Berkshire Lager
Berkshire Brewing Company

 

Look: Slightly hazy, citrusy, nice head retention and lacing. Not overly filtered, but no sediment.

Smell: Hops bring out an interesting chemical tartness. Something like the cleaner 'Fabuloso'. Not a 'bad' smell, but certainly not what I think about when talking about a lager. Some lighter malt character taking backseat.

Taste: Drinks more like a light IPA. Nice clean hop character. Snappy, but refreshing. Nice crackery, doughy malt character settles in after the frontal citrus assault. I've had this many times, but at the time of reviewing, it doesn't quite have the malt character I'm used to. Could be my perpetually clogged sinuses, but I feel like they changed the recipe. I also get a little dank taste of terps. Not sure if I'm a huge fan. Overall, the nice aftertaste really shines.

Feel: Smooth, snappy, refreshing. Solid.

Overall: A really nice refreshing citra lager. I think they've since changed the malt-forward recipe (or my taste buds have changed) but either way, there is a place for it in the lexicon of solid summer slammers. A modern take on an American classic.

Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear straw color with a one finger head of white foam. The head has a good level of retention, fading over time and leaving a touch of lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma is rather light, consisting mostly of a bready and cracker malt smell mixed with a moderate showing of caramel and sweet dough. Along with these aromas comes a bit of harvest fruit and a touch of yeast.
Taste – The taste begins with a crisp cracker malt flavor mixed with sweet dough and caramel. At the same time there is a bit of grain and some apple and pear. As the taste advances the sweet fades a touch all while the grain and cracker get stronger. A little bit of herbal and earthy hop develop throughout, leaving one with a crisp, lightly sweetened taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is light and crisp with a moderate level of carbonation. For the style and the tastes the feel is good and makes for a very easy sipper.
Overall – A good easy drinking lager. A bit on the sweeter side, but very refreshing and easy drinking.

Looooong time since I last had anything from this brewery. They do a good job with the classic styles. This one ticks all of the boxes of a solid American lager: pale yellow appearance with total clarity, clean gristy grain aroma and flavor, and a hint of herbal hop in the background. Super refreshing, especially during this heat wave

80/100

Pours a pale yellow color with a short lived head. Aroma is grainy, not too much going on there. Taste is yeasty, crisp, clean, not too sweet - I get a lot of breadiness with a nice subtle hint of hops. This is a really well done lager and quite enjoyable. Definitely worth a try if you haven't had it before.

Berkshire Lager, all-malt American Lager, 4.5% - so good, crisp and clean, a little grass and a little biscuit, this is a winner! Balanced hop and malt - delicious! Cheers!

 

Canned March 2022.

A clear golden orange with a dense, rich, white head with excellent retention and lacing. The nose is a clean, snappy, crisp lager with earthy, minty, mildly spicy hops, a delicate snappy malt character, crisp and clean, and a light dusty mineral note. The palate opens clean and crisp, snappy, brisk and flavorful. Dusty, mineraly hops complement the crisp crackery malt base. Drying, firm finish. Awesome.