields a very light-colored brew without any head or lacing. The nose is approaching awful, with some creamed corn, canned vegetables, and quite a bit of metal. The taste is even worse; the beer was quite hard to swallow. Slightly-rotten vegetables along with loads of aluminum. Pretty gross. Really thin with a metallic finish.

Serving type: can

03-28-2011 10:38:24 | More by Thorpe429

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Sure looks good with the pour! Which is a huge, foamy, frothy, sudsy, billowy, white with lots of lace. Color is a clear yellow gold with several small bubble trails. Aroma is a scant scent of bitter hop. Flavor is a mild corn beer with slight bitter sweetness and a hint metalic. Body is ok and so is carbonation. Finish is like flavor and over quick. Best thing about this beer is having it in South Africa!

Serving type: can

01-06-2011 16:33:56 | More by drpimento

jeranbrews

New York

2.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - billowy fluffy cloud white meringue head. Clear brassy straw body with lots of bubbles. Thick foamy rabies lacing.

S - big whiff of adjunct skunk from opening the bottle. Pale malts. Corn. Mildly salty and savory.

T - yeasty creamy flavors are a big part of the experience. Hops are very mild some slight sweetness but overall underflavored.

M - creamy and smooth. Just a touch thin.

D - not bad. Easy to drink. Simple but good enough for a third string.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 12:20:16 | More by jeranbrews

BeerSingh

India

2.88/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The macro spree continues today with Castle. I'm having this after say what, 10 yrs or something. As far as I can remember it used to taste good. Now it just about makes its presence felt. Pours with the usual pale yellow / gold colour, although with a sizeable head. The head lurks around for a while while the grains (read corn) and skunk waft into my nose.
The taste is bitter and astringent with some malt flavour and the lemony finish that I had always associated with Castle. Not a bad deal after all. Its a little harsh on the palate - too much fizz I reckon to make up for the body. But on a hot summer afternoon in Delhi, I wouldn't mind to down a couple of 'em.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 16:41:11 | More by BeerSingh