Mad Quacker
Lake Wilcox Brewing Co.


- From:
- Lake Wilcox Brewing Co.
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 82
- Avg:
- 3.5 | pDev: 8.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 9
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Oct 18, 2019
- Added:
- Oct 23, 2015
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 4
The unique combination of seven lightly toasted malts and sultry amber colour of this historic Vienna style lager is richly flavourful, without being overwhelming.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.98/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Draft at the brewery
Mild creamy rich head with lower retention, good lacing, clear deep amber almost auburn color
Nose nice toasty slight roasty Vienna malts, little biscuity, hint of caramel, malt derived dark fruits, deep toast, hint of floral hop, soft lager
Taste more biscuity amber malts, toasty reddish and slight history with a little roast that Vienna toast and light roast, light lager flavor with a little mineral and fruity notes, medium to lighter bitterness with herbal floral hops, mild sticky finish but mostly dry
Mouth is med bod, a little soft lager, medium foamy carb
Overall not bad, good Vienna malts and other toasty malts, good hops, although I think the lager added a little something that shouldn't be there
Oct 18, 2019Mild creamy rich head with lower retention, good lacing, clear deep amber almost auburn color
Nose nice toasty slight roasty Vienna malts, little biscuity, hint of caramel, malt derived dark fruits, deep toast, hint of floral hop, soft lager
Taste more biscuity amber malts, toasty reddish and slight history with a little roast that Vienna toast and light roast, light lager flavor with a little mineral and fruity notes, medium to lighter bitterness with herbal floral hops, mild sticky finish but mostly dry
Mouth is med bod, a little soft lager, medium foamy carb
Overall not bad, good Vienna malts and other toasty malts, good hops, although I think the lager added a little something that shouldn't be there
Reviewed by TerryW from Canada (ON)
3.46/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Yeah so, confession -- I'm not a big fan of this style, but here goes. Coppery brown, with a short-lived moderate head. Smell is malts and caramel, slightly sweet and a hint of grain. Not much by way of hops. Thin-bodied. Malty to taste, without being too sweet or muscular. Pretty ordinary stuff.
Jun 12, 2019Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.99/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep copper brown, filtered with moderate carbonation, and 5 fingers of light beige head.
Smells of toasted malts, caramel, black tea and a light red fruit quality.
Tastes slightly sweet, very malty, lots of caramel and toffee, and a hint of red fruits.
Medium, substantial tasting body, with moderate carbonation.
Drinking in Muskoka, Feb 20th, 2018. Very well done brew.
Feb 21, 2018Smells of toasted malts, caramel, black tea and a light red fruit quality.
Tastes slightly sweet, very malty, lots of caramel and toffee, and a hint of red fruits.
Medium, substantial tasting body, with moderate carbonation.
Drinking in Muskoka, Feb 20th, 2018. Very well done brew.
Reviewed by polloenfuego from Canada (NB)
3.35/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.35/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This pours a good amber clear, as promised with a small head that goes away before you can blink.
Smell is definitely malt forward, I get caramel the strongest.
Taste follows the nose with the malts doing all the work. Caramel and a touch of biscuit. Little hops present.
Seems a little thin, and the carbonation is dialed back a little. I've only had a couple of Vienna Lagers so I am not sure if this is true to style.
Well, I bought it because it was fresh and new to me. I am not the biggest lager fan, but I'd say this is middle of the road for those I have had.
Feb 18, 2018Smell is definitely malt forward, I get caramel the strongest.
Taste follows the nose with the malts doing all the work. Caramel and a touch of biscuit. Little hops present.
Seems a little thin, and the carbonation is dialed back a little. I've only had a couple of Vienna Lagers so I am not sure if this is true to style.
Well, I bought it because it was fresh and new to me. I am not the biggest lager fan, but I'd say this is middle of the road for those I have had.
Reviewed by pootz from Canada (ON)
2.93/5 rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.93/5 rDev -16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Can - pours a lightly hazed reddish amber with a 1 finger off white cap that vanishes quickly. Aroma is subdued - grassiness, some mustiness, sweet, grainy. Very fluid, almost thin but has some Vienna character as it dries out in the finish. Flavor is malt forward, hops subdued, caramelized and verges on sweet but never gets there before the finish which is increasingly dry and some noble hopping comes through. Verging on a Vienna but not there.
Aug 10, 2017Reviewed by MichaelGennings from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Lake Wilcox Brewing Company's Amber Lager. 473ml can. 5% alc. 24 IBUs.
Brewed in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
Beer has a thick off-white head. Colour of the beer is mahogany.
Smell is malt, toffee and sweetness. The flavour is the same with the malt on top.
The mouthfeel is effervescent, the body medium, and the finish is dry.
Overall, a delicious beer that I would highly recommend trying. It would go well with red meat dishes.
Jul 11, 2017Brewed in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada.
Beer has a thick off-white head. Colour of the beer is mahogany.
Smell is malt, toffee and sweetness. The flavour is the same with the malt on top.
The mouthfeel is effervescent, the body medium, and the finish is dry.
Overall, a delicious beer that I would highly recommend trying. It would go well with red meat dishes.
Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.25/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
..
Apr 26, 2017Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.73/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
473 ml can served cold into a tulip. Purchased from the LCBO for $3 or so. Packaging date is K1716. Maybe November 17, 2016?
Appearance - Pours a rich and clear amber color. Minimal head and lacing and no head retention to speak of. Numerous bubbles ascend to the top of the glass.
Smell - I'm getting big time malts of this, caramel sweetness with loads of brown sugar. Marshmallows and maraschino cherries. Unique for sure for the style. Crazy sweetness appears to burn off after a couple of sips.
