Take it awaaaaaay (Stella Artois)

Member Name: chrisandmark

Product:	Stella Artois
Date:	01/09/03 (3554 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality, Well respected brand

Disadvantages: Too fizzy, Pricey compared to other beers

I've just been handed a can of Stella Artois and *ding* I can feel another booze op coming on.....

oOoOo A QUICK HISTORY oOoOo

** From the Stella Artois website** Census information in the Duchy of Leuven (now Belgium) indicated the presence of a small brewery called Den Horen (The Horn). Sebastian Artois became owner of the brewery in 1717 and produced Stella Artois as a limited edition Christmas beer. The beer was so popular it was introduced as an on going line. Stella Artois was first imported to the UK in 1926 in bottles and draught Stella was only introduced in 1971. Few brands can trace their history back as far as 1366. Today the Stella Artois cartouche still contains the Horn symbol of the original brewery in Belgium and the Star of Christmas from which Stella Artois derives its name.

History lesson over... :o)

Stella Artois is brewed with barley and hops, including something called Saas hops which accounts for it's full flavour and it is also brewed for 6 - 11 days longer than other premium beers which I'd imagine would also give it more flavour.

oOoOo THE CAN oOoOo

It looks POSH. You've got a white can with a gold rim and a large gold oval in the middle of the can. Inside this gold oval in white letters it says 'PREMIUM LAGER BEER' at the top and 'BELGIUM'S ORIGINAL BEER.' Other information on the can is that it's 500ml with an alcoholic content of 5.2% volume. You're also advised that 'for maximum enjoyment serve cold' plus contact details (see bottom of op) plus you're alerted to the fact that you're about to down 2.6 UK alcohol units in one fell swoop. The can is recyclable aluminium. :o) .

One thing that I noticed about this can of Stella Artois is the can has changed. The front of the can used to be embossed with the Stella logo but now it's just printed on in gold and red which makes the actual can look a lot cheaper than i
t used to look.

oOoOo THE BEER ITSELF oOoOo

OK, so I open the can and it fizzes all over my hand. Not a good omen for me cos I hate with a passion 'fizzy beer'. The open can smalls strongly of hops and reminds me big time of the old shop we used to live by that sold everything you needed for brewing your own beer. I used to hate the smell of this shop and ditto this can of evil smelling alcohol sitting in front of me.

I pour it into a glass and it redeems itself slightly. It's a very fizzy beer, one of those beers that you have to pour at an angle and then wait a couple of minutes for the head to go down enough to fill your glass! It's a gorgeous amber colour in the glass and it's very clear, the head is white (obviously) slightly tinged with the same golden amber. There's more bubbles in this glass of Stella than if you'd poured a whole bottle of Matey in your bath at once (well, a slight exagerration there but you know what I mean!) lol.

oOoOo THE TASTE TEST oOoOo

*gag* *wretch* It's toooooo strong. Not too strong in a too much alcohol way (God forbid!) but too strong in a hops overload way. It tastes like the inside of that shop I was just telling you about. It IS a really smooth drink but for a start I find it way too fizzy and bubbly. I can't describe the actual taste of this beer cos it's not like any beer I've ever tasted. The predominant taste is the hops as I've already said but the Stella has got quite a nice aftertaste which seems to warm the inside of your mouth and you throat. You can taste that this is 'quality' beer and I think it's the strength of flavour that puts me off cos if I'm going to drink lager I usually go for a nice glass of ultra cold Grolsch which goes down much easier than this Stella.

oOoOo WHAT ELSE? oOoOo

This Stella cost me (or cost Mark to be honest) £3.98 from Booze Buster but youcan also buy it at varying
prices just about anywhere that sells alcohol. The Stella Artois range also includes 25cl bottles which you buy in packs of 10 for around £6, a 1 litre bottle which is £2.99 and 330cl bottles which cost £9.99. They've also just brought out a 'mini barrell' which is supposed to give you the full taste of draught Stella and this costs £15.99 for 5 litres. Beware in the pub though cos I've just been reliably informed that a pint of Stella will cost you £2.46 and that's without the dash of lime that I think is required in this drink!

I've got to say I won't be drinking this again. I'm going to give it 3 stars overall as it is a quality beer and there's nothing wrong with that actual drink, it just isn't to my (weakling, light-weight) taste. Apparently (and this is according to Mark) the Stella Artois hangover is nastier than most - he rarely get's hungover but after he's been on the Stella's he gets a pounding head and erm..... the squirts! lol

You can contact Stella Artois (or rather the UK people responsible for Stella) at Interbrew UK Ltd, Luton, LU1 3LS or call their helpline on: 0870 24 111 24. Their funky website is at www.stella-artois.com

Thanks for reading. :o)

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