Barrio Lager
Thorn Brewing Company

Not much to say, maybe a horse eating hay. A bird on a perch, but not looking his worst. A squid that dreams, but not of many things… And that’s fine. Because Barrio Lager is here. Alive. And I’m sure that being the super hottie at the party can get a bit annoying too.

Let it go, my children.

 

 

 

Had on tap. Clear goldenrod with a finger of fluffy white foam. Honey, cereal grains, slight sweet corn, and yeast make up the smell. Taste actually was quite enjoyable for this style, didn't have too much of the corn sweetness, a kiss of hops even, but mostly relied on the grains, malts, honey, and yeast to carry the day, bready for a mexican lager. Feel was a tad sharper for style, but otherwise macro carbonated and feeling. Pairs well with some indian food!

 

 

 

 

 

Canned 5/16/18, enjoyed 8/5/18

Pours light golden. Finger of fizz soon fades. No lacing.

Smells like a basic lager. Sweet, light, crackery malt. Not much hop aroma. Just a hint of corn.

Tastes a step up from your basic fizzy yellow lager. Good, clean malt flavor. Little bitterness or hoppiness, a slight spiciness. Not much corn flavor, mostly clean cracker malt. Light, refreshing, and very easy to drink.

One of the better versions of the light lager style I've had, and one of the few that I will be happy to buy again. Cheers!

 

Got in a trade with RaulMondesi. 12 ounce can into lager glass, canned on 4/18/2018. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a 1 finger fairly dense and rocky white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. A touch of fruity aromas, but not overwhelming. Nice and pleasant aromas of pale malt/corn and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Light herbal, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of cracker, corn, white bread dough, lightly toasted biscuit, light pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice robustness and balance of pale malt/corn and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Very clean on lager flavors, minimal fruit notes present. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, moderately bready/grainy, and fairly sticky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 4.5%. Overall this is a very good Mexican adjunct lager. All around nice robustness and balance of pale malt/corn and light-moderate earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. Very flavorful and not watery for the ABV. Very clean pale malt/grains, and nice earthy hop presence for the style. Not overdone on corn adjuncts. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example.

12oz serving on tap at Quinn Ale House - Sheraton Marina Hotel. Served in a shaker pint glass.

Appearance: Clear pale gold with an initial pale white sudsy head that died back to nothing - and no lacing either.

Smell: Clean, a little sweet, with just a hint of corn and grain to it.

Taste: Crisp, slightly sweet with just a bit of toastiness and nutiness to it, with a grainy finish. Lightly hopped.

Mouthfeel: Prickly carbonation, a bit chewy for a lager. Dry finish.

Overall / Drinkability: A definite thirst quencher after a very long day in airports from start to finish. Went very well with a salad. An easily drinkable malt forward adjunct lager - other than the corn in the aroma, I couldn't tell it was in here.

 

 

 

Type: 12-oz. can
Glass: Clear 15.25-oz. pilsner
From: Trader Joe’s in La Mesa, Calif.
Price: $1.50
Purchased: Dec. 8, 2017
Consumed: Dec. 16, 2017
Reviewed as: American Lager
Misc.: Canned on Oct. 24, 2017

Picked this up with five others on a recent trip to Trader Joe’s. Generally hadn’t been impressed with Thorn for the most part, but always looking for new beer to try. Had their Rock the Pale Ale earlier as part of the six and it was good enough (3.80). Was really looking forward to a good American Adjunct Lager. Their website calls it a “Baja-Style Lager” which equates to Mexican-Style Lager which to me equates to an American Adjunct Lager. The can on the back read, “A crisp, light, and refreshing brew. This Baja-style lager is easy to drink and perfect for the beach on a summer day. It’s not hoppy or bitter, just smooth and drinkable.” Online description read, “Our take on this classic is made from both Domestic 2 row barley and flaked Maize. It’s not at all hoppy or bitter, just smooth and drinkable.” I bet you all the macro lovers still would think it’s too hoppy.

Poured a straw clear color with two fingers of off-white frothy head. Lots of fast-moving bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Below average watery lacing. Average retention. (Sight - 3.50)

Smelled honey, grass, corn, buttered sourdough bread, grain, and light sugary cereal. Not much more from the can, but still awesome. (Smell - 4.50)

Taste wasn’t quite as good, but still real solid. Got honey, grass, cereal, sourdough bread, buttered white cracker and grain. (Taste - 4.25)

Light body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt finish. (Feel - 4.25)

This was lovely for the style. Could drink these all night. (Overall - 4.25)

4.27 | 95 | A

Pale yellow brew with coarse foam in the tulip. Mouthfeel is thickish with a bit of tang in the finish. Moderate bitter aftertaste but I wouldn't say it had any hop flavor. Aroma of popcorn.

Rather sweet grainy taste, like breakfast cereal, Special K, say. This tastes like a Blonde Ale to me with a slight metallic finish. At least it tastes like something, unlike usual Mexican lagers, but it's not exactly crisp. From the 12 oz can purchased at Dated 10-24-17 on the bottom.