Great tasting, well presented lager. (Stella Artois)

Member Name: Kjn123

Product:	Stella Artois
Date:	25/10/09 (38 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great taste, lovely glasswear.

Disadvantages: Is quite strong and won't be for everyine because of that.

Stella Artois is a premium lager with an ABV of 5.0% in the UK, having recently been reduced frn from 5.2 % ABV in an effort to rid itself of a reputation for being a 'wife beater' lager. Originally produced in Belgium in 1926 as a Christmas brew, Stella Artois has become an international favourite and accounts for 75% of Belgium's beer production. In the UK, Stella Artois is the best selling premium lager.

As mentioned, Stella Artois has come under fire for being a particularly strong lager and sometimes been linked with violent incidents although in my opinion this is quite an unfair link to make. I have often found, through personal experience and working in a bar, that the people who drink Stella and subsequently become aggressive are generally aggressive people to begin with and will sink their drinks at a much faster rate than their weaker-lager drinking counterparts. Please do not be put off by this reputation - this is a great lager.

In my view, Stella Artois is a great lager with a smooth taste. Personally I prefer the stronger beers out there and Stella Artois certainly is that and thankfully, I haven't found that the taste has deteriorated since it being reduced to a 5.0% lager. InBEV, the Stella's international brewer, has gone to great lengths to make the beer seem more refined and has supplied most outlets with Chalice glasswear which has made the presentation of this beer a real pleasure. The glass is shaped a bit like a vase with a glass stem and flat, circular base and has been designed to keep the lager cooler for longer by reducing skin to glass contact via its unique shape.

Price-wise, you are going to be paying more for Stella given that it is a stronger, premium lager. In most places you will be paying over £3.00 for a pint and in many cases much closer to £3.50 and even higher. Is it worth it? I'd say so - you can, in my opinion, notice a greater quality of lager in premium lagers and this is certainly so with Stella. Great lager, please don't be put off by the reputation.

Summary: Great lager, 5 stars.