The Raven Special Lager
B.W. Beer Works USA

The Raven Special LagerThe Raven Special Lager
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From:
B.W. Beer Works USA
 
Maryland, United States
Style:
Vienna Lager
Ranked #129
ABV:
5.25%
Score:
78
Ranked #28,638
Avg:
3.4 | pDev: 14.41%
Reviews:
80
Ratings:
203
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 08, 2021
Added:
Apr 28, 2003
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  39
SCORE
78
Okay
The Raven Special LagerThe Raven Special Lager
Notes: The Raven Special Lager is a perfect balanced lager beer that goes well with any kind of food, but particularly with spicy food or when you just want to sit down and enjoy a beer with friends. With a shot of Woodford Reserve chased with chilled Raven is a near perfect combination. The rich golden colored beer is an exceptionally smooth Southern German lager, somewhat malty but well balanced between the hops and malt. Experiencing the clean finish and pleasant lingering aftertaste of The Raven Special Lager, one can truly say that The Taste Is Poetic.

18 IBU
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Photo of DanO1066
Reviewed by DanO1066 from Maryland

3.47/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Draught pint at the Pratt Street Ale House here in Baltimore: clear gold body, not much head, lots of bubbles; faint malt aroma; more malt on the tongue; smooth medium-bodied, even w/ALL the bubbles NOT prickly; slightly above average (change of pace) beer
Nov 08, 2021
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This one had somehow escaped me until recently. I saw a sixer of bottles (eek!) during a recent Friendly Greek Bottle Shop (FGBS) visit & persuaded (ahem!) the owner into allowing me to purchase a single. I now feel special! Let's see how the beer fares.

From the Bottle (gasp!): "Pallas"; "Poe by Kal"; "1845 - 1998"; "The Taste Is Poetic"; " Open here I flung the shutter when with many a flirt and flutter, In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore ... Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door - Perched, and sat, and nothing more. Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore.'" The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe"; "Smooth German-style Lager"; "Artwork by KAL".

I was elated, as a classroom teacher, when our anthology text included Poe's "The Raven" as students were familiar with it from Baltimore's NFL team, but had never read it or heard it read. I made copies of the infamous Bill Elder & Harvey Kurtzman interpretation from "MAD (the comic book)" #9 (1954) to distribute for visuals while I dimmed the lights as we listened to a spoken-word performance by the sepulchral-like Christopher Walken! It made even me have chills & goosebumps. Eeek!

I Pop!ped the cap as there came a tapping, a gentle rapping at my front door! It was @tone77 come to make a pickup, nothing more. I explained that I was in the midst of a review & so he perched & sat on my couch, waiting patiently as I continued with a slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass. "Is that a bust of Pallas above your door?" he queried. I nodded in the affirmative as I watched the formation of just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, tawny head with decent retention. "Nice collection. CAN I borrow some of your books?" "Nevermore!" :=( I gazed at the purple curtain of the label through the Amber-colored (SRM = > 7, < 9) liquid with its NE-quality clarity. "Do you have beer for me?" "Let me quaff this kind nepenthe & I'll be right with you," I replied. Only this and nothing more. Nose smelled grainy & malty, but sharpish, a bit too hoppy for the style, IMHO. Mouthfeel was medium, about on par for the style. The taste was better than the nose had led me to expect with a more balanced sweetness accompanied by a light hoppy bitterness. "Will you get a move on or shall I tinkle on your tufted floor?!?" Eeek! I finished off the remaining beer, savoring its semi-sweet/semi-dry balancing act as I pushed my visitor out into the tempest from whence he came. "Will you be reviewing beers after 31 December 2020?" "Nevermore!"
Nov 30, 2020
Photo of hopphead31415
Reviewed by hopphead31415 from Virginia

3.92/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look-It pours a copper gold with swirling vortices of carbonation trails. The head is about one finger thick and rich and silky like fermenting yeast.

Smell-Rich aromas of corn, milled grain, and notes of honey. It smells malty and slightly sweet with a grassy overtone like a wheat farm in summer after a rainstorm.

Taste-It tastes strongly of corn and grains with a prominent honey flavor. I get notes of coriander, orange peel, cracked white pepper, tea leaves, and clover. A mild bite of alcohol is accompanied by sugar, molasses, and fresh baked bread as well as graham crackers and then more milled grains. The subtle sweetness is balanced by a grassy and earthy hop component that is well-timed. The mouthfeel is silky smooth and medium-bodied. A light fizz accompanies the rich flavor and pleasing aftertaste.

Overall-Surprisingly good for a lager and pleasantly complex…a must try!
Jun 16, 2020
Photo of paging12
Reviewed by paging12 from Virginia

3.6/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a Pilsner glass from a bottle.

This beer tasted good. Sweet caramel and brown sugar, raisins, bready yeast finish. Unfortunately not much of a lingering complexity. But still a simple lager with a little more backbone. There was a lot of sediment. I give the brewers the benefit of the doubt as the beer has been in my fridge since March of 19.
Dec 21, 2019
Photo of JohnFred4
Reviewed by JohnFred4 from New York

3.99/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Smell: wet cardboard. musty. unimpressive

Taste: Grain, corn, caramel, sugar, molasses, biscuit, salt, grahm cracer, bread, cream, pepper, coriander.