Taste -Similar to the nose but dialed way back and without the crazy sweetness. Plenty of grain and hints of caramel and cherries. Brown sugar is in there too but again dialed back. Marshmallows don't appear here. Pretty conventional with sweetish and malt leaning. A good amber.
Mouthfeel - A little thin and flat initially with a moderately drying finish. Needs a touch more carbonation.
Overall - Mad Quacker is an interesting and aromatic amber ale. Initially full of malty surprise on the nose, it coalesces into a malt forward Vienna lager that is easy to drink even if the body could use some tweaking certainly worth a try though if for nothing else than the initial aromatic rush.
Jan 21, 2017Appearance - Pours a rich and clear amber color. Minimal head and lacing and no head retention to speak of. Numerous bubbles ascend to the top of the glass.
Smell - I'm getting big time malts of this, caramel sweetness with loads of brown sugar. Marshmallows and maraschino cherries. Unique for sure for the style. Crazy sweetness appears to burn off after a couple of sips.
Taste -Similar to the nose but dialed way back and without the crazy sweetness. Plenty of grain and hints of caramel and cherries. Brown sugar is in there too but again dialed back. Marshmallows don't appear here. Pretty conventional with sweetish and malt leaning. A good amber.
Mouthfeel - A little thin and flat initially with a moderately drying finish. Needs a touch more carbonation.
Overall - Mad Quacker is an interesting and aromatic amber ale. Initially full of malty surprise on the nose, it coalesces into a malt forward Vienna lager that is easy to drink even if the body could use some tweaking certainly worth a try though if for nothing else than the initial aromatic rush.
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.45/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.45/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; packaged L0416 (I'd guess Nov 4 2016) and served slightly chilled.
Pours a crystal clear orange-amber colour, with an intentionally rough pour managing to produce only a thin layer of soapy, big-bubbled foam. No retention whatsoever; all the head is gone within 30 seconds or so, and there is no lacing, collar or cap left behind - simply a bare surface. Looks flat; a batch issue, maybe? The aroma is a step up, with muted notes of toasted bread, toffee, plums, dates, and wet soil. Not bad; kinda fruity for a lager, but approachable nonetheless.
Tastes alright - I'm getting more of those bready, lightly toasted malts, with nutty notes, honey and hints of dates/plum. That more or less describes the bulk of it, save for some earthy, dirty hop notes on the back end, which help to counteract the saccharinity of the profile. Finishes with toasted nuts and lingering earthiness. Light in body, with mild carbonation that meekly agitates the tongue, resulting in a rather limp, watery mouthfeel. An unobjectionable amber, but as for how closely they hit the "Vienna" target... well, that's up for debate.
[Updated Jan 5 2017]
Another can, with carbonation this time. Lake Wilcox's Mad Quacker is a serviceable amber in most respects. Its malt-forward flavour is passable enough if you don't mind sweeter beers, and I'll give it some extra credit for being easy to session. The limp mouthfeel and flat visuals of my first can must've been a batch (or faulty can) issue, but the other two cans have been fine.
Final Grade: 3.45, a B-
Dec 21, 2016Pours a crystal clear orange-amber colour, with an intentionally rough pour managing to produce only a thin layer of soapy, big-bubbled foam. No retention whatsoever; all the head is gone within 30 seconds or so, and there is no lacing, collar or cap left behind - simply a bare surface. Looks flat; a batch issue, maybe? The aroma is a step up, with muted notes of toasted bread, toffee, plums, dates, and wet soil. Not bad; kinda fruity for a lager, but approachable nonetheless.
Tastes alright - I'm getting more of those bready, lightly toasted malts, with nutty notes, honey and hints of dates/plum. That more or less describes the bulk of it, save for some earthy, dirty hop notes on the back end, which help to counteract the saccharinity of the profile. Finishes with toasted nuts and lingering earthiness. Light in body, with mild carbonation that meekly agitates the tongue, resulting in a rather limp, watery mouthfeel. An unobjectionable amber, but as for how closely they hit the "Vienna" target... well, that's up for debate.
[Updated Jan 5 2017]
Another can, with carbonation this time. Lake Wilcox's Mad Quacker is a serviceable amber in most respects. Its malt-forward flavour is passable enough if you don't mind sweeter beers, and I'll give it some extra credit for being easy to session. The limp mouthfeel and flat visuals of my first can must've been a batch (or faulty can) issue, but the other two cans have been fine.
Final Grade: 3.45, a B-
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)
3.69/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Purchased at the LCBO for under that $3.00 mark for a 473ml can. Served at 4deg C in a draught glass.
A- Opens well and pours a tiny 1/4" head that is gone in a minute. Very dark gold colour and most turning brown. Filtered clear
S- Not a lot here. Nice malt and some sweetness
T- Malt bomb. Nice malt bomb though. Very sweet and little hops. Nice change up brew.
M- Creamy and thick going down
O- Nice one to try for a change. The malt is very high as well as the sweetness so you won't be having a bunch of these at one time
Food Pairing
This nice little brew went well with..... Fish and chips! Old fashioned fish and chips with this brew works
Enjoy
Jul 10, 2016A- Opens well and pours a tiny 1/4" head that is gone in a minute. Very dark gold colour and most turning brown. Filtered clear
S- Not a lot here. Nice malt and some sweetness
T- Malt bomb. Nice malt bomb though. Very sweet and little hops. Nice change up brew.
M- Creamy and thick going down
O- Nice one to try for a change. The malt is very high as well as the sweetness so you won't be having a bunch of these at one time
Food Pairing
This nice little brew went well with..... Fish and chips! Old fashioned fish and chips with this brew works
Enjoy
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Growler
May 19 2019
Oct 23, 2015May 19 2019
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