Ducassis
12 oz. with no freshness date purchased for $2.99 A very interesting first impression... pours a strong purple-pink, I've never seen any beverage quite this color. Powerful white head with a shade of pink gradually compacts to a solid 1/8" layer. The brew is cloudly and close to opaque. After I poured the beer, I turned away for a second, with the beer a few feet away. As the head was settling, I thought I heard static in my music. I figured the artist had intentionally inserted the popping and crackling of an old record into the background, but when I paused the music, it turned out to be the beer indeed. This is one of the only beers I've ever heard, and certainly the only one that has interfered with reasonably loud music. I'm not sure what "loudest beer" signifies? The crackling persisted for a few minutes. Strong smell of black currants and grape juice. No real malts or hops or anything else ... just sweet doses of those two fruits. Taste is surprisingly dry. The currant is the main act, but it's flat and a tad metallic. The brew is pretty watery, and doesn't taste like much. The currant is a little tart, but just enough to be displeasing, like a watered down glass of juice. Better as it warms, and it's still drinkable beer, but boring. Mouthfeel has lots of carbonation but it's smooth microbubbles that create that dairy feeling. Well-done, although the slickness is a little too much for me and it feels a little soapy. I finished it fast, and I'm not that full or overwhelmed with alcohol. However, I don't want to drink any more of this -- it's boring. It could use more flavor: sweetness, tartness, anything. Especially at $2.99 for 11.2 oz, this isn't very drinkable. An odd match of elegant bottle, beautiful beer, booming sound (!) and subpar beer.