Grain Belt Lock & Dam
August Schell Brewing Company
- From:
- August Schell Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- American Amber / Red Lager
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.57 | pDev: 11.76%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 24
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 22, 2025
- Added:
- Apr 07, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 17
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Chaz:
Reviewed by Chaz from Minnesota
3.83/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a brilliant golden-amber in color, topped with large shock of billowing, off-white head. Very good head retention, and excellent lacing on the sides of the glass.
A note on the color: While Lock & Dam has been described as a "copper lager" by the brewery, it is a -very- light golden-amber in color, rather than being a darker amber-red. (Note also that I couldn't fins a style listing for copper lager when I entered this one into the database).
Nose is malt-forward: Ripe, light-skinned fruit atop a biscuity base malt, along with a sharp/bitter twang of lightly citric hop. Personally, the nose is much more interesting than I thought it would be, especially as I'm not a big fan of C-hops in American lager. This one find a nice balance of innovative/novel hop regimen with classic pale lager hopping. It really is a classic lager (leaning toward Pils) profile.
On the first sip it's very much as in the nose: Big, smooth and palate-coating pale and specialty malt character. A touch of sweetness, more than a bit of breadiness, some fruit, a bit of caramel malt, and plenty of the bitterness that I crave (Pils is my jam, yo). Aromatics are an admixture of herbal, floral, and ripe, light-skinned summer fruit.
Mouthfeel is good, leaning a little bit toward full bodied (for the style), while still possessing prenty of scrubbing carbonation to keep it lively on the tongue and upper palate, and to push those aromatics into the nostrils and sinuses. ;)
To put it one way, this is a classic, full strength beer profile -- not another pale/adjunct / light lager profile. To put it another: It reminds me of Special Export in the olden days. ;)
Altogether / Overall: What we have here is an all-malt regional lager, using hops (pellets) rather than Tetrahop extract, dedicated to a local landmark, and served up cold in an old school brown longneck bottle -- what's not to like? This is an American lager than I can really get into.
Best Before: 08/13/16
Apr 07, 2016A note on the color: While Lock & Dam has been described as a "copper lager" by the brewery, it is a -very- light golden-amber in color, rather than being a darker amber-red. (Note also that I couldn't fins a style listing for copper lager when I entered this one into the database).
Nose is malt-forward: Ripe, light-skinned fruit atop a biscuity base malt, along with a sharp/bitter twang of lightly citric hop. Personally, the nose is much more interesting than I thought it would be, especially as I'm not a big fan of C-hops in American lager. This one find a nice balance of innovative/novel hop regimen with classic pale lager hopping. It really is a classic lager (leaning toward Pils) profile.
On the first sip it's very much as in the nose: Big, smooth and palate-coating pale and specialty malt character. A touch of sweetness, more than a bit of breadiness, some fruit, a bit of caramel malt, and plenty of the bitterness that I crave (Pils is my jam, yo). Aromatics are an admixture of herbal, floral, and ripe, light-skinned summer fruit.
Mouthfeel is good, leaning a little bit toward full bodied (for the style), while still possessing prenty of scrubbing carbonation to keep it lively on the tongue and upper palate, and to push those aromatics into the nostrils and sinuses. ;)
To put it one way, this is a classic, full strength beer profile -- not another pale/adjunct / light lager profile. To put it another: It reminds me of Special Export in the olden days. ;)
Altogether / Overall: What we have here is an all-malt regional lager, using hops (pellets) rather than Tetrahop extract, dedicated to a local landmark, and served up cold in an old school brown longneck bottle -- what's not to like? This is an American lager than I can really get into.
Best Before: 08/13/16
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by deleted_user_1366261
3.41/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Original review:
This is a strange beer. Not sure if it's a pale ale or lager. I really wanted to like it, as it's a Schell's product, but after a few 6 packs, it's not really my thing. The hops definitely stand out and the maltiness is faintly present.
Mar 22, 2025This is a strange beer. Not sure if it's a pale ale or lager. I really wanted to like it, as it's a Schell's product, but after a few 6 packs, it's not really my thing. The hops definitely stand out and the maltiness is faintly present.
Reviewed by rickyfinn from Minnesota
3.5/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear golden refreshing, but somewhat bitter for lager. Fluffy head with good retention. Better than Nordeast, seems clearer and purer. Good Schell product all the way.
Sep 28, 2018
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi
3.81/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful clear amber gold color with good white cap and lacing.
Aroma of rich, caramel malt with floral, spicy hops.
Taste is malt forward in a full sense, being malt rich in a caramely, roasty way yet not leaning toward heaviness or sweetness. I get some undercurrent of roasted malt but no roast bitterness. A layer of bittering hops ride on top cutting the malt richness and leaving a clean, refreshing hop bite in the aftertaste which sort of cleans things up resolving on a nice note.
Medium texture with balancing carbonation.
A traditional Amber that doesn't wander off into sweetness. Not sure why but I'm thinking hearty German style food as a match.
Sep 01, 2018Aroma of rich, caramel malt with floral, spicy hops.
Taste is malt forward in a full sense, being malt rich in a caramely, roasty way yet not leaning toward heaviness or sweetness. I get some undercurrent of roasted malt but no roast bitterness. A layer of bittering hops ride on top cutting the malt richness and leaving a clean, refreshing hop bite in the aftertaste which sort of cleans things up resolving on a nice note.
