Castle Lager - South African Breweries plc

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

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

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

stonesean

Germany

3.1/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a small pils glass from a .33 liter bottle at Maulwurf Pub in Stuttgart, Germany. Offered during the 2010 South Africa World Cup.

The essence of the bigtime American style lager.

Little to write home about, but it's not meant to be special, it's meant to be drinkable in great quantites by folks who may not care that much about the subtleties of beer.

That being said, there are few of the nasty aftertastes or weird metallic notes I tend to experience in Budweiser and Miller products, so though I won't go looking for Castle, I wouldn't refuse one if offered...

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 08:32:19 | More by stonesean

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

1.27/5  rDev -49%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

340ml bottle 5.0% abv

Appearance: Light yellow gold - typical adjunct lager - reasonable, very short lived head, leaving no lace.

Smell: Not much here and what there isn't good. Musty maize, metallic, slightly skunky blegh...

Taste: Hmmm and I thought the smell was bad. Stale maize, metallic, almost no barley or hops. I really do not understand how people drink this.
Mouthfeel: Light, watery, horrid carbonation.

Drinkability: I've had 1/4 of a glass and I feel like I've eaten a pile of bread dough.

I always knew it was a bad beer, but don't remember it being this bad. It's disgusting that it is the beer that represents South Africa. If anyone is traveling to South Africa please BM me so I can point out our good beers and you can stay away from this crap...

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 17:59:50 | More by Thehuntmaster

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

Appearance: Pours a clear, deep gold body with a half-finger-high head of bubbly, white foam.

Smell: Ah, a sweet-smelling aroma of light corn syrup generously brushed over some simple, basic barley.

Taste: Then, it's flavor time! Lightly grainy, excessively pale malts with sweet hints of sucrose and corn syrup. There's a lacking hop presence and accompanying bitterness, leaving the beer to finish somewhat sweet.

Mouthfeel: Light-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: A bit of a disappointment. Particularly adjunct-laden and I'd prefer it to finish a bit drier. Ah well!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 23:36:27 | More by ChainGangGuy

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

1.58/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Can: Poured a super pale yellow color lager with a medium size pale white foamy head with minimal retention and not much lacing. Aroma of corn adjunct with lingering sweetness. Taste is also dominated by weal malt profile and some adjunct. Body is thin with good carbonation. Nothing too exciting here.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:53:25 | More by Phyl21ca

Halcyondays

California

3.63/5  rDev +45.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours yellow, with a pretty long-lasting head, good lacing for a lager.

S: Very malty, sourdough, some corn, a hint of DMS, but definitely a more concentrated smell than your average macro.

T: Taste is all malt upfront, a hint of diacetyl. Hop presence is considerable for this style, noble hops give a great counterbalance to the malt, notes of grass and wet earth, a bit of pine.

M: Light in carbonation, which is a nice respite, since this style can be all carbonation. Not as crisp as I'd like, but light-bodied and smooth, easy to drink.

D: This is quite a good lager, it can be on par with the best of the Euro lager style. Don't know why it is rated so low on BA, I thought it was quite good.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2008 03:15:40 | More by Halcyondays

dirtylou

Washington

3.2/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, hilton-sandton bar

a very widely available mainstream lager

appearance: clear piss-golden, light beige foam

smell: macro lager - corn, grain, mild sweetness

taste: better than many other miller products and easy enough to drink but nothing worth remembering

mouthfeel: light - watered down

drinkability : easy

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 09:43:48 | More by dirtylou

brendan13

Australia

2.65/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Poured into an Australian "pot" glass a very clear light golden colour. About 1.5 centimetres of off white head that falls away fairly quickly.
S - Slight grainy notes with some grassiness.
T - Like the smell but with a slight metallic touch.
M - Pretty light bodied, medium carbonation.
D - Not horrible but nothing to get excited about. I'm sure when it's boiling hot one of these served at near freezing temp would be quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2008 08:46:10 | More by brendan13

Dukeofearl

California

3.1/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle from a six pack from BevMo in southern California, December 2007.

