Amstel Light
It pours a crisp, clear true yellow, with the expected quick white head that sticks around just enough to make you notice it, then settles out so you can get your lips to the beer. The aroma is very light, with mere traces of malt and hops, about what you'd expect from a light beer, but still disappointing. The flavor delivers a watered-down malt character that's incapable of asserting itself over the equally limp hops profile. There's definite notes of adjunct activity in the mix. The finish is rather bright considering what came before it, leaving an almost refreshing dry bitterness that lingers a bit. Very light bodied, it's pretty much the consistency of, you guessed it, water. It's overall presence in the mouth is minimal, though there is a lingering aftertaste from the understated hops. Neither good nor bad, this beer just is, really. It's so close to average that there's nothing to rip severely or recommend heartily. It is what it is, a light beer with more flavor than most other light beers. That alone gives it a leg up on the competition. And if it was the only beer offered me, I'd drink it, because in spite of it's mediocrity, or perhaps because of it, it is quite drinkable. But when all's said and done, this is not something I'd buy for myself. I'll just cut my calories elsewhere.