Lager Of The Lakes
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store


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- From:
- Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
Ranked #181 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #25,878 - Avg:
- 3.66 | pDev: 12.3%
- Reviews:
- 496
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Saturday at 01:36 AM
- Added:
- Oct 16, 2006
- Wants:
- 56
- Gots:
- 210
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good


Notes:
Following in the tradition of Czech Pilsners by offering a combination of firm malt and herbal hop bitterness, Bell’s Lager of the Lakes is as refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured transparent straw color with a tall beige head that dissipated quickly.
Aroma was very mild, did get a touch of malt sense and grassy herbs.
The taste rather follows, I’m thinking I drank this too cold (fridge temperature) but as it is supposed to be a hot weather beer, cold seems appropriate.
The malts presented as very light cracker flavor and the grassy herbs were MIA. The spices others write about I missed, so while this was a pretty solid Pils (despite my description, I’m just marking the negatives it seems) I did expect a bit more from Bells.
I’ll try it again at some point, maybe at cellar temperature, and maybe I will taste what others do.
Jul 18, 2022Aroma was very mild, did get a touch of malt sense and grassy herbs.
The taste rather follows, I’m thinking I drank this too cold (fridge temperature) but as it is supposed to be a hot weather beer, cold seems appropriate.
The malts presented as very light cracker flavor and the grassy herbs were MIA. The spices others write about I missed, so while this was a pretty solid Pils (despite my description, I’m just marking the negatives it seems) I did expect a bit more from Bells.
I’ll try it again at some point, maybe at cellar temperature, and maybe I will taste what others do.
Reviewed by theaustinmunro
3.56/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 3.5
Look - Pours a medium golden, straw color with a small bright white head that disappears fairly quickly. It's pretty hazy, borderline translucent. Minor ding for the quick disappearance of the head and more opaque nature.
Fresh, clean, and crisp. Straw that's been dry for a while mixed with some corn. Slightly sweet floral notes towards the back. Not a ton going on here. Would have liked a more complex grain situation to pull apart, but even when warming up didn't get much more out of it.
Spicy hop forwardness up front. Medium heavy hoppy bitterness that dominates and lingers. Light grain flavor towards the back. Very crisp and clean. Definitely more hop forward than expected for this style and less complexity in the malt profile, lands this around the middle of the pack. If you like hop forwards pilsners this would be for you though.
Mid to high light mouthfeel. No alcohol burn at all. Strong hop bitterness combined with a medium high carbonation can lead to a small stinging sensation. Maybe just a touch lighter than expected for the style making it an overall great mouthfeel.
Overall a very drinkable beer, especially on a hot summer day. More hop forward and spicy than I expected. Drinks very crisp and clean without a lot of complexity or depth. Solid middle of the pack beer in its style.
Jul 04, 2022Fresh, clean, and crisp. Straw that's been dry for a while mixed with some corn. Slightly sweet floral notes towards the back. Not a ton going on here. Would have liked a more complex grain situation to pull apart, but even when warming up didn't get much more out of it.
Spicy hop forwardness up front. Medium heavy hoppy bitterness that dominates and lingers. Light grain flavor towards the back. Very crisp and clean. Definitely more hop forward than expected for this style and less complexity in the malt profile, lands this around the middle of the pack. If you like hop forwards pilsners this would be for you though.
Mid to high light mouthfeel. No alcohol burn at all. Strong hop bitterness combined with a medium high carbonation can lead to a small stinging sensation. Maybe just a touch lighter than expected for the style making it an overall great mouthfeel.
Overall a very drinkable beer, especially on a hot summer day. More hop forward and spicy than I expected. Drinks very crisp and clean without a lot of complexity or depth. Solid middle of the pack beer in its style.
Reviewed by BiHKAL from Illinois
4.15/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Super crushable pils, crisp, light malt, nice bitterness, lemongrass notes, dry finish.
Hits right in all the right spots. Will be on repeat this summer.
May 13, 2022Hits right in all the right spots. Will be on repeat this summer.
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Single can from Party Source.
May 04, 2022Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington
3.79/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 12oz can into my Bell's tulip. Can bought at the brewery so I assume it's pretty fresh.
