Champagne Velvet
Upland Brewing Company

kflorence from Texas

3.56/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a a very pale, straw color with a thin layer of bubbly foam that quickly dissipates. Carbonation looks average. No lacing on the glass. Lots of light fruity hop notes in the aroma, reminiscent of a white wine, but most assuredly from the combination of hops and corn grains. Okay, this is a step up from the typical macro American adjunct in terms of flavor. Everything comes through quite clearly: grassy hops with a buttery, fermented corn flavor and the classic Pilsner malt hanging out in the background. Finishes fairly crisp and dry. A decidedly hop-forward rendition of a German Pilsner. Mouthfeel is light and thin with zesty carbonation. A tiny amount of chewiness. Goes down very easy. Overall, not quite my cup of tea -- a bit too grassy/sour and astringent for me, very similar to white wine. I can see where it got it's name. However, this is a very solid offering that I can appreciate, especially on a warm day. And for an AAL, I have to rate it pretty high. I am sure it is especially special for those folks who have been drinking it for many years. It's definitely a step up from the typical American macro while packing a bit more flavor and complexity. Another solid offering from Upland. Cheers!

Sep 12, 2021

jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Really pale gold color (like the color of a urine sample), steady, moderate carbonation, and thin, dense white lacing.

S - Earthy lemon citrus and crisp crackery malt aroma with light earthiness.

T - Lots of earthy lemon citrus from start to finish with a lingering citrus bitterness on the back end.

M - Medium body with a tad bit of thinness around the edges.

O - Nice earthy citrus, crisp, refreshing, and hitting the spot. Solid.

Aug 08, 2021

miwestcoaster from Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Looks, smells, and feels like an old school beer. But, the taste is too sweet. I prefer Hamm's, Old Style, Schiltz, and Altes over this beer by a wide margin. Reminds me of Keystone Ice in the sweetness and feel. I do not recommend this beer and other brands are available that fit this hole.

Aug 01, 2021

dcotom from Iowa

3.97/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Could we have a new favorite AAL here? Picked up on a whim during a trip through Michigan in April 2021, and it's a dandy. Poured from a pounder into a vintage hollow-stemmed goblet. Clear pale yellow in color, with a two-finger snowy white head that left some nice lacing as it settled to a thin cap. Aromas of corn, grass, and light caramel, with a perfume-y floral overtone. These are present on the palate as well, along with a crisp bitterness that incorporates every single one of its 29 IBU's. Dry finish, with just a hint of lingering sweetness. Overall, a very refreshing and very flavorful offering from Upland.

Jul 30, 2021

BubbleBobble from New York

3.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a clear straw yellow, 1" white head, moderate lacing. Nose is lightly sweet and yeasty with some light lemon; the nose is surprisingly similar to that of champagne. Taste lacks the tartness and sweetness of champagne for more mellow, grainier flavors, though on the slick finish there is some metallic, mineral white wine sweetness. Mouthfeel is very soft and coats a bit. Overall, a pretty complex, though very approachable, beer.

Jun 14, 2021

BeerBobber from Nevada

3.72/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pours a very clear and light golden color. Two fingers of thick soapy white head made of big and small bubbles slowly falling into the beer. A little bit of lacing acion going on here.

Biscuit and white bread crust grainy smell. Even has that odd clean water smell that I like.

Taste is a slightly sweet and slightly grassy taste. Taste is like a Euro lager or pilsner with that sweet grass taste. Malts coming out to just a bit sweet.

Mouth is fairly light with a touch of slick in the finish.

This surprised me. I thought I would be getting a Coor's or Bud flavor. Nope this one falls more into a true pilsner style. It really has a much more crafted taste than the regular adjunct lagers.I see on the side of the can that it states that no flavors or additives in it. Is this really an adjunct? If so what are they putting in it? Overall for beer #422 I have to say this one is pretty darn decent. Cheers!

Jun 10, 2021

Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

3.87/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This beer pours a very crisp looking, clean looking, clear light golden color. There's a nice 1 1/2 finger white head that lasts a while. There's some lacing in the glass. Looking into the glass, there's a nice stream of carbonation bubbles rising.
The nose has a nice malty biscuit aroma, as expected.
Taste - Very crisp. I get a malty biscuit flavor. I also get a very interesting floral flavor, almost like there's some Belgian yeast in here. I also get a faint tart apple flavor, that is a pleasing addition.
The body is very crisp feeling. The thickness is about what's expected for this style.
I wish I had the day off work today, because this would have been so fun to drink in the 80 degree heat of the day. I like this beer.

May 02, 2021

maximum12 from Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to barrelbeer for this 16 oz. extra. I don’t have enough good lagers in my life.

The pour is nearly clear gold: I can actually read through it. The nose is very light, grains & saltines, but little enough of either.

Champagne Velvet would go great with a meal. Any meal. It’s light & inoffensive enough that it would mildly complement most foods. Like the nose, there are light grains, mild sweetness, creamed corn, & a finish of low bitterness & grapefruit from the hops. Crisp. As an IPA & stout drinker mostly, this is…drinkable. Yup.

Not the best lager I’ve had this year, but a pretty good effort.

Dec 05, 2020

realJohnnyHobo from Maryland

2.52/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2.25

I don't know if there has been an adjunct lager lighter in color. There has been nothing in my experience with beer that matches this ultra-light pale yellow, with a large 3 finger soapy head. The residue leftover leaves nice white lacing. I love the color of the can, as it feels old school and yet modern. The Independent brewery label is a nice plus side to see this is apart of the guild.

The smell is of corn adjunct, but knowing some of these old recipes it could be corn/ rice blend. Ultralight mouthfeel, a bit of a sharp character on the tongue, this is my first beer this week. On the second taste, I am getting a bit of hoppiness in the rears, a lot of adjunct upfronts but it balances itself out with a malt that is a bit too underwhelming. There is a heavy boiled vegetable flavor that is mildly offensive, the alcohol isn't hidden and comes back in the finish. Even at 5.2%, I have a bit of a soured face drinking this. And then it dawned on me, this is a beer that is supposed to taste of champagne, okay I get it more now, but the 'pilsener' title doesn't really add up when comparing this to Miller Lite another pils adjunct clone.

The brut-like flavor is unappealing to me and had I known this would be what I was about to consume I'd do a hard pass, as that is not what I was looking for in a pilsner. The hoppiness is a plus, but the lack of roundedness leaves room to be desired. The beer is something, but it is not something I am familiar with. Hops are intense in the finish and the soured grain flavor is gut-wrenching but tolerable. Not too sure how this is "the beer with the million dollar flavor" because I'd be drinking a Guinness or Belhaven on a regular if I could.

Nov 06, 2020

REVZEB from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Clear pale gold with a wispy white head. Smells of sweet corn, pilsner malts, general adjunct bloated aromas, with a touch of grass, so right on for style. Taste is sneaky, not as heavy handed with the adjuncts and sweet corn as expected, crisp malt and touch of grass finish in a way that is actually rewarding for style, but wow is it thin. Stupid crisp though not the most clean, thin, highly carbonated, and finishes dry. Honestly it elevates the style a good bit, don't need to have again, but this is well done for an adjunct lager

Sep 07, 2020

rapayn01 from Kentucky

3.87/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I had tall boy cans of this twice last November (2019). It was in the clearance section of my nearby grocery store, but I bought a can on a whim because I like to support local breweries. It was pretty good for the style -- and actually reminded me a bit of dry champagne. I wrote at the time on Untappd that I would look for this in the summer -- when I went back to buy more there was only one more can, which I bought and consumed in short order. It may be my favorite lager, which admittedly is damning with faint praise.

May 04, 2020

FBarber from Illinois

4.12/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a light straw color. Crystal clear and somewhat effervescent. Thick 3 finger head collapses and dissipates until there is essentially no remaining head. Some sticky lacing is left on the glass.

Aroma is light with notes of corn and simple malts with a touch of light floral hops. Slight touch of sweetness is there.

Taste follows the nose with a crisp array of light crackery malts, some corn, floral hops and a touch of sweetness. Cold, this beer is an excellent AAL - warmed the flavors do open a bit more, but for the style cold is better.

Feel is light, crisp, and refreshing. Bright carbonation with a quick finish.

This is an excellent beer - straddling the line between AAL and Classic American pilsner - its everything you want from the style. Criminally underrated here.

Feb 20, 2020

RaulMondesi from California

3.37/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wow. Not going to lie. I think I rather have a Bud Light. This one has nice color like Jean Harlow sunning at the beach, but it just tastes a little off. I sense that in the aroma too. It’s not metallic like a lot of of bad AAL’s can be, but it simply tastes “off,” ya feel me?

I’m out.

*I’m going to give this one a pretty big edit. Kind of like Japanese beer with sushi, or a Saigon Lager with a bahn mi, it just tastes better with food. And when I had this decently rated (for what it is) AAL with a delectable Italian sandwich, it tasted pretty damn good. So cheers to that!

Jan 21, 2020

Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.41/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

(12 oz can, BB MAR 2020; purchased single off shelf... poured into Stella Artois glass)

L: clear, (champagne-?) yellow liquid, with bits of dusty sediment floating about; white, glassy foam crumbles as it's building... no collar keeps, no lace at all

S: wet diaper, wet coin, very mild floral overtone... little apparent alcohol or malt/grain (at first) aside from perhaps a light fresh corn... faint Bohemian pils yeast character, similar to that of the Stroh's I recently tried, et al

T: extra-dry, Corn Pops grain character; subtle floral bitterness in the aftertaste, subtle peppery phenol... bit of a lemon-powder zesty hop starts to hum a bit as it goes, bitty (coriander-y) spicy bite lingers

F: perhaps the only (or greatest) sense of body from this comes from the alcohol, which seems to trail its legs a bit in the finish; otherwise bone dry and spritzy

O: dang, totally made for can swillin'... one isn't missing much by not pouring this into a glass... might grow on me if I had it often, or by the end of this can (1567)

Oct 11, 2019

Harrison8 from Missouri

3.49/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a translucent straw with a finger of white foam. Head retention is good. Aroma is light straw, hay, grassy hops and crackery, biscuity, wafery malts. Light and tight. Flavor profile is more subtleties, with herbal, grassy, floral, zesty hops combing with biscuity, crackery, wafery malts and a touch of straw and hay. Hops are up front, with the bulk of the flavor profile taken up by malts. Mouth feel is medium-thin with a soft fuzziness that detracts from the initial crispness. Overall, light and tight, but the malt-hop balance is a little wacky.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 16oz can.

