New Times Beerfest Taste Test, Round Two: The Lightweights

By Melissa McCart Tue., Nov. 8 2011 at 4:00 PM

Categories: Beer Beer Beer

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We're about four days away from the New Times Beerfest on November 12 from 7 to 11 p.m. in Esplanade Park, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the Humane Society of Broward County. Sister Hazel provides tunes, and a slew of local restaurants -- including Charm City Burgers, Moe's Southwest Grill, and JC Wahoo's -- offers eats for the evening.

Every day this week, we'll be sipping suds offered among the 100-plus domestic, international, and craft beers available at the fest.

For today's beers, we sampled those we'd drink primarily when were drunk: Famosa Lager, Carib, PBR, Narragansett, Palm, and Margaritaville Spiked Lemonade for the wild card.

Like Bread

Carib tastes "yeasty" or "skunky" and "tastes bready," said a couple of tasters. "I wouldn't really seek it out, but it's not offensive."

Sour and Lager-y

Famosa is "watery and lager-y," said a taster, "a bit on the sour side." More acidic and citrusy than the Carib, it's still a spring break pounding beer.

Fizzy Water

Palm calls itself an amber but tastes like fizzy water that gets you drunk. Less flavor than a Bud, and I should know.

Twins

After one taster remarked that he's seen the Laser Wolf set drinking Narragansett over PBR, we did a taste test and found that, with the exception of a slightly bitter finish coming off the PBR, the two taste nearly identical. No wonder it's the Laser Wolf beer of choice.

Swill

Margaritaville Spiked Lemonade malt liquor is not even safe for those who don't like beer. Who drinks this stuff?

The winner: Pabst Blue Ribbon/Narragansett because of their inoffensive flavors and both company's marketing prowess.

Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB

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