Pours a pale yellow with moderate white head that quickly fizzles. Aroma is grainy, on the sweet side, with no appreciable hops.

Flavor is grainy, slight notes of baked bread (white bread), and once again,with some sweetness. Hops are present, but quite gentle. Easily drinkable, but without anything to distinguish it. An OK version of the style, I guess, without having much to say up or down.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 22:57:00 | More by Dukeofearl

crwills

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had a bottle of this at the hotel in Mumbai. Another generic lager. I really couldn't distinguish this much from the other options (Kingfisher and Cobra), although it had a slightly vegetal aroma that the others managed to avoid. Not quite as carbonated either. Inoffensive, but boring.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2007 20:37:46 | More by crwills

chilidog

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev +37.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I got a sixer of thisone as we prep for our Florida vacation. I wanted to bring a few to enjoy after trek'n around the Animal Kingdom. Thought thisone just might fit the theme of the day.

It poured a fair looking copper gold. A half inch white head, fair carbonation, not so much on lace.

The aroma was more of a corn malt and grass.

The taste rides on malt with a slight hop crispness with corn, earthy grass and hey. Alittle metallic in the finish.

Drinkability, ya! I tried this on a hot, humid day. Its crisp when cold. The body is medium but solid. The brew is not watery.

After a hot Florida day of walk, this sould work just fine. cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2007 01:55:20 | More by chilidog

goschool

California

2.6/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: The pour is a nice rich golden color topped by a 2 1/2 fingers of fluffy white head.

Smell: The nose has spicy and floral hops in front of grains and adjuncts.

Taste: This is a macro lager with balls. There more floral and spicy hop and soft grain flavor than MGD or Budweiser, but the adjuncts are still in here.

Mouthfeel: It medium-bodied with plenty of carbonation.

Drinkability: It's more interesting than most macro lagers, but at BevMo's price I'd have to give it a pass.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2007 06:47:54 | More by goschool

prototypic

Ohio

1.58/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: Very clear, light straw color. Modest one finger head. Short retention and very little lacing.

Smell: Very light on the nose. Smells grainy and a bit skunky. No malt or hops to speak of. Pretty bland.

Taste: A bit of a grainy taste. Other than that, it's bland and boring. Slightest bit of malt is noticeable. Hops are not even remotely there. Pretty boring.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability: It's light bodied. Carbonation is okay. But, it is not pleasant to drink though. Drinkability is very low. Overall, it's just not a good beer. I wouldn't recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2007 02:51:51 | More by prototypic

jdhilt

New Hampshire

1.48/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

From my notes 6/12/07 pours a three-finger white head that quickly goes to a thin layer, leaving a good lace. Crystal clear amber color. Skunky nose. Light carbonation and light bodied. Flavor has occasional sweetness mostly bitter, dry finish with some bitterness. S.Fr. 3.30 ($2.68) for a 330ml bottle from Drinks of the World Lucerne, Switzerland.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2007 22:45:35 | More by jdhilt

neenerzig

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +39.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tried a bottle of this recently on my vacation to Florida. A 12 oz bottle poured into a tumbler/pint glass. This beer pours a clear pale medium golden color. Head is about 1/4 inch when poured. It is all but totally gone within 2-3 minutes after being poured. Leaves a very thin ring lining the inside of the glass. Smells of some faint malt and corn are present and not much else. Not a horrible or offensive aroma, but not all that strong or noticeable either. The taste comprises of some fairly uninteresting malt with a bit of sweetness followed by some bitter hop hints. Has a sort of dry and bitter aftertaste. Sort of bland taste overall. Has a crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel with surprisingly heavy carbonation. Easy to drink. Overall an okay beer, a bit better than a lot of American macro lagers, but nothing special here either. Worth a try I guess.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2007 18:53:57 | More by neenerzig

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +36.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz bottle brought back from S. Africa by my sister on a recent visit.

A: The lager is pale and yellow, with a bit of carbonation, not more than 1/2 a finger, that quickly recedes to a small white band atop the glass.

