Mountain Jam
Southbound Brewing Company

 

 

 

subtly unique lager here, just my second beer ever from these guys, stands out from the crowd and is both a little hazy and a little hoppy while still being light, crisp, and crushable, a tasty and versatile food beer too. there is a bright sunny yellow color to this despite it not being clear, and it holds a nice peaky inch of white head that is constantly replenished by the racing carbonation, nice look for a beer like this, even in a plastic cup where they served it to me. aroma is surprisingly hoppy, not bitter per se, but grassy, spicy, and somehow without hard edges, hay and straw, lemon meringue, summery citrus, fresh cereal grain base, drying minerality, just a little lager yeast character, balanced and intriguing, plenty fresh. the flavor has a little up front papery thing going on that is only there for a flash, hops kick in mid palate, citrus and dried grass clippings, drier than it smells on the grain side but again without a ton from the yeast here. there is some back end bitterness that hits right on the swallow adding crispness, a slight grain recall after that but pretty clean. the body is light but the haziness gives it just a little bit of structure that holds up the hops, great carbonation. this is an easy drinking patio type beer for the craft palate seeking a little more than a yellow beer, well made and with a lot of personality.

L: Slightly hazy, orangish yellow color, 1 inch thick white head, several ribbons of lacing
S: Citrus
T: Slight sweetness, lots of hop, citrus, mainly grapefruit, pine
M: Light to medium
O: Nice hoppy lager. Easy to drink but with lots of flavor.

Pours a hazy deep straw producing a single finger of foamy, short-lived white head that diminishes to a thin surface cap and collar ring leaving a pasty wash of lace as it recedes. Aroma is lager yeast, biscuit, cracker, citrus and lightly fruity. Taste is a nice balance between sweet and dry; lager yeast, dry cracker/biscuit, citrus and lightly floral with hints pepper and honey. Citrus, biscuit and honey dominate the crisp, very dry finish rapidly diminishing into a lightly bitter aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied with moderate carbonation; clean and dry.

 

 

As a beer, this is really good; as a representative of the lager style - it is most definitely not (IMHO)...

...Cloudy with a short lived head that somehow provides some lacing, this is one of the most tastiest lagers I've ever had. So tasty that it reminds me more of a pale or IPA than a lager. Forget the wheaty smell, this thing is full of citrus - grapefruit and orange with maybe a hint of lime. Mouthfeel is light and crisp, and the taste (though great) is simply not representative of the style. I'd love to visit Southbound the next time I am in Savannah to ask how they made this, and still called it a lager.

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorites, great summer beer.

Appearance: Straw yellow color. Slight haze. Pours to a fluffy head with good retention

Aroma: Citrus, floral and Pine hops.

Taste: Citrusy and resinous/pine Low sweetness with restrained bitterness

Mouth Feel: Light bodied. Medium carbonation. Dry, medium length finish with mild bitterness.

Overall: Interesting American style lager with more citrus and floral hops character. Made with Citra, Amarillo and Cascade. It's light body and relatively low ABV make it a good session-type beer. It will pour with a slight haze, so don't expect a brilliant, clear gold pilsner.

 

Love the golden yellow hazed look of Mountain Jam, and really pleased with its hop/malt balance. Super choice for a summer sipper.