Appearance: medium golden hue with a perhaps a dash of haze and a thick 2-finger cap of frothy white foam. Works for me!
Smell: light malt with an appropriate level of hopping; seems pretty legit.
Taste: malty, though with perhaps a bit of an adjunct-y quality to the works. The bitterness is bright and appropriate, but I feel like the malt character could be more ... authentic.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a big carbonation and a good creaminess for the style.
Overall: a solid Pilsner; perhaps not the best out there, but solid nonetheless.
Apr 29, 2022Appearance: medium golden hue with a perhaps a dash of haze and a thick 2-finger cap of frothy white foam. Works for me!
Smell: light malt with an appropriate level of hopping; seems pretty legit.
Taste: malty, though with perhaps a bit of an adjunct-y quality to the works. The bitterness is bright and appropriate, but I feel like the malt character could be more ... authentic.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a big carbonation and a good creaminess for the style.
Overall: a solid Pilsner; perhaps not the best out there, but solid nonetheless.
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois
3.49/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12oz can, it's a slightly foggy pale gold, small white head tha was gone in a flash, some grassy hops and grains. Light, crisp and refreshing, good summer beer.
Apr 11, 2022Reviewed by augustgarage from California
3.64/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12oz can into my Harriet pils glass.
Clear sizzling sunrise liquid with two fingers of lasting off-white hard whipped foam up top. Excellent retention; thick soapy lacing.
Clean malt on the nose, faintly crackery, with a hint of wild grass.
Crisp palate entry, mild bitterness, but very low hop flavor. Clean and well lagered, and while not bland, nor does it have much character. Nice dry finish, with some pils malt character coming along in the aftertaste.
Even, almost pillow-y, not-quite-medium mouth-feel.
Jan 16, 2022Clear sizzling sunrise liquid with two fingers of lasting off-white hard whipped foam up top. Excellent retention; thick soapy lacing.
Clean malt on the nose, faintly crackery, with a hint of wild grass.
Crisp palate entry, mild bitterness, but very low hop flavor. Clean and well lagered, and while not bland, nor does it have much character. Nice dry finish, with some pils malt character coming along in the aftertaste.
Even, almost pillow-y, not-quite-medium mouth-feel.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned 10/14/21; drank 12/17/21 @ the Yarchives.
See-through pale yellow appearance.
A violent pour yielded a huge, noisy white head; strong tree-rung lace.
Roasted corn, mild lemon & faint grass notes in the nose.
Medium thin mouthfeel.
Roasted corn & grassy flavors; mild lemon bite on the finish.
A tasty lager; sad I passed on it for so many years.
Dec 18, 2021See-through pale yellow appearance.
A violent pour yielded a huge, noisy white head; strong tree-rung lace.
Roasted corn, mild lemon & faint grass notes in the nose.
Medium thin mouthfeel.
Roasted corn & grassy flavors; mild lemon bite on the finish.
A tasty lager; sad I passed on it for so many years.
Rated by jkh15 from Michigan
4.06/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Ideal: light and crisp. Mild malt flavor. Slight bitterness.
Dec 18, 2021Reviewed by JohnFred4 from New York
3.22/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Look: slightly more golden than, say, a Coors Light, but not much more. The gold of sliiightly deghydrated urine.
Smell: Corn, wheat, cornflakes.
Taste: Again, cornflakes. Would be good on cereal!
Feel: A little prickly carbonation, but not much mouthfeel.
Overall: This is certainly a lager! Not much else to say about it.
Dec 04, 2021Smell: Corn, wheat, cornflakes.
Taste: Again, cornflakes. Would be good on cereal!
Feel: A little prickly carbonation, but not much mouthfeel.
Overall: This is certainly a lager! Not much else to say about it.
Reviewed by whynot44 from Missouri
3.96/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Clear pale gold color with a moderate white head that persists fairly well producing some nice lacing.
The aroma is sweet light malt with a crisp grassy, herbal hops tone.
The taste is similar with a biscuit and crackers tasting sweet malt balanced by nice herbal hops bitterness.
The body is light/medium, smooth and very easy to drink.
