United Nations of Beer

Pineapple beer

by David Friesen
(Beer Delegate, China)

Pineapple beer
China
Visit the UNOB's Chinese Beer Guide

Ok, so I was running out of options and basket space, but still wanted one more for the 'party of five' beers. I hadn't seen anything strange, until I stumbled upon King Benefit Pineapple Beer.

Now, I have had some great fruit beers from all over the world, but also plenty of pretty dire ones as well. Despite the mixed record when it comes to beers and fruit, the good ones are brilliant and they are always interesting. So I popped it into the basket and went on my merry way.

This 345ml can doesn't even have an alcohol content listed, at least not in writing I can understand. On opening the can and pouring the beer, I think this is probably because it may be virtually devoid of anything like alcohol.

The beer was ridiculously pale and had a horrible fake fruit smell. Like bad tinned pineapples in syrup if you had spilt some Budweiser on them.

I was getting a little afraid to taste this beer, but gave it a shot anyway. I really wished I hadn't – it was truly awful. Fizzy to the point of Cola, with a disgusting synthetic pineapple taste and the faintest aftertaste of hops.

I don't often have a beer I will refuse to drink, but after one more sip to make sure I wasn't completely mad I poured it down the toilet. It could barely be classed as beer, at least not any beer I have had before.

If you want a fruit beer to savour, whatever you do DON’T have Pineapple Beer. You would be better off with the aforementioned tinned fruit and some Bud.