Camo Black Ice High Gravity Lager

Brewed by City Brewery (Melanie Brewing Co)
Style: Malt Liquor
La Crosse, Wisconsin USA

24oz can acquired in trade with Kevin (thanks, I guess!). I’ve been trying to get the PA crew to drink this one for a while now and we decided to make it Tom’s #2,100. Poured a medium yellow color with an averaged sized head. Yep, smells and tastes like a Malt Liquor - corny and just nasty.

frankenkitty, Where’s the Camo Silver Ice High Gravity Lager?!?!?

No matter. Lured to that mecca of beer stores, Bridgeview Liquors, by his rating (and thereby, deliberate enticement) of the aforementioned malt liquor, I found no trace of said malt liquor, yet found this gem. And at an abv of 10.5%, it is obviously a superior drink to his meager 9% brew. Why, even the color of my Ice, Black, is way cooler than his pansy Silver Ice!

I would’ve guessed this to be an European strong lager.

It pours a deep golden body, highly effervescent, with a frothy white head that actually hangs around for most of the drink. The aroma is full of alcohol, corn, plastics, industrial chemicals, and a trace of sweet malt. No hops. Not in the flavor, either. Just some alcohol charged corn syrup, diesel fuel, malt, and that dose of metallica that one comes to appreciate in a fine malt liquor. The alcohol lines the mouth (perhaps thanks to strange, condemned chemicals) and leaves a burning fuel finish.

Now, one might think that, given the above description, I’ve rated this too high. But it’s on target for the style. And, considering the sturdy abv and the fact that this is no craft brewery wannabe, this may be the Mother of Malt Liquors.... although I’m sure that some of you have found "better."

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Bridgeview, IL<font size=-1>

Dark straw to light golden in color. Taller, very fluffy/wispy white head. Very odd aroma, with scents of white grapes, creamed corn and hazelnut liqueur. Wow, this really does start out smooth as the label suggest. Then it warms in the mouth and apocalypse is upon us. Napalm and and other distillates coat the mouth and throat and demand attention. The stomach is already convulsing and feeling the burn which does come. A light flavor of licorice/ouzo or perhaps slivovitz wanders about making one really wish this would stop. Why 24 oz?, I don’t know, but at least it is not 40 oz. This is just a pure alcohol bomb. Sure it’s smooth if you drink it ice cold in 12.8 seconds. For some reason I’m afraid that is why it was brewed.

Strange malty, dusty aroma. Orange tinged golden color with a white head that even laced on its way to oblivion. Stuff looks like a decent tripel. Thinnish in body, creamy/fizzy carbonation. The flavor is pretty much sweet malt (a bit corny) with a lot of heat. Tends to burn the mouth. It does not taste offensive, but there are so many other beers that taste anywhere from ok to wonderful. I think just tasting this gave me a headache.

From a 24 oz. can. Medium godl body with a thin white head. The aroma is fresh sweet corn and some notes of alcohol. Love me some corn flakes! The taste is notebook paper and very sweet corn and sugar. Surprsingly whiel this feels liek a big beer, thick in the mouth, there isn’t the fusel alcohol note, so it’s actually a little more drinkable. Actually, this is one of the better malt liquors out there, especially for the abv.

Poured a clear amber color with a small, white head that left no lacing on the glass. Aroma of corn, metal, and some alcohol. Taste of fermented corn syrup, leaving a slightly less-harsh, malt liquor finish. Thanks Steve for celebrating Tom’s milestone with a real winner! Fortunately I barely remember it.

Thanks to hopdog for providing this one for rating #2,100! Pours a tranlslucent golden with a small bubbly white head. Aroma of sweet corn, vinegar, sweet and malty...no hops. Flavor of corn, for 10.5%...alchohol was hidden, sweet malt extract and not much else.

24-oz aluminum can. Thanks, BitBucket! This fit the "bring one weird beer to tonight’s tasting" theme perfectly. $1.79 well spent.
Have to say, despite being a gnarly little beast of a beer, this was nowhere near as bad as I expected. It’s fairly drinkable and didn’t burst out of the gate with a panoply of horrid flaws.
Clear medium straw. Headless, Laceless. Gargantuan sugary nose. Medium sticky body with sharp fizzy carb. Not much finish. Maybe a little dab of chemical activity there at the end.