Foster's Premium Ale - Foster's Group Limited

archyquaffer

Montana

3.13/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I took a Foster's can to school for show and tell in the 8th grade, but I was politely informed that beer cans, even empty beer cans, are strictly forbidden in school. At that time, a can of this size was a novelty...Poured from the big 25.4 ounce can into an 8 ounce sampler. A moderate pour produces a foamy, off-white, 1/2 inch head that settles down to 1/4 inch, and coats the glass. The beer has a rather pleasing copper color.

I can really smell and taste what I interpret as a bit of corn mash, along with some soury malt flavors, and some metal. (In other words, just what I like in a nice adjunct brew). Some floral and earthy hops are also present.

Not bad for what it is. (I don"t take the "bitter ale" label/designation very seriously. This is an adjunct lager with a bit more flavor and color than usual). However, I would take it over any typical watery adjunct beer.

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 02:35:41 | More by archyquaffer

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Ridiculous 750ml oilcan, emblazoned with a kangaroo, which just makes me a little embarrassed. I should note that I've never seen anything like this in Australia. Purchased from BevMo in Sunnyvale, CA.

Pours a pleasantly clear, deep golden colour, with a frothy, loose head of white. This burns out quickly, leaving just a ring of foam around the edge and some streaks of lace. Carbonation is quite fine. Actually it looks pretty decent.

Nose is slightly metallic and a slightly sweet: together the characters mingle to give a faint spice character almost like cinnamon. Some empty, light sulphury tones, come through, along with a little greenness or vegetative sweetness. It's not all that great, but it's relatively inoffensive.

Taste is turning a little more towards being unpleasant, with a wet grain and yeast tone giving it an underlying suggestion of organic rot. There's still the metallic character, but the sweetness flattens out and becomes quite dry on the finish, leaving a floury, almost desiccated tone to the finish. This allows the metallic bite to draw out longer than it should, leaving an unpleasant twang on the finish. Feel is light and clear. Actually relatively good.

Overall, this is not a truly offensive beer. It's quite light and drinkable, and for its flaws, it ends up being pretty alright actually. Struth.

Serving type: can

05-11-2013 22:24:42 | More by lacqueredmouse

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

2.64/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5

Giant can from Wal-Mart in Dade City, Florida for under $2. Brewed by Oil Can Breweries? 'Ale with Caramel Colour Added.' From notes.

A - Poured bright with a caramelly/dark copper colour. Two fingers of fluffy off white head. Good carbonation, decent rings of lace and a half finger of retention.

S - Chemicals, caramel, a little grass.

T - Lagery with corn and sweet grain and a tad bit of caramel.

M - Mild carbonation, medium body, sweet finish.

O/D - Bought this one for the novelty. Wasn't appalled, but definitely wasn't impressed and didn't find this one memborable. Didn't finish the can.

Serving type: can

04-30-2013 12:58:42 | More by tbeckett

WalterHeisenberg

New Mexico

3.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

A: Dark red amber. Small ivory head gone quick. No lacing. The color looks nice
S: Almost none light malty hop corn .Smell like beer used to before I started drinking beer.
T: slight metallic bitter hops first. Bready malts. Corn finish. Pretty balanced. But still tastes like a typical adjunct.
M: watery. Thin.
O: alcoholic water anyone? This is actually 5.5 ABV.But none in the taste . Always give points for above average ABV. A tiny little bit bitter. Guess this was considered an ESB before the rise of the craft brew scene. A bit more malty breadyness and this would be a keeper. Not bad for a adjunct . The appearance was nice. The taste did not mach it.You need to be a beers beer drinker to like it in any way.

Serving type: can

04-28-2013 03:26:39 | More by WalterHeisenberg

flagmantho

Washington

2.66/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 750mL oilcan into a pint glass.

Appearance: medium orange hue with a haze-free body and a moderate effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy ivory foam which dissipated quickly. Head not so great, but I like the color quite a lot.

Smell: mild malty aroma with a caramel character and almost nothing in the way of hops. There's also a hint of unwelcome plastic character which doesn't work for me. Overall, not too great, but not horrible.

Taste: light caramel malt with light earthy hops. A little of that plastic is still present. Overall, not great.

Mouthfeel: light body with a good level of carbonation and a surprisingly nice creaminess. Not bad!

