Lager
Union Barrel Works

 

 

It's a crying shame they don't bottle this stuff! I'm going back to Reamstown with a growler soon...

A: Pale orange, sparse and separated sense of effervesce. Thin skim head, hardly enough to distinguish color or enough to lace with. Labeled as a dortmunder on menu, a bit darker looking per style. Needs to work on head retention for some visual appeal.

S: Clean neutral nose but lacked that graininess (see GL dortmunder gold).

T: For flavor we have lightly toasted caramel speciality grains adding a touch of sweetness, almost like their oktoberfest. Decent flavor, cleanly brewed with hints of toasty sweet afterthoughts that linger about.

M: light bodied with a high rate of carbonation bringing a bit of texture while the specialty grains adds a bit of maltiness.

O: Solid drinkability could go growler here. Good tweener beer for the local crowd to introduce into the world of craft that is easy to handle.

Transcribed from undated notes.

Arrived with only a wispy head above a slightly cloudy orangish-colored beer. Nose had the characteristic unadulterated lager sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium with a mild sweetness on the tongue. Finish was mildly sweet, but very lager-like. Forget BMC - turn some of those people who swear by macroswill onto this and they'll never go back! I feel lucky and privileged to have the wealth of well-made lagers that we do in Lancaster County.

On tap at the restaurant.

A: Clear, deep golden amber color with a little carbonation. Thin white head that dissipates to a film and a little lacing.
S: Grainy bread like smell with malt body and ripe fruit pinch, some hops.
T: Light body with active carbonation making for a sharp, crisp finish. Reminds me a lot of Great Lakes Dortmunder, but slightly less flavor or complexity. Body has strong malt presence and slight ripe fruit taste and finishes with grain taste. I'd take the GLBC dortmunder over this, but an excellent lager regardless.

Served on-tap at the brewery.

A: The lager is a brilliant orange color tempered with some leathery brown shades. A half a finger of head was quick to dissapate.

S: The aroma is grainy with vegetables. The grains are bready and nicely with the green vegetal and ripe green fruit aromas.

T: Bread in a glass, this lager doesn't skimp on the grain flavors. Caramel and cereal flavors are thick and chewy and met with vegetal (think celery) and green apple flavors. The finish is loaded with more grains.

M: The lager is very approachable, fairly light with a solid grain base that is flavorful.

D: The low alcohol and relaxed flavor makes for a nice session lager. This is a good gateway beer at UBW.

On tap at UBW on 2/9/08.

A - Semi-clear deep amber body with modest carbonation and 1/2-finger creamy, off-white head that transformed into a thin film. A little lacing, but not much.

S - Some crisp, sweet apple and caramel malt with fair amount of breadiness as well. A bit of honey sweetness and mild herbal hops are also present.

T - Sweet caramel and some spicy fruit up front with a bit of honey sweetness in the middle, followed by a toasted graininess and bready malt finish.

M - Light to medium body with solid carbonation resulting in a prickly texture. Mouthfeel is somewhat oily. Pretty crisp, clean finish.

D - Very smooth, easy-to-drink lager that's lightly hopped and well-balanced by a smooth maltiness. I'd definitely have more of these on future visits.

Enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub,
Served as a deep golden colored beer with impressive white head.
Smell is a pleasant combination of fruity malt and a light background of hops. Some citrus notes present.
Taste is strongly malty with more of the light citrus noted.
Full and refreshing in the mouth with an enoyable taste retention.
Very well done, The perfect thirst quencher.