January 14, 2006
Rebel Beer
Price comparison: Cheap. Less than many domestics.
Alcohol percentage by volume: 4.4%
Cute bottle/label? Not really (green twelve-ounce glass with very Bavarian-looking red font on a white label; gold wrap on the neck with Pivni red seal imprinted thereon) but, if you're looking to be entertained, there's always this ad poster:
http://www.beersince1933.com/rebelposter.jpg.
Appearance: Very blonde gold with a snowy head and sticky lace.
Scent: If I smell a loaf of bread, a sauce, or anything else non-beer related and say, "This smells like beer," it's a compliment. When I say the same thing about a beer ... not so much. Rebel just, well, smells like beer. If you want to get snobby about it, I suppose you could say it smells like a decent lager, but that's semantics.
Flavor: Absolutely nothing distinguishing. Light malt to start, little to no finish whatsoever. Okay mouthfeel, and less watery than domestic, but no warmth.
Impressions: I haven't been able to work much with new beers lately, and I decided to write this classic up for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I had not represented the Czech Republic at all in this site, and they do make very serviceable, clean beers, of which this is one example. Secondly, this is pretty easily available, and thirdly, it's very inexpensive; fourthly, and probably most importantly, Rebel, for all its unremarkability, is a multitasker to the extreme.
Will I buy this beer again? My personal preference tends toward ales rather than lagers, and I can't in good conscience recommend a beer with this low of an alcohol percentage without warning you not to try to get drunk with it, since your bladder will explode first. But Rebel sets off savory foods extremely well without overpowering them, is very thirst-quenching, and is incredibly inexpensive and available. I often order Rebel in bars where they have only a few imports lined up and everyone else is drinking Bud Light.
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses