St. Ides High Gravity Malt Liquor (8.2% alcohol) was introduced in 1987 by McKenzie River Corporation of San Francisco, California, a company that once owned Sparks and Steel Reserve 211 (now Miller brands). This brand was once heavily marketed and became a sort of hip-hop cult beverage, with many commercials featuring popular rappers. Interestingly, the original St. Ides was a 6% alcohol beer, but at some point in the 2000s, the abv was strengthened to its current high level, and the beer was renamed. It was first called St. Ides Premium Malt Liquor. For whatever reason, this beverage faded in popularity, and by the late 1990s had lost its cache', being relegated to relative obscurity. Today, under Pabst Brewing Company ownership, one will see no television commercials or hear any radio ads, but point-of-sale items may be encountered at beer outlets.
St. Ides is sold in 40 ounce bottles, 22 oz. bottles, 24 oz. cans, 16 oz. cans, and possibly 18 oz. bottles. Distribution is not nationwide, but is limited to various regions around the country. Interestingly, many fruit-flavored St. Ides variants, such as Special Brew Berry, Special Brew Kiwi Strawberry, Special Brew Mixed Fruit, and Special Brew Passion Fruit, are also sold.
I have tried the original St. Ides and the current high gravity version and have found both to be comparable to other mass-produced beers of that class.
