Bell's Lager Of The Lakes | Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery, Inc.
Michigan, United States
bellsbeer.com
Style: Czech Pilsener
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Following in the tradition of Czech Pilsners by offering a combination of firm malt and herbal hop bitterness, Bell’s Lager Beer is as refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes.
Added by proc on 10-16-2006
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,075 | Reviews: 403
4.13/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, about 2 months old.
I have been trying to find a reliable czech-style pilsner made in the US of A that is easily attainable and fresh, and this is a winner in my book. Oily slick body, great aroma and refreshing as hell. Perfect summer beer that pairs with just about everything.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, about 2 months old.
I have been trying to find a reliable czech-style pilsner made in the US of A that is easily attainable and fresh, and this is a winner in my book. Oily slick body, great aroma and refreshing as hell. Perfect summer beer that pairs with just about everything.
296 characters
4.17/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.68/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.63/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.92/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Crystal clear straw with a big creamy white head. Medium-poor retention; a thin white ring remains, but also sheets of lacing.
S: Fresh green grass, candied lemon peel, white bread, honey, just a hint of white pepper.
T: Big pop of grass, lemon, and bell pepper upfront, followed by light but firm white bready backbone with a smack of honey. Hints of vanilla. Finishes dry with just a touch of white pepper and lingering green pepper zestiness.
F: Watery at first, but then fills out with a pushing ample carbonation that hits later on. Dries out nicely, crisp and clean, for a refreshing aftertaste.
O: A solid pilsner. There are a few widely available pilsners I hold above this one, but this hits the spot and certainly does not disappoint. Recommended to any pilsner fan.
792 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
L: Crystal clear straw with a big creamy white head. Medium-poor retention; a thin white ring remains, but also sheets of lacing.
S: Fresh green grass, candied lemon peel, white bread, honey, just a hint of white pepper.
T: Big pop of grass, lemon, and bell pepper upfront, followed by light but firm white bready backbone with a smack of honey. Hints of vanilla. Finishes dry with just a touch of white pepper and lingering green pepper zestiness.
F: Watery at first, but then fills out with a pushing ample carbonation that hits later on. Dries out nicely, crisp and clean, for a refreshing aftertaste.
O: A solid pilsner. There are a few widely available pilsners I hold above this one, but this hits the spot and certainly does not disappoint. Recommended to any pilsner fan.
792 characters
3.82/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear, very pale straw color with a finger of white head that settles into a thin film and crown.
Crisp lager aroma. Clean biscuit malts and floral hops.
A little more cakey tasting, with moderately strong hop bitterness. It has a hard water quality as well. A kiss of sulfer maybe. Still pretty crisp, though.
Medium bodied for the style with strong carbonation.
The malt isn't exactly where I like it (just a hair too much yellow cake or corn bread), but probably to style and pretty solid overall.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear, very pale straw color with a finger of white head that settles into a thin film and crown.
Crisp lager aroma. Clean biscuit malts and floral hops.
A little more cakey tasting, with moderately strong hop bitterness. It has a hard water quality as well. A kiss of sulfer maybe. Still pretty crisp, though.
Medium bodied for the style with strong carbonation.
The malt isn't exactly where I like it (just a hair too much yellow cake or corn bread), but probably to style and pretty solid overall.
510 characters
4.13/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.94/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice amber color on pouring. About one finger of head. More body than the name brand lagers. Nice crisp taste without overdoing it. Would drink again.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Nice amber color on pouring. About one finger of head. More body than the name brand lagers. Nice crisp taste without overdoing it. Would drink again.
150 characters
3.79/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a crystal clear straw yellow color with a thick, foamy white head. Smells of crackers and grass. Tastes of sweet bread and grass, well balanced with a hint of green apple towards the end. Clean and crisp, light body. Solid representation of the style.
257 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a crystal clear straw yellow color with a thick, foamy white head. Smells of crackers and grass. Tastes of sweet bread and grass, well balanced with a hint of green apple towards the end. Clean and crisp, light body. Solid representation of the style.
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3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear, pale straw color with a tight, white head that leaves little bits of lacing,
Smells of grassy hops and grainy malt.
Tastes of the grassy hops layered over a solid malt base. Hops lead off with floral, grassy, and hay notes. Grainy malts add in next with some doughy bread and some sweetness. Earthy and herbal hops come towards the end. Finishes with some soft malt and lingering hops.
Mouthfeel is medium-light with a crisp amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is a solid pilsner.
504 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear, pale straw color with a tight, white head that leaves little bits of lacing,
Smells of grassy hops and grainy malt.
Tastes of the grassy hops layered over a solid malt base. Hops lead off with floral, grassy, and hay notes. Grainy malts add in next with some doughy bread and some sweetness. Earthy and herbal hops come towards the end. Finishes with some soft malt and lingering hops.
Mouthfeel is medium-light with a crisp amount of carbonation.
Overall, this is a solid pilsner.
504 characters
3.98/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "PKGD date" 4-11-17.
APPEARANCE: pours a clear, light golden color with less than one-finger white head that quickly dissipated until a thin, broken layer of small bubbles remained, there is moderate lacing on the glass, medium carbonation.
SMELL: sweet honey, white crackers and an earthy note.
TASTE: the taste follows the nose, initially sweet and crackers then an earthy hop bite at the end but not too strong.
PALATE: medium body and carbonation.
OVERALL: this is a very good Czech Pils, I love this style and this is well done, I would buy this again and recommend to anyone who enjoys the style.
