Big Flats 1901

There's not a whole heck of a lot of information out there about Big Flats 1901.   It's a fairly new beer that's the private label beer of the store Walgreens.   Interesting enough just for those reasons, it's also cheap enough that it could rival PBR & MHL as far as drinkable cheap beers go.   Big Flats 1901 will cost you $2.99 for a 6 pack.   You can't beat that which is why I rushed to try it..  mostly just for giggles.   The way I feel is this beer can't be any worse than Bud, Miller, or Coors so it's totally worth a chance, and I'm sure most people are going to feel the same.

There's very little actual information about this beer circling the internet at this point.   All I really have to offer is that is it an American Adjunct Lager (obviously) and it has a 4.5% ABV.   Also it's brewed by Genesee Brewing Company, which is better known for Genesee Cream Ale.

The can made me laugh..  "Brewed from only the choicest hops."   "Genuine Brew"  "It's the water that makes it."
Pretty nifty looking can though, in my opinion.

A:   Light straw color with two fingers of white head.  Pours a clear, thinly-hued, light straw body.   A 2 to 3 finger puffy and bubbly white head initially sits on top of the beer but reduces to just a small ring around the glass.

S:  Standard grain and corn is about it.  Faint (understatement) spicy and earthy hops.

T:  Very light and mild taste.   Not a whole heck of a lot to it.   Grains, corn, and spicy hops sum up the flavor very well in my opinion.  Very watery/dry finish to this beer with a hint of bitterness.

M: Low bodied with medium carbonation.   It's crisp and refreshing.

D:  I didn't have a problem putting one down within a minute or too.   The lack of a taste makes it really easy to drink.   I'd challenge someone who doesn't like beer to drink one of these because I don't think they'd be able to say it's disgusting.   I could see stashing a few of these away in the fridge for a warm summer day.

Grade:  One thumb up.   It's not a bad beer by any means.   It's not something you'd seek out, but if you were at Walgreens or in the general area, why not pick it up?   You won't be disappointed.    I'd drink this over Bud, Miller, or Coors.

Genesee Cream Ale

I had a lot of fun when I pulled a review out of left field and went macro and reviewed Pabst Blue Ribbon. I've been waiting awhile to follow it up with another macro from the same level. In Buffalo, I always looked at Genesee Cream ale and snickered and would walk by. That was until I found out that Genesee Cream Ale was in Orlando, for some odd reason. I figured I just HAD to pick up a 12 pack because of this. Perfect opportunity to do another beer review of a adjunct lager. Despite it being a Cream Ale, it's definitely an adjunct lager. But who am I to tell Genesee they are wrong?

A little history on the "award winning classic."

In the old days, there were ales and there were lagers. Ales were flavorful. Lagers were smooth. And never the twain did meet.

Until Genesee Cream Ale. And then the twain met head on to form an American Original with the flavor of an ale and the smoothness of a lager.
Cream Ale is unique. Then. Now. Always.

* We skillfully warm-ferment Genesee Cream Ale with our own signature top-fermenting yeast.
* During the aging process, every batch of Cream Ale is krausened to achieve an uncommonly smooth character.
* The process results in Cream Ale’s remarkably creamy white head and a body that is far more distinguished than standard American lagers.

5.2 ABV which seems slightly high for your standard macro. No complains by me, I normally find the better tasting beers to hover around the 5.5 ABV area.




A - Standard straw colored macro looking beer here. Very minimal lacing, and what lacing there is, dissipates rather quickly. Very minimal head on the pour that also dissipates quickly. I wasn't really expecting anything different, so I can't say I'm disappointed.

S - Not a very strong scent is present here. Adjunct corn and some malty sweetness pretty much sums it up.

T - Slighly metallic grainy flavor. Slight hop bitterness mixed with adjunct corn flavors. Finish is dry, zesty and clean.

M - Low to medium bodied. Closer to medium than to low. Carbonation is present, but it seems "right." Seems like just enough, not overdone.

D - Very drinkable beer, as most adjunct lagers are.

Grade - One thumb up. It's good for what it is. Genesee Cream Ale is very similar to Pabst Blue Ribbon in my opinion. Both beers are poked fun at, but if you compare them to the standard BMCs, they are clearly better, and even cheaper.