Castle Lager - South African Breweries plc

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

pirates

South Africa

3.73/5  rDev +49.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Being a South African, I drink Castle quite frequently. As a matter of fact it is my fav South African beer. Castle is sometimes bitter and sometimes dry, depending on the brew. I tend to favor the dry variety. Why this variation exists, I donot know. Overall, a great beer with a proud South African heritage.

Serving type: can

12-09-2007 11:23:42 | More by pirates

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Yellow in the glass with a white frothy head, about a finger's worth. Retention wasn't bad, some good lacing. Nicely and steadily carbonated. Smells of melon, cantaloupe. The taste was sharp and bitter with a snappy hop presence, some malt. Carbonated mouthfeel, gassy. It was bitter sour on the finish with a dry, lemony aftertaste. Overall this is an acceptable lager on a hot summer day but the finish doesn't make you want to grab another. The words on the label, "Brewed in Perfect Balance" didn't seem to apply to my can of beer but it's worth a try.

Serving type: can

10-05-2007 02:45:07 | More by ThatWineGuy

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

cyrenaica

Ontario (Canada)

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

I tried this on July 2, 2007 after purchasing it from my local LCBO store. It poured nicely into the glass with very little head, what head there was was gone very quickly. The colour is a medium gold colour, and translucent. Carbonation is constant. The aroma is malty and was constant throughout. The mouthfeel is crisp with mild carbonation. The taste is mellow with hints of malt and grains. An enjoyable beer.

Serving type: can

07-02-2007 05:29:18 | More by cyrenaica

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

Onslow

Texas

3.8/5  rDev +52.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my starter beer so i'll start with it...Pours pure gold with a shimmer and a healthy hearty head. The taste will have a slight bitterness,and a complimenting smell, while at the end of the can it tends to leave a dry yet smooth after taste. It does the trick at your next braai and I personally like the taste, but most will label this as just another mass produced lager..

Serving type: can

04-15-2007 12:50:25 | More by Onslow

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

bark

Sweden

2.05/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Colour is pale straw yellow; the compact low white foam sinks slowly leaving some lacing.

The smell is very sweet with a distinct note of corn. I found some alcohol and syrup, too.

The taste is very light with notes of adjuncts. The aftertaste is extremely short wit a sweet touch and some alcohol.

The carbonation is pretty strong; medium sized bubbles.

This is probably a typical “tropical” lager: So gulpable that it becomes hard to gulp. There must be better brews to carry from the other side of the world than this one!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2006 13:09:45 | More by bark

jarmby1711

Australia

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

Mid golden in colour , flat as a shit carters hat and no head .
Smell is close to non exisatent but is vaguely watery.
Taste is much like the smell , there is a bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is not unpleasant which is the biggest plus for this beer.
An eminently forgettable offering from our Southern Hemisphere cousins.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2006 22:59:11 | More by jarmby1711

DogFood11

California

1.53/5  rDev -38.6%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Poured into a pils glass. Fizzy white head falls to nothing in a matter of seconds. Dalmation style lacing. Pale yellow body with large sized forced carbonation.

Pale euro malts that are on the sweet side. There is a touch of hop drying. Raw grain bill ends up on the backside. Cleanliness leaves something to be desired. Similar to American Macro's except the malt bill is sweeter and this is not clean or all that crisp and refreshing.

Picked up a single for $1.29. The market of macro lagers is incredibly saturated. Let this one stay on the shelf for someone else. The expiration date on the bottle was for earlier in the year but it showed no signs of death.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2006 21:29:09 | More by DogFood11

TheLongBeachBum

California

2.42/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: 330ml brown glass bottle, with a neck, obverse and reverse label. The neck label says that the ingredients are “Barley Malt, Maize, Hops and Water”, it also list this brew as alc. 5.0% vol. The shoulder of the neck states ‘Mfg: 18/04/06 – Exp: 18/04/07’, so it is a fresh sample.

Appearance: What I immediately notice is the fact that the super white head is very creamy and forms a rather expansive head on the pour which slowly settles to reveal a crusty iceberg like surface. Nice lacing above the head stays around also. The body though is your archetypal pale golden straw affair, though the clarity of the body with the quality of the head makes for a great looking clean quenching brew that would slake any thirst.

Nose: Nothing much of anything, too clean and far too refined. I honestly could not find anything here except very, very feint hints of grain and a soft sweetness. Completely lacking in aroma rather than having anything off-putting.

Taste: The malts are light, soft grains, low sweetness and a under the radar bitter finish. It has a little of everything, but not much anything, if that makes sense. However, on redeeming feature is the complete lack of any skunky, corny, metallic elements so attributable to these offerings. That at least bolsters a 2.5. It’s hard to get excited about this one but it is clean, and the finish is crisp too boot.

Mouthfeel: The brew exhibited a slight creamy texture when slaked in gulps at first, but closer examination reveals a thin body, one that feels lacking. However, if this one is supped cool whilst partaking of other activities you could be forgiven for “missing” the thin body, but body is there though, or rather isn’t.

Drinkability: A no-brainer beer this one. Nothing at all to detract you, nothing to keep you returning, except for that fact that you’re probably far too busy cutting the grass to “think” about your next brew and will just grab the next Castle from the cooler to keep going. But, this one will keep your thirst in check whilst doing so. An average all-round libation with a decent Drinkability.

Overall: My second SAB beer review and like the Milk Stout I have to admit to finding nothing really wrong or distasteful here, but it certainly does not shine either. True, it wasn’t half as bad as I expected, it’s a crisp easy going brew that drinks fresh with a super thirst quenching ability, clean flavor set and finish. BevMo stiffed me all of $1.69 for the privilege of a single bottle, but I have paid much more for worse brews though.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2006 03:23:48 | More by TheLongBeachBum

bluejacket74

Ohio

2.35/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Served in a pint glass the beer pours a clear pale gold color, with about an inch white head. It smells mainly like corn, with a faint skunk smell. It has some malt sweetness in the taste, but mainly it tastes like corn/grain, but it also has a very small sour and bitter aftertaste. The mouthfeel is very light and thin, and also a bit oily. Drinkability is a bit below average. Not a very good beer at all.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2006 23:35:56 | More by bluejacket74

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

fisherman34

Manitoba (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Canned sample. Straw gold in colour with high carbonation. Aromas are of sweet pale malt, and a little bit of herbal German noble hop. The flavors are of very lightly toasted grains, minerals, Golden Deliscious applem and a bit of cherry pit. Watery body. Overall, it tastes like a low end European macro pils, but at least it finishes fairly clean and didn’t taste like corn.

Serving type: can

07-17-2006 21:14:14 | More by fisherman34