Margaritaville Brewing Co.: Landshark Lager
October 19, 2007
I am a Parrothead. I’m an introverted Parrothead who prefers to enjoy Jimmy Buffett’s music in solitude, and who’s only been to one Buffett concert so far, but a Parrothead nonetheless. So when I heard Bubba was coming out with a beer, I was thrilled! But then I tried Landshark Lager, and realized Bubba had made a big mistaica.
To be fair, it is actually made by Anheuser-Busch, who have specialized in making beer for the taste-deprived for a long time. But Jimmy, did you try the beer before you put your name on it?
The Pour
This pours with a decent, loose head. It is a typical Anheuser-Busch beer color, a dirty straw color, resembling watered-down apple juice. The beer looks very thin and extremely light bodied.
The Nose
This smells like a standard American lager. It’s very light with vague and subtle floral hop notes. Like the color and the taste, the nose is barely there.
The Taste
Imagine drinking a good lager down to the last swallow, then filling the rest of the bottle with water. Then drinking it. You’ve just had a Landshark Lager. There is barely a hop note that appears mid-finish, but for the most part it’s like drinking sparkling water. Depth of flavor: absolutely none. So light bodied it could be anorexic.
Overall
Do not buy this beer. Sure, if you’re a Parrothead, you may want to help put more money in Bubba’s pockets in return for the years of music and fun. Do it some other way. Bubba, I’d love to buy you a couple of beers. First, a Landshark Lager, so you can see what is being sold in your name. Second, a good lager, so you can see what is possible.
Recommended: No. As Robb Zerr over at The United Nations of Beer says, “it bites!”
Price: $7.49 for a 6-pack
ABV: 4.7%
I can feel your pain
Though a long-time Parrothead
I won’t drink his beer
Hey Beer Snob,
You didn’t really expect it to be any other way, did you? Jimmy’s concert tours have been sponsored by Corona forever. Did you really think that Buffett’s own brand would be any more flavorful? He sings about the islands and the thick wet Caribbean heat. Unless you’re in Grenada (where they have a Guinness brewery) your beer is going to be as close to water as you can get. And don’t forget the Buffett Industrial Complex is still trying to make a buck and cold, fizzy, yellow lager is still bought by 90% of Americans, parrothead or not.
I’ve got almost every Buffett album, but I have no plans to buy his beer.
Cheers!
Actually Captain, I forgot to mention in the review that I knew fully what to expect from other reviews, but wanted to try it anyway, for the purposes of this blog
What do you think my chances are of getting a refund for the five leftover bottles?
haha slim to none….that’s why you should always check with The Beer Snob first ;-D
The beer was meant to be light, refreshing, and easy drinking. If you don’t like, don’t knock it — just don’t buy it.
Jimmy, I won’t be buying it….but this blog is to review beers and let people know what I think….so I did.
First time post, if I may.
I first tried this beer sitting under a sweltering sun on a hot, breezy South Carolina beach and it was delicious and refreshing. The initial mouthfeel was typically subdued and light like a Corona, but where it really differentiated itself was the finish and aftertaste. No bunk-water metallics but just a nice, clean disippating fade.
This beer is what it is: best suited as a warm climate drinker. I guess I’m not surprised when a self-proclaimed “connosueir” fails to take set and setting into consideration when making an objective evaluation, but that is something that regular, aging guys like me value greatly when selecting a beverage of choice.
I dig your blog. No harsh criticism intended.
Peace
Actually I tried this overlooking the Gulf of Mexico after being out in the sand most of the day. Set and setting were appropriate. This blog is just me trying beers and giving my opinion of them. I’m glad you dig the blog, but I understand you’ll disagree from time to time
That is good to know. I haven’t tried Landshark yet, and I probably still will but I lived the review. I just found your blog because I was searching for other bloggers who are parrotheads.
I am also a blogger, my name is Drew and I run 6 blogs. I am also running some contests this month and based upon your post I thought you might be interested in participating in my contest to win a Hawaiian shirt from Mad Gringo. If you are interested please visit http://www.wiredkayaker.com/2007/12/mad-gringo.html and enter the contest. Thanks.
I’ve been a Corona fan forever, and even mention Corona in my song on my CD, “Partying at Put in Bay”.
Went to The Den in Mansfield, Ohio and was excited to try the new Landshark beer. I liked it. Now I have to write another song!
LOVE IT. Thanks Jimmy from another parrothead. I have never liked corona. Landshark is much smoother. Add a twist of lime and it can’t be beat. I think it is a southern thing. Way south like on a beach with really blue water.
Great Beer… I am a corona drinker but now i have bow down to the great taste of Landshark. Add a lime and you are in heaven.
[...] The Beer Snob “Do not buy this beer. Sure, if you’re a Parrothead, you may want to help put more money in Bubba’s pockets in return for the years of music and fun. Do it some other way. Bubba, I’d love to buy you a couple of beers. First, a Landshark Lager, so you can see what is being sold in your name. Second, a good lager, so you can see what is possible.” [...]
i love this beer, not being a beer drinker though, i really enjoyed this,great
As a Parrothead obviously I am a big J.B. fan, I would probably drink piss in a bottle if his name were on it.( I know, blinded by the light, what can I say?)However, I have tried “Landshark Lager” and I am a fan as well.
