Dos Topas
Topa Topa Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

i prefer my lagers with more rising bubbles, although there is a lot of carbonation in the mouth. some dry cracker-ish and hop bitter on the palate rather than the sweetness. really wish there were a date of mfr on the can, though....

a gabf silver medal winning mexican style lager here, i have not had much from these guys, but this is impressive. not sure it can rightly be called a vienna, but we are still without a mexican lager proper category here on BA. this is light, just yellow lager, frothy headed, radiantly clear, and rather delicate looking. it smells minimal when freezing, minerals, maybe some corn in the mash, but dry, cleanly fermented, and with some lightly zesty hops it seems, good balance in its lightness, technical magic. the flavor is similar, although i think even more compelling, as there is just more here, light pils malt crackery simplicity on the grain side, some terroir somehow though too, must be corn in here, and minerals. the hops are more citrus than noble spiciness, subtle enough but also bitter to the extent that this is downright crisp on the finish, some fruitiness from the mexican lager yeast strain also accentuates this aspect, i wouldnt say its overly hoppy, but thats a huge part of what makes this for me. great restraint and lightness too though, this is one of those drink 20 kinds of beers, probably would do well with a lime wedge but certainly doesnt beg for one, and is just a little more detail oriented than most of its peers. killer carbonation, max refreshment here. i would buy this if it were available in idaho. top notch take on the style and worthy of its medal this year!

Light, crisp, fresh.

 

Type: 12-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Pale Lager
Glass: Polygamy Porter shaker pint glass
Price: $9.49 for a 6-pack
From: Trader Joe’s in Santa Barbara (Milpas), Calif.
Purchased: June 16, 2020
Consumed: June 17, 2020
Misc.: Packaged on May 7, 2020

Had Rachel pick up a 6-pack of this for me when I found out they were out of their Sespe pilsner. The description on the can read three words - Cracker, Maize and Crisp. Sounded good to me.

Poured a medium yellow clear color with three fingers of off-white head. Lots of fast-moving bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass in a squiggly line. Decent spotty lacing. Decent retention. (Sight - 3.75)

Smelled corn, white cracker, sweet grain, white bread and hints of honey. Not quite as good out of the can, maybe with the addition of cereal notes. (Smell - 4.00)

Taste wasn’t as good as the nose with much less flavor. In order got corn, cereal, sweet grain, white cracker, white bread, grass and hints of honey. (Taste - 3.50)

Light body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. Abrupt, dry finish. (Feel - 3.75)

A very good lager overall. Glad I have five more. (Overall - 3.75)

3.71 | 84 | B