Estrella Damm - Damm S. A.

Brabander

Netherlands

3.05/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I had this beer on tap in the early and late 2000's and in that time this beer was not very spectacular. My brother in law was in Spain a week ago and he bought a few beers for me. Thanks Gerard!

Poured this beer in one of my Dutch beerglasses. Nice golden pour with a big fluffy head and some nice carbonation. The start is good. Lacing, the head sticks in the glass.

Smell is a bit grassy. Taste is a bit too watery for me. No crispyness in this beer. It is a good lager but not more than that. No real bitterness or sweetness in this beer...

Serving type: can

06-30-2012 16:06:41 | More by Brabander

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drunk in my Mallorcan holiday hotel on my executive balcony minutes before dinner.
Decent continental Germaniclike nose. Medium gold, bald to whispy head.
A handful of reasonable lines of bead with some reasonable length and some chewy hoppiness ending with a degree of bite. Good core strength for what it is which pushes outward.
Almost good and better that the other usual Spanish offerings.

Serving type: can

04-29-2012 13:26:55 | More by Zimbo

2.58/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - very pale yellow with a nice sticky white head.

Smell - bready and sweet with a faint trace of herbal hops.

Mouthfeel - light bodied with stong carbonation, typical European pilsner feel.

Taste - Doesn't come off nearly as sweet as the aroma would suggest, but still a little sweeter than I would prefer. Starts with bread and maize; finishes with a refreshing floral, herbal hops flourish, but very little in the way of bitterness.

In all, this is a typical mass produced European pilsner. Better than some, but nothing notable. I can see how this would work in its place of origin - a light refresher in a very warm wine-drinking region. I am not one to chug beer, but this one would go down like water.

Serving type: can

06-22-2011 20:05:21 | More by

RyanBelle

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Bitter and Ascorbic. Very off-flavors of corn and raw untoasted malt. Hop profile is exaggurated far too much in this beer, leaving it taste like a boozy copper penny. My first Spanish (Spain, not Mexico) beer and this one screams a bit too loud for it's own good. It just doesn't taste right and would not make it's way in a session under any circumstances, it's too boozy and off-flavored. Below average EPA.

Serving type: can

04-15-2011 05:19:42 | More by RyanBelle

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

2.58/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

500ml Can

Appearance - Clear gold/yellow colour with an average size frothy/fizzy white coloured head. There is a below average amount of carbonation showing and there is a faint amount of lacing on the sides of the glass. The head lasted for around 4 minutes before it began to dissipate.

Smell - breads/grains, corn, hops, a skunkiness, metallic

Taste & Mouth - The beer has quite a bit of carbonation - lots of larger size bubbles. I can taste breads/grains mixed with corn and a little bit of hops. It also has a lot of skunk/metallic flavour to it. (checked date, can isn't expired) I could also pick up on a slight amount of lemons. It finishes with a slightly bitter grainy aftertaste.

Overall - Yeah, it's drinkable.. but not memorable. The skunky/metallic taste seemed to die down as I made my way through the beer, so that helped. I wouldn't purchase this beer again.

Serving type: can

03-17-2011 17:48:10 | More by spinrsx

ChrisCage

Alberta (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought this as a 500ml can, but it's only 4.6% alc/vol.

A- Well this looks better than your typical adjunct-ish lager, being very clear, but the coloring itself is more golden hued than I expected. The head is actually thick and frothy and retains quite well. There is lots of big bubbled carbonation that rises to the top of the brew. Good sticky lacing clings to the side of the glass as well...not bad looking!

S- The overall aroma profile is very mild but sweet and yeasty from what I can pick up. There is little to no hop bitterness anywhere...just a very bland smelling beer.

T- More of the same here but better than the aroma lets on. The initial flavors are malty sweetness, but has a clean finish that makes me think there's more rice than grits and/or corn used. I don't taste any bitterness on the end so I'm thinking there isn't much used....maybe some extract.

M- Fuller bodied than I would have thought....I'd put it closer to medium than thin...the carbonation is actually not too bad, allowing the liquid to glide around on the palate without scrubbing it clean. Good for an adjunct lager I have to say!

