Steel Reserve 211

[Bryant]

I have to try EVERY new beer availbale, so excuse some of my reviews:


Steel Reserve is brewed by Steel Brewing Co. Milwaukee Wi. It claims it has "extra malted barley and select hops for extra gravity." I bought it as a "beer" though it is officially a "malt liquor."

This beer is absolutely putrid. I bought a 24oz can (for $.99,) tried a mouthful from the can, then violated my favorite pils glass with this. If you are in a serious financial pinch, go for even a Colt 45 over this. IT IS THAT BAD ! Aside from the non-Colt 45 malt liquors, this has to be the worst "beer" I have ever tried. I thought this was "beer" but it is in fact, "malt liquor" which I don't even know what that means other than a bad pseudo-beer to get you drunk.

Bryant

[BluesHarp]

I used it once to cook brats in...it is cheap and has a little more flavor than typical cheap beers; but drink it?? NEVER!!!

[fretlessman71]

So glad you steered me away from this... I saw this on our way home from MN last weekend, and I was tempted when I was the 8-plus alcohol rating on the bottle. I also saw the price, and then I knew better. Still I was very curious, and I'm glad that you and some kind folks on beeradvocate.com took one for the team so I didn't have to. PHEW!

I think a "Malt Liquor" is essentially a strong hopless lager. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a good malt liquor, but if there is I'm sure someone here will tell us....

[Bryant]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
So glad you steered me away from this... I saw this on our way home from MN last weekend, and I was tempted when I was the 8-plus alcohol rating on the bottle. I also saw the price, and then I knew better. Still I was very curious, and I'm glad that you and some kind folks on beeradvocate.com took one for the team so I didn't have to. PHEW!

I think a "Malt Liquor" is essentially a strong hopless lager. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a good malt liquor, but if there is I'm sure someone here will tell us....

Yeah it was really bad, but I drank all of it. I think it is designed for a cheap buzz and I can say I certainly felt the effects of the 24 oz. can, so I suppose it served it's purpose. As far as a "malt liquor" I don't like any of them enough to have ever explored what seperates them from "beer" exactly, but it is intersting to knownow. The only reason I mentioned Colt 45 is simply because it mildly "resembles" beer as opposed to Schlitz Bull etc. I can't stand any malt liquors, but Colt 45 is the least offensive by a good margin.


Bryant

[disturbed 2127]

i was feeling like crap the other night, due to my GF... anyway
i bought 4 - 24oz. cans of steel reserve 211, saw the 8.1+ and saw "high gravity" and thought what the hell. went home and drank 2 of the cans in about 10min. (not recommended) and me being young and only 120lbs. on an empty stomach felt the effects almost instantly, so i took my time with the other 2 cans. when i was finished i felt GREAT! i mean i loved it. but as time went on i knew something was wrong, and i was with friends so they knew too. i went to the bath room knowing i want gonna be able to hold it in. and i puked alot. and fell asleep, when i woke up i felt like shit and my kidneys hurt. i knew i had poisoned myself... but here i am and this is what i think about it: the taste wasnt that bad, i mean ive had better but not for $1.08, the smell wasnt bad and there was a not so good after taste but not horrible. for me i will definatly drink SR 211 again.

[chazwicke]

Why would you torture yourself a second time? Anyway welcome to the board.

[fretlessman71]

That's equivalent to about 12 beers! And this took HOW long? Yeah, if I were your body I'd have made you pay for doing that to me, too...

BTW, welcome! And just as an aside... think QUALITY, not QUANITY....

[hopjack13]

ghetto juice, it's right up there with old english 800.
it came out in SoCal about 6 or 7 years ago, out of curiosity i bought one, took one drink and the rest went down the drain! thats not even beer man! thats toxic waste! hurl , ralph , barf and puke!

[disturbed 2127]

yeah im just going through tough times right now, and i dont know... i just dont want to feel how i do. so i drank and i still drink. and yes my body is punishing me! anyways, thanx for the welcome i just need to get over this and move on! (long story)

[hopjack13]

my wife was over at her friends apartment sitting out front when the neighbors came up with a case of unnaturaly lite. my wfe made a comment to her friend about it and the dude over heard her. he said "what you don't like my beer?" she said "i would never touch it.." then the guy starts brging about the 5.9% abv my wife just shook her head, the idiot even invited her over for some! she just laughed at him. i said " did you tell him about the speedwaystout at 12% abv you had sitting at home?" she said no they just ignored him. but i think thats funny how some people think that a beer at 7 8 or 9 %abv is strong. i had a world wide the other day...now thats something to talk about,afa abv stength in beers. it was also an excellent stout. me and my wife just split a 12oz and that was enough....gotta love dfh!
oh yeah and welcome disturbed2127

[Tweek]

how was that world wide? I would really like to try that. Did it taste sorta winey? or did it have real good ale qualities to it? I wonder how they got that high of alcohol.

