Carling Black Label - South African Breweries plc

Brads2

5/5  rDev +99.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love the way all these idiot English (I apologise), Irish (I had this on tap - Impossible) and American's.. say no more.. all have rated their own versions of this as bad yet you can guarantee that none can even point which country this is from on a map, yet alone tried it.

This is because the USA & UK have their own really poor versions of CBL and these morons we're hearing from here (read their reviews on this site) are not reading the very easy to see writing which states this is SAB Beer from, wait.. SOUTH AFRICA.

Carling is NONE IMPORTABLE, it's impossible IMPOSSBIEL to get SOUTH AFRICAN Carling in the UK or USA and so I will now give my (and the only real) review.

The beer is excellent, forget the morons on here, just try it for yourself next time you're over in South Africa. Actually I don't know why i'm bothering doing the review but anyway, I know where to get it.

It's simply the best beer that money can buy, a secret gem of South Africa. I need say no more. Visit and try.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 00:43:59 | More by Brads2

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

1.9/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A 440ml can with no BB date. This was given to me back in December by a friend visiting from SA. Not sure if it has any connection to the UK version of Carling - this one is produced by SAB Miller.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A clear pale straw colour with plenty of fine carbonation. Forms a brilliant white head of foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a surface layer. Aroma of ultra-light malt with an unpleasant sweetness, followed by notes of stale corn, stewed veg and a sulphurous background hint. Gross.

Tastes of weak, watery malt with a corn-like sweetness. Notes of overcooked veg and stewed hops. An acrid staleness and a hint of solvent in the background. Mouthfeel is light and watery, with prickly carbonation. Quite dry. Aftertaste of sweet stewed veg/corn.

Vile. I haven't rated many of the African lagers that I've tried particularly highly, but this really scrapes the barrel. The taste and aroma are disgusting, and the mouthfeel is weak. The only thing going for it is that it looks quite nice. I'm not sure I'd want to drink this even if I were dying of thirst under the relentless African sun - avoid.

Serving type: can

04-23-2012 21:04:46 | More by jazzyjeff13

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

1.55/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

330ml bottle 5,5% Abv.
Served cold in a pilsner glass.

Appearance: Pretty standard for the style, light golden body topped with a large white head that displays poor retention and leaves no lace. The beer looks terrifyingly over carbonated!

Smell: Lovely, I have always wanted to have a beer that smells like stale maize! Apart from the adjuncts, the nose is metallic and quite sweet.

Taste: The flavour follows on from the nose - sweet adjuncts with an odd metallic after taste.

Mouthfeel: Light, watery and hugely over carbonated.

Overall: I bought this bottle specially to review - I can guarantee I will not be buying another one ever again!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 13:28:14 | More by Thehuntmaster

TheBrewo

Michigan

2.75/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3

We pour a brew of golden yellow. It holds a half finger high white head which leaves minimal lacing around the glass as it quickly recedes. There is no sediment or haze noted and carbonation appears standard. The nose opens with pale malts and other adjuncty grain. These peak with sweetness, offering forward some faint esters to ride on. Hops are lacking, but a smooth leather flavor emanating from the yeast used provides a soft edge. As we sip, bitter grain hits up front. This sensation is given from the grain itself, along with a cutting metallic punch. Moving through the middle gives soapy flavoring and a faint toast of grain, with faint alcohols wafting up to actually sweeten the palate. The finish is watered-down, offering more faint grain and sour bitterness of unidentifiable adjuncts. The aftertaste breathes hollowly of floury grain, ethanol, and general bitterness. The carbonation is high and the body is light. The feel to each sip is incredibly watery and light, with virtually no froth, cream, or smack. Thin overall. The mouth is left neither dried nor coated, but rather prickled from the big carbonation. The abv is appropriate and the beer drinks decently.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the aroma. It was soft and estery, and particularly inviting for an adjunct lager. With the flavoring, however, came a watery beer with little to hold it up. There were big metallics, and a bizarre acidity, as if fresh tomato juice had been squeezed into the bottles. The beer lost further points with the over-the-top carbonation, placing this guy somewhere in the middle for the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 00:08:21 | More by TheBrewo

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +29.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear pale yellow color with a decent amount of white head.

Scent is of grains, not much else.

