Traditional Lager
Yuengling Brewery

Traditional LagerTraditional Lager
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From:
Yuengling Brewery
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #59
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
78
Ranked #26,919
Avg:
3.42 | pDev: 17.54%
Reviews:
1,929
Ratings:
7,267
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 03:06 AM
Added:
Aug 28, 2001
Wants:
  249
Gots:
  2,176
Famous for its rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor with roasted caramel malt for a subtle sweetness and a combination of Cluster and Cascade hops, this true original delivers a well-balanced taste with very distinct character. Born from a historic recipe that was resurrected in 1987, Yuengling Traditional Lager is a true classic.
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Ratings by gledford:
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Rated by gledford from New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +2.3%

Jul 12, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of C_Villeeze
Reviewed by C_Villeeze from Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +46.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Yuengling Traditional is my beer of choice. To me, it is an American Adjunct Lager rather than an American Amber, but I suppose I could be ignorant and incorrect on the matter.

Look - Golden and nicely carbonated poured in a glass. Thin, off-white head quickly dissipates, leaving minimal lacing. I don’t care about this though.

Smells - typical AAL. When I think of American beer, this is the smell that comes to mind. Spill this on one arm and a Budweiser on the other and you likely can’t tell the difference.

Taste - this is the important part. Yuengling Traditional is how American Beer should taste. Typical AAL taste, but perfectly balanced, not sweet, not bitter, just right. Low hops, high malts/adjuncts, perfect in my books.

Feel - the way mouthfeel should be. Thick, but not overly so, very carbonated and creamy feeling.

Overall - considering this brew has pretty much replaced water in my diet, I’d say it’s as good as it gets. Crushable, easy drinking beer that doesn’t get old.

I drank cases upon cases of Keystone Light in my teens to early-twenties; I got burnt out on it and rarely drank beer for the past ten years. I heard about Yuengling on a podcast, from someone who said they didn’t like beer but that Yuengling was good. I began looking for Yuengling, and lo and behold, it had just made its way to OKC. I paid $18 from a corner store for my first twelve pack; then I figured out I could buy a suitcase from Walmart for only $23 plus tax. Just over a dollar per beer after tax. This beer reminds me of better times, before the U.S. became completely crazy. It reminds me of times in my life when I had little responsibility, and also reminds me how far I’ve came, from working grocery stores to now having a professional career that feeds my growing family. If you haven’t tried Yuengling, you are missing out.
Yesterday at 03:06 AM
Photo of TheAncientSwiller
Reviewed by TheAncientSwiller from New Jersey

5/5  rDev +46.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Being from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area, I have had the pleasure of drinking(what I believe to be) the best AAL available, for over 35 years now. I am pouring the current 24oz can, into a dimple mug. The color, is akin to those old root beer barrel candies, when light permeates them. Beautiful amber, with very light sand/bone color head. The smell, Is far better - than any macro beer I’ve ever tried. It just smells like quality beer. The lacing, is sticking to the glass mug, and the taste is nutty/malty/toasted bread/only slightly hoppy(palette). My best friend, specifically asked the catering venue, to have this stocked for his wedding reception. There is BMC, Hamms/Gansett are really good…and then there is LAGER(what we ask for in the pubs). The best in its class. Easily.
Tuesday at 01:56 PM
Photo of adamg39
Reviewed by adamg39 from Ohio

3.57/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Has a slightly bitter smell & taste initially, but finishes with a good balance between malty sweetness & hoppiness. Great color, and one of better larger "craft" beers. But, it gets a little heavy, and not good for multiple beers, in my opinion.
Saturday at 06:11 PM
 
Rated: 3.72 by Jr-Baker

Mar 21, 2024
 
Rated: 3.84 by CrazySomethingNormal from New Jersey

Mar 16, 2024
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Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
16 ounce draft pours into a shaker pint.

