Vienna Style Lager
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
Ranked #60 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #28,218 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 9.5%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 208
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 28, 2026
- Added:
- Jun 24, 2009
- Wants:
- 63
- Gots:
- 163
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
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.
Ratings by CASK1:
Reviewed by CASK1 from Florida
3.97/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle to pilsner glass.
L - Beautiful amber color with brilliant lager clarity. Fluffy off-white head fell fairly quickly.
S - Moderate levels of bread crust and toast. Hints of melanoidin sweetness. No hint of hops in the aroma.
T - Similar to aroma, but more intense. Nice biscuity, toasty malt with melanoidin complexity. Moderate hop bitterness offsets the malt and makes this beer very drinkable. Hint of spicy hop flavor adds to the complexity.
F - Medium bodied, but crisp and dry makes this easy to drink several of. Carbonation level is spot on.
O - More breweries need to make this style. Tasty and easy drinking. Can't wait until it's actually fall to enjoy more of this one.
Aug 09, 2015L - Beautiful amber color with brilliant lager clarity. Fluffy off-white head fell fairly quickly.
S - Moderate levels of bread crust and toast. Hints of melanoidin sweetness. No hint of hops in the aroma.
T - Similar to aroma, but more intense. Nice biscuity, toasty malt with melanoidin complexity. Moderate hop bitterness offsets the malt and makes this beer very drinkable. Hint of spicy hop flavor adds to the complexity.
F - Medium bodied, but crisp and dry makes this easy to drink several of. Carbonation level is spot on.
O - More breweries need to make this style. Tasty and easy drinking. Can't wait until it's actually fall to enjoy more of this one.
More User Ratings:
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.25/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -14.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
RB transfer
Feb 28, 2026
Reviewed by tracycramer from Texas
4.29/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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, 2019Very nice. Enjoyed in Austin 10/20/19.
Reviewed by unlikelyspiderperson from California
4.44/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
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, 2019Smells 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.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2018A: 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.
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