Overall: this beer is somewhat refreshing, but it just seems a bit artificial. I won't seek this out again.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 17:39:06 | More by flagmantho

SaCkErZ9

Florida

1.76/5  rDev -38.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

In my drunken haze, I saw this beer on sale at Publix and thought I would purchase. I was thinking, "What is the difference between this and the other Fosters?" The brain cells finally kicked in, read the label, and saw this was an ale, not a lager. I prefer ales to lager, so I splurged the $1.67 and bought one of these. I almost immediately regretted the decision.

This one was a doozy. Pours clear with a sticky, thin white head. Not much substance and the head leaves quickly.

This one smells like a goddamn malt liquor. Which isnt always bad, but in this case, it is. Loads of adjuncts, whether they be corn, rice, sugar, poop, who cares. Alcohol, sourness. Blech.

The taste is of dirty diapers, burnt broccoli, bitter lemon peel, clean diapers, and poop. Not deserving of a 1, but not much better. Blech.

This is by far a lesser beer than the lager. Maybe that is why I havent seen any "Fosters, Australian for Ale" commercials. If I didnt already have a couple of scotches in me, I would have turned this into the first beer/mentos experiment. Avoid. The can does say caramel color added: I just didn't know that caramel color came in the way of a big old load of steaming poop.

Premium my ass!!!

Serving type: can

03-19-2013 23:10:17 | More by SaCkErZ9

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.05/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Appearance: Absolutely translucent copper/amber color with lots of effervescence and a thin soapy off-white head.

Aroma: If I didn't know any better I'd call this one a lager based on the smell. Yeasty with a faint malt sweetness. Plain but very lageresque.

Taste: Pretty similar to the regular Foster's Lager. Some corn adjunct flavor and a metallic tinge. I will say it has more bitterness than its lager counterpart. Somewhere in the vicinity of 20 IBUs but it doesn't linger at all like a true ale of this style would. A somewhat smooth finish and lingering crystal malt flavor but it's very subtle.

Mouthfeel: It's got some decent body to it at about medium in thickness. Average drinkability but too much carbonation.

Final Thoughts: If you want to know what a macro-ale tastes like, look no further than Foster's Premium Ale. Would I drink it again? Unlikely.

Serving type: can

03-07-2013 00:59:35 | More by JamesMN

matzoballs

4.89/5  rDev +69.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

the taste is perfect. lower appearance score is because of the can. I just phoned the company and asked for bottles. the rep sounded excited at the thought. could happen with some help. this is my first posting ever on this site. i am looking forward to that first bottle.

Serving type: can

02-28-2013 18:15:14 | More by matzoballs

Evansbeer

3.96/5  rDev +37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This is an good taster Ale. Very light in color compared to other ales. Has a good head on it when poured out of its can.
If you do not like Fosters, try the Ale, I like it much better.
It's light and not very pale. I am not a fan of IPA, but I do like Bitter Ales, and this ale holds up to my standards. Cool and refreshing.

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 15:24:17 | More by Evansbeer

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.58/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

A - Drakn from the can so I don't know.

S - Starts off funky. Seriously at first sniff smells like taco bell farts. After that, it smells like some sour grain, Stale rice adjunct, aluminum, bittersweet candy.

T - Bitter grains, slightly adjuncty.

M - medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - Overall, pretty bad. Not horrendous though.

Serving type: can

01-07-2013 05:42:59 | More by SometimesIfart

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

1.75/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Golden with a white head that faded fast, leaving little lace.

Aroma isn't anything like what I'd hope to find in an ESB, or any other beer for that matter. Funky and carpet like, with some alcohol and slightly moldy deer-corn.

Taste is close to a drainpour, even for a canned after work at your construction job type of beer. Just bitter funky corn, stale grains, some metallic flavors.

Body isn't that great either. Kinda like fosters lager, but without the flavor or willingness to finish the whole can.

I'll pass on having this one again.

Serving type: can

01-03-2013 00:03:10 | More by AlCaponeJunior

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

California

3/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Purchased for $2 USD.
A: nothing unusual
S: There was no aroma at all.
T: Foster's Premium Ale had a lightly bitter taste with hints of grain and hops.
M: Foster's Premium Ale had light carbonation.

Overall: Foster's Premium Ale is an average beer. There is light carbonation with Foster's Premium Ale. The carbonation does not diminish with time. The alcohol content was not very strong. People who enjoy beers that conatain low alcohol should try Foster's Premium Ale.

Serving type: can

12-26-2012 18:55:40 | More by xxxxxxxxxxxxx

FosterJM

California

2.63/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

1588th Review on BA
Can to Fosters Pint
25.4oz Oilcan

Best by March 2013
Thanks to my co-worker Kevin for this one

App- When I poured this into my Fosters pint (Yes I have one) it was a deep yellow. Kinda like when you havent had enough water kinda yellow. It had a giant and foamy pulled apart white head with some sticky cling and a couple dots of cling.

