Coors Banquet Review

Brewery: Coors Brewing Co. | Beer: Coors Banquet
Style: American Adjunct Lager | ABV: 5.0% | IBUs: ~12
Serving Method: 12 oz. can poured into Pilsener glass

First brewed in 1873, Coors Banquet (or Coors Original), is the oldest brand in the Coors stable. Originally brewed by Adolph Coors in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this is the beer that launched the Coors empire. It's also the beer the Bandit was hauling in the American film classic Smokey and the Bandit. So there's that.

As with the other big brewers flagships, Coors Banquet has been vastly outpaced market-share wise by it's Light counterpart. However, while Budweiser and MGD are still well-known brands, Coors Banquet has slipped somewhat into obscurity. In the last few years, though, Coors has been shaping Banquet into a nostalgia brand in the likes of High Life and Pabst Blue Ribbon.

The only ingredient Coors like to push is the water (never a great sign), and they maintain that the 100% Rocky Mountain aqua used gives Banquet it's unique smooth character.

Shall we dive into the Mile High taste?

Appearance: A crystal-clear straw-colored body capped by two fingers of fluffy white head that burn out quickly and leaves no lace.

Aroma: Sweet and grainy malt along with lemony hops that keep everything balanced nicely.

Taste: As the nose promised, the flavor profile is composed of lemony and somewhat grassy hops over a sweet, grainy malt backbone. There’s a bare hint of something buttery in here, but it doesn’t linger long enough for proper identification. It’s about average for the style in intensity (that is to say, weak). A little bit of husky malt in the mostly clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with sharp carbonation and a crisp finish.

Drinkability: Same old same old for the style: imminently drinkable for fans of the flavor profile.

Verdict: While Coors Banquet suffers from the same problems as the other beers in the style, it’s balanced better than much of its competition. Balance alone, however, is not enough to win the day.

Grade: D

Coors Light Review

Brewery: Coors Brewing Co. | Beer: Coors Light
Style: American Adjunct Light Lager | ABV: 4.2%
Serving Method: 24 oz. can poured into Pilsener glass

This review is a part of an article on the American Adjunct Light Lager as part of the monthly beer blogging project The Session.

Introduced in 1978, Coors Light is the beer that really put the Colorado-based Coors Brewing Company on the map, and is by far their biggest seller. "The Silver Bullet's" brand image is all about the concept of Coors Light as the coldest beer. From the "frost brewing" process, to the ice-covered train featured in the commercials, and the fact that the beer is shipped across country in constant refrigeration; it's all about low temperatures.

Coors has plenty of gimmicks to go along with the marketing talking points. Besides a vented mouth for speed, this can is equipped with both the "Frost Brew Liner" and the "Cold Activated" mountains. According to the can, the blue liner "locks in good taste," while the mountains will turn blue "at the peak of cold refreshment." Here I was thinking it was just an aluminum can.

All of this has sparked a belief in many people that somehow Coors is a mystical, delicate beer, and must be kept cold at all times. They think if it is allowed to warm at all, its ruined. The power of marketing is strong, especially when it comes to light beers.

Well, the mountains just turned blue, so let's dive in.

Appearance: A pale golden body with a white head that recedes at a rate I've never seen, it destroys itself in mere seconds.

Aroma: Thinner than thin, with only the barest whiff of grain. Blink and you miss it.

Taste: Much fuller than the aroma would suggest, but still a very thin flavor profile. A sweet and grainy base with a little more "hop" flavor than most in this style. Bland, but better than many light lagers.

Mouthfeel: As you would expect, light-bodied and fizzy with a dry finish.

Drinkability: The only thing holding you back is the boring flavor profile.

Verdict: Another very boring Light Lager, but quite probably the one I'd reach for from a cooler stocked with only Bud Light, Miller Lite, and Coors Light. It's not as skunky as Miller Lite and just a little bit better tasting than Bud Light.

Grade: D