Heineken Lager Beer - Heineken Nederland B.V.

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

3.43/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I like Heineken's beers. They are so Euro and give me nostalgia. This one is good in the sense that it's drinkable and great for any occasion. I enjoy the lager but sometimes I prefer an ale. Luckily, tonight I'm all lager and love this one. I'm curious to see what quality their other brews are.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 07:56:52 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

RaphaelSC

Brazil

2.88/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: Pours a yellow light body, with a little white head.

S: A faint smell, almost inexistent.

T: Some bitterness and that is all, too much watery make this beer almost tasteless.

M: bitter and carbonation with a metallic aftertaste.

O: A little above average lager, better than most brazilian beers and large american lagers as budweiser, what means nothing in the end of the day.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 05:43:13 | More by RaphaelSC

endovelico

Portugal

3.3/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A: Clear pale yellow in color, highly effervescent and fizzy quickly vanishing head.

S: Unpolished, yet still a bit more agreeable than most typical macros. Aroma is mostly lemony and grassy notes.

T: Much to it's benefit, it's much more of a Heller approximation than you'd expect, with a - in a relative manner, of course - pleasant sweetish bubblegum center. One could also get some distinct minty backnotes and evergreen like aftertaste.

M: Palate suffers from the usual maladies: Profuse carbonation, dry finish, watery palate and lack of complexity to top it.

O: Still better than i remember most other European Pale Lagers / American Adjunct Lagers to be; It's not as 'adjuncty', so even if it's a thin beer it still carries a bit more flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 19:10:01 | More by endovelico

Goat2Hunter

Georgia

5/5  rDev +83.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This was my dad's beer, along with Samuel Adams so I grew up drinking this, he also bought me and my brother a 24 oz each for doing some yard work so the beer is still fresh in my mind, appearance is wonderful, and brings back great memories of siting out watching the beach with my Fiance and my friends, I dont know why but the green bottle just looks so, beautiful on the beach, The appearance has the looks of a fine pilsner, the smell varies, but last time I had it It smelled delicious, with alot of hops, almost tree like, the taste is the best part of it though, it taste like God giving you a kiss, they use alot of hops in making it so if your like me and you love that grassy taste you will love Heineken, just the right amount of bitterness, almost spicy, Mouth-feel is pretty good too, overall this is my Favorite beer, If I was a richer man I would drink this everyday, absolutely love it, and I believe it to be the best beer outside of heaven.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 13:15:51 | More by Goat2Hunter

jjamadorphd

Florida

3.51/5  rDev +28.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Heineken - one of two of my father's favorite beers. When ever I eat out, if there is no microbrew to choose from this is one of two I will always choose as a backup. This review is for my Dad...we loved calling these things "green lizards" :)

Out of the bottle it pours a beautiful golden yellow - I truly like that shade of what I call "beer-yellow." The smell is your typical lager - mostly hops and barely - although at times I would say there is distant citrus smell. Taste is above average - not much, not spectacular, but better than most other lagers. Mouthfeel is close to perfect - just the right amount of carbonation with no aftertaste or stickiness. Overall, it's better than most lagers I've had, not the best, and I'm always happy to pick one up and think of my dad...

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 23:56:50 | More by jjamadorphd

CBurtonHannum

Connecticut

2.29/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Yikes. One of the worst lagers of all time. Skunky, even when fresh. Had it served many ways...


I'd rather drink water out of a ditch, at waste my time with this beer.
On a different note, seawater tastes better.
Are you kidding, 250 characters?

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 21:02:30 | More by CBurtonHannum

CardiacNP

Louisiana

3.09/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

A mass marketed Holland import. Not a bad beer, but there are many better beers out there in my opinion ---

Crisp Clean beer with a balanced flavor
Balanced malt and moderate hop profile
Moderate carbonation.
A decent Go to Beer for better flavor than Mass Market US Light beer

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 03:17:49 | More by CardiacNP

BucannonXC5

California

1.69/5  rDev -38.1%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75

Type: 12-oz. bottle
Glass: Pilsner glass
From: A gift from an uncle
Price: N/A
Purchased: 6-pack received on March 26, 2013
Consumed: April 5, 2013
Misc.: N/A

Poured a pale clear color that looked a little bit like dehydrated urine with about a finger of off-white head. Very bad lacing, very bad retention.