[hopjack13]

i think they used a champagne yeast stain???? not sure how they got it up to 21% abv i think it was.
the beer was great!!!! pourd pitch black like a moonless midnight.
and it was deffinitely one of the best imperial stouts i've had thus far.. 8 bucks a 12oz bottle. check at your local beverages & more store, i know there's plenty in norcal and they are the ones who have it down here. it's a little pricey but worth the experiance. nothing i'd drink on a regular basis though. it had a strong roasted malt character and plenty of alcohol, but the alcohol was not overpowering. twas a great beer!
hey put it on your list!

[Bryant]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
So glad you steered me away from this... I saw this on our way home from MN last weekend, and I was tempted when I was the 8-plus alcohol rating on the bottle. I also saw the price, and then I knew better. Still I was very curious, and I'm glad that you and some kind folks on beeradvocate.com took one for the team so I didn't have to. PHEW!

I think a "Malt Liquor" is essentially a strong hopless lager. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as a good malt liquor, but if there is I'm sure someone here will tell us....

Now that this thread has resurfaced, I actually can think of a decent malt liquor. Singha, a Thai beer is considered a malt liquor IIRC. While it certainly has a bit of an odd flavor to it, it is not a "bad odd" and it is certainly far and away from the malt liquors made in the US. I wouldn't drink it everyday, but it is one of my favorites with spicy food, be it an Asian style food or not.

Bryant

[Beer Man]

You guys seem pretty united in your disdain for Steel Reserve, but I happen to have enjoyed my 12 pack. Perhaps in Minnesota, it's 8 % alcohol & stronger, but in Georgia, it was 6% - and it wasn't in large cans, it was in 12 oz cans.
Like the 24 oz bottles of Heineken, perhaps the parger bottles get 'skunky' or are from a different 'batch' or brewery. On the front label, it said Fort Worth, then it had an Ohio address on the side, then on the can, it said Milwaukee - go figure!
Poured into a cold glass, it had a rich, hoppy & malty flavor and the head was really healthy, it had a lot of carbonation, which I love in a brew, compared to flat brews like Red Dog, South Paw light, etc.

I don't know why you guys hate it or had such a bad experience with Steel Reserve, I drank the whole damn 12 pack to my head and didn't really have a hangover the next day! ;-):D

[barley ben]

I had a 40 oz of it at a party a few years back, yup I puked. That has to be the sorriest excuse for beer in the world. But it was free and I had no beer of my own, Should have gone to the store!!

[Beer Man]

Well, I don't know what could make a person puke, unless they drank warm Colt 45 on an empty stomach.
I turned some one onto Steel Reserve last night, we had about 4 12 oz beers each, and enjoyed it - no puking, no headache, just a nice cool buzz.
Perhaps you people are getting batches from a different brewery or state - local water can make a big difference in taste, ya know.
If it's water made from the Mississippi River, I'd hate that too.
Lager: It's Not Just for breakfast anymore~

[Bryant]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Beer Man
[B]Well, I don't know what could make a person puke, unless they drank warm Colt 45 on an empty stomach.
I turned some one onto Steel Reserve last night, we had about 4 12 oz beers each, and enjoyed it - no puking, no headache, just a nice cool buzz.

I never got sick from drinking it, nor did I get a hangover but I only bought one 24 oz. can. I don't like it because I think it tastes bad. If I were looking for a cheap buzz, that would probably be a reasonable choice. However, although I do get a wild hair up my ass once in a while and knock down too many beers for a sitting, I still prefer something that tastes much much better that the Steel Reserve. The only malt liquor I have found I like is Singha (Thai beer) and I usually only drink it with Thai or other spicy Asian food.


Bryant

[barley ben]

I don't know what it was about it. I actually had two with my name on it. But after one, that was it. Didn't get sick from drunkenness, just from the beer itself. Trust me when I say, I have drank my fair share of cheap beer in my life time, but this was the worst. By the way, I gave the second one away and called it a night. I'm so glad I've discovered real beer!!!

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by Bryant
I never got sick from drinking it

i got sick just from the smell!

[chazwicke]

What brewery is behind this beer? Who is really making it? sounds disgusting.

[hopjack13]

i don't know but im surprised a beer (if thats what ya wana call it)
of this poor quality has made it to page two. guess people just lilke bashing it. chaz, if you see the steel reserve , be affaid, be very affraid! :p

[chazwicke]

Don't worry. I do not think I would even think of trying it. If it's not in the Micro section or the Import section then I doubt if I would even see it.

[Bangbang]

Ok.......this is my very first post in this Community of Beer Drinkers and Brewers. I tasted my first beer 44 years ago. I am 52 now. I drink beer almost every day. I tried this beer .......yes it is a beer....about 3 years ago for the first time. I have probably tried all the the beers sold as "Malt Liquors" that are offered in the USA by now. I highly recommend this one for a very cheap buzz but ya may choke on it if you do not love and I mean love the taste of alcohol. Enough said. I still "treat" myself to a can of this at times to get my mouth workin right. Have Fun!......and be careful. Nice to be here and not an AA meeting. They really suck! Gettin ready to make my first batch of Devils Pee in almost 30 years.