Smell- Its a bitter but just doesnt smell that inviting. Its a damp smell with some grass thats been dried and a semi decent malt bill with a little bit of caramel.

Taste- Well its ESB but not a good one. Dried grass carries over from the nose and a big malt bill comes and tags along with a bit of a pale ale malt caramel thing. Its bitter but almost overpowering. Maybe its just the style, but flavors seem to compete vs. balance themselves out.

Mouth- It was an okay body. It was a bit of a light body with a medium carbonation. A bit thick at points but expected. Caramel and bitter residual flavors.

Drink- Meh, I know why I didnt review it before last night. I forgot I didnt want to drink it again. At least it was free. Hope the blue can is MAYBE a bit better.

Serving type: can

10-26-2012 16:41:24 | More by FosterJM

Darkmagus82

Montana

2.65/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 750 ml can into pint glass

Appearance – Pours a darker golden/amber color with a big white head. The head fades relatively quickly, leaving a decent level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is very light overall. It consists of some lighter bready notes as well as a very light grassy hop smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a malty and sweet flavor. The malt is of a bready nature with the sweet being a mix of a corn and caramel. Toward the middle of the taste, it intensifies in sweetness with more caramel and corn coming to the tongue. In the end, a lighter haylike and grassy hop flavor bring some bitterness to the tongue. For the most part it would have been nice, except that with the hop flavors at the end there is a rather off papery flavor that pulls away from the rest.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is rather average in terms of creaminess as well as carbonation. Both are rather nice for the style and make it rather easy drinking.

Overall – OK. If it wasn’t for the paper taste that comes to the tongue at the end it would actually be a beer I would go to on more occasion as a session, but since the taste is there, I would likely take something else.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 00:53:43 | More by Darkmagus82

daliandragon

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Big green can, curiously similar to the bitter in design. Pours a big, rocky white head. Some lace and a clear copper body. Nose is caramel malt with some floral hops.

Balanced in nature. Caramel and lightly toasted malts. Some bread and biscuit notes. A little thin in texture. Noble hops in the finish, with a tint of metal. Aftertaste is relatively clean.

This isn't great but its probably the best beer produced by this brewery. Not a bad deal at 1.99 at the supermarket.

Serving type: can

08-14-2012 23:18:56 | More by daliandragon

ruckus232

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

25.4 Ounce can poured into a pint glass

Appearance: Light amber color with lots of head.

Smell: Very strong (not sure of the word) alcohol scent, not very pleasant

Taste: This is better then the smell for sure. It starts with that alcohol type taste but it changes to a slight malty sweetness that ends with a slight bitterness with not very much aftertaste.

Serving type: can

08-12-2012 22:11:18 | More by ruckus232

pistola

Ohio

3.35/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

IMHO, Far better than the blue can.

Pours nice with plenty of head that lasts.

Smell is ok.

I think the taste is good with hints of Carmel and bitter hops.

Clean finish.

I kinda like it!!

Overall, not the best ale in the world, but certainly drinkable and goes good with a nice Partagas or Cohiba. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: can

07-20-2012 20:08:34 | More by pistola

TheSixthRing

California

3.05/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours a clear, brilliant golden orange with a massive 3 finger head, average retention, and a spotty, semi-sticky lace.

Smell - Smells of adjuncts; mainly corn. Grainy. Slightly sweet. Maybe a faint hint of caramel.

Taste - Follows the nose; starts slightly grainy, then a bit of sweetness hits around mid-taste. Finishes with that same sweetness, and just a modicum of floral bitterness before a touch of metallic character joins the cast in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. A fair amount of carbonation. Nothing all that noticeable.

Overall - Geez, I haven't had a Fosters "Green Can" in well over two years, and now I know I've graduated into "full-on beer snob". I could smell the cheap ingredients from a mile away, and the taste was no different. Once upon a time I thought this beer had a nice, distinct bitterness; now I find it disappointing at best, laughable at worst. Overall, it's certainly drinkable, and has a good body and a decent sweetness, but if my review were a few years ago, I probably would've rated this higher, and I was drinking great beer at the time... which begs the question, has this beer gone downhill, or has my palate taken a considerable leap?