Just nothing good about the smell. I got skunkiness, pot, bread, grass, cereal, hay and a tad bit of honey. Stayed in the nostrils after.

Tasted slightly better than the smell. Not as skunky, which is a miracle. Got skunk, resin, grass, grains, earth, cereal, corn and hay.

Light body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt finish.

Just a very bad beer. I may have been a bit generous with the ratings. I can’t see how people drink this on purpose.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 05:13:34 | More by BucannonXC5

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

3.01/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Appearance - Pours a pale straw with two fingers of bubbly white head.

Smell - Grass, wheat, corn-based adjuncts.

Taste - Mild grass, wheat and corn flavours. Slight sweetness like apples. Mild flavours overall.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall - A standard Euro Pale Lager from Heineken. Nothing really makes it stand out and it is pretty much on par with other Euro Pale Lagers out there.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 03:54:27 | More by leaddog

Damian

Massachusetts

1.91/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Drank from a 1pt. 6 fl.oz. bottle
Served in a pilsner glass
Thanks to my dad for this bomber

A tight, clingy, bright white, three-finger head topped the crystal clear, golden colored liquid. The head quickly fell to a thin ring. Spotty drips of lacing trickled along the glass.

The nose was unbelievably skunky. Strong sulfur notes. Lots of grainy, husky malts. Hints of dry, powdery, lager yeast notes. As beer warmed, the skunkiness died down but there was hardly anything remaining. A touch of earthy hops were detectible.

The flavor profile was terrible as well. Quite similar to aroma. Tons of skunk. Intense sulfur notes. Rough, husky, grainy malts. Slightly tart in the center. Wet cardboard came through on the back end. Overall, quite harsh. Some lingering, earthy hop bitterness appeared in the finish, but there was no discernible hop flavor.

The mouthfeel was respectable. Medium bodied for the style with a fine, zippy effervescence. Frothy and creamy on the palate.

After years of not trying this beer, I was amazed by how awful it actually is. It might be decent on-tap, but the green bottle took away any hope of a pleasurable drinking experience. This is truly one of the worst beers I have ever consumed.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 22:25:10 | More by Damian

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

1.85/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75

Poured from a bottle into a pilsner glass, the beer is a pale, yellow gold coloring with a thin, sparse, filmy white coating on the surface. Aromas of toasted grains, some floral highlights, and a touch of skunky weed. Seriously, there is a touch of cannibus in the aromas. Flavors are fairly watered down, with a toastiness for the backbone and some tangy, sweet overtones. Floral highlights, with some spicing of oregano and peppermint. Very light bodied, with a minimal aftertaste. Toasty flavors linger on the palate, with a skunkiness that is hard to shake. Watery, clean finish. This one really doesn't do a whole lot for the palate. It's a bit awkward on the flavors, limp on the body, and not overly refreshing at all.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:53:18 | More by GarthDanielson

hdf561

Virginia

2.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Im a James Bond nut and when Daniel Craig drank one in a commercial I had to try one.

It smelled and tasted almost skunky probably a result of the infamous green bottle but sstil something I have not had an issue with in other beers.

The mouth feel was Ok wasnt overpowering but made up for the taste with the fact that it is on the smoother end.

Overall I wont buy this again but think it is worth a try and a great gateway into imports since it is available everywhere.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 18:34:26 | More by hdf561

tvljr

Virginia

2.04/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.25

Aftertaste of formaldehyde or some foreign substance that shouldn't be in beer. Truly awful.

Pours light and golden, not as pale as many of its American counterparts, but close. Lots of foam that lasts a few minutes and then stay a little on the glass.

