Wayfinder
Big Rock Brewery

I always go into these craft beer imitations of old-world traditional styles with a healthy skepticism, but an open mind. This one from Big Rock looks the part of a Vienna lager in the glass, with it's medium, slightly orange amber colour and white head. On the nose, dusty, musty hops, cereal grain malt, and a bit of caramel sweetness. On the palate, some citrus hops, caramel malt, and a grainy note that carries on into the finish with the bright, floral, citrus hops. I'm sure they've used new world hops here, with that citrus fruit character, which isn't typical of a Vienna lager, but it's not offensive. There's actually a very decent balance here between the malt and hops, hence the high marks. It finishes slightly on the bitter side if anything, and I would have pegged it at much higher in IBUs than the 18 claimed on the can - feels more like high twenties to me, but whatever you say. Anyway it goes down all right, it's got some flavour, decent balance, drinkable, nothing offensive. Overall pretty good.

Moderate head that quickly settles to a partial ring, no lace. Crystal clear reddish copper. Grain and caramel malts on the nose. A whiff of alcohol, some pleasant fruitiness/floweriness from hops. Sweet to taste, some grain, some caramel. Bitter finish. Common stuff. Thin bodied, a little metal, bitter finish. Unremarkable, inoffensive.