Okay, so I’ve been seeing these “flavored malt beverages” all over the place, and honestly, I was super curious. I mean, what even are they? They look like colorful sodas, but they have alcohol? I decided to dive in and figure it out for myself, and, well, it was a bit of a journey.
My Experiment Begins
First, I hit up a few different stores. I wanted to see what the selection was like. I found everything from the big-name brands to some smaller, craft-style options. The flavors were wild! We’re talking watermelon, mango, blue raspberry, even some crazy cocktail-inspired ones.
I grabbed a mixed 12-pack, just to get a good variety. I made sure to get a few different brands, too. My goal? Total flavor exploration.
The Tasting
Back home, it was time for the taste test. I chilled everything down nice and cold first. Gotta have that crispness, you know?
- First up: A classic lime flavor. It tasted… pretty much like lime soda. A little sweeter, maybe, and with a slight, almost undetectable, alcoholic kick.
- Next: I tried a strawberry one. Again, very sweet, very fruity. It reminded me of those strawberry candies I used to eat as a kid. Barely any alcohol taste.
- Then came the more “out there” flavors. I sampled a mango chili one, and it was… interesting. The sweetness of the mango hit first, then a little bit of spice. Still not much alcohol flavor, though.
- I will say, the carbonation is INTENSE. It helps mask the malt.
My Thoughts
After going through most of the pack, I started to get a feel for these things. They’re basically alcoholic sodas, for real. The alcohol content is there (usually around 5%, I noticed), but it’s so well hidden by the sugar and flavoring. It’s like, they are not made for you to taste the alcohol; it is more for the “effect” of the alcohol.
Honestly, I can see the appeal. They’re sweet, easy to drink, and come in a ton of flavors. If you’re not a fan of the taste of beer or wine, these could be a good alternative. But, and this is a big BUT, they are super sugary. I felt a sugar rush after just a couple. And because the alcohol is so masked, it would be really easy to overdo it without realizing. I can see that being dangerous.
So, my final verdict? Flavored malt beverages are a fun, fruity, and definitely sweet way to get a little buzz. But proceed with caution! Watch out for that sugar content, and be mindful of how much you’re drinking. They’re sneaky little things!