Serving type: can

07-11-2012 04:09:42 | More by TheSixthRing

CJfromPhilly

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

25.4 oz "oil can". Pours a really nice copper color along the lines of a microbrewed pale ale. I was going to rate this higher in appearance until I saw the words "caramel color added" on the side of the can. Kinda like cheating IMHO. I'm not getting much of an aroma at all on this brew, but there is some rather lively carbonation. First sip brings a sharp metallic bitterness, almost Saaz hops like, with a mild malty backbone, and a strong bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is decent, not heavy or watery. Overall, for a mass produced beer, this is well...decent. Not up to the standards of SNPA or Dale's Pale Ale, but I could see myself being quite content being at a cookout & washing down some grilled food with these.

Serving type: can

06-18-2012 23:23:38 | More by CJfromPhilly

BlurryVisi0n

New York

2.75/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Straight amber, white head was thick (maybe an inch) but turned to nothing and I do mean nothing after 2 sips.

Smell: Light hops, in reality smells like almost nothing.

Taste: Nothing amazing, little bitter but light at the same time, dry hops but once again light.

Mouth: Smooth texture with a medium body.

Overall: Good beer, it is simple and doesn't hurt to drink. Had it after a meal because didn't want anything too strong. Salud!

Serving type: can

05-15-2012 20:51:46 | More by BlurryVisi0n

kangarooAdam59

Maine

2.78/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a pint glass:

A: golden copper colored body with a super thick off white lumpy head. Some carbonation is seen rising and the lacing is speckled and spotty trickling down the sides of the glass.

S: sweet with some earthy hops.

T: some sweet malts, but not much else is noted.

M: mostly balanced between dry and wet with a medium to heavy sort of feel.

O: well, I've actually had this beer a fair amount of times throughout my lifetime and recently saw it for a $1.35 for a 25.4 oz can and thought, well I've never reviewed this beer, might as well sit down and see how she does. Not a bad beer, but not something I could have all of the time. However, I'm only wondering why this is an ESB, because it just seems more of an adjunct.

Serving type: can

05-11-2012 16:54:39 | More by kangarooAdam59

soccerman7

Vermont

2.93/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a dogfish pint glass.

A - Golden copper color with a very thick off white head.

S - Sweet, almost corn pudding. A faint whiff of earthy hops. Much fuller nose than an American macro.

T - Starts off rather pleasant then drifts towards sweet. First taste is a sweet bread but balanced with bitterness. Then as a second or third sip it moves sweeter and sweeter almost a graham cracker with honey. Not unpleasant though.

M - A little coating though the dryness with the bitterness balances. It gets a drier as you move through the can.

O - Honestly for $1.50 a 25.4 oz can there are many, many worse options. Very easy drinking as a kicking around a BBQ or couch. Not exactly stunning but not bad.

Serving type: can

04-13-2012 00:27:17 | More by soccerman7

DM1293

California

2.43/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Yeah, this is an ESB in the worst kind of way. Tastes much closer to the American Adjunct style than an ESB. Tastes like you'd expect; a bit of hop, a bit of that sweet backswing, a muddled taste overall.

All things considered, I wouldn't rank it that much higher in drinkability than other beers...tastewise its just confusing. If you need to get drunk, its servicable with its 5.5% ABV. Drink ice cold and with something salty, like pretzels to work out a balance in taste.

Serving type: can

03-18-2012 05:18:51 | More by DM1293

donmonkey1

Tennessee

3.28/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Copper color with a beautiful whitish/tan head. Excellent lacing and carbonation.

Smell: Maybe the slightest hint of malt, but it pretty much has no smell.

Taste: A little malt sweetness

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, creamy, good carbonation.

The beer looks great when it's poured, but doesn't have anywhere near the character you'd expect. There's almost no smell, and other than a hint of malt, there's no taste. It's a heavy beer. It's not a thirst quencher, and it's too heavy to drink much, but having one or two with a friend would be nice.

Serving type: can

01-30-2012 23:38:49 | More by donmonkey1

aval89

Arizona

2.98/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: pours a nice light copper color with a solid finger of off white head. Carbonation sticking to the glass.

S: some caramel malts, some fruitiness & slight metallic. also some faint earthiness.

T: slight cooked veggie taste upfront. Then you get some sweet malts to wash that away. Finish has a slight bitterness that is clean. Leaves a earthy/twangy aftertaste.

Mf: light to medium body with somewhat high carbonation. Goes down easy.

O: a decent easy drinker. Better than all the bmc stuff out there.
Nothing to brag home about though.

Serving type: can

01-27-2012 09:02:04 | More by aval89