Red Stripe Jamaican Lager | Desnoes & Geddes Limited | BeerAdvocate
Desnoes & Geddes Limited
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.70%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
In 2012, Diageo moved production of the U.S. supply of Red Stripe from Jamaica to the U.S.; The supply is produced by City Brewing Co. in La Crosse, Wisconsin and the Latrobe Brewing Company in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which was the main brewery for Rolling Rock for over 60 years. Desnoes & Geddes will still make Red Stripe for Jamaica, Brazil, Canada and Europe.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 11-30-2000
BEER STATS
3.42/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 |  overall: 3.5
Look: Pours a goldish color, nothing special but not the worst. Slight head which quickly dissolves upon pouring.
Smell: Nothing unique about the smell at all.
Taste: Not an overwhelming taste, easily drinkable on a hot day for sure. Its not as filling as other lagers we have tried.
Feel: Red Stripe goes down real easy, does not leave an unpleasant taste. Does not fill you up like other lagers might. Can easily have 4-5 of these and not feel like a fat slob.
Overall: This is a good, but not great beer. Definitely recommend it if you are stuck in a rut and want something new. Can usually find a 6 pack for around 9 dollars. It is very drinkable and tasty enough to keep you interested. Good for parties/bbqs. Good for day drinking.
 741 characters
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 |  overall: 2.75
Review: 500ml Can of Red Stripe: ABV: 4.7%
The taste of Jamaica
On pour we get a light golden yellow colour, that produces a big frothy white head, with a lot of nice carbonation. The beer looks ok.
A nice head that maintains, and some nice lacing.
A slight beery smell on the nose, real lagery aroma. Malts and grains, but overall not a whole lot to smell. Faint.
On taste I get a very nice mouthful of tastes, a filling and refreshing feel in the mouth. Tastes ok, mostly creamy, with some cereals tastes, and a good bit of grain. Nice enough.
There is a very stringent taste though (lemon and lime), that lingers throughout which is not very nice and is very pointed.
But overall has a real lagery taste and is quite sessionable
Hard to rate and not bad, but would like to try again.
 792 characters
2.25/5  rDev -25%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 |  overall: 2.25
This beer is slightly below average for a lager. It has a  taste that is neither good or bad. it is over priced for a subpar lager. There is nothing special here.
 162 characters
2.47/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 |  overall: 2.5
Not much to say here. The lace lasted...surprise. Otherwise this is just another American adjunct beer. Jamaican style? Give me a break. This tastes like a Pabst Blue Ribbon with a tad more bitterness. It's sad that many of the once notable beers from other countries (Kirin, Harp, Becks, Lowenbrau...I could go on and on)  have been bought by corporate America's bean counters and marketing geniuses for their name and past reputation. This is quite possibly the reason for the craft beer surge. We know better.  Excuse the rant. Back to Red Stripe. No worse than a Heineken, if you get my drift. American adjunct lager? Go for a Narraganset if you can find one.
 663 characters
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 |  overall: 3
This is a nice beer that has just enough character to be enjoyable.
It's pale color leaves a lot to be desired mainly due to reminding drinkers of the standard adjunct lagers it resembles.
It's smell is pleasant and inviting.
The taste is hard to define. It's certainly not off putting, but It's difficult to consistently detect.
While there is a bit of character in its feel, there's not much.
Overall, Red Stripe is a pleasant experience.
 440 characters
3.57/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 |  overall: 3.5
first beer of the day, straight out of the freezer, on a warm September afternoon..... is why i give this baby a FOUR on taste! but seriously.... it's not bad. on par with a Coors i suppose....
 193 characters
1.9/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 |  overall: 1
Smells like dirt, tastes like skunk (maybe a note or two of sweetness), looks like Bud Light, feels like Bud Light. I had high hopes for this beer, I really did... I think this is the most disappointed by beer I have been in a long while.
See, something sinister, I think, must have happened. Because my bottle looks almost identicele to the one pictured; same Red Stripe logo, same DG logo... EXCEPT underneath the logo, mine does not say "Lager beer brewed in Jamaica" no, no, scipio--mine says "Jamaican style lager". Jamaican, STYLE. On the side, it does not say "Desnoes & Geddes", nope, nope, mine says "brewed and bottled by Red Stripe beer company LATROBE, PA" dot dot dot... LATROBE! Persumably the same Latrobe that brings ussuch outstanding products as Rolling Rock (obvious sarcasm is obvious). WTH!? This tastes just as non-descript and underwhelming as rolling rock that I'm not convinced it's not rolling rockunder a different label since Latrobe apparently bought this brand. This is a BS beer. This is no better than bud. Well, maybe slightly. But not eough to justify it's existence.
 1,102 characters
3.35/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 |  overall: 3.25
Grilling out with friends. Transparent, pale golden body teeming with effervescence. An inch of soapy, bone white head rests at the apex. Aromas of miscellaneous grains, adjuncts. Clean and refreshing. Light and simple. A good backyard, summer day kind of lager.
 262 characters
3.98/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 |  overall: 4
Pours a clear golden color with a ton of streaming bubbles and topped by a rocky white head.
Bready and slightly sweet on the nose. There is even some hops coming through on the smell along with that malty cracker like smell.
The taste follows the nose with a slightly sweet and bready bite with a nice touch of hops. Nothing real bitter or over th top on that hop note but it is just detectable.