D- This is good but not perfect...I find it gets a little cloying after several tastes but it's not an offensive tasting beer....just a little too much sticky sweetness. It's a beer that doesn't stick out, but I feel that it's better than the standard lagers available. Good when really really cold!

Serving type: can

02-04-2011 00:36:47 | More by ChrisCage

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml can, 4.6% ABV.

This bear pours a slightly hazy pale yellow colour, with two fingers of billowy, rocky white head, which settles at an even pace, leaving a complex web of spidery lace around the glass. It smells mildly of sour grass, apple cider, and glutenous corn mash. The taste is kind of a blend between corn and wheat grain, none too sweet, a bit of citric acidity, and mild grassy, weedy hops. The carbonation is below average for the style, the body medium-light, smooth enough, with a drying edge tugging at the palate. It finishes mostly dry, clean, and pretty nondescript.

For a corn and rice-riddled beer, this turns out all right. Nothing to climb over your mother for, but agreeable enough, if cold, and that's your prime directive for finding a beer at the moment...

Serving type: can

12-11-2010 01:05:41 | More by biboergosum

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a pale golden colour, finger of big bubbled head which recedes relatively quick leaving some fine lacing throughout.

S - Very mild on the nose with grassy hops, sweet corn and a touch of apple juice.

T - Again, sweet corn and grassy hops a bit of wheat and a touch of lemon. Typical Euro style lager flavours, but a tad on the sweeter side than most.

M - Nice carbonation on the body and goes down smooth, but it finishes a tad too dry for my liking.

D - This is an easily sessionable lager boasting the typical Euro stle flavours. It's nothing special, but it's by no means terrible. In fact, I prefer this to most other mass produced Euro imports that we get.

Serving type: can

12-07-2010 01:22:36 | More by andrenaline

CrazyMike

Alberta (Canada)

2.85/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance is pale yellow, head is very foamy. Smell is very faint but picked up some sweetness.

Has a light, clean taste, picked up a hint of malt. Aftertaste is probably the most complex. It is bitter and vegetable like, picked up a taste of corn.

Overall this is an unbalanced, mediocre beer. Comes off as light but hits you with a strange aftertaste. Would only recommend if you want to try a Spanish beer.

Serving type: can

11-02-2010 04:46:50 | More by CrazyMike

Swedes21

Ontario (Canada)

2.15/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured in a chilled pint glass...

Appearance - a very light pouring beer, first appearance is very refreshing! Solid white head that disappears pretty quick. Minimal lacing and the head turns to the island appearance! Carbonation is present, however dies down fairly quick.

Smell - light smelling beer, almost no hops present.

Taste - clean tasting beer, i would say refreshing. Slight taste of liquor at the end, but very much not present.

Mouthfeel - smooth moutfeel, not a lot of carbonation. after taste is a little more present.

Drinkability - I would not lean twds this beer again in the future, it offers a limited amount of taste. Only thing is its a light and refreshing based beer.

Serving type: can

10-02-2010 01:18:35 | More by Swedes21

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

1.83/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1

Pours a very clear yellow with surprisingly nice white head. Smells metallic and like some grain, but very faint overall. Flavour is about as close to nothing as beer could be, but a little off tinge to it. Ok carbonation. Drinkability is not good as I do not want another one. Oh well, at least I tried a beer from Spain.

Serving type: can

10-01-2010 01:14:48 | More by kwjd

DrJay

Massachusetts

2.33/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pale gold and crystal clear with a lot of fizzy carbonation. An inch and a half of white foam covered the beer, fine in texture at first but more rocky as the high carbonation supported the cap. Decent head retention, a bit of clumpy lacing. The foam started looking a bit strange after a while, looking really creamy on top and rocky underneath, which could be due to the stabilizer listed in the ingredients - it just didn't look right. Sweet grain and corn aroma, a bit fruity, mild grassy hops. The flavour was pretty basic, some sugary sweetness, cereal grains, with some cooked veggies and fruity hops in the background. Slightly mineral in the finish. Light bodied with ample carbonation, quite dry. Fairly mediocre and not something I'll go back to.

