Lager of The Lakes | Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Brewed by:
Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
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 of the Lakes is as refreshing and crisp as a swim in the Great Lakes.
Added by proc on 10-16-2006
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,172 | Reviews: 434
3.72/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can.
Pours deep gold with decent clarity and a small white head. Aromas of spicy, herbal hops backed by biscuity malt. Very mild. More of that bitter, herbal spice in the flavor. Decent balance. Clean finish, medium-light bodied.
Hard to find any technical faults with this beer, as it's a pretty straightforward textbook Czech-style Pils. However, the sum of the parts is rather dull and unexciting. A solid lager but not something I'd be in a rush to revisit.
470 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz can.
Pours deep gold with decent clarity and a small white head. Aromas of spicy, herbal hops backed by biscuity malt. Very mild. More of that bitter, herbal spice in the flavor. Decent balance. Clean finish, medium-light bodied.
Hard to find any technical faults with this beer, as it's a pretty straightforward textbook Czech-style Pils. However, the sum of the parts is rather dull and unexciting. A solid lager but not something I'd be in a rush to revisit.
470 characters
3.75/5 rDev +3%
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
3.85/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.58/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Transparent golden in body with white frothy head. Aroma of grains, lemonskin, light honey, grass. Tastes of honey grain cereal, vague lemon, light floral notes. Light bodied with light carbonation.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Transparent golden in body with white frothy head. Aroma of grains, lemonskin, light honey, grass. Tastes of honey grain cereal, vague lemon, light floral notes. Light bodied with light carbonation.
198 characters
3.67/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.5/5 rDev -3.8%
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
4.04/5 rDev +11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The pour is the a vivid maize, just the slightest bit of haze, and a substantial white head that follows the beer down the glass.
The nose is full of enticing aromas - cracker, lemongrass, bread, earthy grass. The definition of a Czech Pilsner, IMHO.
The lemongrass is prominent on the taste, but the bread and cracker notes are also present, and the earthy notes lend this a substantial character that is present in the best beers of this style.
Just a pleasure to drink, especially on a hot summer evening.
512 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The pour is the a vivid maize, just the slightest bit of haze, and a substantial white head that follows the beer down the glass.
The nose is full of enticing aromas - cracker, lemongrass, bread, earthy grass. The definition of a Czech Pilsner, IMHO.
The lemongrass is prominent on the taste, but the bread and cracker notes are also present, and the earthy notes lend this a substantial character that is present in the best beers of this style.
Just a pleasure to drink, especially on a hot summer evening.
512 characters
4.15/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours a light yellow that is slightly hazy, but with a hearty clean white head that leaves droopy lace and settles to a minimum of a ringed film.
Smell: Mild cracked grain and faint yeast beckon you to take a sip...
Taste: This is delicious! It is amazing, with a clean minerally quality and underlying biscuit malt that finishes with a flash of grassy and herbal hops on the back of the tongue.
Feel: The cleanliness is supported by the lightness of the body which is aided by the carbonation and backed by the brilliant hopping.
Overall: My favorite thing about this beer is the minerally, clean overall flavor. The balance is excellent, the malt is biscuit and cracker while the hops are grassy and herbal so it's drinkable and satisfying. It is even cutting through the flavor of the sharp white cheddar and grain crackers I happen to be enjoying alongside the beer.
882 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Look: Pours a light yellow that is slightly hazy, but with a hearty clean white head that leaves droopy lace and settles to a minimum of a ringed film.
Smell: Mild cracked grain and faint yeast beckon you to take a sip...
Taste: This is delicious! It is amazing, with a clean minerally quality and underlying biscuit malt that finishes with a flash of grassy and herbal hops on the back of the tongue.
Feel: The cleanliness is supported by the lightness of the body which is aided by the carbonation and backed by the brilliant hopping.
Overall: My favorite thing about this beer is the minerally, clean overall flavor. The balance is excellent, the malt is biscuit and cracker while the hops are grassy and herbal so it's drinkable and satisfying. It is even cutting through the flavor of the sharp white cheddar and grain crackers I happen to be enjoying alongside the beer.
882 characters
4.11/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, bright golden yellow with a nice head (which dissipates quickly). Aroma is just slightly grassy / herbal hops with classic pilsener malt. Taste is pretty much the same. It is a no frills beer but very well done for the style. Body could be a tad lighter & have more of a crispness but otherwise really good.
322 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear, bright golden yellow with a nice head (which dissipates quickly). Aroma is just slightly grassy / herbal hops with classic pilsener malt. Taste is pretty much the same. It is a no frills beer but very well done for the style. Body could be a tad lighter & have more of a crispness but otherwise really good.
322 characters
3.35/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured a hazy gold from a can. Huge head gives it a great look in a pint glass. Taste is unremarkable with a hint of citrus and malt. A little too much fizz hurts the feel for me. Not bad not great
198 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured a hazy gold from a can. Huge head gives it a great look in a pint glass. Taste is unremarkable with a hint of citrus and malt. A little too much fizz hurts the feel for me. Not bad not great
198 characters
3.68/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I had this years ago when I first started trying craft. At the time I thought it was too bitter. Well, times have changed as I've become a fan of IPAs. This poor a semi hazy yellow with a smallish head that leaves some nice lacing on the drink down. Medium mouthfeel but good for a lager. Some nice bitterness to the taste. This is the first time I saw it available here in NC and I'll pick it up again if I see it. Great summer brew.
