El Ligero
Griffin Claw Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

relatively inexpensive Mexican style lager with lime from SE Michigan. 4.5% easy drinking and balanced. recommended.

 

Finally had this on tap, I was always intrigued by this one. I was pleasantly surprised by this, this stays well balanced and finishes like a cerveza with the right amount of lime.

 

 

Poured from can to pilsner glass. Semi-clear and dark straw in color, with a finger of spittle foam atop. Nice aromas of fresh squeezed lime, cracker malt, some corn and grain. Flavors are nicely balanced between tangy, tart lime and sweet corn and grain, cracker and zippy hops. Smooth and clean to drink, and disappears off the tongue as soon as it's down the gullet. Hits its goal for style and refreshment.

16 ounce can into lager glass; no can dating, but is a recent release. Pours slightly hazy pale golden yellow color with a small dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lime, citrus zest, cracker, corn, white bread, light biscuit/pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of lime, pale malt/grains, and light earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of lime, citrus zest, cracker, corn, white bread, light biscuit/pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness. Mild herbal/grassy/spicy bitterness and citrus tartness on the finish. Lingering notes of lime, citrus zest, cracker, corn, white bread, light biscuit/pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Nice robustness and balance of lime, pale malt/grains, and light earthy hop flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance; and zero cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Moderately crisp/clean finishing. Perfectly clean on lager flavors, with zero yeast notes present. Moderate increasing dryness from lingering hop/zest 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 nice fruited Mexican lager. All around good robustness and balance of lime, pale malt/grains, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. Very flavorful and never watery for the ABV. Very well balanced between all flavors. Style was labeled as a Vienna from the brewery. I was expecting more malt presence, but this was nicely enjoyable and well made all around. Would be a great summer beer, as was intended.