Brewery: Pabst Brewing Company
Location: Woodridge, Il
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
In recent years, Pabst Blue Ribbon has been seeing a bit of a resurgence in a trendy counterculture "trailer park chic" sort of way. The question is, does PBR live up to the hype, or is it just another mass-market lager with little redeeming quality? Let's taste and see.
Pabst Blue Ribbon pours from my brown-bottle longneck a clear, straw-gold in color with a white foamy head. The nose detects some grassiness, lager malt notes and a bit of juicy white wine.
On the palate the initial impression is that of crisp, smooth malt with wheat bread undertones. There is a bit of a calcium/lime mineral note, as well as some straw. Hops are fleeting and have an overall grassy flavor. PBR has a light body with decent carbonation. The finish is very short with a malt note that hints at pita bread.
Pabst Blue Ribbon is a prototypical mass-market American lager in that it is smooth and easy-drinking. The flavor does fade very quickly (too much for my liking). What is notable is the lack of any of the "off" flavors I typically notice with the usual Bud/Miller/Coors-style lagers. While it may not fully live up to the renewed hype surrounding it, PBR is still one of the best mass-market/adjunct lagers out there. I have no qualms serving it to guests, and it is always welcome in my fridge.
Showing posts with label Lager. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lager. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Magic Hat Vinyl Lager
Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
With spring just around the corner, it's a good time to kick into Magic Hat's spring seasonal - their Vinyl Lager. The Vinyl is golden amber in color and shows a good amount of fine carbonation rising in the glass. The head pours up a light golden-tan color and is on the shorter side. The nose is fairly light. Aromas of lager malt, wheat bread, and fruity hops are all here along with a faint whiff of cucumber.
On the palate the Vinyl starts with juicy notes that lead into an off-dry malt. There is a rich maltiness with some Eurolager notes in the background. Mineral and earth are also here as highlights. The bitter hops are on the mild side and take a few sips to build up. The Vinyl is medium-bodied, which suits this full-flavored lager well. The finish has lager malt highlighted by a fading hop bite and some steely minerality.
Magic Hat has a nice, full-flavored lager on their hands with the Vinyl. While this is pretty much a straightforward lager, flavor-wise this is a big step up over the typical Euro/Canadian fare. Vinyl hits the right balance between flavor and drinkability, and is a great addition to your spring rotation.
Location: South Burlington, VT
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
With spring just around the corner, it's a good time to kick into Magic Hat's spring seasonal - their Vinyl Lager. The Vinyl is golden amber in color and shows a good amount of fine carbonation rising in the glass. The head pours up a light golden-tan color and is on the shorter side. The nose is fairly light. Aromas of lager malt, wheat bread, and fruity hops are all here along with a faint whiff of cucumber.
On the palate the Vinyl starts with juicy notes that lead into an off-dry malt. There is a rich maltiness with some Eurolager notes in the background. Mineral and earth are also here as highlights. The bitter hops are on the mild side and take a few sips to build up. The Vinyl is medium-bodied, which suits this full-flavored lager well. The finish has lager malt highlighted by a fading hop bite and some steely minerality.
Magic Hat has a nice, full-flavored lager on their hands with the Vinyl. While this is pretty much a straightforward lager, flavor-wise this is a big step up over the typical Euro/Canadian fare. Vinyl hits the right balance between flavor and drinkability, and is a great addition to your spring rotation.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
O.K. Beer
Brewery: Browar Okocim
Location: Brzesko, Poland
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Today we continue our Critical Tastings Polish festival with O.K. Beer from Okocim Brewery. The OK Beer is a deep gold color. It pours with a foamy white head. The nose has a characteristic Eurolager aroma along with bread and a faint herbal note.
On the palate the OK Beer is slightly sweet up front. There is a lagery malt flavor with bread and some vegetable notes. There is a faint spicy hops note along with some herbal flavors. The finish is short and lagery with some residual hop spice. The OK Beer has a crisp light-to-medium body, along with a faint fizz.
