Beck’s beer is reported to be the most popular beer on earth by some. I don’t have much problem believing this as I see it almost everywhere. On recent trips to Germany I’ve been floored by how popular this stuff is. As an American, I always assumed that simply because it was a German import it was probably worth the $10 per six pack sticker price I’ve taken to be the standard. But I didn’t give it a serious shot until I traveled overseas. In Germany, even at fueling stations, one can typically find as many as a dozen styles of Beck’s, ranging from the standard ale to Lemon flavored beer (which sounds absolutely disgusting). Recently I discovered that Beck’s was sold to what is now known as Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is now the biggest beer corporation on the planet and is responsible for the wide distribution of other staples like Budweiser and Stella Artois. Unfortunately, Beck’s does a poor job distinguishing itself from these other relatively drab beers.
At 4.9% ABV, this is a decent choice for a session beer. Its taste is superior to any of the standard American adjunct beers, so I will grant it that. I suppose because Germany is so often cited as the heartland or great beer I expect more from a company like Beck’s, but I guess every nation across the globe has to have its relatively cheap options to satiate the masses. The appearance of this beer is ok. It’s a light golden straw color with a head that’s decent enough for this style. The aroma is a little hard to pin down, so I call it light. Beck’s tastes of toasted malt and is actually fairly rich, which is probably its strongest characteristic. The mouth feel for this beer is light and heavily carbonated. It works well with the flavors overall. Finally, it finishes clean for the most part, which is why I say I could probably stand to drink several of these without complaining. It’s not the best example of German beer by any means, but if I’m in Germany again and someone offers, I’ll accept it with a smile.
