Vienna Lager
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
- From:
- Devils Backbone Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
Ranked #68 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #29,817 - Avg:
- 3.76 | pDev: 12.23%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 250
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 13, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 24, 2008
- Wants:
- 53
- Gots:
- 417
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Vienna-Style Lager.
This is our Ol’ Faithful. No, it’s not a geothermal phenomenon. It’s the beer everybody, including professional beer judges, just seems to dig. Maybe they like how it’s smooth, medium-bodied, and semi-sweet, while not too heavy or bitter. Maybe it’s the amber color, or the blend of four imported malts balanced by two Germanic hops, or the fact that it takes five weeks to get right. Or maybe it’s all the above.
Malts: Vienna, Pilsner, Dark Munich, CaraAmber
Hops: Northern Brewer, Saaz
IBU: 18
COLOR: Amber
This is our Ol’ Faithful. No, it’s not a geothermal phenomenon. It’s the beer everybody, including professional beer judges, just seems to dig. Maybe they like how it’s smooth, medium-bodied, and semi-sweet, while not too heavy or bitter. Maybe it’s the amber color, or the blend of four imported malts balanced by two Germanic hops, or the fact that it takes five weeks to get right. Or maybe it’s all the above.
Malts: Vienna, Pilsner, Dark Munich, CaraAmber
Hops: Northern Brewer, Saaz
IBU: 18
COLOR: Amber
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by capncron:
Reviewed by capncron from Nevada
4.96/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.96/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
This is a quintessential Vienna lager. Reading some of the reviews here I wonder if they have actually read the style guidelines. For those who. Haven't, Boston Lager is NOT to style. As a BJCP judge this is a GREAT example of a wonderful style. I only wish it was readily available here in Nevada. It's the first beer I get whenever I get to the east coast.
Jan 27, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Nvrmind16 from California
3.95/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Very heavy lager, I would call it an amber masquerading as a lager. stronger full flavor with darker notes for a lager and cool look. A great drink for autumn evenings or winter nights, just a little too filing
Feb 05, 2026
Reviewed by Foxbush from Virginia
3.7/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle from Trader Joe's in Short Pump, VA The lager poured a clear amber with an off white head and limited to no lacing. The aroma of toasted malts and crackers. The flavors detected are brown sugar and malted bread. The lager could use a little bit of hops, 18-25 IBUs. The larger has a medium body and soft carbonation.
Oct 27, 2025
Reviewed by adamg39 from Ohio
3.77/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
At a tasting, poured very dark amber, with little head. The flavor featured a very nice malty sweetness, with even a sweet aftertaste. (Perhaps a bit too sweet, definitely not crisp.) A pleasant surprise to find a domestic craft not loaded down with hops, in fact, hops are downright suppressed in this brew.
Feb 15, 2025
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
4.13/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tumbler in Monrovia, Maryland. Nice spritzy foam on gold brew. Grainy nose, caramel malt, expressive hops.
Taste follows; very traditional. Impressive.
Proper mouthfeel and plenty of carbonation.
Overall, good interpretation of a beloved style.
Feb 10, 2025Taste follows; very traditional. Impressive.
Proper mouthfeel and plenty of carbonation.
Overall, good interpretation of a beloved style.
Reviewed by Cigarhound66 from Georgia
3.38/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I didn’t care for this. It isn’t bad but isn’t good. Some faint notes of clove. Notes of straw and marshmallow. But it’s just rough around the edges and something is off putting.
Oct 16, 2024
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