Serving type: can

08-18-2010 17:54:29 | More by DrJay

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I hade a .5 liter can brought back from Spain. It poured a clear gold in my 20-oz glass and left a bit of lacing. Th aroma has it's good point and back. There's a sharp, unpleasant boiled vegetable note, but also a nice bread and brown sugar character. The flavor is a little better with bread crust and a fruity lager notes backed by a lightly spicy hop finish. This beer actually tastes fairly decent, but there is an odd vodka note in background. Still, on a sweaty summer day, I'd enjoy a pint.

Serving type: can

07-16-2010 23:13:25 | More by tempest

MrHassellYaHurd

Louisiana

2.38/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

"enjoyed" at several places throughout Barcelona.

Pours into a pint glass a pure yellow with a white head that settles quickly. The beer doesn't look bad, but the color is a little unnatural.

The nose is corny with a boozy sweet alcoholic whiff. A little bit of a spicy hop note in there as well.

The taste is not terribly appealing. Cooked corn and vegetables, alcohol, and carbonation. Slight bitterness. Thin, watery mouthfeel. Drinkability degrades significantly as the temperature of the beer rises.

Serving type: can

04-07-2010 17:24:57 | More by MrHassellYaHurd

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.08/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Can from LCBO. Another frequently marketed pale lager. I could not open he can with the little tab, A can opener worked, but had to suffer through the cheesy aroma first. Pale body with foamy off white head. Below average mouthfeel. There was a little malt in the taste, a tad of bitterness. It was not the worst yellow fizzy beer I have had, but not too drinkable.

Serving type: can

03-28-2010 02:24:18 | More by northyorksammy

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml can poured into pint glass oct21 2009

A crystal clear light straw yellow with lots of bubbles and a giant head that has better then expected retention and leaves patches of lace

S grass some floral hops and rice cakes

T as it smells with a little lemon, nothing great but nothing offensive

M lots of carbonation but quite thin

D no real problems with this one but not worth looking for

I drank this for the first time in Barcelona sitting under a hot sun and I remember enjoying it more there on the beach.

Serving type: can

10-21-2009 23:25:45 | More by wordemupg

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

1.53/5  rDev -45.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Can from the LCBO- Pours sparkling gold, a frothy white cap. Nose is quite grainy, of vegetables, mostly asparagus. Wet paper. This is fucking rank. Tastes not as bad as the nose, but still pretty stale. Creamed corn, a full platter of wet paper. This tastes quite stale. The finish is quick, with a touch of grassy hops, but this is really not at all good.

Serving type: can

08-01-2009 21:27:02 | More by mrmanning

Soozy

Tennessee

2.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

This is the Budweiser of Barcelona.

Exactly what you'd expect of an American lager, crisp, some malt, adjunct flavors present, low bitterness, perfect for kicking back about a dozen. The only thing that surprised me about this beer is that it had a greater floral hop presence than most American lagers. I picked some up in the smell and a bit in the taste as well. I wouldn't try seeking this one out, but if you come across it, or happen to be in Barcelona, why not?

Serving type: can

07-22-2009 03:18:56 | More by Soozy

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I think this is about as close as you can get to water and still call something beer. Utterly undistinguished in any way shape or form, but also completely inoffensive.

Probably perfect if your mission is to put away about a dozen of something while broiling your brains out on the beach. Would also be suitable for washing down a meal where you didn't want to interfere the flavours of the food.

Pale straw yellow. Just a thin film for a head, some spotty lace. Noseless, tasteless except for the merest hint of grain.

Saved only by its utter inoffensiveness. How's that for being damned with faint praise? Worth drinking in the above contexts only.

Serving type: can

06-04-2009 23:52:24 | More by TerryW

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

2.42/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Only recently have I seen this available in these parts, in a red can. Yellow liquid, I'd like to say yellow gold but that's a bit of a stretch. Clear and transparent, my rather hurried pour produced a tall foam-white head with soap suds lace that slid down the glass without much sticking. Light-bodied in the mouth, thin and lacking in taste, this mass produced lager had almost no smell, perhaps a corn syrup presence that was totally uninspiring. Taste was also rather flat, lemony, hint of bitter ... or did I imagine that? Aftertaste a touch sour. It was difficult to find much to say about this beer, nothing about it stood out except a rather tasteless earthiness that was annoying. If ever in Spain, I'll look for this on tap, surely it must be better than this.

