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: 1,060 | Reviews: 398
3.56/5 rDev -2.7%
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 -3.8%
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 +8.7%
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.
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3.8/5 rDev +3.8%
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 +10.4%
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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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
3.35/5 rDev -8.5%
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 +7.4%
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.
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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.
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3.72/5 rDev +1.6%
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.
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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
3.73/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Bottle says Bohemian Pilsner. BA says Czech. Regardless of style guide accuracy, its just ok IMO. Dry finish. Kind of sulfury smell. Can drink but not really answering the mail in flavors.
194 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Bottle says Bohemian Pilsner. BA says Czech. Regardless of style guide accuracy, its just ok IMO. Dry finish. Kind of sulfury smell. Can drink but not really answering the mail in flavors.
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3.56/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.94/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bell's Brewery, Inc. "Lager Of The Lakes"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "PKG 04/11/2017" and sampled on 05/16/17
$2 @ Weis Market #231, Conshohocken, PA
Appearance: Almost fingerprint-through-the-glass clarity. Deep golden body. Frothy then creamy bright white head. Very good, and perhaps even better head retention and lacing. Nicely done.
Aroma: Clean. Grainy malt. Floral, grassy, and lightly herbal hops. It could be a bit brighter but it's certainly within the realm of a Bohemian Pilsner.
Flavor: As the flavor suggests with some additional spiciness from hops. Stiffly bitter. Dry finish with a dollop of almost honeyish, grainy malt that fades steadily amidst lingering herbal and spicy hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light in body and delicately crisp with a fine-bubbled, slightly restrained standard carbonation.
Overall: A nicely done, pleasant take on the Bohemian Pilsner style that's really well balanced, rounded, and drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bell's Brewery, Inc. "Lager Of The Lakes"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle, "PKG 04/11/2017" and sampled on 05/16/17
$2 @ Weis Market #231, Conshohocken, PA
Appearance: Almost fingerprint-through-the-glass clarity. Deep golden body. Frothy then creamy bright white head. Very good, and perhaps even better head retention and lacing. Nicely done.
Aroma: Clean. Grainy malt. Floral, grassy, and lightly herbal hops. It could be a bit brighter but it's certainly within the realm of a Bohemian Pilsner.
Flavor: As the flavor suggests with some additional spiciness from hops. Stiffly bitter. Dry finish with a dollop of almost honeyish, grainy malt that fades steadily amidst lingering herbal and spicy hops.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light in body and delicately crisp with a fine-bubbled, slightly restrained standard carbonation.
Overall: A nicely done, pleasant take on the Bohemian Pilsner style that's really well balanced, rounded, and drinkable.
946 characters
3.73/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Smooth-feeling, fluffy-headed American-made, Czech-style pilsener with light characteristics of cracker, pilsner malts and (more pronounced) peppercorn. Nice for sunny Sunday sipping.
183 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Smooth-feeling, fluffy-headed American-made, Czech-style pilsener with light characteristics of cracker, pilsner malts and (more pronounced) peppercorn. Nice for sunny Sunday sipping.
183 characters
4.43/5 rDev +21%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
perfect pils in every way
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
perfect pils in every way
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3.93/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is another winner from Bell's......pours bright golden with a pretty serious head. This is as good as a lager can get in my view. If you want bitter hoppy taste, you may not like how mellow this is.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is another winner from Bell's......pours bright golden with a pretty serious head. This is as good as a lager can get in my view. If you want bitter hoppy taste, you may not like how mellow this is.
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3.56/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.1/5 rDev +12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle poured into tall mug
(2/6/2017 born-on date)
L: cloudy yellow-gold, consistent mistiness, about 70-85% clear; pushes up almost an inch of white foam, no stick or lace, keeps a thick collar and most of skin of foam
S: faint lemon peel, earthy dirt, very sweet light malt ... cracker malt with a pinch of honey, almost to the sweet bread malt level
T: grain, light lemon tartness, cracker malt ... lightly sweet cracker malt, dirt/black pepper hop bite, pinch of grass; earthy dirt-hop aftertaste begins taking over with a bit of bread dough (not sweet) filling out the flavor; as it warms, the light malt sweetness begins to pop; a big swallow can get a bit medicinal
F: lightweight, filled out well with carbonation, giving it a good midweight heft, almost ale slick
O: great beer, simple but full of both hop and malt flavor
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle poured into tall mug
(2/6/2017 born-on date)
L: cloudy yellow-gold, consistent mistiness, about 70-85% clear; pushes up almost an inch of white foam, no stick or lace, keeps a thick collar and most of skin of foam
S: faint lemon peel, earthy dirt, very sweet light malt ... cracker malt with a pinch of honey, almost to the sweet bread malt level
T: grain, light lemon tartness, cracker malt ... lightly sweet cracker malt, dirt/black pepper hop bite, pinch of grass; earthy dirt-hop aftertaste begins taking over with a bit of bread dough (not sweet) filling out the flavor; as it warms, the light malt sweetness begins to pop; a big swallow can get a bit medicinal
F: lightweight, filled out well with carbonation, giving it a good midweight heft, almost ale slick
O: great beer, simple but full of both hop and malt flavor
850 characters
3.5/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.94/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bell's Lager Of The Lakes from Bell's Brewery, Inc.
3.66
out of 5
based on 1,060 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4