669 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "PKGD date" 4-11-17.
APPEARANCE: pours a clear, light golden color with less than one-finger white head that quickly dissipated until a thin, broken layer of small bubbles remained, there is moderate lacing on the glass, medium carbonation.
SMELL: sweet honey, white crackers and an earthy note.
TASTE: the taste follows the nose, initially sweet and crackers then an earthy hop bite at the end but not too strong.
PALATE: medium body and carbonation.
OVERALL: this is a very good Czech Pils, I love this style and this is well done, I would buy this again and recommend to anyone who enjoys the style.
669 characters
3.8/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy light orange, decent collar, beautiful lacing. Light foam looks like the marbling on a piece of Wagyu beef, really a beautiful looking beer.
Aroma: Getting a lot of non-pilsener scents here, apple, marmalade, rose. Of course bread and some grassiness.
Mouthfeel: Very thick for a pilsener, a bit sharp though. Very fine carbonation that lingers.
Taste: Breadiness balanced perfectly with grassiness, a mellow hop note and hints of apple and even vanilla in the aftertaste. Here we have an absolutely solid balance, and it just delivers so much more that it makes it truly stand out. This goes beyond the "usual" pilseners and blazes its own trail.
Overall: It does its own thing, and makes for a wonderful beer - but is it a Czech pilsener? Or a "Bohemian pilsener" as the label claims? I don't think so. But thats my only knock against this wonderfully balanced brew, pick it up if you want something in the ballpark of a pilsener, but much more.
977 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Appearance: Pours a hazy light orange, decent collar, beautiful lacing. Light foam looks like the marbling on a piece of Wagyu beef, really a beautiful looking beer.
Aroma: Getting a lot of non-pilsener scents here, apple, marmalade, rose. Of course bread and some grassiness.
Mouthfeel: Very thick for a pilsener, a bit sharp though. Very fine carbonation that lingers.
Taste: Breadiness balanced perfectly with grassiness, a mellow hop note and hints of apple and even vanilla in the aftertaste. Here we have an absolutely solid balance, and it just delivers so much more that it makes it truly stand out. This goes beyond the "usual" pilseners and blazes its own trail.
Overall: It does its own thing, and makes for a wonderful beer - but is it a Czech pilsener? Or a "Bohemian pilsener" as the label claims? I don't think so. But thats my only knock against this wonderfully balanced brew, pick it up if you want something in the ballpark of a pilsener, but much more.
977 characters
4.04/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a crystal clear straw yellow color with a two finger, soapy white head. Retention is moderate and there is a bit of spotted lacing left on the glass. There is lots of active carbonation visable.
Smell is a bit subtle and ordinary. Floral hops, straw, grass, grain and bready malts are all there, but fairly low key.
Taste is similar in that all the flavors from the smell are there, but it is much more bright and flavorful. There is also a good bit of peppery spice on the finish.
Feel is light and smooth, with the peppery spice on the back end providing a crisp, dry finish.
Overall this is a very good beer. I tend to prefer German pilsners to their Czech counterparts, but this is still very good. Very similar to SN Summerfest imo, although I prefer SN just a tad more, but this is still very enjoyable.
829 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer pours a crystal clear straw yellow color with a two finger, soapy white head. Retention is moderate and there is a bit of spotted lacing left on the glass. There is lots of active carbonation visable.
Smell is a bit subtle and ordinary. Floral hops, straw, grass, grain and bready malts are all there, but fairly low key.
Taste is similar in that all the flavors from the smell are there, but it is much more bright and flavorful. There is also a good bit of peppery spice on the finish.
Feel is light and smooth, with the peppery spice on the back end providing a crisp, dry finish.
Overall this is a very good beer. I tend to prefer German pilsners to their Czech counterparts, but this is still very good. Very similar to SN Summerfest imo, although I prefer SN just a tad more, but this is still very enjoyable.
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3.35/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.93/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, but very effervescent gold color. Thin white head dissipates quickly leaving no lacing or residual head.
Smell is rather subtle, some notes of grain, mild malts, and spicy hops.
Taste has some notes of spicy hops, grain, bready malts, and clean lager yeast.
Feel is light and crisp. Very drinkable. Bit spicy and bitter on the back end.
356 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, but very effervescent gold color. Thin white head dissipates quickly leaving no lacing or residual head.
Smell is rather subtle, some notes of grain, mild malts, and spicy hops.
Taste has some notes of spicy hops, grain, bready malts, and clean lager yeast.
Feel is light and crisp. Very drinkable. Bit spicy and bitter on the back end.
356 characters
3.72/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
from the holiday weekend. 12oz bottle into a glass. Packaged 2/6/17, so closing in on 4 months old.
Slightly hazy yellow body, thick bubbly white head, good lacing.
Standard lager beery aroma.
Crisp, aggressive yeast, malt, and hop balance. Not bad.
Close to medium on the mouth, sour and bitter on the finish.
Overall, the style is not really my cup of tea, but this beer was pretty decent.
401 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
from the holiday weekend. 12oz bottle into a glass. Packaged 2/6/17, so closing in on 4 months old.
Slightly hazy yellow body, thick bubbly white head, good lacing.
Standard lager beery aroma.
Crisp, aggressive yeast, malt, and hop balance. Not bad.
Close to medium on the mouth, sour and bitter on the finish.
Overall, the style is not really my cup of tea, but this beer was pretty decent.
401 characters
Bell's Lager Of The Lakes from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
3.67
out of 5
based on 1,075 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5