Lion Red

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 3 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

This is just a grade above swill. While the beer is certainly a reddish colour and slightly hazed, there is nothing else about it that is on style. Acidic and phenolic notes were present in both the aroma and flavour. Yuck!

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Pours pretty light with a bright copper colour. Decent head, caramel, apples and biscuits in the aroma. Taste is going to be pretty light as well. But tolerable.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Here is a classic case of a beer that goes from quite good to unmemorable in under 5 minuites. Amber in apperance with fatty fat effervecence and a thin white head. Smells is entirely sweet malts, which is ok, but somethng else would be nice..kinda like getting new shoes and you have to buy the laces seperate. A little too much carbonation ruins the malty smoothness for mouthfeel, but let it get warm and it only feels flat. Initially, tastes of fruity malts, maybe a tinge of cirtus and followed quietly by slightly bitter hops come out quite enjoyable but half a beer later you're stuck drinking flavourless liquid. Gotta be good for working in the yard on a hot day. Easy to polish off quickly.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 9

~ Initial Review, 06-10-2003:
Another Trader Joe special -- this single ended up costing me I think in the neighborhood of $0.80. And while I did enjoy drinking the Speight's Gold Medal Ale that I purchased at the same time, the Lion Red is a strictly run-of-the-mill Kiwi lager.

Despite it's name, this is not a red beer (thankfully) -- only the label is red. Even if I dislike red beers, it would be more interesting if this looked a little more appealing than it does. Thin head that quickly fades, with zero lace. In addition, not much in the way of aroma to go with here.

For taste, this reminds me of the dozens of different beers I had when I was in Australia a few years ago. Swan, Emu, Toohey, VB..., all marching to the same beat. This Kiwi beer follows suit, and would fit in with it's Aussie brethern a little too well. Not bad, just predictable.

In addition to the lack-luster effort put forth by the flavor and aroma profiles, the mouthfell is a little too soft. Some sort of character here would at least give this beer some sort of personality. But as it stands now, this beer isn't bad, isn't good, isn't much of anything. Nothing exciting nor annoying about this.

~ Re-Review, 04-06-2005:
Why the heck did I buy a six-pack of this, if my previous review displayed my complete indifference towards this beer? Good question. Chalk it up being a total space cadet at the liquor store -- I meant to grab the sixer of Speight's Gold Medal right next to this, and wasn't paying attention until I got home. Duh...!!

But overall, I could have done a lot worse, that's for sure. A bit on the sweet and cloying side of things in the mouthfeel. But even still, this isn't horrible. Kills a thirst without much fanfair.

Not my least favorite Kiwi beer, at least....

Music: Psychotic Waltz's "A Social Grace".
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

This brew pours with a amber gold body topped by a thin white head with a surprisingly good amount of lacing. The aroma is nothing special, much like any mass produced lager, except perhaps with a bit more sweet maltiness. The flavor is better, it's slightly sweet with malt yet well balanced with a nice bitter hoppiness. Light to medium bodied, tingly from the carbonation and dry.