Recently BotF wrote about a new addition to the Aldi range of beers that had a remarkable resemblance to a high profile Australian beer. Well, Aldi’s done it again, paying homage to one Europe’s biggest beers – Stella Artois. Sainte Etienne is made in France no doubt to Aldi’s exacting standards. It is a 4.8% lager that is instantly forgettable. Coincidentally, one of the lads I am away with had bought a case of Stella with him. I slipped him a Sainte Etienne and he did not notice the difference at first.
Hopefully, Aldi will “pay homage” to a decent beer next time.
back of the ferry 
well Stella is made on contract in Melbourne, and I think Aldi gets their beer made on contract in Melb so I guess no difference. Maybe its from the same tank?
Bought some yesterday and I am happy with it, made in France. Like the stuff they brew over in Noumea and this is just as good. Normally go for German brands like Becks. For the price here in Australia it is good value.
not a bad drop for the price and where it’s made. Well done Aldi.
all mass produced lagers are pretty much the same, Aldi’s St Etienne is pretty similar to Stella Artois, but half the price, so why not ?
Great beer, fantastic taste, won me
there is no way that saint ettenne is in the same boat as stella and it’s saaz hops,the former is crap
beats the normal Australian crap both in price and taste
yup!!
great beer great price
not impressed with the smoked malt taste, nothing like stella
Smoked malt? Your full of it mate.
Drinking this now. It’s shit haha but never had a smoked malt taste. Richard you chat absolute shit
Well done Aldi,like most of your products,top quality and at a sensible price.Aldi has won me on a hell of a lot of products.Peter (Melbourne Australia)
This is a great tasting beer, and for further value, the bottles are perfect for my home brew.
Drinking Sainte Etienne for the first time. Its not bad after a week of work on a hot evening. Its much better than the RIvet Beer from Aldi. I don’t like Rivet at all. I’d say this Sainte Etienne is okay but for the price, $30 for 24 bottles, its very good value for money. Basically 3/4 the price of a normal carton of beer. I’m not a big beer drinker, mainly drinking wine but in summer cold beer is better.
I quite like it, wasnt sure I would!
Too much snobbery spoken about beer, this is a good honest continental style lager brewed to exacting standards laid down by the French.
I am a Stella fan but have to say, it’s Sainte Etienne for me in the future.
Just discovered this on and I have to say it’s a fine session beer and great on a sunny spring afternoon…..well done Aldi!
Is it just me or is there a bit if variation between batches? I feel like some slabs i’ve had are pretty ordinary lager-y, and others are more sweet and hopsy like a good northern euro grolchesque number. Yeah I’m no expert, but does anyone else agree?
Don’t drink enough St.Etienne to know, but quite likely. Hop strains vary year on year – so very possibly.
Well I am surprised. I rarely drink beer, I prefer a New Zealand savings blanc. I just felt like a change and I was offered one of these and I really enjoyed it on a sunny afternoon. $9.95 for 6 how can you beat that.
Well done
I also love your chocolate and fresh pasta range, my familiy are converts.
Melbourne.
30.00 Bucks,you can’t go wrong.I love all beer,but the take away buck stops here,thanks to supermarket wars.If the Rivet brand was in bottles,I would consider swapping..untill then,wee wee madam!
Just drink it and enjoy
I decided to take the plunge/risk and buy sainte Etienne instead of Stella atois from aldi As it was cheaper and I’m glad I did! Noticed it tasted very similar to Stella if not the same. Lovely beer. Will be getting 2 lots next time
drinkin it now nothin wrong with it the proce is great good at 4.8 if not happy go to the pub an buy a carling fir 2.50 or more
each slab varies which is annoying
General consensus seems to be this is relabelled Stella, at least in Europe, and the brewer is the same here and over there. Bargain if you like a simple continental lager.
Smashing stuff. Good price. Wasn’t sure about it ,being a supermarket beer, but it’s lovely looking at a football or hurling game.gerry wicklow
First time had it won’t be last have it very cold
It’s good good price haven’t had a bad beer
I wonder how many tasters would be able to confirm their judgment with a blind tasting. I’d love to hear comments from anyone who has tried it blind.
I’ve drank every larger/beer going and for last 10 year drank san Miguel and for my usually 12 cans of San Miguel it would cost 15 quid this great aldi stuff don’t taste any different just the price 8.29 for 12 cans it’s fussy folk don’t like the taste don’t shop at aldi but !y favorite beer is San Miguel but will only drink that now if I go to Spain or a mate buys me some stick to Sainte Etienne what a great taste summer or winter gone buy some and tri it
Love this beer, good quality and such a great price, better than most Australian beers and by far cheaper
Fore my money, I’d prefer San Miguel Pale Pilsen (Philippines) any day but that’s not avaialble in the UK, whereas Ste Etienne is. A small gripe is with the spelling: Saint Etienne (Saint Stephen) does not have an “e” at the end of the word Saint. Those are the only gripes, though. The beer is very drinkable. Tastes like Stella to me.
Good tasting beer, good price, will keep buying from Aldi.
I detected a bouquet of foraged roast truffle – leavened with zest of peach and prosciutto canapés in the aftertaste – definitely a step up from the fairly pedestrian, but pretentiously named, Stella Artois…
Brewed with the same unique Stella Artois yeast strain (ie. the very same yeast strain first used by the original Artois brewmasters) which adds a light to moderate fruity, cooked pineapple & coconut aroma whilst creating a clean, crisp medium bodied flavour with hints of roasted artichoke. The Saaz hop also produces a unique bitterness which is well balanced with the malted barley, giving this girly tribute to Stella Artois a subtle but pleasant grainy, sweet finish.
If you’re the kind of drunk who thinks AA is for decadent bourgeois hedonists – & see yourself as more of a Meths & Floor-Polish Anonymous [MFPA] connoisseur …then this is definitely your kind of brew.
Nothing like Stella, actually prefer it to Stella, nice beer, also like their Kronenbourg look a like 👍