Red Stripe (pack of 12) (4.7%)

A twelve-pack of Jamaica's 4.7% ABV pale lager, brewed by Desnoes & Geddes Limited in Kingston. It uses locally sourced cassava starch as an adjunct grain, replacing roughly 5% of imported barley. Desnoes & Geddes was founded in Kingston and has brewed Red Stripe since 1928, when it was introduced as an ale; the recipe shifted to a lager in 1938. The current formulation uses pilsen malt, hops, water and cassava starch, fermented by bottom fermentation at 10-13°C. The nose is light bready malt, faint butterscotch and a subtle grassy hop note. The palate is smooth and lightly sweet, with biscuity malt, gentle sweetcorn, toffee-like and caramel undertones and restrained earthy bitterness. The finish is moderate, with a clean grainy fade and lingering butterscotch smoothness.