Josephs Brau Vienna Style Lager
Trader Joe's Brewing Company

Josephs Brau Vienna Style LagerJosephs Brau Vienna Style Lager
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From:
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Vienna Lager
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.47 | pDev: 12.97%
Reviews:
183
Ratings:
336
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 25, 2019
Added:
Jan 23, 2005
Wants:
  22
Gots:
  25
No description / notes.
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Ratings by SvenHayden:
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Rated by SvenHayden from Texas

3.24/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Jan 30, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by bdlusa from Texas

Jun 25, 2019
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Everything here comes off as expected and average. Appearance looks like a standard lager, if not very slightly darker. Aroma is mild, muted and clean.

Taste drops the mild lager yeast, fractionally sweet, fruity in a very restrained and familiar way. Mild barley feels in the mouthfeel, upped carbonation. Its a heartier version of a macro lager.
Sep 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.44 by aufie from Texas

Jun 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.04 by Miami66 from Nebraska

May 07, 2016
Photo of stanzy1
Reviewed by stanzy1 from New Jersey

3.02/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Picked up a 6 pack at TJs. Not familiar with Vienna style lager but now know it is much darker than most lagers. More brown than gold. The taste was heavy and on the sweet side. Straightforward flavor, not much complexity. I would definitely try it if you like the style and you can't beat the price. Just not my cup of tea.
Apr 21, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Michael_Lopez from California

Apr 06, 2016
Photo of Caesar024
Reviewed by Caesar024 from New York

3.17/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Malty for the style. Seemed like a bit too much caramelization in the malt making it taste more line an American Oktoberfest than a Vienna lager.

Still, no detectable flaws and for $7/6pk, I'll gladly drink plenty of this beer.
Mar 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by Skillz from Illinois

Mar 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by chubenzino from California

Feb 29, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by jheezee from Texas

Feb 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.34 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Feb 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by eldoctorador from Chile

Jan 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.51 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Dec 26, 2015
Photo of hophead723
Reviewed by hophead723 from California

3.79/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Look: Brilliant, clear copper with an off white head. This beer is very crystal clear.

Smell: Nutty, like roasted chestnuts and a hint of honey. Bit of barely and sweet corn as well.

Taste: Multi-grain sweetness, bit of honey, yeasty dough, a bit of biscuit, grassy hops and lemony hops too.

Feel: Classic medium body. The finish is like an amber ale but crisper.

Overall: This brew reminds me of a marzen, which is high praise. Very good representation of the style.
Nov 19, 2015
 
Rated: 2.5 by cleve1212 from Kentucky

Nov 17, 2015
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

2.62/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Decent looking but mostly bland Vienna. Nice creamy head, but aroma and taste are weak, and musty. My first experience with Trader Joe’s house brews. Not impressed.
Nov 12, 2015
Photo of RoyBrentJr
Reviewed by RoyBrentJr from California

3.9/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
So, there's a Trader Joe's right around the corner, and I've seen the house brand. Hadn't bought it before now because, well, Two-Buck Chuck lingers on the memory. (Then again, who knows, it's been years ...) After a little research—all the while trying not to laugh at the must-have-been-tongue-in-cheek yo-sefs-broy branding—I decided to try three varieties. Last up, the Vienna.

A – Iced tea. Crystal-clear, light amber. Decent head on pour disappeared almost immediately. Minimal lacing. (Porter glass. All I've got. I'm not THAT serious about beer ...)

S – Very minimal. Some bread, pepper, fruit notes. Took several minutes in the glass before I could really pick anything out.

T – Surprisingly complex, given the aroma. Starts and finishes carbonation and what little hops make themselves noticeable. Malt takes over, then gives way to bittersweet chocolate and banana peel ahead of the finish. Caramel and pepper linger.

M – Creamy, filling.

O – Could be hoppier, a la Fat Tire, but this may be my new on-a-budget go-to. Really tasty for a "house" beer.

(Edit: Though I refuse to drink sh*t beer, I'm not swimming in money, either. One of my favorite tricks to save a buck here and there is to add an ounce of water to each beer, effectively stretching a 12-pack into a 13-pack. Naturally, the beer has to be flavorful enough to handle it. With the Vienna, while it thinned the creaminess a touch, it didn't hurt the flavor. Quite the opposite—muting the carbonation allowed the hops to come out from underneath. Either this means I have no clue what I'm talking about, or the Vienna is a better 13-ounce beer than a 12-ounce beer.)
Oct 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.36 by MicTar from Texas

Oct 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.54 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Oct 05, 2015
Josephs Brau Vienna Style Lager from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 336 ratings