Calavera Lager
Spindletap Brewery

A great beer when you're not after something super cerebral.

Appearance: Crystal clear amber color with rocky chalk white head that hangs around a bit
Smell: Bready with a subtle noble hop spice
Mouthfeel: Light/medium bodied with a sharp, dry finish, and perfectly effervescent carb
Taste: Solid bready base, some light sweetness and noble hop spice balances out the finish. Light, toasty, and super clean fermentation.
Overall: Love this beer. I also really enjoy cooking with it. A sip for me, a sip for the marinade, a sip for me, repeat.

Here's some of their backstory before they gained national recognition for their IPAs. https://www.beerchronicle.com/spindletap-brewery/

 

 

 

 

12 oz. can, 06/03/20 printed on the bottom of the can, sampled 07/31/20.

Appearance: Yellow glass with some amble depth, struggles to hold a broken head of larger white bubbles.

Aroma: Some corn/rice adjunct malts, slight earthy, peppery hop note.

Taste: Solid malt base, some light sweetness in the finish. Light caramel note, mild mineral water, almost chalkiness. Mild corn flavor in the finish, but no off flavors. Maybe a hint of pepper heat?

Mouthfeel: Medium, almost medium heavy body, medium light carbonation, almost a chew, with a watery, slightly oily texture and clean finish.

Overall: A nicely made beer. Not a style I crave, but a good example if you are looking for a classic lager. The beer speaks to the skills of the brewer, not much room to hide any flaws in here, and none really come through. I'll be looking to try some of their more adventurous offerings.

pours a clear, light copper with a white head that dissipates quickly.
nose has a touch of fruit, cereal grain
taste follows. cereal grain, subtle, lightly toasted bread, biscut.
clean crisp beer with good carbonation. easy to drink. just not a great vienna lager.

Had Calavera Lager poured into a pilsner glass from a 12-oz. can, (apparently) canned on (apparently) "04/28/20," muled back from Dallas by my now 21-year-old daughter.

It pours medium gold, with a nice head that's too soon gone without a trace. The aroma is the best part of the beer, spicy and fruity, with a nice malt presence following. Tasting opens with a little carbonation snap, then significant malt that turns a bit funky, before a biting, bitter (yet fruity) finish that makes me wonder if it was hopped with nettles. A rather interesting lager, but a bit of a miss on the style.

12oz canned 1/17/20. Opened 2/14/20.
1 finger white head, very good retention. Bronze/copper color - clean and clear, no amber "Vienna" color perceived. Tons of active carbonation swirling around inside. Fresh and sticky lacing.
Bready, slight sweet caramel. Spicy hop aroma and a hint of sulfur.
Lightly toasty malts, subtle spicy hops and a touch of sweetness in the middle.
Crisp entry, medium high carbonation. Dry finish.
The color may be a little off (too golden) for a Vienna but I think they hit the caramel, toast, and spicy hop characteristics within the more than acceptable range - good stuff.
Good to Very Good. Fresh, aromatic and tasty lager - I enjoyed it and glad I grabbed a 6pk.

 

A: Pours a clear pale copper color. A two finger white head forms with good retention and lace left behind.
S: A neutral nose, not very aromatic at all. A bit of cereal, corn, and just grainy.
T: Cereal grains, cooked corn, and that is about it. Again this is very neutral with just a hint of malt character.
M/O: A light body with moderate carbonation. Kind of watery and just there. Though clean. OK to drink as you don't really have to think about this one too much. There are many lagers in the Houston and Texas area much better though.

I'm not entirely sure what they were trying to make here? As for some reason "Vienna Lager" and "Mexican Lager" have become interchangeable. Though a good Vienna Lager has a great malt character that you just want to wrap yourself in, which this certainly does not have. If you are looking for a Dos Equis clone this might fit the bill, and is just about as bland as that sounds.