I am a German Beer, Hefe-Weizen afficianado most of the time but it is warming up outside and I was looking for something lighter so when I saw LandShark at my local refreshment provider I didn’t know about the Buffett connection at first but liked the clear bottle because you could see what you were getting,reminded me of Corona so decided to give it a try. Happy with my choice and just got done buying another 12er!! I like Jimmy’s Music but I never buy beer because of a name. Love the taste of this though,as stated by otheres a little lime or I have found lemon gives it a good clean finish. Will buy it again!!
Wow, as a rather well matured Buffett fan in every way,
(I met him at his first Golden Bear-Huntington Beach CA show way back around ‘74) I’ve always said “I’ll have whatever HE’S having, Bartenderness!”
Still, I probably wouldn’t have actually bought this for myself as I’m a really poor ole broad.
That said, I got 2 outta a 6-er a month ago, loved em even while listening to 2 clueless galpals say ‘euwww, Corona’s better”. They’re fools: Another beer angel stopped by my remote farm here today with another 6er of Landshark, and I’m truly savoring #4 of that batch.
I live in the desert and consider a chilly crisp lager to be God’s Gift to Beerdrinkers, this is some damfine good beer.
The only thing that could possibly improve my Landsharking experiences would be a little water lapping round my toes and a brand new novel by Mr. Buffett: His books Joe Merchant & A Salty Tale are my kind of Nirvana.
Write on, Jimmy-Mon! You have many fans!
I agreed that beersnob is rather harsh in his review, not to mention INACCURATE! This beer has much more flavor than a Corona and is nowhere near “sparkling water”. My beer of choice is a Barleywine but I look forward to enjoying the summer with many Landshark Lagers. I think the beersnob forgot what a lager is by definition. Party on, Parrotheads. And “Cheers!” to Jimmy who put his name on a beer that fits his life and his fans!
Beer Snob and Captian Hops,
I see you dislike the Land Shark. Fair is fair. What do you recomend for a beer (in the US) that is good to your standards. Please tell me what a good beer is so I may taste it for myself. I thought it was pretty good. Corona…..well.
OUT
Beer Drinker
I read the various comments in this blog with interest and found them to all be informative.
I tried Landshark for the first time a few months
ago in Key West. I know that the setting could
mean everything, but I really liked it. I have
been home buying Landshark in PA now (it is
finally available here) and it is just as good now.
I drink other beers so I will not be forsake them
all, but count me as one that thinks Jimmy did just
fine on this one. …/)…/)…/)…Kent
I come from the land of micro brews- The great Pacific Northwest. Having many favorites that “fit” the occasion, Landshark brings some sorely needed sunshine to our very long and gray wintersprings!
Thanks Captain!
I just tried some Landshark Lager beer last night for the first time while listening to some good old Texas blues and I have to admit that going down it tasted pretty good especially with some lime. I had a total of five beers. When I woke up the next morning, I had the worst hangover I’ve ever had since downing some Far Tires about 5 years back. I’ve been a beer drinker for over 30 years and I will NEVER have another Landshark Lager again. I DON’T GET HANGOVERS FROM BEER…EVER! So I am in agreement with the Beer Snob. My analogy….ever been with a “pretty” chick at closing time and then they turn on the lights and you find yourself with a worn out broad that’s been around the block more than the law allows?…That’s Landshark Lager!!!
I enjoyed this beer a lot and am saddened to hear that others give it no credit. I guess we cannot please everyone.
Cheers
Dear Mr. Buffet,
Thanks for your beer! First taste-on vacation while in Florida. Since now available in Pennsylvania -it’s my favorite!!, and my friends like it too! Love your music and now can enjoy it with your beer.
Thanks again!
-Dennie
A Bud rep recently gave me large samples of Bud Light Lime and Landshark. (I am a big Corona fan)…
The BLL was awful and I told him that. It’s like Bud Dry with lime - it almost evaporates off your tongue.
I was pleasantly surprised by Land Shark. Then I read this and wondered if I just had bad taste buds.
I’m not an aficionado - I’m a beer drinker and I enjoy Landshark. It’s different and that’s okay. (still nothing, to me, beats Corona with a lime on a hot summer day).
Having said that - I have a question—what beers - aside from Corona and Land Shark - in this same type of beer class, does the Beer Snob recommend? I’d like to try those too…
I’ve seen a few folks checking out with Land Shark.
Very cool look.
When I saw a young mother in Wal-Mart with a 6′er, I thought, I’ll give it a shot.
$7.50 or so a 6 pack—at Wal-Mart…ohhh well, it’s only money.
YIKES! Money is one thing, but this musty, nutless, bad finish afterwash SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AWAY!
PBR me man.
Head for the mountains of Bush……..beer.
Anything but, Jimmy dont jump the LandShark!