Serving type: can

05-20-2009 01:48:36 | More by ThatWineGuy

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Its likeness to yellow tinted soda water is not helped by the fact that it possesses no head what so ever. There is a failure to even outline the beer. Befitting to its name, legions of bubbles are splattered about like the stars of some far away constellation. Too bad it isn't nearly as pretty as anything found in the Hubble gallery.

The aroma is saturated in the all-too familiar stench of corn and adjuncts. Despite the abundant presence of additives, nowhere is any of the beer's four natural ingredients (malt, hops, water, yeast) to be found. I don't know what is worse: big breweries that brew beer that smell like this; or the people who think beer naturally smells this way.

The taste of corn and adjuncts is a little more restrained than was expected but there is still no sign of bready-sweet malts or hops of any kind. A little texture would be nice, whether bitter or sweet, grassy or bready. The flavour isn't overly offensive but it certainly doesn't differentiate the beer from anything else on the macro market and is sure to disappoint anyone looking to try a uniquely Spanish beer.

The brewers of Estrella Damm clearly didn't shoot for the stars, they wanted to stay grounded in mediocrity and the market of tasteless, featureless swill. What's the point of loading a beer up with preservatives to keep it around longer, or to make a beer cheaper so as to make more of it, or to ensure each can tastes the same as the next, if the result is a crappy, forgettable beer?

Spain, both at the national and regional levels, is full of rich distinctive cuisines and gastronomic traditions. So why don't they brew good beer to go with them? Sure, Spaniards could point out climate, history and the cultural and economic importance of wine. But I'd point out to them Italy's emerging micro scene and show that creative, artisan beers can succeed (if not flourish) in such a culture.

Serving type: can

05-11-2009 21:42:30 | More by biegaman

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

2.6/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The can I got must be the old school, traditional design. Nothing like the picture on BA.

It pours pale yellow, with a tiny flash in the pan head that managed to leave a few streaks of lace behind on the glass. Corn and vapid sweet malt mix with a bit of hop earthiness in the aroma. The taste is watery and uneventful. Some malt and crackers mix with a subdued bitterness. The mouthfeel is light bodied and highly carbonated. The finish is simple and on the sweet side.

Serving type: can

04-22-2009 03:08:28 | More by CAMRAhardliner

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Came in a 500 ml red can, abv% listed as 4.6%. Pours out a clear golden hue, tall puffy white head that retains well and settles to thick chunks. Chunky patches of lacing.

Crisp grains on the nose, with a bit of veg.

The flavour plunges into a bit of a nose dive, metallic husky grains that dissolve into a tart/bitter finish of baby greens and cooked veggies. The aftertaste becomes bitter and sour, and somewhat spiteful. Not a very pleasant lasting impression.

Mouthfeel is thin and slick, a bit soapy.

I'll pass on this stuff next time, it doesn't sit well and my mouth tastes of weeds and ashfault now.

Serving type: can

08-23-2008 02:40:40 | More by IronDjinn

barleysandwich

British Columbia (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a very average beer, nothing really stands out as far as taste. It has a slightly sweet flavour with a small hint of malt. Color is very light yellow. It reminds me of Labatts Blue for some reason.

I would drink this again if I were offered one, but I would not buy it again.

Perhaps if it came from a bottle rather than a can it might have been better.

Serving type: can

07-09-2008 23:35:51 | More by barleysandwich

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

New offering @ Track side/8th Street here in Medicine Hat. Bright Red 500ml can.

A richer hue of Macro amber with a foamy head that shown good retention and decent lacing. Lot's of big carbonation bubble.

Aroma is a let down. Husky grain and a lot of veggies.

Quite metallic in taste with a sharp, almost astringent hop bite that lingers. Not as watery as I expected, but certainly not great either.

light to med in body which I expected being from a warm weather country. Fairly smooth, dare I say, creamy in mouthfeel.

@ $2.50 a can might be ok as a novelty in the summer BBQ cooler, nothing great though

Serving type: can

06-16-2008 00:20:30 | More by Shadman