Not bad at all. Review on Foster's Beer

The commercials, for this stuff, imply that this Australian export was developed by adventurous and rugged folks. I guess they make their home on the Outback and develop sports that involve a lot of pain. Well, that's what the commercials would have you believe, anyway.

In truth, Foster's is more like the Australian version of Budweiser in that it's mass-produced and pretty thin when compared to stouts, craft brews and other ''hearty'' beers. Is that saying Foster's is swill? Why, heck no! I like Budweiser, and a good Foster's is a nice change of pace.

Sure, there's nothing particularly exotic about this ordinary-tasting beer, but that's not all bad. Fosters is a bit thin, but it's got a bit of a ''grainy'' kick to it, and seems to contain a lot of carbonation which causes the brew to bubble up slightly on your tongue and give it a ''hoppy'' taste.

Of major importance to some folks is that Foster's isn't what you'd call a heavy beer, and people can swill it with gleeful abandon. Knocking back a six of Foster's is no trouble at all, in fact, and this appeals to quite a number of people.

As for me, I tend to have one or two of these with a heavy meal, as it holds up under most foods but doesn't overpower them. Also, this is a good beer to have when you're having a picnic with a few friends and enjoying traditional favorites from a barbecue grill. I also seemed to take some of this along while fishing (back in my younger days) -- a lazy, relaxing day and some Foster's go well together.

As for the characteristics of this, Foster's has a fairly thin head when poured correctly (i.e., poured down the side of a tilted glass) and smells slightly on the sweet side. It tastes just a little sweet, too, in fact. There's not much of an after taste with this stuff, either.

Overall, this might not be the best damn beer you'll ever drink, but it isn't bad, either. It's a little more substantial than your typical, mass-produced American beers, but is simple enough to appeal to popular tastes.