Heineken Lager Beer - Heineken Nederland B.V.

Slyguy

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer has a nice pour and head, as well as having a pleasent flavour but... there is a very strong after taste (i would have to say it is a fig flavour) that if you do not enjoy, you will most likely find this beer to be unpleasent. If you do enjoy the aftertase, you will find this to be a clean and rich beer that has a uniqeness that i have yet to experience from any other.
I am trying to be objective in my review as i personally did not like the after taste of this beer, but i am accepting in the fact that many other people will enjoy this flavour. Personally i would rate this beer lowly but for the sake of the who havent tried this, i will give it a higher rating to account for the probability that you will enjoy the unique flavours of this beer.

Serving type: cask

03-23-2013 05:23:31 | More by Slyguy

LittleCreature

Australia

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

No tasting notes here. I recently tried Heineken from one of those mini-kegs and found that it was substantially better than what is usually sold as Heineken here.

The Aussie brewed stuff is quite poor, but this is a cut above. Not exceptional, but a very solid, very enjoyable euro lager.

Appearance - 3.5
Smell - 3.5
Taste - 3.0
Mouthfeel - 4.0
Drinkability - 4.0
OVERALL - 3.4

Serving type: cask

06-21-2008 06:54:39 | More by LittleCreature

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +62.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

In BC we now have a 5L keg for sale at the liquor stores. Kegs=no skunk=good rating

Appearance: Lager style light yellow with a billowing head on the pour. The keg may have been tapped a little too soon.

Smell: The aromas are much that same as the bottled product. Spicy hoppiness, but without the nasty skunk smell.

Taste: Sweet, yet has a hoppy bite at the end. This is what Heineken was supposed to taste like...If only the brewery would stop shipping it in green bottles. The Heineken mystique might disapper, but so would the skunk, and trust me...The taste of this beer is so much better out of the keg it's not even funny.

Mouthfeel: Lightly carbonated and a sharp bitter bite at the end.

Drinkability: There's a reason why they sell this in mini kegs the stores. It's VERY easy to drink and a beautiful session-type beer.

I know this review is going to seem atypical from the majority(bottles), but I felt compelled after I was pleasantly surprised by the actual quality of the beer when it isn't full of impurities. I will buy the kegged version again...The bottles...not so much.

Serving type: cask

10-09-2007 00:35:26 | More by Hornet2003

jettjon

Florida

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

From the 5L mini keg with no date into a pint glass. Pale yellow gold pour with a small amount of carbonation. Thick whitish head fades quickly leaving a thin cap and no appreciable lace. Nose is a bit above average with a definite malt presence and a bit of citrusy hops. Tastes of sweet malt and light citrus hops. Slightly bitter finish. Mouth is middle-of-the road with moderate carbonation keeping things crisp; it’s wet and thirst-quenching. Drinkability is OK; sure you could have a few of these, but there’s so much better out there.

Overall: A mediocre Euro-lager. If I were to drink this on a regular basis, I’d definitely buy the mini-keg. It’s handy and easy to use, and keeps the beer fresh. Heineken is nothing special, but they’re on to something with the mini-keg. (Anyone remember Coors beer balls?)

Serving type: cask

09-04-2007 22:54:47 | More by jettjon

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

$18.00/Cask
Gas Station
Minoqua, Wisconsin

Appearance - It pours a transparent golden brown. The pale white head is about an inch thick but fades quickly leaving no lace on the pint glass.

Smell - There is a subtle hoppy scent, however, the aroma is slight and hard to discern.

Taste - Malty having a wider taste than it appears. There is a very subtle hoppy finish. An interesting note on this beer is that you can really taste it with your entire tongue. I find it impressing that way.

Mouthfeel - Like I said, the entire tongue gets a hit off this beer. While that's good for taste it makes the beer feel wild and un-smooth in the mouth.

~ This beer is usually over priced. However, for the price of the cask, my buddy, Mr. Finnel couldn't go wrong. This is an easy beer to kick back and throw down. As far as being a complex beer for someone really looking for a great brew, look elsewhere.

Serving type: cask

05-31-2007 23:48:31 | More by cdkrenz

Zizick

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +37.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

A: For appearance, it is your typical Euro-lager with a pale yellow/golden color, the head (If poured right) is foamy, very white and gives nice lacing, just a little too much carbonation to be seen.

S: The smell is faint, but definitely not offensive, you can smell some roasted malts, very little grassy/spiciness of the hops that are used. But thankfully it is not adjunct.

T: Bitter at the beginning, you can taste some citrus and grassy flavors in the beer and it finishes really smooth and refreshing. There hasn't been any notes of adjuncts like corn or rice in it, otherwise it would have a cooked vegetable aftertaste.

M: It is a little bit watery, but it is about light-medium and definitely carries more body than most mass produced garbage from AB. However, the mouthfeel is very pleasant, I can find it easy to gulp down pretty fast on a hot day after doing some yard work!

O: I really do like this beer as I have some good experience with a lot of beers (adjunct and non-adjunct) and I consider this beer pretty exceptional! For a mass market Lager, the brewing company has not resorted to adjuncts and it's definitely showing that they know how to please consumers. But more can be done with adding a little more Hop profile do give the beer some more taste as well as some more defined malts to give the beer a little more flavor.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 21:29:17 | More by Zizick

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

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.44/5  rDev +26%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

The color is very pale and yellow, as the style name implies. The color is very simple but my pint was poured with a magnificent creamy head and held very nice lacing.

The scent is also quite simple with light breadiness and malts. Cereal type grains are present but very light.

For as harsh as the reviews may be I find a lot of taste in this lager. Strong cereal grain and smooth bread or cracker dryness compliment each other. Easy feel and light complexion make this a decent beer for a mass market.

Serving type: on-tap

05-04-2013 12:22:18 | More by KYGunner

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

safaricook

Netherlands

3.04/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Can poured in plastic cup on the flight Amdam - Boston
Golden, plenty carb, fine foam of few fingers, great lacing 4.25
Typical smell of an adjunct lager, slight hops, grassy 2.75
Slightly bitter, bit soapy, bit sweet, not much really but not unpleasant 3.00
Very refreshing, gets me burping immediatly, light body but not watery 3.25
Better than expected really, propably also due to enhanced senses flying above atlantic 3.00

Serving type: can

04-09-2013 22:23:49 | More by safaricook

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

papaglide

New York

3.16/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

24 ounce can into a shaker glass

A- pours a nice dark straw color with a nice, thick half inch, white head. Head slowly dissipates leaving a nice lace around the glass.

S- sweet, cooked veggies, with a small but nice hop nose.

T- Beer is malty and sweet at first. I swear a slight banana like " ping" of flavor comes in afterwards. There might be a tiny, tiny, tiny bit o hop toward the end. Finish is abrupt but not dry. It just decides to be done. Just a small sweet, corny taste to remind you that you drank something.

M- not watery like BMC, there is a "thickness" to it. For a macro it is a good thing. It feels like this beer has substance to it.

O- This is my first sampling of Heineken EVER. That being said, it won't be my last. The beer seems to have more complexity than your typical macro swill. I won't try it in a green bottle: skunkiness isn't my thing. Give me a can of this and I will say " thank you" and appreciate the fact that it isn't BMC.

Serving type: can

03-11-2013 00:06:27 | More by papaglide

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