Vienna Style Lager
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Lager - Vienna
Ranked #36 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #21,714 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 9.5%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 22, 2020
- Added:
- Jun 24, 2009
- Wants:
- 60
- Gots:
- 162
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Notes:
Vienna-style beers are among the world’s first light-colored lagers and were on the brink of extinction until American craft brewers helped revive the style; it’s a good thing they did. These delicate and extremely balanced amber beers rely on semi-sweet and bready malt flavors but walk a fine line with both malt and hop character shouldering equal weight. Our take on the style features whole-cone European hops, which add to the dry finish.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.09 by BrewsOverHoes from Georgia on Dec 22, 2020
3.87 by BigMike from Pennsylvania on Dec 04, 2020
3.75 by BEER88 from Washington on Jan 12, 2020
3.75 by MJSFS from Florida on Dec 07, 2019
4.29/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by tracycramer from Texas
I pretty much do not like lagers at all due probably to not getting out much and not knowing what is out there. That said, this is very drinkable. Not the usual sweet lager at all.
Very nice. Enjoyed in Austin 10/20/19.
Oct 20, 2019
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by tracycramer from Texas
I pretty much do not like lagers at all due probably to not getting out much and not knowing what is out there. That said, this is very drinkable. Not the usual sweet lager at all.
Very nice. Enjoyed in Austin 10/20/19.
Oct 20, 2019
3.94 by craigbelly from Iowa on Oct 09, 2019
4.44/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by unlikelyspiderperson from California
Pours a beautiful copper tinged amber with a wonderful yellow blushed head, 2 fingers and active, bubbles holding out like almost cooked pancakes.
Smells like a lightly sweetened rustic pastry with just a smidge of caramel. some floral and grassy hints around the edges.
Taste is very light bread with some herbaceous bitterness. very clean taste, not super muddled or overly complicated.
Mouthfeel is excellent, crisp and clean with a decent body mid palate and a nice dry finish.
Overall I get the hype around this one and definitely wish it was a regular presence from SN. Super drinkable with enough character to fit in well as the weather starts to turn. Great beer.
Sep 19, 2019
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by unlikelyspiderperson from California
Pours a beautiful copper tinged amber with a wonderful yellow blushed head, 2 fingers and active, bubbles holding out like almost cooked pancakes.
Smells like a lightly sweetened rustic pastry with just a smidge of caramel. some floral and grassy hints around the edges.
Taste is very light bread with some herbaceous bitterness. very clean taste, not super muddled or overly complicated.
Mouthfeel is excellent, crisp and clean with a decent body mid palate and a nice dry finish.
Overall I get the hype around this one and definitely wish it was a regular presence from SN. Super drinkable with enough character to fit in well as the weather starts to turn. Great beer.
Sep 19, 2019
2.55 by chiefz1 from New York on Jun 29, 2019
3.8 by Kolb from Montana on Apr 25, 2019
3.83 by KMillard from North Carolina on Feb 04, 2019
3.71 by paulytasker from New York on Dec 28, 2018
3.77 by cdwil from Texas on Dec 16, 2018
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by RyanK252 from California
Bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden copper amber with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves some
S: Grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, grassy, herbal, spicy, and herbal notes, faintly fruity, and a touch of honey sweetness.
T: Bready slightly toasty malt, a bit grainy, spicy, herbal, grassy, and earthy notes, a little fruity towards the back end, pear and apricot, and touch of honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp.
O: It might not be my favorite style, but this one is well done.
Dec 11, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by RyanK252 from California
Bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden copper amber with a frothy off white head that settles to a light layer and leaves some
S: Grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, grassy, herbal, spicy, and herbal notes, faintly fruity, and a touch of honey sweetness.
T: Bready slightly toasty malt, a bit grainy, spicy, herbal, grassy, and earthy notes, a little fruity towards the back end, pear and apricot, and touch of honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, crisp.
O: It might not be my favorite style, but this one is well done.
Dec 11, 2018
3.11 by lrend13 from Wisconsin on Nov 29, 2018
3.25 by JayKay412 from Pennsylvania on Nov 24, 2018
3.75 by ilikebeer03 from Texas on Nov 22, 2018
3.38/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by orcrist_cleaver from New York
A: Light amber-honey in color with an icy haze.
S: Caramel malts are highly represented. White pear, summer's end peach jelly.
M: Light to moderate body propped up some by a its sweet slickness.
T: Lots of honey, sweetened white bread pudding with peach compote; quince syrup. Drier, toastier notes as it warms with some peppery hops as well.
Nov 22, 2018
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by orcrist_cleaver from New York
A: Light amber-honey in color with an icy haze.
S: Caramel malts are highly represented. White pear, summer's end peach jelly.
M: Light to moderate body propped up some by a its sweet slickness.
T: Lots of honey, sweetened white bread pudding with peach compote; quince syrup. Drier, toastier notes as it warms with some peppery hops as well.
Nov 22, 2018
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by jadpsu from Georgia
First review of a 12 pack variety pack by Sierra Nevada.
Pours a crystal clear light gold with an abundant head that slowly reduces itself to a thin skin with excellent side glass lace.
AROMA: Surprisingly, I get some light hops with lemon scents along with some breads.
TASTE: Yum! A little more of bread malts. Some sweetness with a hint of caramel. Some spicy hop balance present.
Dry at the finish.
Nov 21, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by jadpsu from Georgia
First review of a 12 pack variety pack by Sierra Nevada.
Pours a crystal clear light gold with an abundant head that slowly reduces itself to a thin skin with excellent side glass lace.
AROMA: Surprisingly, I get some light hops with lemon scents along with some breads.
TASTE: Yum! A little more of bread malts. Some sweetness with a hint of caramel. Some spicy hop balance present.
Dry at the finish.
Nov 21, 2018
3.66/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by mothmanscott from Georgia
Pours a crystal clear, beautiful amber producing 3+ fingers of beige, frothy, somewhat lasting head that leaves motes and strings of lace. Aroma is thin but a blend of toast & biscuity malt, fruity with white fruit hints, honey and floral hops hints. Taste is malty-sweet and fruity up front with jelly/marmalade like notes of pear and peach cobbler, more honey than the nose followed by notes of biscuit, toast, caramel with floral and earthy hops. Drying late in the finish. Aftertaste is soured fruit, increasing bitterness and faintly astringent with a hint of mineral & metallic. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, smooth but not clean with a nice prickle over the tongue.
Nov 18, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by mothmanscott from Georgia
Pours a crystal clear, beautiful amber producing 3+ fingers of beige, frothy, somewhat lasting head that leaves motes and strings of lace. Aroma is thin but a blend of toast & biscuity malt, fruity with white fruit hints, honey and floral hops hints. Taste is malty-sweet and fruity up front with jelly/marmalade like notes of pear and peach cobbler, more honey than the nose followed by notes of biscuit, toast, caramel with floral and earthy hops. Drying late in the finish. Aftertaste is soured fruit, increasing bitterness and faintly astringent with a hint of mineral & metallic. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with moderate carbonation, smooth but not clean with a nice prickle over the tongue.
Nov 18, 2018
3.75/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by MoreBeer4me from New Jersey
Okay Vienna lager and quite enjoyable. Not quite as good as a few others I drink such as Double Nickel and DB but good none the less. Malty and slightly sweet yet lacks some of the thick taste I look for.
Nov 16, 2018
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by MoreBeer4me from New Jersey
Okay Vienna lager and quite enjoyable. Not quite as good as a few others I drink such as Double Nickel and DB but good none the less. Malty and slightly sweet yet lacks some of the thick taste I look for.
Nov 16, 2018
4 by jkn09 from Texas on Nov 14, 2018
3.77/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by jjamadorphd from Florida
Another decent offering from SN...
A lager that has some very good qualities - dark amber-colored liquid with a nice thick head; the smell was malty but light; a mouthfeel that's carbonated but crisp; and a taste that was tangy and spicy; overall, finding it pretty good though not the best lager I've had.
Nov 10, 2018
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by jjamadorphd from Florida
Another decent offering from SN...
A lager that has some very good qualities - dark amber-colored liquid with a nice thick head; the smell was malty but light; a mouthfeel that's carbonated but crisp; and a taste that was tangy and spicy; overall, finding it pretty good though not the best lager I've had.
Nov 10, 2018
3.67 by StevenMilligan from Florida on Nov 02, 2018
3.92 by brewnme from Maine on Oct 25, 2018
3.77 by Gkruszewski from New York on Oct 24, 2018
4.05 by chris826 from Mississippi on Oct 18, 2018
3.3 by dcbeers from District of Columbia on Oct 18, 2018
3.69 by smutty33 from Connecticut on Oct 17, 2018
3.34 by Dkloubec from Illinois on Oct 17, 2018
3.5 by tjb27 from Minnesota on Oct 15, 2018
3.68 by beergorrilla from Michigan on Oct 14, 2018
3.91/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by deleted_user_995920
Looks a translucent light honey/straw color. Minimal head but some residual lacing with a trace of lacing on glass. Smell is quite muted- mild vanilla,biscuit,earthy smell. Taste is more pronounced than most style lagers. Toasted malt,fresh baked bread,caramel. Reminds me of a "fest beer" in many ways. Feels well carbonated, not slick in any way,almost a dry finish.Some different toasted nut taste is a bonus. Well done, I swear this could pass for a marzen style.
Oct 12, 2018
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by deleted_user_995920
Looks a translucent light honey/straw color. Minimal head but some residual lacing with a trace of lacing on glass. Smell is quite muted- mild vanilla,biscuit,earthy smell. Taste is more pronounced than most style lagers. Toasted malt,fresh baked bread,caramel. Reminds me of a "fest beer" in many ways. Feels well carbonated, not slick in any way,almost a dry finish.Some different toasted nut taste is a bonus. Well done, I swear this could pass for a marzen style.
Oct 12, 2018
3.44 by WickedBeer from Alabama on Oct 11, 2018
3.75 by JohnDon from Texas on Oct 10, 2018
3.21/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
by teromous from Virginia
This is from the Sierra Nevada Fall Pack. From the back label in white print: "PKGD 07/18/18 2027"
Appearance: The beer has a body with excellent clarity and is a medium shade of gold in color. It has a frothy head that is just a hint off-white. Very good lacing and retention.
Aroma: The beer has a very faint hop aroma which gives off the scent of lemongrass.
Taste: As the beer crosses over the palate it has a very light bit of cereal grain with just a hint of lemon. It is uniform across the palate.
Mouthfeel: It is on the upper side of light bodied and it has just a faint bit of chewiness to it. It's not as crisp as one would expect but it falls into that category of where most average Vienna Lagers settle.
Overall: It's pretty average fare for a Vienna Lager. It doesn't present itself that well on the palate so I really wouldn't recommend it one way or another. There are better Vienna Lagers on the market and there are worse. This one happens to rest pretty evenly in the middle. I doubt I would buy it again given the alternatives. It's only really worth drinking if you are curious about how Sierra Nevada would craft a Vienna Lager.
Oct 07, 2018
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
by teromous from Virginia
This is from the Sierra Nevada Fall Pack. From the back label in white print: "PKGD 07/18/18 2027"
Appearance: The beer has a body with excellent clarity and is a medium shade of gold in color. It has a frothy head that is just a hint off-white. Very good lacing and retention.
Aroma: The beer has a very faint hop aroma which gives off the scent of lemongrass.
Taste: As the beer crosses over the palate it has a very light bit of cereal grain with just a hint of lemon. It is uniform across the palate.
Mouthfeel: It is on the upper side of light bodied and it has just a faint bit of chewiness to it. It's not as crisp as one would expect but it falls into that category of where most average Vienna Lagers settle.
Overall: It's pretty average fare for a Vienna Lager. It doesn't present itself that well on the palate so I really wouldn't recommend it one way or another. There are better Vienna Lagers on the market and there are worse. This one happens to rest pretty evenly in the middle. I doubt I would buy it again given the alternatives. It's only really worth drinking if you are curious about how Sierra Nevada would craft a Vienna Lager.
Oct 07, 2018
3.63 by norinco from Ohio on Oct 07, 2018
3.68 by generalraider from New Jersey on Oct 05, 2018
3.2 by TheBeerMaster1 from New York on Oct 05, 2018
3.55/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by HellsRanger from Pennsylvania
It's German for sure...it has that in aroma and taste. it pours a nice bold yellow with nice whit foam that doesn't last long, but is there and carbonated nice.
The aroma has nice sweet bready malt and slight hops with it. The taste is along the same line...with a sweet caramel malt with a spicy hops finish.
Not my cup of beer, but a very drinkable brew for the right bratwurst occassion!!
Oct 02, 2018
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by HellsRanger from Pennsylvania
It's German for sure...it has that in aroma and taste. it pours a nice bold yellow with nice whit foam that doesn't last long, but is there and carbonated nice.
The aroma has nice sweet bready malt and slight hops with it. The taste is along the same line...with a sweet caramel malt with a spicy hops finish.
Not my cup of beer, but a very drinkable brew for the right bratwurst occassion!!
Oct 02, 2018
3.7 by denver10 from New Mexico on Oct 02, 2018
Vienna Style Lager from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
929 ratings