A taste of… Kalik Beer

Commonwealth Brewery Ltd.
Nassau, Bahamas

Preface: This is the first of what I call the “Caribbean Tasting”. Over the next few days I will taste four of the beers brewed in the Caribbean. The cost of this beer was $1.35 (US) at a beer wholesaler in Brooklyn, NY USA.

I first tried this brew on a trip to the Bahamas seven years ago. I remember it as being refreshing on a hot but pleasant afternoon spent relaxing on the veranda of the Atlantis Casino. Today it is a cold winter morning in Brooklyn, NY. It will be interesting to see what part memories will play in this tasting.

Note: There appears to be very small flakes floating in this beer.

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: After pouring this brew into the pint glass, and shining a light through it the flakes seem to no longer be there. (I can only deduce that it was the reflections of imperfections in the clear glass bottle.) It is a light golden yellow, lightly carbonated brew topped with a quickly dissipating white head of foam comprised of small to medium sized bubbles. There is no discernible Belgian Lace.

Aroma: Sweet malted barley aromas are the first impression when lifting the glass to experience initial aromatics. The second impression reveals a slight unbaked bread aroma. (By this time the head has fallen entirely leaving no “lace.”) The lip-to-sip continues to breathe a slight bread dough sensation.

Mouth feel: A light touch of carbonation and none-too-heavy mouth feel to the beer is on “style” for a light lager.

Flavor: From the lip-to-sip, through the initial mouth-feel and into the first flavor impression there is a crisp, clean and refreshing flavor of slightly toasted barley malt with only a hint of hops.

Finish: The final notes of this beer are neither lingering nor too-quickly dissipated. The final pallet sensation is refreshing and does excite the flavor receptors for the next sip.

Comments: First off I was surprised that there was no “skunky” sensation delivered either as an aroma or flavor. Unclouded by memory, the overall impression this beer gives is refreshment. It is well balanced with what little grain and hop flavors are incorporated. Served slightly more chilled than traditional lagers or ales it offers refreshment to the taste sensors and the pallet. I will exercise my imagination and tell you that this brew offers some evidence that the terroir of this Caribbean brew is evident.

Served as a beverage of choice with freshly caught grilled firm fleshed fish, this would be more than acceptable. After an hour or so swimming in the aqua waters of the Caribbean this would be more than enough incentive to seek the shade of a beach bar for a quick dry-off before doing it all over again, and again.

The Brewery: http://www.heinekeninternational.com/commonwealthbrewerybahamas.aspx

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/944/3050

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/kalik/8682/