Jun 30, 2019

daliandragon from Maryland

3.67/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I wasn't sure what it was at first as I picked up a growler at State Line where it was advertised as a pilsner. This is less pure in clarity and flavor but still pretty good for what it is. Not too overcarbonated, it has decent balance initially but kind of a grainy yeasty finish that is better than it probably sounds. As advertised, this does kind if have an kind of old school, blue collar, working class taste to it, which I guess is the point of telling us these facts..

Jun 28, 2019

larryi86 from Delaware

3.9/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can poured into a pint glass

A- A clear light golden color with a two finger white head.

S- Pilsner malts, some sweet corn, some earthy hops.

T- Pilsner malts, sweat corn, hints of grapes, mild earthy hops.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- A very nice lager, easy to drink. I was hoping for a little more noble hop character, but still nicely balanced.

Jun 11, 2019

chitoryu12 from Florida

3.58/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Look: Golden yellow and slightly hazy, with visible carbonation. One finger of foamy white head with excellent retention.

Smell: Very mild adjunct malt and faint hops.

Taste: Clean, mildly bitter hops at the front. Very mild malt with a slightly metallic aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Decent, smooth body with high carbonation.

Overall: One of the better adjunct lagers out there thanks to being properly hopped and balanced, but still very mild and plain.

Mar 13, 2019

Nass from Florida

2.84/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

It pours very clear looking similar to the color of champagne & there is a fair amount of carbonation . Furthermore, there is a best by date on the bottom of the can which let me know that my can is still highly drinkable. Indiana is known for making some great beer so let's see how this one goes. Wow! I read that this was brewed from a recipe that is over 100 years old. Wow! this is quite bitter for an American Adjunct Lager. Instead of corn I'm most getting some bitterness, it's almost similar to a grapefruit IPA. There is some lemon in the taste. a bit of ginger as well. This is not an easy smooth drinking pale lager it's sort of strange. I'm perplexed by this beer that a beer from over 100 years old would taste similar to a mild grapefruit IPA. Cheers! C

Feb 28, 2019

BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From the can, it pours a clear light golden yellow with a nice bubbly white head. The fresh scent is primarily grain. The taste is lightly bitter with grain. Great for the style!

Feb 23, 2019

Jhops217 from Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +31.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Found another goody. Medium to high carbonation. The color is of gold. The foam is very dense at first then fades pretty quickly. The carb makes for a crispy finish after a nearly citrusy mouth feel.

Jan 15, 2019

DrMullet from Florida

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a clear pale yellow with medium head resolving to thin lacing.
Smell is malted grain an a bit of corn.
Taste is a mix of corn, herb and some floral notes.

Aug 19, 2018

Jamatt from Indiana

4.73/5  rDev +34.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I think this beer confuses people. It’s not an all-malt craft lager. Nor is it a lawnmower-style craft AAL. It’s a big honking 5.5 pre-prohibition AAL and it’s easily best in class. Big, strong, full flavored, and eminently drinkable. Just don’t fall off your lawnmower.

Aug 18, 2018

dertyd from California

3.69/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours out a crystal clear pale golden straw color, with 1 finger of white head------------- the aromas are of floral notes, grass and bread dough--------------- the flavors are of fresh baked bread, floral notes and grass, the beer has a thin mouthfeel with a light bitterness on the finish------------------- overall this beer was good - this was probably the best adjunct lager I have had, it was sweet up front but had a nice breadiness and hoppyness to it---

Aug 10, 2018

StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.56/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

better than its ratings, but insanely light. i have not had much clean beer from these guys at all, so this was unexpected, almost like a craft brewed coors light or something, not particularly compelling for any reason, but its cold and its wet and it exists, so lets drink it! incredibly light in color, barely yellow, watery looking but immaculately clear, short fizzy head lasts a little while before fading back. the beer is corny adjuncts and pils malt, fermented to dry by an essentially flavorless lager yeast, almost blended with water, some minerals and trace herbal hops at the end, i wanted more from the yeast, it just tastes cheap or something, and while i like a brewer like this to have a crusher, especially one known for their sours, this leaves a little bit to be desired. that said, its nice with a slice of spicy pizza and there really is no limit to how much of this one could drink, both in terms of never getting full and never getting drunk. i have gotten used to higher quality and radially different beers from upland, but i think its cool that they make this, and i will end up drinking it again im sure...

Jul 21, 2018