The feel is fairly light and finishes very nicely.
Overall this beer comes in at a high score for me because it is such a good beer for an adjunct lager. Tastes to me like a possible corn filler is used. And that fits me fine because I am a fan of the Coors/Miller family line that uses the corn over the rice. This beer is also very reasonable priced in my area and that makes it just that much more enjoyable. Cheers!
 820 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 |  overall: 3.75
poured into glass from grenade bottle
L: a little bit deeper than piss yellow, some head longevity
S:not a lot, a little rancid.
T: pretty good for the price. a very drinkable lager.
My go to for liquor stores with below average selection.
 243 characters
2.44/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4.25 |  overall: 2.25
Used to drink this in Bristol at psy trance and drum and bass nights...brings back many memories...
Fairly simple beer though far better than most the Euro lagers. This has much better balance and a nice depth of flavor that goes perfectly with a spliff
 254 characters
2.24/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.75 |  overall: 2.25
Gets an extra quarter point for the grenade bottle, but really doesn't look bad for an adjunct. Surprisingly full bodied for a beer that I'm certain has sugar cane in it, tastes a bit darker than you'd expect. Not terrible, but certainly nothing special.
 254 characters
3.51/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 |  overall: 3.75
What can I say, I love the bottles  - it is almost a novelty. In terms of the actual beer, I have been trying a lot more lagers lately and this is a pretty decent one. Perhaps a touch overpriced and I imagine the more die-hard beer fans won't be too quick to go buy a pack, but it isn't too bad. Are there even any other kinds of Jamaican beer out there?
 354 characters
3.69/5  rDev +23%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 |  overall: 4
Atypical light look for a lager and not strong in scent, but does have nice character with a slight malty dry bite to finish.  Overall agreeable, a crowd favourite that may cause a craving worthy of revisiting on occasion.
 222 characters
3.7/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 |  overall: 3.75
Really good beer.  The bottle really don't give that impression, but it is surprising how nice that beer feel.
This blond, Jamaïcan beer have a nice taste.
I will try this one again soon
 189 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 |  overall: 3
Pours a crystal clear light amber gold.
Toasted malt and a slight spice thing going on.
Not much in terms of flavor, mildly spiced grains.
Light-bodied, medium carbonation.
Overall, not terrible, but not good.
 213 characters
3.22/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 |  overall: 3.25
From the bottle, it pours a clear amber with a nice head that lasts a while.  Light in the nose, primarily grains.  The mouth enjoys the light flavor with no aftertaste.  Must be killer listening to the local music in Jamaica!!
 227 characters
3.05/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 |  overall: 3
Poured onto pint glass. Light, bright, crisp see thru coloring. Very low foaming, barely none at all when it sits a couple of seconds after it is poured. A fair and honest beer, perhaps a tad expensive amongst other beers that you will find at your local 7/11 or Liquor Shop. Clean and light after taste. If you are not a beer snob, a cold Red Stripe Lager WILL refresh you.
 374 characters
3/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 |  overall: 3
In an effort to prove the global nature of beer, this is Jamaica's only entry on "The  1001 Beers To Taste Before You Die." Fertile ground for craft brewers. (Weather beats Chicago.)
 183 characters
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 |  overall: 2.5
Poured into a pilsner glass, pours a moderate foam head that finishes thin after sitting.
Light golden color of your typical American Adjunct Lager.
Smells watery and corny. Like a typical American Adjunct Lager does.
Tastes as I've repeated, of a typical American Adjunct Lager, watery with a corn taste to it.
Crisp and clean feel, perfect for a hot summer day or after a hard day of work.
Overall, easy to drink, but very typical of its style, better than some other of its kind, but not so much that it's worth a mention.
 530 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 |  overall: 2.5
Beach blanket beer.
Not much to like if you're looking for more than just a beer, but not much to dislike either.  Sunny disposition, child of the Caribbean sort of appeal.  No real difference from a host of other light appearing, light tasting, lightly hopped, lightly malted, genial brews.  The sort thing that appeals to many and offends few.
Worth trying, not worth a premium.
 382 characters
2.02/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 |  overall: 2
This review is for the 484ml can version brewed in Ireland and the U.K. Pours pale gold with a foamy head that disappears quickly leaving scrappy lacing. Grainy smell. Tastes faintly of lemon. Very sweet. Light bodied. Smooth mouthfeel with medium to high carbonation. What is the purpose of this beer outside a beach in the Caribbean?
 335 characters
4.04/5  rDev +34.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 |  overall: 4
A good island beer that tastes of cereal and grain.  It is a little creamy.  Well balanced.  I can't say I dislike it or love it.  It is good on a very hot beach in the Caribbean.
 179 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 |  overall: 3
Hazy yellow body poured from a bottle into a pint glass.
Little head although the heavy carbonation has a bite to it.
Mouthfeel is very light. The taste needs an ocean behind it. This must be awesome on the beach.
 213 characters
3.38/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 |  overall: 3.25
Light gold pour with whit head; good cap retention; decent lacing; excellent clarity. Bready grains, corn cereal and a little caramel malt nose; flavors of grainy corn cereal and bready caramel malt.  Moderate plus plus carbonation; light mouthfeel. Bit of a corny linger.
 272 characters