Michigan Lager
Atwater Brewery

Michigan LagerMichigan Lager
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From:
Atwater Brewery
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Vienna Lager
ABV:
5%
Score:
79
Avg:
3.27 | pDev: 18.04%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
19
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 06, 2014
Added:
Feb 01, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SmellsofMahagony:
Photo of SmellsofMahagony
Rated by SmellsofMahagony from Texas

2.5/5  rDev -23.5%

Apr 10, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by wrightst from Maryland

Jun 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by drbenderdo from Michigan

Jun 30, 2013
Photo of jsisko01
Reviewed by jsisko01 from Michigan

3.17/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
My review may be off because I've had this beer sitting around.. The enjoy by date says April 2011 and it is now April 2012 haha.

Appearance - Pours a pale golden color with 2 inches of fluffy white head and creamy lacing.

Smell - Sweet with pale malts, citrus, grains, and a hint of wheat.

Taste - Skunky, strong hops, sweet and corny, grains, pale malts, and an awkward bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied with high carbonation.

Overall - Definitely not what I expected. I didn't enjoy it too much but it's not a "bad" beer.
Apr 14, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by AndrewMichael from Virginia

Feb 01, 2012
Photo of Pencible
Reviewed by Pencible from Virginia

3.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: This poured a clear straw color with fluffy white head.
S: It smelled like sweet banana bread and creamy yeast, with a little vanilla and bubble gum.
T: It tasted like creamy yeast and banana bread, with a little earthy barley and sweet bubble gum. It had a mostly clean and sweet aftertaste.
M: It was thin with a little carbonation. Very light body.
D: This was a strange sweet brew without much hops or typical lager taste. The body wasn't bad for the style, but was still pretty weak. The scent and taste weren't offensive, so it was easy enough to drink. But it didn't offer any satisfaction either. Worth a tick at best.
Jan 27, 2012
Photo of SickGnar
Reviewed by SickGnar from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Bright, but just shy of completely clear. Medium straw color with lots of streams of bubbles rising to a good fair size white head. Good retention & very nice lacing. A good looking Pilsner.

S: Pils Malt – both crackery & sweet. Hint of noble hops. Okay nose for a Pilsner.

T: Dry crackery pils malt with some fair background sweetness. Euro-lager sweet and floral esters show in the middle. Hops are quite a bit more forward than in the nose. Very noble with general spicy, sweet, & perfumey character. Up front there or light lemon citrus hints and at the very end a touch of mint. Fair amount of bitternes.

M: Medium to medium-light body with a bit over-matched carbonation. Crisp & refreshing. Quick, neutral finish.

D: Simple and straight forward, but then that is the Pilsner style. This is a nicely designed and crafted example of a taut & dryish version. A pleasant and easy drinker.

* not sure I reviewed this in the rights spot as I see Atwater as other brews named as Pilsners.
Dec 29, 2011
Photo of philbertk
Reviewed by philbertk from Washington

2.95/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Atwater Block Brewery--Michigan Lager--2010 12 oz. Bottle. 5.00% ABV. 38 IBU's. (3.5 / 5.0) Pilsner. Foamy lacy thin white head. Fizzy clear bright yellow gold color. Sediment dust. Mild Noble hop Pilsner front. Fizzy crisp thin zesty refreshing mild flavored pils/pale lager mild citrus body. Clean dry subtle hop spice crisp end. Too fizzy & somewhat bland. Sampled 12/29/2010. November Malt of the Earth Beer of the Month Club Selection received 11/29/2010.
Dec 31, 2010
Photo of scoobybrew
Reviewed by scoobybrew from Indiana

2.62/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
This was rated as a German pilsner - not Vienna lager. It's declared right on the label.

A - fairly clear with a decent foamy white head that settles into a well retained collar and leaves nice lacing

S - diacetyl (buttered popcorn) initially and behind it some grainy malt

T - brief sweet malt intially with a strong noble hop like flavor and a moderately strong bitter hop finish; diacetyl is lighter in flavor but in aroma, but still present to a mild degree

M - medium-light body with high carbonation

D - This would be a decent version of a German pilsner if it weren't for the diacetyl. It's a shame too because I think the hopping and malt are just right to style.
Dec 08, 2010
Photo of mooseisloose
Reviewed by mooseisloose from Florida

4.02/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Last of my current selection of my BOTMC as the clowns did repeat on one of the beers from 15 months ago. Well all is not lost, let's give this one a whirl. Popping the top I get a dry malty smell of white grapes and malted milk balls. Pours to a slightly cloudy yellow with a thin fizzy head that fades quickly. Taste is very rich and malty with only a twinge of bitterness from albeit, noble hops. The taste is quite bold and consistent throughout with the difference at the end. This brew is quite fresh and flavorful and spot on for the style. Very German and authentic not like a BMC Llave or Girl. This brew is growing on me as I drink it, I've never been much for this style but this brew is extremely hearty. Thumbs up and bottoms up!
Dec 04, 2010
Photo of OneDropSoup
Reviewed by OneDropSoup from Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a pilsner: Massive head, like four fingers minimum, fast-rising & billowing white. Light gold body, clear, with quick nucleation. Leaves messy stripes of lacing.

Smells of hops that are earthy, maybe a little grassy, & dry. Sourdough bread? Even matzo? Just a dry, crisp, crusty baked good. Kind of like walking into a winery, too, that woody smell.