Tastes like any ABC product but has an aftertaste I can't quite place.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:05:00 | More by tvljr

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.38/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

330ml bottle, poured into Leffe Chalice. Golden colour, clear, medium head that didn't hang around long. Aroma was fairly faint malt, detected more hop content towards the end. Tasted a slight hoppy bitterness that was balanced out by a malty sweetness, had hints of wheat and minimal yeast. Finish was slighty sour dough like. Texture was smooth but had an initial coarse edge from the carbonation although this faded. Slightly thick body. Overall this is better than quite a few Euro Pale Lagers out there. Not that interesting but well made and not offensive in any way.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 10:39:27 | More by jonb5

metter98

New York

2.81/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that quickly died down and left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderately strong aromas of skunk are present in the nose—likely due to the green bottle.
T: Like the smell, the taste has some skunked flavors, but these are somewhat muted and masked by notes of corn, grainy malts and grassy hops. A light amount of bitterness is present and this lingers through the aftertaste.
M: It feels light-bodied and a little clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The skunky nature of the aroma detracts from this beer, but overall it's not that bad compared to other beers in the style, particularly since the hop bitterness helps to mask this and the flavors of adjunct malts.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 23:50:57 | More by metter98

DavidS88

Massachusetts

1.98/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2

What is there to be said about Heineken that hasn't already been said? Not a whole lot, but here goes. There's a bar near my dorm called Heineken's that only serves Heineken, so it'a good pregame spot for my friends and I before heading out since it's 5 Euros for a bucket of six, so at least I can affirm that it's cheap. It poured a really pale gold, like apple cider pale with a white head of less than a finger that dissipated immediately. No lacing on the glass to speak of. The smell was rather alcoholic I though, which is weird for a Euro pale lager of only 5 % ABV. It also kinda smelled sweet, so I'm going to guess they use a lot of corn when brewing. The taste was basically the same: that usual "beer" taste of watery bread that you get with macro brews and a little sweetness at the end. Pretty refreshing though, not too heavy or overcarbonated so that was a good aspect. Obviously Heineken isn't really the best beer ever, but hey, it serves its purpose of letting you get drunk quickly. What it lacks in quality it makes up for in price.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 17:46:42 | More by DavidS88

BEERMILER12

Maine

2.93/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a pale yellow color with close to 2 fingers worth of head that recedes to a tiny cap within a minute or two

S: Lightly fruity with some graininess and huskiness. Bready malts also come through, but the major players are the grain and husk notes

T: Almost the opposite of the nose, with the fruitiness coming out more and the graininess taking more of a backseat in comparison. Some lightly sweet malts come out as well and helps out the fruity notes

M: Light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: Not the most complex beer, but a nice Euro pale lager. Easy enough to drink with nothing off-putting as long as it's decently cold. I wouldn't turn it down if offered

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 05:48:22 | More by BEERMILER12

jrnichols

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: Pale golden, clear. Very light head.

S: A nice "skunky" smell that I have always liked. Nothing complex about it, but much better than typical American macro-lagers.

T: Slightly malty, slightly hoppy. Again, nothing complex about it.

M: slightly effervescent, but flatter than other beers I've had recently. Smooth drinking.

O: A decent mass-produced lager. Pretty average in most respects. Better than American mass-produced stuff. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but if given the opportunity, it is easy to down several of these in a sitting. Which is pretty much what I expect from lagers, anyway.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 01:19:08 | More by jrnichols

Fusion7777

Virginia

2.41/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

It's funny. Growing up I used to think this was the creme de la creme of beers. Have tried it both from the bottle and from the can, and even if you manage to find one that hasn't been skunked, there's nothing to write home about beyond grain and an off-putting aftertaste. I wouldn't turn one down if offered one, but I definitely wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 06:04:26 | More by Fusion7777

StevenMilligan

Florida

3.25/5  rDev +19%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Typical lager, it had a very small head that did not retain and left zero lacing.

