beer_name: Kingfisher Premium Lager
text: Notes compiled from tastings all OVER India. Let me tell you, if you travel to India, this very well may be the only beer you can find. I have a hard time rating this one because the results are dramatically inconsistent. I think that product handling is not a priority in India, even in the 4 and 5 star hotels. Anyway, on with the show. The pour is heady and light straw in color, very clear and very carbonated. The smell is very subdued but has a lemony citrus smell & then hops. The taste is good when you can get one that has been handled properly. The draft ones I had were surprisingly malty & smooth for what I would have called a pilsner. Other than that it was standard hot-country beer but I was pleasantly surprised by the malt note. Many of the bottled samples I tried tasted like wet cardboard but I'll chalk that up to improper care, not brewing. The mouthfeel is nothing to write home about, too thin and watery. Drinkability is this beer's strong suit, again only when you get one in good condition. The malt stands up to spicy food but the light character makes it a refreshing break on a hot afternoon. All in all, better than most beers from its latitude. But that's a bit like picking your prettiest sister to take to the prom. I'm amending this because I'm now having ANOTHER terrible one and overall I've just had TOO many bad examples and the reader (if there is one for my dribble) deserves to know what they're getting into. If you get one that's been handled badly? It tastes like vinegar. Wow. Just undrinkable. Really, really, retchingly horrible. Makes me want to do a shot of formaldehyde to cleanse my palate.