Colored water with alcohol and lemonade for adults: 5 brands of beer that I bypass in the store

Recently, my friend Antoshka and I went to a hypermarket to buy alcohol for the upcoming holiday. He began to put bottles of the expensive Hertog Jan (Duke Jan) into the basket. I was indignant, because a large batch of such alcohol will cost us a pretty penny. Anton began to convince me that expensive beer is a priori the most delicious and high-quality.

To be honest, we got into a serious argument. Since I am a longtime beer connoisseur, I know from my own experience that a cheap bottle can have excellent taste. And expensive varieties (even Russian ones!) are often faked. In general, we decided to hold a tasting and, in fact, resolve our dispute.

Does the cost of beer affect its taste?

My friend insists – the higher the cost of alcohol, the tastier it is. In fact, not always overpriced is a guarantee of quality. I found several explanations for this conclusion:

1. Tara. The price of beer is set depending on what container it is poured into. The most affordable is in aluminum cans with a volume of 0,5 liters. A plastic bottle will cost more. The most expensive bottle is glass.

“Gurus” say that beer in glass is the most delicious. However, it is no different from canned beer! But because of misconceptions like these, beer companies are making good money stocking store shelves with a variety of glass vials.

2. Mass production. The more popular the brewing company and its products, the more they churn beer into cans and bottles. High demand pays off well, so the price is quite affordable. For example, the Baltic.

Favorite Baltika – does not bother the price and pleases with good taste.

Little-known varieties or exclusive ones are mainly bought by fans of this particular brand. Accordingly, demand is lower, production is lower, and the price is higher. Again, a high price does not guarantee that an expensive drink will taste better than a cheap but popular one.

Although there is an exception. The price of the drink is also affected by the cost of raw materials used to make beer. Of course, the most delicious and expensive is craft, made from high-quality components. Sometimes I indulge myself like this, but for friendly gatherings, craft beer is clearly not the best option!

My friend wanted to buy such an immodestly priced beer in bulk at the Auchan hypermarket.

What beer is most often counterfeited

Most often it is expensive brands of beer that are counterfeited. Therefore, you should not convince yourself – I only buy expensive imported alcohol, which means that I consume the most delicious and high-quality product. Moreover, the scammers carry out such a maneuver with our Russian beer.

I define a fake first of all by the price. Just the other day I saw premium Lithuanian beer Volfas Engelman at the nearest Pyaterochka at a ridiculous price – 69 rubles. I highly doubt its authenticity.

It’s hard enough not to run into a fake. I saw expensive beer at a low price – and this is clearly a fake. But often low-quality elites are sold at the current price. I recommend that you carefully study the label before buying and pay attention to the composition of the drink. A fake is made from low-grade components. It is also possible to add harmful ingredients (for example, E112, flavors, flavor enhancers).

My unique find at Pyaterochka is premium beer for 69 rubles!

Top 5 tasteless beers in Russia, in my opinion

We went with a friend to a beer tasting to resolve our dispute. We chose beer popular in Russia from different price categories. As a result, I made a rating of the 5 most tasteless varieties (I want to emphasize that this is my subjective opinion!):

1. Klinskoe. Beer from the middle price category, a bottle of 0,5 liters will cost about 60 rubles. Obviously not an option for connoisseurs of the elite. The taste is watery, absolutely not expressive. In my opinion, it is acquired only for a specific purpose.

Klinskoe – water with a low alcohol content.

2. Hunting. One of the most unfortunate representatives of the beer assortment in Russia. The price for 0,5 liters is about 70 rubles. In the aftertaste, it gives too much alcohol and some unpleasant sweetness. After just one sip, the characteristic taste of chemistry remains in the mouth.

I would prefer a glass of vodka, not cheap alcohol called “Hunting”.

3. Three Bears. Lemonade for adults for 80 rubles. The taste is unpleasant, really reminiscent of cheap lemonade, fairly diluted with water. At the same time, a feeling of bitterness and sourness in the mouth.

Three Bears is not beer, but lemonade for adults.

4. Chepetskoye. Beer for a higher price – a bottle of 0,33 liters costs about 100 rubles. The color is luxurious amber, but the taste is too sugary-caramel. I barely mastered a small portion of the drink, which I can hardly call beer.

The only advantage of Chepetsky is a beautiful amber color.

5. Halzan. I bought a can of beer for 76 rubles. And regretted the money spent. I didn’t feel any hops at all. But the taste of chemistry is excellent felt. Not beer, but some low-quality substitute with an unpleasant aftertaste.

Khalzan – brewed according to the classical technology of a chemical drink.

I do not recommend trying anything from my rating! Otherwise, waste your money with an unpleasant bonus – a migraine from dubious drinks. By the way, the consequences after the “Hunt” and “Khalzan” were especially unpleasant.

With what wording can you return a tasteless beer to the store

In fact, it is rather difficult to return alcohol to the store, since (according to the legislation of the Russian Federation) it belongs to the group of food products. But there are several loopholes through which you can return money for tasteless beer.

Let me share my personal life hacks:

1. The lack of an excise mark on the bottle of allegedly elite beer is a consequence of a counterfeit product. Therefore, the consumer has the right to demand a refund for fake beer.
2. The presence of harmful impurities in the composition not only spoils the taste of beer, but also serves as a reason for its return to the store. Personally, I have repeatedly returned the acquired when I paid attention to the dubious composition.
3. If the beer is filtered, while it has turbidity or heavy sediment at the bottom, this is a guaranteed reason to return alcohol.

If you don’t like the beer not because of individual taste preferences, but because of a fake, expired, poor quality of raw materials or questionable color (smell), you can return it to the store.

It is important to remember that a return can only be made if you have a receipt for the purchase!

Having speculated on the topic of the taste of beer and its cost, he strengthened his conviction that expensive does not mean high quality. I would like to know your opinion on this matter. And also share which beer is better not to take in our stores?

*Alcohol abuse is harmful to your health!