The tast is again dominant of grains, also a little sweet.

Light bodied, crisp and kind of watery, good carbonation.

Very easy to drink, not a bad beer, just not that interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 20:47:01 | More by BeerCon5

bark

Sweden

3.13/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The colour is pale yellow, the head is three finger high airy and white.

The smell is malty with sweet notes. Some bitter notes.

The taste is light with some bitter flavours. Some metal, white loaf and beef stock in the aftertaste.

The carbonation is fresh, small bubbles. The liquid is a bit smooth.

Well, that doesn't sound that impressive. But this is one of the better beers I had in South Africa. Gulpable with some character.

Serving type: can

10-18-2008 11:18:27 | More by bark

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

2.83/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

My PH's favorite go to brew. And Props to Wild Footprint Safari's for a fantastic hunt, and a steady supply of beer throughout! Pours fizzy yellow gold with alot of PBR type nose. Typical cheaper macro lager flavor, but not as bad as many of our american travesties. Lawnmower chugger.

Serving type: can

05-26-2008 09:22:40 | More by AKBelgianBeast

rrob311

New Hampshire

3.15/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got a 15 pack of these in Massachusetts. This is an OK beer it has kind of a weird metallic aftertaste but other than that its not too bad. Not my favorite Macro and not the worst. It tastes similiar to molson with the aftertaste, not sure why. This particular one is brewed by pabst somewhere.

Serving type: can

12-28-2007 02:28:59 | More by rrob311

akorsak

Pennsylvania

2.28/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A 12 oz bottle with a twist off cap that my sister brought home from a recent visit to South Africa.

A: The lager is pale and yellow, looking almost lifeless save for a steady stream of carbonation. The head neared one finger on pour and has slowly whittled away to a small white patch atop the beer.

S: The nose has a strong adjunct sweetness, some creamed corn and sugar (not candi, mind you).

T: The start of the sip lacks any characteristics beyond fizzy, no flavors register at all. Only as the sip passes into its latter stages does a sweet graininees emerge. The grains are quite thin, adding hints of sweetness that are poorly defined, spicing the tastebuds up a bit before vanishing. The lasting finish is a sickly sweet adjunct one.

M: The mouthfeel is bland and dull throughout, failing to rise beyond the yellow fizzy bar.

D: The abv is quite moderate but because the lager lacks significant flavor, you are better off drinking lemonade.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2007 18:33:29 | More by akorsak

hunteraw

China

2.05/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Probably the worst beer I had while in South Africa. Here goes:

Appearance is light honey, with a tiny head and no lacing at all. At least it's clear? Smell is nearly nonexistent. Tastes like corn, corn and more corn. Bitterness is very light, you can taste the alcohol. To its credit, the mouthfeel is smooth and there's no harshness to it, but probably because it's simply so light and watery. I drank this one slow - there are better alternatives available, no reason to ever pick this one, even if it has the "man-sized can" going for it.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2006 14:10:59 | More by hunteraw

bewareOFpenguin

Massachusetts

1.45/5  rDev -42.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Whatever happened to Mabel? Anyways, this is just a terrible tasting beer. There is no taste of hops, kind of sweet. I am basing my review on the American (Canadian?) version. I never met a steady drinker of this swill.

Serving type: can

10-03-2002 11:05:32 | More by bewareOFpenguin

proc

Michigan

1.53/5  rDev -39%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I'm basing this on the U.S. Pabst/Miller version. Very watery, with very little taste. Bland. Next to no hop or malt presence but rather a grainy, cereal-type taste. Tough stuff. Dirt cheap around here as well. I remember the "Mabel, another Black Label" jingle from when I was a kid. I think Mabel has lost it...

Serving type: can

10-02-2002 10:04:25 | More by proc

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

1.13/5  rDev -55%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Pretty awful stuff, sweetish start, not much hop or malt, lots of chemicals in the finish, and very bland and watery, extremely thin body, pretty horrible stuff.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2002 14:08:18 | More by rastaman

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on tap in England...I haven't heard it called Carling Black Label in quite a long time, but I assume it is the same beer anyway. I also thought it was brewed in Canada or the UK. Anyway, a decent lager. Average all the way. Nothing special, but nothing to jump out at you either.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2002 11:08:55 | More by IrishRedRock