S: Because of the green bottle it smells a bit skunky. But if Heineken was concerned about this I believe they'd switch to brown. I choose to believe they want it to smell that way or refuse to give up that green bottle import "status" symbol

T: I enjoy Heineken. Compared to other lagers that are available in my area it is ok. Has that cooked veggie taste and is slightly coppery. However it is a refreshing lager that doesn't offend with offbeat flavors that I may not want for an "everyday beer".

M: It has great carbonation. Refreshing enough to drink outside, but keep it cold! Warm Heineken is no good.

Overall: Like I said under the "taste" section it is a good lager for my area. Get it on tap or in the can if you don't enjoy the skunky smell. It is a great 'ballpark' beer and will be my go-to beer for a while because I am on a budget. Don't try this expecting micro taste. It is massed produced and my ratings reflect that. But compared to any AB beers this beer is stellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 18:27:08 | More by StevenMilligan

tectactoe

Michigan

1.53/5  rDev -44%
look: 2.25 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a pale straw color with one of the flimsiest, bright-white heads around that dissipates quick and reduces to a barely noticeable ring within seconds. Nose is grainy, metallic, and slightly skunky. Who would have thought, given the green bottles? My palate is picking up a grainy backbone with an astringent, off-putting bitterness that doesn't contain much hop aroma or flavor, just a chalky bitterness that crushes the grain profile. Thin, clean, crisp finish with maybe a hint of grapes or apple skins in the final touch, but it's barely enough to save this one. The metallic flavor becomes more noticeable near the end of the brew, kind of like a heavy copper-ish smell and taste. The body is thinner than thin and the carbonation is relatively high.

Bleh, I'm not a fan of this one at all. Hated this when I first tried it, long ago. Tried it again thinking maybe I was just inexperienced earlier - still don't care for it.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 13:31:05 | More by tectactoe

punky796

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +35.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Pours a light-golden color, with about two fingers of thin head that dissipates fast, no lacing.

S - Mostly corn and barley malt, some bread, that kind of skunkish smell that comes with beers like this.

T - A little malt, a little hop, corn again. Minimal amount of ingredients and minimal strength from each. Reminds me very much of Munich-style lagers like Hofbrau or Spaten, but not quite in their league.

M - Medium carbonation, lengthy aftertaste, when it's no longer ice cold you get a bit of a filmy feeling in your mouth.

O - Most seem to hate this a lot more than I do, but it shines the colder it is and is easy to drink. But if you want the real thing go with Hofbrau, Spaten, or others like them.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 10:27:32 | More by punky796

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours clear yellow with a fizzy white head. Lots of bubble action.

Smell has that skunky, almost reefer-like, aroma. Cereal grains, light floral hoppiness.

More skunk in flavor. Pale, subdued hops, grains, grassy finish.

Feel is light, well carbonated, easy to drink.

Never have been a fan of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:48:05 | More by TheMultiYeast

Hophead85

3.53/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Heineken was always one of my favorite beers from the very first time I drank one. Heineken is a very skunky green bottled beer with a slight bite, finishing slightly bitter when swallowed. It's a bit of a full beer, meaning some people might not choose to drink a six pack of it, but might have one or two with a meal. Heineken is a trendy beer with good marketing, but that's not why I consider it a top ten for life. I consider it a great beer because I love the taste and texture, slightly skunky, with a bit, into a smooth bitter finish. For me, it's a good anytime, anywhere kind of beer, every now and then I may opt for something a little "lighter" but not very often.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 23:13:40 | More by Hophead85

theabcman

4.38/5  rDev +60.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was the 3rd beer I ever had...got it because some one asked me what my favorite beer was and this sounded cool. Honestly I am glad I got it! It has a taste like no other. It has a bitter taste but comes off with a great finish. I know a lot of people either love this or hate it, but its def worth a shot.

Had it first in 2010.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 00:56:33 | More by theabcman