Lonestar is okay and shouldn't be on the list... However Lonestar Light could possibly be the worst beer ever.
http://beeradvocate.com/articles/288 For the most part, Malt Liquor beers are sold in the infamous 40 oz sized bottles, some as large at 64 ozs to as small as a 12 oz bottles. Wide mouthed necks are also very popular - this allows the beer to practically funnel its way into your belly. They usually hit at around 5.5 to 8.2% alcohol by volume and are straw to pale amber in colour. Most use excessive amounts of adjuncts, such as corn, rice, refined brewers sugar (dextrose) and as a result there are very few "all malt" brewed malt liquors. Hops are barely used, just enough is added to balance off any cloyingness. Higher alcohol versions tend to have a loads of fusel alcohol, which gives off solvent or fuel like aromas and flavours. They are attenuated very well, meaning a higher ratio of fermentable sugars are present over other beers, but without using as many ingredients and still ending up with a high alcohol content. Some breweries enable the use of special enzymes to further breakdown the malt and adjuncts so they will yield a larger percentage of alcohol. This makes for quite a dry beer, with only a small amount of unfermented sugars and a kick that will knock you on your ass. Oddly, and a little known fact, not all beers labeled a malt liquor are. Varying from state to state, the label is applied to certain beers that exceed a specific alcohol content. You'll see this commonly with imports. All the negativity aside, as BeerAdvocates we have to keep open palates and review a wide spectrum of beers, including malt liquor beers. Here are a few to be aware of, or perhaps even stay away from.
In the state of Texas, "malt liquor" is merely a label. It has to do with arcane labeling laws and alcohol percentages. "Beer," "lager," "malt liquor," and "ale" are all words that the TABC defines as particular to varying degrees of alcohol. Don't be fooled by those r****ds (who know nothing about the beverages they police). "Malt liquor" can be "beer" or even "lager" (which has to do with the type of yeast used in the bio/chemical brewing process). It can also be applied to certain "ales" which use a different type of yeast. Don't get hung-up on the vocabulary. In most instances it's completely arbitrary.
Actually, if any of you have been to a resort in Jamaica, Red Stripe Light is possibly the worst crap I've ever drank. I love Red Stripe, but their light version should never leave that island.
I can't stand Corona, either. If you need to put something in a beer to make it drinkable, it can't be good. Dos X doesn't need a lime to make it taste good. Corona and Corona light are just disgusting without some sort of enhancement.
Natural light and Busch light are disgusting, but at least they're almost free. I'm going with Shiner Bock as the worst due to qaulity per dollar issues and the perception that it's good/great beer. Milwaukee's Best Light also ranks very high on my list. Miller Genuine draft is pretty awful as well. So is Corona. I could make a REALLY long list of terrible beers actually. But, I'll leave it as is. I was drinking Speakeasy Big Daddy IPA for the games yesterday. YUM.
Y'all wont win me over. Beers, Ales Malt Liquors Wines, Sake, etc Wine coolers (Boones) Champagnes Flavored beers (Zima) Liqueurs (amaretto, cherry, etc) Spirits (whiskey, vodka) All different categories in my book. Malt liquor is malt liquor.
Natty is clearly awful, but its beside the point. I'd rather drink 6 Natty Lights then 6 O'Doulle's any day. And twice on a Saturday. I'm glad Schlitz isnt an option. I got the $5 12 pack a few times in college and it was head and shoulders above Natty/Keystone. I don't think it was a lite beer though. Didn't it used to be a major domestic before some lawsuit in the 50's?
It's not even a contest: Sam Adams Triple Bock. Looks, pours, and tastes like soy sauce. At least the bottle's cool.