S: The nose is grainy with some sweet corn notes, and that is a result of searching for any noticeable aroma.

T: The body is all malts, grainy with a dry yet sweet element. The finish is almost medicinal with hints of tartness. The body lacks a hop presence, but the malts are sweet enough, with a big enough body, that they are not missed. I was going into this expecting the worst and yet I am pleased with the sweet body.

M: The mouthfeel is thin without hops, but the corn and grain sweetness makes this an easy drink.

D: This is a good post-lawn mowing beer, light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2007 18:13:33 | More by akorsak

SSBrennan

District of Columbia

1.78/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Poured into a tasting glass there was virtually no head and what little there was dissipated immediately. The color is a dull yellow with little visible carbonation.

The smell is sickly sweet with noticeable corn and a hint of banana.

Taste is also sweet with a harsh finish that does not complement the hops. Very noticeable off fruit tastes as well.

The mouthfeel is unexceptional for an AML, fairly thin with mild carbonation.

The drinkability should be higher considering the mild alcohol and carbonation but the harshness of the finish makes the beer less than refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2007 17:00:40 | More by SSBrennan

stephendr

California

2.17/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

11.5 oz. bottle- color of auburn , with a thin white small bubbled head - light sweet nose of corn , melon , straw, grass , and something else I can not place – sweet taste of cantaloupe , white raisins , straw , and light bitterness– body is watery , dry , and lightly carbonated – aftertaste of , sweet corn , soapy , and slight acidity

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2007 05:08:27 | More by stephendr

IntriqKen

California

2.1/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

If we are trying to be an American macro lager, we've succeeded.
Pours pale clear yellow with a half finger of disappearing white.
Aroma is skunk, then American pale malts and light non-descript hops.
Mouthfeel is creamy and flavor is dry but only faintly reminiscent of beer. Honestly tastes watered down and the aftertaste gives me the impression that water was added after it was brewed.
No thank you.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2007 03:03:28 | More by IntriqKen

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.35/5  rDev +34.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I am not a great lager/pilsner fan, but this was OK.

Brown 750ml bottle, from Morrison's supermarket, best before 2007, drank in March 2007.

Poured into two Hoegaarden Grand Cru tulip glasses, looks like a lager. Clear golden yellow, straw blonde when held up to the light. Large white head straight after the pour, soon dispersed to almost nothing.

Lagers don't really have much aroma to my thinking, this was no different, a slight hoppy, wheaty, nothingy smell.

Crisp dry taste, hops are in there, not a bad taste, thirst quenching in my opinion.

Watery mouthfeel, but this is a lager, what do you expect? It holds it's hop flavour and dryness.

This is not a great beer, but it was just what I needed this evening, something light to go with a salad meal. I have no problems with it and would be happy to have another if asked, wouldn't buy another, but I'd drink one!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2007 22:05:04 | More by BlackHaddock

Iguana

Oregon

2.63/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Got a bottle of this in a Beers of the World package for Christmas from a relative. Poured a pale golden straw color with a small off white head. Smell is like grain soaked in water, not offensive, not great, and not really much of it. Taste is quite similar, kinda like raw water soaked grain. Very very bland tasting. Mouthfeel is slightly carbonated and watered down. Drinkability is high just because I could see tossing a few of these back in hot weather. Its not the greatest beer in the world, but if you go in expecting an American Macro Lager you wont be surprised and its not too bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2006 08:46:59 | More by Iguana

ChiSox05

Illinois

2.33/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Good clarity, pale gold-yellow, quick dissipating head, little to no carbonation.

Grainy smell, slight wet corn no particular hop or malt standout aroma, not off putting.

Grainy blandness, touch of alcohol, flat bitterness. Hops are noticeable up front briefly.

Aside from a bitterness that is detracting because of light carbonation and weak malt, beer is smooth overall.

Smooth beer that is held back by its subpar taste. Its gulpable, but many better options out there, american macro lagers included.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2006 04:20:24 | More by ChiSox05