Schönramer 'Gold' Fest Beer. 6% abv. Pale yellow-gold color. Clear. Bubbly white head that disappeared alarmingly fast. Nearly flat in a minute. Poor retention, little lace. Nose of vegetal grain, sweet corn. Front taste of pale malt, light corn syrup, mild greens on the back. Aftertaste is mild bitter herbal hops, botanical, canned corn. Light body. Mouthfeel is warm, thin, watery, resin at the end.

This is a barely adequate beer, a cheap adjunct lager created for mass consumption rather than savoring. I imagine you are meant to knock back a few of these in one sitting to best appreciate it. There is no head or lace. The aroma is canned cooked vegetables. The body is water thin. The taste is more of the same with some sweet corn-ish malt.

In looking for something good to say, I can tell you that there are no off flavors, nothing that will make you crinkle your nose in disgust and promptly put the glass down. It's drinkable, which is not high praise, but it's a modicum of comfort considering I just spent 15 minutes with it. Avoid this one.

From the brewery:

"Deceptively pale in color, Gold possesses a full-bodies assertive character, brewed for all festive occasions by the Private Landbrauerei Schönram."

[source: bottle]

Beer was flat in less than a minute.

Got some more head off the second pour. Didn't last long.

CAO 'Gold' Robusto. 5x50. Excellent construction with straight lines, smoothed veins and leaf ends. Medium brown wrap. Cut and lit well. Medium draw pre-light, easy draw promptly after flame, becoming more of an effort only toward the band.

First half tastes of mild leaf, light wood, earthy notes. Creamy mouthfeel on the exhale. Second half adds dank herbal taste with a richer leaf expression. Mild overall taste while still standing at attention with its bright tobacco notes.

Ash was clean, light gray nearly white, with subtle striping. Ash held nearly two inches with ease. Even burn throughout with little work.

Sometimes you want a simple, well crafted mild cigar. This is a classic, well made mild smoke that's creamy, smooth, with an effortless draw and excellent burn from the start. You've likely had this perennial cigar before, but I recommend getting one today. It's a perfect 40-minute mid-day session. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Don’t be fooled by CAO Gold’s gorgeous, blonde Ecuadoran Connecticut seed wrapper—this cigar packs plenty of flavor. It has earned many devoted disciples, including some of the industry’s top publications, which have given it multiple 90 ratings and recognized CAO Gold as one of the best cigars in the world."

[source: caocigars.com]

5 Vegas 'Gold' Robusto. 5x50. Nice build with straight lines, subdued veins, just a few bumps. Light brown wrap. Cut and lit well. Effortless draw pre- and post-light. First half tastes of mild leaf, round spice, light wood. Second half is only slightly more aggressive with a deeper roast and taller spice presence. Medium body. Mostly even burn across the stick. Ash is evenly shaded and holds nearly two inches.

This is an excellent mild afternoon smoke. It's well crafted, from the wrap to the fill, the burn and draw, and is fairly consistent in flavor down to the band. There is a touch of spice, just enough to notice but not enough to stand out, which may or may not be your taste. This is not a unique or exceptional cigar, but it is well crafted and can suit any occasion. Its flavor and body are above the norm for mild smokes. I will surely have it again. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Enter the new era in mild-bodied cigars. 5 Vegas Gold Series breaks all barriers, proving a mild-bodied cigar can indeed teem with flavor. A luxurious blend of superior, 5-year-old tobaccos are skillfully combined inside seamless, hand-selected wrappers. Discover 5 Vegas Gold and be instantly charmed by its smooth, creamy, and eventful bouquet."

[source: 5vegas.com]

"Despite the pomp and circumstance surrounding full-bodied, powerhouse cigars these days, milder cigars still rule. Without a doubt, the uber-popular 5 Vegas Gold is the perfect example. This gorgeous creature is crafted with extensively aged tobaccos, including a beautiful, almost shimmering Ecuador Connecticut wrapper leaf with a rich satiny texture. This charming blend is the big easy. I’ll recite the reasons chapter and verse. Top quality tobaccos? Check. 5 year aged long-fillers? Check. Seamless wrappers? Check. Made in one of Honduras’ top factories? Check. Handsome packaging? Check. Toast the foot and take a draw. You’ll see some spirit up front: a slight nutty taste followed by some zesty peppery notes on the back of the palate. A feisty sucker! But instantly it mellows into a polished smoothness with ample creaminess. It stays utterly consistent from here on out, well-balanced with a sturdy creamy foundation, and booms out thick clouds of smoke. What a charmer! Mild to medium it is, not super-mild, but just shy of a middleweight. The fantastic “gold bar” style packaging and an astonishingly reasonable price point round it out. 5 Vegas Gold is a positively delightful blend."

[source: cigarsinternational.com]