Simpler Times Lager
Trader Joe's Brewing Company

Simpler Times LagerSimpler Times Lager
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
American Lager
Ranked #302
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
68
Ranked #28,212
Avg:
2.88 | pDev: 26.39%
Reviews:
264
Ratings:
496
Status:
Active
Rated:
Saturday at 12:50 AM
Added:
Oct 11, 2008
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  83
Made by a family-owned brewery in Wisconsin that’s been a-brewin’ for more than 150 years, it’s crisp, easy to drink, and has a well-balanced flavor that pairs swimmingly with both seafood and spicy dishes. And just like in simpler times, this brewer never adds any of the fillers found in some inexpensive beers. We’re all for simply terrific beer at a simply terrific price. Here’s to Simpler Times!

Contract brewed by Minhas Brewing Co., Wisonsin (listed as Simpler Times Brewing Co. on the can label0.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.19 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Saturday at 12:50 AM
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

2.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
12oz can from trader Joe's. Cereal grains with some candy/vanilla sweetness, but heavy on the corn. Pure malt throughout, not a sign of any hops. Slick and sweet.
Feb 29, 2024
 
Rated: 1.45 by MikeHawk_420 from Illinois

Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by markallmon from Tennessee

Nov 18, 2023
Photo of JustLikeMyDad
Reviewed by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

2.96/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Honestly for the price, its really not that bad. I got a 12 pack for like 7 bucks at my local Tj here in Grand Rapids Michigan.
At 6.2% and not completely awful, price for the quality balances, on a more positive side. I was hoping for a more lighter crisp taste and feel but it is on the more bold and heavier side. Overall for the price and quantity it's not bad. The real test is how the hangovers feel.
Oct 02, 2023
Photo of odannyob
Reviewed by odannyob from Colorado

3.67/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Geez, I musta gotta good batch of it 'cause this ain't at all bad, ya know? I mean, whaddy want for a 12'ver (in 12 ounce cans) for under 2 fins? Gots a nice golden brown hue in a pilsner glass; smells sweet malty; tastes lager solid; has a thick edge feel and overall, most tasteful and the ABV, superb. I like it.
Oct 02, 2023
Photo of AlfromPA
Reviewed by AlfromPA from Colorado

3.47/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Kind of an Imperial adjunct lager, if you can imagine such a thing. A bit heavy and sweet, as one would expect, and with a 6% abv it has a kick to it. You can buy singles at Trader Joe's, and I pick up one of these once in a while. The 12 packs are cheap, so if you want to kick-start a party for not a lot it's a good choice.
Sep 27, 2023
Photo of dspeer33
Reviewed by dspeer33 from Florida

1.64/5  rDev -43.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5
No wonder this beer is so cheap. I couldn't even finish it. Thank goodness it was only 84 cents. Had an almost sickly sweetness to and made me cringe with the few sips. Hard to understand how some people here gave this beer a good rating.
Sep 01, 2023
Photo of beergoot
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +30.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Clear, dark amber body; dense, slow-rising carbonation; thick, lasting head, off-white color, semi-creamy texture. Malty aroma infused with spicy hop notes. The taste mimics the aroma; richer, earthy sweetness with caramel tones; light brown sugar; earthy spice notes. Medium-heavy body; sticky; semi-dry at the finish.

The beer strikes me more as a rich amber ale than a lager. It's a bit coarse on the palate and fairly heavy with the mouthfeel. Other thoughts are of a festbier or bock, too.

Pouring temperature: 41 °F; canning info: 24 200 19 : 42
Source: Trader Joe's (Colorado Springs)
Aug 23, 2023
Photo of Bilch
Reviewed by Bilch from California

4.23/5  rDev +46.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
a 12 oz can from trader joe’s. into a 22 oz chalet.

clear, copper brown.
bread, yeast, malt smell with the hops.
a nice combination.
it feels nice with medium low carbonation. hops come through after. malt without being too thick. leaves a clean mouth, with lingering malt and hops. 6.2% abv delivers nicely by the second 12 oz.

at less than $7 for 12, i couldn’t pass it by, and certainly think it could bring me back to trader joe’s to see if they still have it.

so overall 4.25 because it’s too inexpensive to give it a five, and after 3-4, you definitely feel the abv even somewhat better than with the 9% i usually drink.

well worth courting for a while…
Jun 02, 2023
Photo of jmbranum
Reviewed by jmbranum from Oklahoma

4.14/5  rDev +43.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Trader Joe's has some crazy cheap (7.49/12 pack in OKC) beer and it is surprisingly good.

Very malty, slightly sweet, toasty/nutty

Full mouth feel.

Oddly enough, this reminds of a maltier version of Fat Tire.
Mar 15, 2023
Photo of branko7
Reviewed by branko7 from Illinois

3.91/5  rDev +35.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured a beautiful copper-colored, golden brown from a 12 oz can. Very drinkable, despite its ABV, malty but not too sweet, balanced, a little dry on the aftertaste. Happy to drink a few of these!
Feb 07, 2023
Photo of S_Wander
Reviewed by S_Wander from California

4.22/5  rDev +46.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Suprised to find a beer that was 6.99 a twelve pack nowadays that was not Keystone so we bought it. Even more surprised when we founb it was 6.2%! First taste was great, sort of German beer with an apple after taste? Is not an apple beer but it almost could be ? Very smooth, very drinkable, 6.2 is gonna creep up on you. Probably not a beer I'd drink playing softball or working on a car but an after work or a chill out beer, no problem. Im drinking this "Simpler Times" as the label reflects, right out of the can so I cant comment on visuals. Im a fan, I'd buy again. Can is now a cream colored can with green bands, the scrips is very 30's Americana, ie. something you'd see on an orange crate. Try it.
Jan 12, 2023
Photo of Joshuae73
Reviewed by Joshuae73 from Oregon

2.44/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25
Syrupy sweet. The smell, taste, and feel are reminiscent of a high ABV Belgian ale. It doesn’t resemble the crisp and refreshing lagers I’ve had in the past or come to expect when I want a lager. This is disappointing, except for the fact that it is dirt cheap ($3.99/6pack) for the ABV (6.2%, but I’d swear it’s higher), and the flavor isn’t so much bad as it is unexpected. So I keep coming back. It’s a freak-show, a curiosity, and like a disaster on the side of the road, I just can’t resist slowing down and taking it all in…could call it a rubbernecking beer.
Jan 09, 2023
Photo of TheJL72
Reviewed by TheJL72 from Washington

4.32/5  rDev +50%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I am not a fan of cheap beer (normally), but this tastes better than what the price suggests. It is not for beer snobs or a high end craft beer, but for a daily drinker, it gets the job done. Compared to the big producers of lagers and pilsners, it overshadows them.
Dec 24, 2022
Photo of cosmicoutershel333
Rated by cosmicoutershel333

3.56/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Woody, malty, and surprisingly drinkable (as far as beer goes). I’d buy it for a gathering or just to have around. 3.75 outta 5 is well deserved!
Nov 18, 2022
Photo of NachoCheez
Rated by NachoCheez

1.98/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Looks good, but doesn't taste good.
Oct 27, 2022
 
Rated: 2.75 by avisong from Virginia

Aug 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.15 by kkarimi from Texas

Jul 31, 2022
Simpler Times Lager from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 68 out of 100 with 496 ratings