Feel: creamy. not a cream ale, but this feels quite creamy. delightful. Small bubbles, coating the mouth but not oily. Cream, creme, potato, potatoe.

Overall: Blown away by this. I'm not much of a pilsner or lager drinker. I prefer something with a little more oomph, a little more personality, a punch in the face; a hop bomb, or a syrupy stout. But this was a pleasant surprise. Truly creamy mouthfeel, soft but plentiful carbonation that coats the tongue. Truly some very subtle tastes of toffee and/or caramel that might be lost in an aggressive stout or IPA that I love. Maybe I need to drink more of these subtle beers...
Feb 25, 2019
 
Rated: 2.5 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Feb 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.81 by Skabiski from Maryland

Jan 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.38 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Sep 13, 2018
Photo of JustCamIt
Rated by JustCamIt from Virginia

2/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Amberish-tea color. Not much flavor except for light caramel. Mouthfeel was light. Little carbonation. Nothing to get excited about.
May 19, 2018
 
Rated: 2.63 by generallee from Virginia

Apr 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.24 by tjmiller718 from Virginia

Jan 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.94 by bibo_ergo_sum from New York

Nov 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by JDavis92 from Maryland

Oct 29, 2017
Photo of Davepoolesque
Reviewed by Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

2.68/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Amber in color. Somewhat clear in appearance. Caramel and sweet malt. No real other discerning flavors. Hints of cardboard. Lower carb. Drinks more like an Amber. Flat out not good.
Sep 07, 2017
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

4.14/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a clear amber color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, caramel malt, slight pale malt, hint of hops, hint of earthiness, hint of yeast, hint of dough, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of a Vienna Lager. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of fresh pale malt, fresh sweet malt, slight caramel malt, slight citrus hops, slight yeast, hint of tea, and a hint of dough. Overall, good appearance, feel, and body, with a great blend and freshness.
Jun 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

May 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by Dirtyhands from Maryland

Dec 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.53 by rjd722 from Maryland

Oct 30, 2016
Photo of Nimbus_
Reviewed by Nimbus_ from Illinois

3.8/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Pours a yellowish tangerine color. Has a very wimpy foamy head that dissipates quite quickly. Its slightly hazy, but clear enough to see bubbles rushing to the top. Not bad looking, but nothing special.

Smell: Not very strong of an aroma. Mostly just getting fruit and citrus. Some orange. Maybe a tad bit of honey and nuttiness in the background.

Taste: Follows the nose almost exactly. Citrus is right up front with a few other flavors of honey resting in the background. There is also a little bit of a biscuit taste after the finish.

Feel: Crisp and refreshing. Not a dry finish what so ever. The carbonation is appropriate for the style and balances the mouth feel very well.

Overall: I'd drink this brew on a hot summer day. It's refreshing to drink. It doesn't stand out as an amazing beer, but it's decent.
Oct 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by duvel1979 from District of Columbia

Sep 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by cryptichead from Illinois

Sep 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by rfgetz from New Jersey

Aug 22, 2016
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.52/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the BNA Party last week.Slightly hazy deep yellow color. bready biscuity aroma and flavor with a faint floral spicy hop to counter. Nice intermission beer.
Jun 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.48 by mbender92 from Pennsylvania

Jun 09, 2016
 
Rated: 3.49 by Noooddle from Washington

May 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by Biggiekrock627 from Maryland

May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Resuin from Massachusetts

Apr 24, 2016
Photo of Marraybay
Rated by Marraybay from District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Karen's beer. She liked it.
Jan 02, 2016
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.65/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the bottle into a pokal glass, just like on the label being held there from Mr. Poe himself heh heh..

Light faint creamy and very faint tan head on creation, but only about a finger, but manages to keep a half creamed puck. Body color is a nice chestnut amber and quite clear with lots of rising carbonation very finely. Solid looking brew.

Slight toasty malts but a good sticky caramel and yeast sensation. Hits into a bit of sweet syrupy quality but relatively straight forward with no surprises.

Palate manages a little bit of a downplayed mouthfeel that sort of tunes everything down. Slightly watery grain finish and flavors, not unlike the caramel aroma but with less of a malt depth or hinting sticky residue. Strangely numbing finish, almost kind of a mild novocaine like quality but not horrifically bad or that noticeable. More watery caramel, a touch of hardly discerning clove spice perhaps.

A relatively just ok brew, but seems to miss a bit of malt depth and flavor.
Dec 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Nov 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by cyber_phoenix from Pennsylvania

Oct 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by MisledTitan from England

Sep 19, 2015
 
Rated: 2.98 by Carolvs from Texas

Aug 29, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by zekeman17 from Pennsylvania

Aug 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by petewheeler from Maryland

Jul 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by Wildwood_Brew from California

Jul 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by needMIbeer from Virginia

Jul 25, 2015
 
Rated: 3.84 by tgatort from Florida

Jul 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Sazz9 from Texas

Jun 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.59 by MichaelProcton from North Carolina

Jun 08, 2015
The Raven Special Lager from B.W. Beer Works USA
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 203 ratings