Medium texture with balancing carbonation.
A traditional Amber that doesn't wander off into sweetness. Not sure why but I'm thinking hearty German style food as a match.
Reviewed by deleted_user_1239096
3.16/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.16/5 rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This is a strange beer. Not sure if it's a pale ale or lager. I really wanted to like it, as it's a Schell's product, but after a few 6 packs, it's not really my thing. The hops definitely stand out and the maltiness is faintly present.
Jun 04, 2018
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota
4/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: brilliant amber gold under a 1" ivory cap with good retention
S: medium low malt aromas with light grain, traces of bread crust and a faint hint of sulfur
T: medium level rich malt flavors blend bread crumb and crust, medium bitter hop accent in the middle, drying lingering malty bread crust bitter finish.
F: creamy with some prickle and has a medium body and medium high carbonation
O: surprisingly good, flavorful, satisfying and refreshing
Aug 09, 2017S: medium low malt aromas with light grain, traces of bread crust and a faint hint of sulfur
T: medium level rich malt flavors blend bread crumb and crust, medium bitter hop accent in the middle, drying lingering malty bread crust bitter finish.
F: creamy with some prickle and has a medium body and medium high carbonation
O: surprisingly good, flavorful, satisfying and refreshing
Reviewed by Schlitz74 from Illinois
3.02/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.02/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This is a pretty good red lager, the head was nothing special, I poured it into an English pint glass. The color is a nice golden amber color, there is a nice bitter taste on the back end. There is very little lacing left on the glass. This worth a try.
Jul 27, 2017
Reviewed by mrpoizun from South Dakota
2.37/5 rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.25
2.37/5 rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.25
Grain Belt's description of their Lock & Dam Lager is accurate. A copper-colored lager with a hint of citrus and lightly hopped. Which makes it a pale, pale ale. I used to think the pale ales were OK. Not my favorite, but I could drink one for a change. Until I went to a beerfest and was overwhelmed with pale ales, every one hoppier than the next. And the last thing I want is a lager that tastes like a diluted pale ale! No thanks, Grain Belt. How about trying Golden Grain Belt again, in a brown bottle, with a strong, grainy taste just like in the 60s? Something to wash the bitter taste of Lock & Dam off my palate.
Feb 16, 2017
Reviewed by workingclassbrew from Wisconsin
3.41/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.41/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Ah what do I spy on the back room shelf? A new Grain Belt label, yes Grain Belt Lock & Dam. When did this come out! I regularly check out Schell Brewings site, but didnt catch this one
Into my lager mug you go. It pours a nice Oktoberfest orange, hazy. Sweet, slight citrus aroma, might be getting that subliminally from the orange tone.
Umm, easy drinking, bitterness very present, chuggable. I brought this up from our un-heated garage. Its been 0 to -10 for a few days here in Wisconsin. Nice lace clinging. Not very complex, but a definite session brew. The bitterness really clings to your tongue even after putting it down for awhile....well even as it warms this is pleasant beer. I hope they can this one, it would be great to take on the river. I will be picking this up again. This should be in the taverns up in Burnett County by this hunting season. A bitter, light malt lager, a winner!
Jan 07, 2017Into my lager mug you go. It pours a nice Oktoberfest orange, hazy. Sweet, slight citrus aroma, might be getting that subliminally from the orange tone.
Umm, easy drinking, bitterness very present, chuggable. I brought this up from our un-heated garage. Its been 0 to -10 for a few days here in Wisconsin. Nice lace clinging. Not very complex, but a definite session brew. The bitterness really clings to your tongue even after putting it down for awhile....well even as it warms this is pleasant beer. I hope they can this one, it would be great to take on the river. I will be picking this up again. This should be in the taverns up in Burnett County by this hunting season. A bitter, light malt lager, a winner!
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
3.55/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured out a burgundy color with a foamy, off-white head that left sticky rings of lace. It smelled of piney hops and sweet malt. It tasted of pine and sweet caramel. It had a citrusy flavor from the hops. It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.
Dec 31, 2016Reviewed by hoptheology from South Dakota
3.35/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pretty hoppy on first smell, as it pours out a golden color with good clarity. Slight haze, with 3 fingers of head, nice lace.
While the bottle gives off a hoppy aroma on the cap pop, the pour reveals warm bread aromas, corn bread, wort, and barley malts.
The hoppiness pushes through on the flavor, bringing a sharp note of pine and copper on top of a more muted caramel base, with some spices - sharp coriander mostly. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't tough to drink...it's sort of a chore.
Feel is nice and crisp, but does not totally pitch creaminess out the window. Nice dry bite at the end, with the bitterness.
Overall, a fair effort but not really great. Definitely a copper lager, but probably more in line with Coors' Batch 19 than anything.
Sep 02, 2016While the bottle gives off a hoppy aroma on the cap pop, the pour reveals warm bread aromas, corn bread, wort, and barley malts.
The hoppiness pushes through on the flavor, bringing a sharp note of pine and copper on top of a more muted caramel base, with some spices - sharp coriander mostly. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't tough to drink...it's sort of a chore.
Feel is nice and crisp, but does not totally pitch creaminess out the window. Nice dry bite at the end, with the bitterness.
Overall, a fair effort but not really great. Definitely a copper lager, but probably more in line with Coors' Batch 19 than anything.
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