Lager Of The Lakes
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store

Lager Of The LakesLager Of The Lakes
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From:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.66 | pDev: 12.3%
Reviews:
501
Ratings:
1,354
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 19, 2023
Added:
Oct 16, 2006
Wants:
  56
Gots:
  211
Following in the tradition of Czech Pilsners by offering a combination of firm malt and herbal hop bitterness, Bell’s Lager of the Lakes is as refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes.

Note: per Bell's, this beer is retired and officially replaced by Lager From The Lakes
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Hojaminbag:
Photo of Hojaminbag
Reviewed by Hojaminbag from Colorado

3.66/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bell's lager has a crystal clear, dull golden-colored body with a good bit of active carbonation bubbles. The head is small and white, and despite the plethora of bubbles it doesn't stick around for very long; it does, however, manage to leave some lacing behind.

The aroma is lacking. It isn't unpleasant, it's just very weak. Light pale malt sweetness and that's about it.

It does taste better than it smells, which is good. In fact, it tastes pretty good period, without a comparison to the aroma. Moderate to high amounts of hops from the beginning to the end. Grass, lemongrass, hints of lemon and a good amount of bitterness all come from the hops. The finish has a maltiness to it, but it is surprisingly not a standard pale, pils malt that I thought I smelled in the aroma. Although some of that is in there, the dominant malt characteristic is a lightly toasted flavor. After reading the bottle I realize that this beer is brewed with pils and Munich malt. The Munich malt explains the toasted flavors.

The bitterness from the hops is prickly on the tongue and the carbonation is high. The body still feels that it is in the medium to high range for the style, and overall the beer manages to be smooth and crisp.

Although the look and the smell weren't promising, Bell's Lager proved to be a quality lager with a good bit of hops. Refreshing and easy to drink.
Mar 29, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of GratefulBeerGuy
Reviewed by GratefulBeerGuy from New Hampshire

3.46/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Lager for the Lakes

Bell's Brewery

Pilsner - Czech / Bohemian

Pilsner has to have that light crispness and a perfect balance of malt/hop/yeast ratio. This one is fairly crisp, very clean, with a smooth finish. The malt is a tad sweet like honey bread. The hops are pretty herbal but a bit low on that peppery bite.
Nov 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by Samnem from Pennsylvania

Sep 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by mpenske from California

Aug 30, 2023
Photo of MrGraybeard
Reviewed by MrGraybeard from Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Clear, straw-colored pour with a loose head that dissipates fairly quickly. Mild crackers-and-grass aroma. Hops prevail over malt in the taste, but neither make that much of a statement. Finish is brief and dry. Mouthfeel on the thin side.
I've been sampling some fine craft pilsners lately. This one doesn't quite measure up to the best of them. It's a good lawnmower beer but I'd look elsewhere for a drink with food.

Edit: looking at prior reviews, it seems that Bell's orginally labeled this as a Bohemian pilsner. My can's label describes it as an American pilsner. This brew is definitely superior to Coors Banquet and Bud, but that's a low bar to clear.
Aug 13, 2023
Photo of JKENNEKE
Reviewed by JKENNEKE

3.69/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
July 2023. Hartwell. How appropriate to be drinking logger for the lakes at Lake Hartwell that itself ups the ante. Overall nothing super special but would definitely try it again.
Jul 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.64 by TreyJ88

Jul 17, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.96 by Nitty703 from Virginia

Jul 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Jul 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.52 by StonewallSipper from Pennsylvania

Jun 20, 2023
Photo of QuintusHorace
Reviewed by QuintusHorace from California

3.46/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz can.

Look: pale straw color. Minimal head and lacing
Smell: light yeast
Taste: pretty light on flavor. Little bit of malt
Feel: short finish. crisp and smooth.
Overall: Definitely drinkable, but not anything to write home about.
Apr 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by SoundMakesSense from Indiana

Mar 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.63 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Jan 07, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz can pkgd 10/03/22 into a tall pilsner glass.
L: Pours transparent light yellow gold w a light yeast haze, a 3/4" eggshell white head, decent retention, good carbo, random spotty lacing.
S: Caramel malts, grains, lightly floral.
T: Lightly bready, caramelized malts, lightly toasted grains, a hint of field grass, a touch of wild onion, lightly pale, resinous hops, yeast, a very light aftertaste. Hops saturate the back 1/2 of each drink.
F: Low-ish carbo feel and smooth which goes against its look, but it is indeed crisp and lighter in body w a clean med-length finish that is very lightly drying.
O: Perhaps a bit over-priced for the style but it is very easy drinking, very fresh, and its taste is simple and quite refreshing. Nice feel and a clean finish. It is excellent in its style.
Nov 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.31 by westcoastbeerlvr from California

Nov 07, 2022
 
Rated: 3.42 by stanale from Illinois

Nov 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.82 by EdFed from Illinois

Sep 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania

Aug 30, 2022
Lager Of The Lakes from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 1354 ratings