Hmm, did not expect it to taste like that: smooth lemon, a little peach, some wheaty malt, tea-like dryness & a touch peppery. The way the flavors blend reminds me much more of a Belgian blonde than a lager. Some bitterness in the aftertaste, but also the fruitiness. Not bad, but very unexpected.

Feels fairly smooth with a little bite in the finish & bitterness afterward.

Not sure what to think of this one. What I had wasn't bad, but it did seem off, & I'm wondering if that *just* means off-style or not. Label says April 2010 -- I'm assuming that means "Bottled on" & not "Best by." Can't say I'd like a lot of these in a row, but this was enjoyable enough. I'd be up for trying it again to see how another sampling compares.
Sep 23, 2010
Photo of Cyberkedi
Reviewed by Cyberkedi from Georgia

3.04/5  rDev -7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Comes out of the tap a clear pale yellow with a typical white head - not inspiring. Fortunately, this is its weakest point. Aroma is crisp, malty and just a little fruity. Flavor is even better, malty with hints of fruit and hop bitterness. Texture is lively and fizzy. Nothing to write home about, but definitely worth a try!
Jul 08, 2010
Photo of Frosty80
Reviewed by Frosty80 from Michigan

4.06/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Color: pours a light amber. sits a brilliantly clear dark amber

Smell: definitely rich in german malt but also has a surprising sour aroma. i also agree with others that there is a kind of metallic note there as well. light hop presence

Taste: the malt is soft and definitely apparent over the light hop presence. slight toasted note. bitterness is very low. finish is very dry with malt and hop in aftertaste

Mouthfeel: light-medium body. gentle creaminess with moderate carbonation.

Notes: tasty amber. fairly true to the style but im wondering about the "sour" notes. not experienced enough i guess to determine if its off or just me not familiar with something
Jan 14, 2010
Photo of civilizedpsycho
Reviewed by civilizedpsycho from Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
Poured bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: On the one hand, I say: It has a nice golden color that is slightly cloudy with a small head...appealing. On the other hand I say: That's not a Vienna Lager.

Smell: Has a good malt smell with what seems like a hint of lemon or something. Not much hop presence, but inviting.

Taste: Very smooth and refreshing. I felt it has a good balance between malt and hops and really kept me wanting more.

Mouthfeel: Has a fair body, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Drinkability: I really like this beer. Every once in a while, I find myself desiring a light, gold lager that's just good and not crazy complex. In that case, instead of reaching for a big macro beer, I can reach for this better, locally made beer. I still think the style is off, though, but I guess if you like it, it doesn't matter.
Dec 29, 2009
Photo of danielharper
Reviewed by danielharper from Michigan

3.41/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Dingy yellow-orange body, completely transparent, with precisely no head.

S: A mild orangey citrus aroma up front with a corn lager backbone. The citrus is unexpected, to say the least, but not at all unwelcome.

T: Sweet corn, somewhat dry, with a nice yeasty complex citrus finish. Sweet aftertaste. Finishes clean.

M: I'm tempted to say "moderate" thickness, but that's really only considering the style. It's thin and goes down smooth, but is a tiny bit richer than you'd expect from a lager.

D: It's tough to rate this one. If you compare it to other commerically-available Vienna Lagers, this one seems to miss the mark. It's not nearly dark enough, for one, and it lacks the malty complexity I expect from a nice Vienna. But viewed as a microbrewery's answer to macro lagers, this is a nice change of pace. Overall, I find myself enjoying this quite a bit, even if it doesn't have the kind of complexity that leaves me wanting more. I'd buy it again. Maybe.
Dec 21, 2009
Photo of WakeandBake
Reviewed by WakeandBake from Michigan

2.28/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
A bright clear golden color body with way too much head (usual for Atwater) over carbonated . Aroma is of light hops , yeast , hay and slightly metallic . Flavor is grainy,slightly fruity , light hops and a sour metallic finish, light bitterness, slightly sweet,fizzy mouthfeel , light body . Drinkable but nothing I would buy again.
Aug 08, 2009
Photo of carlborch
Reviewed by carlborch from Michigan

1.91/5  rDev -41.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Pours like a clear golden lager. Nice creamy white-off-white head formation. Moderate carbonation. The head dissipates quickly and the lager leaves virtually no Belgian lacing. Sweet notes of hay on the nose. Appears very light on malt and hops. The body is unexpectedly light. Very soft on the palate. The label suggests traditional German methods. What exactly do they mean by that? Is this an all-malt brew? For me it is too light and bright for Vienna Lager and too low on hops and malt for the Helles moniker. Makes me think of Schlitz rather than Spaten. The lingering is only moderately pleasant.
Jul 22, 2009
Photo of Smithj86
Reviewed by Smithj86 from Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Clean, smooth, and eminently drinkable. No bitterness or aftertaste, just that pleasant, full and tasty beeriness in your mouth when you finish. Very crisp flavor without being too hoppy. Good, easy drinking lager. A nice mow-the-lawn or work-on-the-car beer. That is, an excellent warm weather, outdoors session beer. Another good Michigan beer.
Jun 14, 2009
Photo of berserker256
Reviewed by berserker256 from Michigan

4/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Nice dark golden color with a dense white head you could stand a toothpick up in. It's got a nice sweet malty smell like a German style lager ought to have. Carmel-like, perhaps. Good clean tasting beer with no unpleasant aftertaste at all. It's semi-sweet and tastes like it was made from high quality ingredients. Smooth drinking and just the right heavyness. Very good. Just what a Lager should be.
Feb 01, 2009
Michigan Lager from Atwater Brewery
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 19 ratings