434 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I had this years ago when I first started trying craft. At the time I thought it was too bitter. Well, times have changed as I've become a fan of IPAs. This poor a semi hazy yellow with a smallish head that leaves some nice lacing on the drink down. Medium mouthfeel but good for a lager. Some nice bitterness to the taste. This is the first time I saw it available here in NC and I'll pick it up again if I see it. Great summer brew.
434 characters
4.08/5 rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz. can served my Spiegelau pilsener glass. Pours a lovely straw gold with a slight haze to the clarity and a fluffy, half inch, bright white head. Textured swaths of lacing are revealed as the head dissipates. Nose is clean and grassy. Taste follows nose with a delicate, spicy/earthy character in the middle and finishing with a light, bready quality. Mouthfeel is light in body with a lively carbonation and a semi-crisp finish. All and all, delicious and drinkable.
477 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz. can served my Spiegelau pilsener glass. Pours a lovely straw gold with a slight haze to the clarity and a fluffy, half inch, bright white head. Textured swaths of lacing are revealed as the head dissipates. Nose is clean and grassy. Taste follows nose with a delicate, spicy/earthy character in the middle and finishing with a light, bready quality. Mouthfeel is light in body with a lively carbonation and a semi-crisp finish. All and all, delicious and drinkable.
477 characters
4.06/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the better lagers you can easily find IMO. In cans now too.
66 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the better lagers you can easily find IMO. In cans now too.
66 characters
3.96/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.78/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz can, PKGD 040918. It's got to be 8 or 9 years since I had this last [and I wasnt crazy about it]. Pale golden beer with slight haze is capped with a thick white foam. Pale biscuity grain with earthy & grassy hops. Bold flavors: biscuity grain with a sharp bite of grassy hops; faint lemongrass and earthy herbal-ness on the finish. Lighter body, moderate carbonation, sharp and clean bitter finish. Much better than I remember - but when it's Bell's, it's always good. I stand corrected.
492 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz can, PKGD 040918. It's got to be 8 or 9 years since I had this last [and I wasnt crazy about it]. Pale golden beer with slight haze is capped with a thick white foam. Pale biscuity grain with earthy & grassy hops. Bold flavors: biscuity grain with a sharp bite of grassy hops; faint lemongrass and earthy herbal-ness on the finish. Lighter body, moderate carbonation, sharp and clean bitter finish. Much better than I remember - but when it's Bell's, it's always good. I stand corrected.
492 characters
3.74/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can from Whole Foods Bedford.
Mostly clear deep yellow color with a bubbly white head that persists. Crackery grainy pilsner maltiness with a fair amount of earthy spicy hops to counter. Pretty flavorful easy to drink Lager.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Can from Whole Foods Bedford.
Mostly clear deep yellow color with a bubbly white head that persists. Crackery grainy pilsner maltiness with a fair amount of earthy spicy hops to counter. Pretty flavorful easy to drink Lager.
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3.77/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
(12 oz can, canned on 04/23/18, purchased cold in sealed six-pack box... poured into a clear glass mug)
L: brilliantly-clear, rather pale, straw-colored liquid... foam builds and holds longer than expected on pour, very slowly dying out to thin collar; scattered slimy specs of lace
S: very subtle aromas - mild pils malt graininess, subtle wet corn kernel note... subtle floral hops, subtle lemon essence
T: up front a corn meal cereal a la Kix flavor, followed briefly midway by a subtle Trix-like pan-fruit essence, finishing with a biting herbal/grassy bitterness and touch of dry toasty grain... perhaps the least amount of malt sweetness I can recall; delicate phenolic, bubblegum note in aftertaste... arguably more a German pils angle than Czech
F: fantastically bone dry; bitterness leaves a slight sting/numbness on the tongue... soft resinous/oily texture; narrow body, no curves... drinkable all night
O: not quite what I was expecting, but I'm glad it didn't lean toward an AAL... would definitely buy again - has year-round potential
1,052 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
(12 oz can, canned on 04/23/18, purchased cold in sealed six-pack box... poured into a clear glass mug)
L: brilliantly-clear, rather pale, straw-colored liquid... foam builds and holds longer than expected on pour, very slowly dying out to thin collar; scattered slimy specs of lace
S: very subtle aromas - mild pils malt graininess, subtle wet corn kernel note... subtle floral hops, subtle lemon essence
T: up front a corn meal cereal a la Kix flavor, followed briefly midway by a subtle Trix-like pan-fruit essence, finishing with a biting herbal/grassy bitterness and touch of dry toasty grain... perhaps the least amount of malt sweetness I can recall; delicate phenolic, bubblegum note in aftertaste... arguably more a German pils angle than Czech
F: fantastically bone dry; bitterness leaves a slight sting/numbness on the tongue... soft resinous/oily texture; narrow body, no curves... drinkable all night
O: not quite what I was expecting, but I'm glad it didn't lean toward an AAL... would definitely buy again - has year-round potential
1,052 characters
2.83/5 rDev -22.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
I am just not a fan of this brewery it seems. I have not enjoyed any of their offerings, the flavor profiles they put out just don't really appeal to me and this beer is no exception.
183 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
I am just not a fan of this brewery it seems. I have not enjoyed any of their offerings, the flavor profiles they put out just don't really appeal to me and this beer is no exception.
183 characters
Lager of The Lakes from Bell's Brewery - Eccentric Café & General Store
Beer rating:
3.64 out of
5 with
1,172 ratings
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