Haywoods 5000 is an imported Indian beer, at 7% it is reasonably strong, not as subtle as a Belgian trappist ale, and will probably get you very drunk with a rather large headache the day after (note, I do not encourage excessive drinking, and cannot prove or disprove the headache statement). [Actually, after about half a bottle, this did give me a headache]

This beer is very clean and bright. It is more orange than yellow, and does not hold it’s head at all.

Ok. On to the beer. You can smell the alcohol, and it is rather fruity as well which makes a very sweet beer. However, when you initially drink it, then the fruity aroma moves aside for a more acidic taste. Given the aroma hit, it is a bit of a surprise at how the beer itself does not taste quite like it should. Sort of like biting into an unpeeled banana – the skin doesn’t quite live up to the expectation of the rest of the fruit. But back to the beer. There is no body at all, which leaves a hole in the beer experience, one that is filled with an aftertaste of chewing gum and fruit salad. Then the alcohol hits.

Summary. This is a very odd beer and one which doesn’t know what it is. Strong. Fruity. Confused. Not really refined, and after a while it becomes really difficult to drink. I think they just hiked up the alcohol to mask the beer’s faults, and this has ruined the beer.