Altogether a very nice pilsner, good enough for year round.
Sep 08, 2021The aroma is sweet light malt with a crisp grassy, herbal hops tone.
The taste is similar with a biscuit and crackers tasting sweet malt balanced by nice herbal hops bitterness.
The body is light/medium, smooth and very easy to drink.
Altogether a very nice pilsner, good enough for year round.
Reviewed by Chocolatefreak from Tennessee
4.25/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This Bohemian Pilsener has a slightly sweet and evident malt character and a toasted, biscuit-like, bready malt character. Hop bitterness is perceived as medium with a low to medium-low level of noble-type hop aroma and flavor. Overall, a good summer beer & will drink again.
Aug 01, 2021Reviewed by kflorence from Texas
3.7/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.7/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a pale, straw color with a lovely, thick, creamy foam on top. Great retention, even a bit of lacing on the glass as you drink. Carbonation is lively. Looks perfect for this 97F day. Aroma is somewhat faint. Sweet grains, light fruit/white wine, maybe a bit of grass hoppiness. Taste follows the nose pretty well, although it's perhaps a bit hoppier than it let on. Sweet, buttery malts lend way to grassy, floral, spicy hoppiness. Finishes with a lingering bitter lemon peel and mineral water on the tongue. Mouthfeel is excellent. Light bodied with zesty carbonation and a good amount of chewiness. This is an easy drinker without much complexity, but what's there is nicely refined. It is definitely reminiscent of some of the beers I had in Germany, although I wouldn't call it a classic Bohemian Pilsner. It's almost a blend of a Helles and a Pilsner -- doesn't seem to have the classic pilsner malt profile. I'm certainly not disappointed, it's a great warm weather beer. Cheers!
Jul 30, 2021Reviewed by AccipiterofBeer from New York
4.08/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a shaker pint
L: 3.75 Pale in coloration with ample carbonation. Lingering head.
S: 4.5. This is pretty fresh, less than 2 months old. Everything pops out at you - the hops, the lager malts.
T: 4. Very good. Bready. Lightly spicy. Floral.
F: 3.75. Super thin mouthfeel. It's a lager but I was expected slightly more body out of it.
O: 4. Great lager. Recommended.
Jul 29, 2021L: 3.75 Pale in coloration with ample carbonation. Lingering head.
S: 4.5. This is pretty fresh, less than 2 months old. Everything pops out at you - the hops, the lager malts.
T: 4. Very good. Bready. Lightly spicy. Floral.
F: 3.75. Super thin mouthfeel. It's a lager but I was expected slightly more body out of it.
O: 4. Great lager. Recommended.
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear golden color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has malt, hop and floral hints
The taste follows the nose with a malt, hop and floral flavor
A light bodied well carbonated crisp beer
A good Pilsner
Jul 12, 2021Aroma has malt, hop and floral hints
The taste follows the nose with a malt, hop and floral flavor
A light bodied well carbonated crisp beer
A good Pilsner
Rated by rclangk from West Virginia
3.64/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
6/2021 North End Market
Jun 18, 2021Reviewed by RobertB412 from Pennsylvania
3.74/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz. can (PD03/27/21) poured into a pint glass with a slightly hazy straw gold color, quickly dissipating white head and decent lacing. Smells of grain, grass and floral hops. Taste follows aroma with slightly sweet/grassy cereal, pilsner malt and lemony/floral hop bitterness. Medium body with good carbonation and light bitter finish. Overall, not very Bohemian, but very tasty with good hop flavor and a nice dry finish.
May 27, 2021Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania
3.88/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear golden yellow with a nice off white head that leaves lots of lace.
Smells of grain and grass and floral hops.
fresh grain, floral hops, and bitter herb.
May 25, 2021Smells of grain and grass and floral hops.
fresh grain, floral hops, and bitter herb.
Rated by datstankadank from New Jersey
1.77/5 rDev -51.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25
1.77/5 rDev -51.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.25
not a bohemian pilsner, more of a knockoff german pils that doesn't quite taste good. very fresh can. skip this beer.
May 03, 2021
Lager Of The Lakes from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
1334 ratings
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