Costco/Kirkland brand craft beer

[Bomber]

I haven't had the beer but I can tell you that the 1.75l scotch or canadian whiskey for $20 can't be beat for value.

Sounds interesting, thanks for the suggestion. Can't wait to check out their selection and prices.

Just learned that in a dozen or so states, you don't actually have to be a "member" to purchase liquor from Costco (and Sams and such). So....kid in a discounted candy store.

 

[z-bob]

+1 on the Canadian whisky (it tastes about like Crown Royal), and also the Kirkland white tequila.

 

[LLBrewer]

+1 on the Canadian whisky (it tastes about like Crown Royal), and also the Kirkland white tequila.

Yeah the canadian is pretty good. The scotch is kind of boring but smooth, for the price it can't be beat. I'd imagine the bourbon is fine too. I'm definitely going to try the tequila. If nothing else it'll make good margaritas.

 

[bobeer]

Man I wish my state wasn't so tight-ass about liquor laws. I'd love some Kirkland booze in my cabinet! We can only buy it at ABC stores though. They used to not even be open on Sundays but then the state got wise and realized they were missing out on money.

 

[bleme]

The Kirkland Vodka is pretty good too.

 

[C-Rider]

I have bought once or twice. Certainly not anything special as far as craft beer is concerned. But a very drinkable for the price. Way better then anything BMC puts out for a similar price.

I bought a case once. Not bad, but here in Hawai`i it cost more than $26.

 

[kmckiou]

I don't often say this about craft beer...in fact I never remember saying this...but, this Kirkland craft beer is crap. It is bitter, flavorless barley water. I made better beer than this in my first couple months of home brewing.

 

[Hopsimus]

I had their Pale Ale just last week.
I found it to be "ok". Nothing really remarkable. Had a nice aroma anyway.
Seemed like it might have been slightly oxidized though. Got a hint of cardboard in the taste.
The can listed it as being made by some brewery in California (didn't recognize the name).

 

[seilenos]

I’ve been happy with their craft beers when I’ve had them. I think they are a good value if you are not looking for anything specific.

On a related note, their light beer used to be horrible but now is actually pretty good (as compared to standard BMC fare).

 

[Beholder]

I had them in bottles as brewed by a place in Wisconsin. I found them to be better than BMC, but certainly not the penultimate expression of craft brewing, but ultimately good value for money (but not better than BYO)

 

[NGD]

I had their Pale Ale just last week.
I found it to be "ok". Nothing really remarkable. Had a nice aroma anyway.
Seemed like it might have been slightly oxidized though. Got a hint of cardboard in the taste.
The can listed it as being made by some brewery in California (didn't recognize the name).

I think Costco hires out different breweries across the US to produce their craft beers. This likely results in a fair amount of differences between the different stores. Wish I would have seen this thread a month ago. Could have saved your taste buds from an assault of mediocrity. Much like alot of the kirkland brand, its a cheap knockoff of a quality product produced at the lowest possible cost.

 

[z-bob]

I bought a case of Kirkland Citra Session IPA yesterday The name makes me cringe, but the price was right and I had to try it. It's a light and kinda bitter pale ale, 4.9% ABV. Almost tastes like a lager. Should be a good summer beer.

 

[balrog]

And how did the Citra come across, and what was the $$damage?

 

[cgoldberg3]

Sorta on the same topic as this thread (maybe hijacking here) has anyone tried Aldi's beer? They have a bunch of brands I've never seen anywhere else so I have to imagine they're store brands like Costco's.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

Sorta on the same topic as this thread (maybe hijacking here) has anyone tried Aldi's beer? They have a bunch of brands I've never seen anywhere else so I have to imagine they're store brands like Costco's.

I was at someone's house and they had the amber and were going on about how good it was, I thought it was "just odd" couldn't put my finger on what I thought was wrong with it but didn't want another, I was nice about it and said that I had a lot to get done that day and had to drive, so save them for yourself.

 

[z-bob]

And how did the Citra come across, and what was the $$damage?

$20 for a case of 24 cans. Citra is not a hop variety that I'm really familiar with. But I can smell some kind of American hops; something like Cascade but not exactly. Aroma is not very strong but I'm probably drinking the beer too cold for that. The taste is also a bit like Cascade or Centennial. There's more flavor than aroma, again that might be because it's at fridge temperature.

 

[youngdh]

I bought a case of Kirkland Citra Session IPA yesterday The name makes me cringe, but the price was right and I had to try it. It's a light and kinda bitter pale ale, 4.9% ABV. Almost tastes like a lager. Should be a good summer beer.

It’s a session IPA and why it’s more hop forward than a pale ale. The Citra, IMO, comes through nicely. For the later poster asking about price, at my Costco in NoVA it is $19.99/case. The price is right!

 

[balrog]

Thanks. As taste is such a subjective animal I'm still leery, but curious.

 

[youngdh]

Thanks. As taste is such a subjective animal I'm still leery, but curious.

Valid point. Another member of my homebrew club thought it was too one dimensional.

 

[Reneauj62]

I used buy Costco beer all the time just for the bottles. My Coors Light drinking sickos acquaintances would drink the swill and I got the bottles, up until they changed to twist-off bottles. Now, I don't bother.

 

[z-bob]

$20 for a case of 24 cans. Citra is not a hop variety that I'm really familiar with. But I can smell some kind of American hops; something like Cascade but not exactly. Aroma is not very strong but I'm probably drinking the beer too cold for that. The taste is also a bit like Cascade or Centennial. There's more flavor than aroma, again that might be because it's at fridge temperature.

I decided I can buy better beer for about the same price if I get what's on sale that month at the liquor store (this month it's Kona "Longboard" and mixed-12-packs.) The Kirkland wasn't bad, just too "one note".

 

[Reneauj62]

I used to buy Kirkland beer just for the bottles.....and to appease my friends that did not like real beer. Then they changed the bottles to twist-off caps... so, now my friends bring over Coors Light or Keystone........