Okocim's O.K. Beer is better than OK. This is a quite a good European lager with good flavor.
Location: Brzesko, Poland
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Today we continue our Critical Tastings Polish festival with O.K. Beer from Okocim Brewery. The OK Beer is a deep gold color. It pours with a foamy white head. The nose has a characteristic Eurolager aroma along with bread and a faint herbal note.
On the palate the OK Beer is slightly sweet up front. There is a lagery malt flavor with bread and some vegetable notes. There is a faint spicy hops note along with some herbal flavors. The finish is short and lagery with some residual hop spice. The OK Beer has a crisp light-to-medium body, along with a faint fizz.
Okocim's O.K. Beer is better than OK. This is a quite a good European lager with good flavor.
Żywiec
Brewery: Żywiec Brewery
Location: Żywiec, Poland
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for tasting today we have Żywiec Beer. The Żywiec pours a straw/golden yellow color with a foamy white head. The nose has notes of lagery malt along with some herbal hops notes and a faint winy fruitiness.
On the palate, the Żywiec has lager malt flavor with a bit of a wheaty note to it. There is a pleasant herbal/floral hop note with a slight bitter bite. The finish has a doughy malt flavor with some lingering hops. The Żywiec has a crisp light-to-medium body, and a faint prosecco-like fizz. Żywiec Beer is a nice alternative to the typical Euro Lagers out there, with much more flavor than the typical green bottle fare.
Location: Żywiec, Poland
Style: Lager
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Up for tasting today we have Żywiec Beer. The Żywiec pours a straw/golden yellow color with a foamy white head. The nose has notes of lagery malt along with some herbal hops notes and a faint winy fruitiness.
On the palate, the Żywiec has lager malt flavor with a bit of a wheaty note to it. There is a pleasant herbal/floral hop note with a slight bitter bite. The finish has a doughy malt flavor with some lingering hops. The Żywiec has a crisp light-to-medium body, and a faint prosecco-like fizz. Żywiec Beer is a nice alternative to the typical Euro Lagers out there, with much more flavor than the typical green bottle fare.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lezajsk
Brewery: Zakłady Piwowarskie w Leżajsku S.A.
Location: Lezajsk, Poland
Style: Lager
Rating: B-
In my glass today is Lezajsk, a European-style lager from Poland. The Lezajsk is a deep straw-gold in color. It pours with a short white head that fades rather quickly. On the nose there is wheat, lager malt and some faint herbal hops.
The Lezajsk has a rather light flavor on the palate. There is a light lager malt flavor with some sweetness. (The sweetness here is likely due to the addition of rice or corn as an adjunct) Some citrus and herbal hops flavors are noted. The finish is rather short with sweetness along with malt and a faint bitter hops note. The Lezajsk has a crisp and fairly light body.
While technically a European lager, the taste profile and light flavor of Lezajsk puts is closer to the mass-market american lager/pilsners. In comparison to the typical BMC fare, to me this is a far superior choice. The light body and hint of sweetness are well matched, and suited to be served ice cold. If you're a fan of Bud/Miller/Coors you would do well to give the Lezajsk a try.
Location: Lezajsk, Poland
Style: Lager
Rating: B-
In my glass today is Lezajsk, a European-style lager from Poland. The Lezajsk is a deep straw-gold in color. It pours with a short white head that fades rather quickly. On the nose there is wheat, lager malt and some faint herbal hops.
The Lezajsk has a rather light flavor on the palate. There is a light lager malt flavor with some sweetness. (The sweetness here is likely due to the addition of rice or corn as an adjunct) Some citrus and herbal hops flavors are noted. The finish is rather short with sweetness along with malt and a faint bitter hops note. The Lezajsk has a crisp and fairly light body.
While technically a European lager, the taste profile and light flavor of Lezajsk puts is closer to the mass-market american lager/pilsners. In comparison to the typical BMC fare, to me this is a far superior choice. The light body and hint of sweetness are well matched, and suited to be served ice cold. If you're a fan of Bud/Miller/Coors you would do well to give the Lezajsk a try.
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