L: Clear Amber pour, large creamy off-white head with moderate retention.
S: Weak nose, light caramel malt aroma, somewhat nutty, some hops in the back.
T: Toasted malt, some caramel, lightly sweet, some light fruity yeast.
F: Crisp and light.
O: Easy and refreshing crusher.
Mar 16, 2024
Photo of Alexc11
Reviewed by Alexc11 from Canada (QC)

3.52/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
From a bottle pours an, wait for it, amber color with thin head. Little lacing. Taste has the earmarks of sweet malt, caramel and toasty grains. Snell harder to detect but sweet, earthy and yeast overtones. Easy drinking beer . Moderate carbonation and bitterness on the mouthfeel and finish. Paired well with the margherita pizza and arancini. Enjoyable.
Mar 14, 2024
Photo of turfy
Reviewed by turfy from Texas

3.36/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Clear amber body, small white head that fades fairly fast, but with decent lacing. Light aroma of yeast, with some nuttiness. Same with the taste…yeasty, nutty notes with some bitterness. Very effervescent, with a light body. Not bad for a traditional American lager, a small step up from most that are on the shelves.
Mar 01, 2024
 
Rated: 3.1 by Elemgiem from North Carolina

Jan 28, 2024
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Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

3.74/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
2024-01-27
24oz can served in a big stein. 23325322322 is the date on the bottom of the can. @jonphisher sent it to me. I have had this before, but maybe not since around 2008.

Pours a clear umber color with a big, two finger head, that settles into a clumpy layer with chunky lacing. Smell is yeasty, light breadiness, a little bit of nut or toffee.

Taste is kind of similar. Yeast and breadiness are definitely still there, but nuttiness is more noticeable. There's an earthy bitterness and just a hint of honey sweetness.

Mouthfeel is light, very dry. Overall...better than I expected. Not an out-of-the-park home run, but I wouldn't be sad to drink this at a tailgate or a non-craft-beer friend's party. I could interchange it pretty happily with Hamm's for some variety.
Jan 27, 2024
 
Rated: 2.7 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
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Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, deep golden/orange color with a strong white head. SRM of 11. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong aromas of rich bread upfront. There's some tamed caramel and toasted notes to support. (4.00)

Flavor: Flavor has more rich bread and yeast. Milder on the caramel than the aroma. Finishes mildly toasted. Malty, bready, yeasty. (3.50)

Feel: Medium body, strong carbonation. Malty, yeasty, and full. (3.75)

Overall: Haven't reviewed this one yet. Claimed to be America's Oldest Brewery. This is a smooth drinking Amber lager. Pours beautifully. Nice aromas including caramel and toast. Starts to fall off the flavor though. Rich bread, yeast, and sort of like an AAL after that. A good beer for what it is as an alternative to macro AALs. Glad to have tried it. (Rating: 3.70)
Dec 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by HS676 from Pennsylvania

Dec 05, 2023
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Rated by Holistervildercamp from Oklahoma

2.87/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.25
It's fine . Wish I'd gone for the bud though.
Nov 24, 2023
Photo of Gear82
Reviewed by Gear82

4.07/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A good, malty slightly sweet lager. Sam Adams
Lager fans should like it. Starting to see it on
tap in the Boston area, tastes best in that
way. I'm an IPA fan, but when I want a lager,
this is it.
Nov 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
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Reviewed by CopperMtnPlowboy from Ohio

4.29/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
The "original" craft beer. Before it was sold in Ohio (about 2008?), any friend or family traveling to Pennsylvania would bring back a case or two of Yuengling Traditional Lager. Just the right amount of malt, tasty, easy to drink. My favorite alternative to mainstream beers since I discovered it in college.
Oct 28, 2023
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Reviewed by ElijahLep from Ohio

3.57/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Solid lager. I like the malty-ness of it. Has a nice color and leaves lacing. Not really anything wrong with it. Definitely worth buying if you want something fairly cheap and solid.
Oct 26, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by SRV from Oklahoma

Oct 18, 2023
Traditional Lager from Yuengling Brewery
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 7267 ratings