Metasip

A Wine, Beer, and Spirits Review Site

Malt Beverages

Stiegl Radler

Is it beer? Is it soda? Is it a summery beverage? Why are you drinking it in the Winter, Dave?

Stiegl Radler

We were really intrigued the first time we tried this stuff. It was the middle of summer and we must have been drawn in by the Communist Propaganda Poster that is the can of Stiegl Radler – the “beer with fruit soda malt beverage specialty” that is all the rage in Germany, it appears. It comes in a four-pack of cans that are half-liters, or just more than a pint, or enough to refresh you after running that 10-miler you like to run every Friday after your organic beet farming group meets. Dude! It’s like drinking soda, but it’s like drinking beer, and I don’t know, let’s just review it!

Stiegl Radler Review

I should start a revolution – sorta like the people who claim that Coca-Cola wasn’t a winter beverage until it was marketed as such by those polar bears. Or Santa Claus. My revolution involves 365 days of Stiegl Radler as the refreshing beverage of choice for those wanting grapefruit refreshment, alcohol, sugary soda (even for those who gave up soda, like me, ahem), and the feeling of satisfaction. Or something. I’m babbling.

Taste

Like a party in your mouth…wait, that’s someone else’s marketing tagline. Sorry. Really, though, yum! Not syrupy sweet, some sugar, but doesn’t have that “OMG I just downed a tablespoon of sugar” feeling you get from downing a Mountain Dew. There’s grapefruit – but not way, over-the-top, sour morning grapefruit way.

Profile

TINY amount of alcohol – 2.5% ABV. So you can have a 16 ouncer and be all like – HEY! I still have all my faculties!

Value

$9.99 for a four-pack. Cans are tall. Yes, folks, I say that’s a pretty good value.

Metasip Grade: A-

As a *critic*, I’m not sure if I’m giving that grade to Stiegl’s version or the entire genre. Perhaps it’s the style that gets me wondering if this is something I like – but maybe others will do even more justice to this variety.

Delicia Whipped Malt Beverage

What did I just drink? And is it worth $1.50?

Really, local supermarket chain? REALLY? You’re going to tempt me by taking something that is (1) in a champagne bottle, (2) has a pretty label, and (3) is in the discount bin marked down to $1.50…AND get me to like it?

What IS This?
Delicia Whipped Malt Beverage

Well, as the saying goes, “I’ll try anything once.”

The overriding question: Will I try it TWICE?

Let’s find out and review Delicia Whipped Flavor.

Delicia Whipped Malt Beverage Review

My expectations were these:

Something bubbly, since it comes in a champagne-style bottle.

Something that tastes like whipped cream, since the flavor is “whipped.”

And something that might be along the lines of a Smirnoff Ice, since…well, that’s about the only thing I can think of that’s sorta kinda like a whipped cream flavor and is also a “malt beverage.”

Taste:

Like drinking Cool Whip.

I mean that with all sincerity – this is not like drinking whipped cream, the real kind. This is like drinking Cool Whip.

Bear in mind that, before I tried to be all healthy and stuff, I LOVED Cool Whip. It has that “this is bad for me so why don’t I try a little more on my pie” taste that I associate with over-indulging at the holiday dinner table.

Which brings us back to the taste of this particular beverage – it’s a strong, artificial, whipped cream-ish taste that pretty much hits you over the top with the following message: “Don’t have too much.”

Profile:

Bottle says “Malt Beverage” (see photo above) and, in smaller letters, “Flavored Beer.” ABV is 5% so it’s more like the “Ice” beers that were popular for about fifteen seconds in the 90s.

Value:

I think I wasted my buck-fifty.

Now, the website does offer some…interesting cocktail recipes. Here’s one: “Female Spy Punch.” I am obviously not the target market for this drink.

Metasip Grade: C+

My dollar-fifty is an investment for tax purposes, and for you, the reader. I can’t imagine a scenario where this stuff is worthwhile for you to purchase.