TOPIC:

Avoid.
Was out last night unfortunately got DD'd so in the restaurant asked if they had any NA beers, they only had Cobra. Cobra regular is reasonably drinkable, so I figured the NA would probably be all right. Thankfully it came in a 330ml bottle (with a glass of Ice also!! - which I used for the water jug!) and not a 500, as never before have I experienced a beer which has an aftertaste of ... MUSHROOMS!
Quite revolting. Stay away. I'm cautious of NA beers at the best of times, but from now on I'll stick to Erdinger or water i think

I detected a mushroom buzz from both the Árainn Mhór beers. It works in the red, but is just wrong in the white.

That's a shame because their other beers are supposed to be very good, especially the King Cobra, a strong lager and fermented a second time in Belgium. I've a corked bottle at home in my "cellar" but have yet to try it.

I love their regular 66cl bottle with a spicy lamb biriyani....

Cobra is my dirty little beer secret. I love it, despite the inauthenticity and the rice and the other accusations regularly thrown at it. I'm not even sure if it is less gassy, as its blurb claims. Last weekend I followed the tip-off on Boards[/url:2hh6imao] and got my 24 500ml cans for €24: nowhere near as cool as the 660ml bottles (and a lot less practical from a homebrewer's point of view, I'm sure <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> ) but not to be sniffed at. I may go in search of another tray tomorrow.

[quote:1rinzlco]Cobra is my dirty little beer secret.[/quote:1rinzlco]There are worse beers out there - is this the start of a 'guilty pleasures' thread?

Michael Jackson wrote an interesting article which touches on the the origins of Cobra beer.

[url:1rinzlco]http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001846.html[/url:1rinzlco]

That whole authenticity debate about Cobra bores me to tears. Yes, it may be an English company (originally brewed in India), but was made to target the English 'curry house' market. I don't think it ever claimed to be anything else.
I like it too. I might have to check out that offer.