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Old Style
Pabst Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Pabst Brewing Company
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- American Adjunct Lager
Ranked #126 - ABV:
- 4.64%
- Score:
- 67
Ranked #29,907 - Avg:
- 2.87 | pDev: 26.13%
- Reviews:
- 247
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Monday at 08:13 PM
- Added:
- Sep 11, 2001
- Wants:
- 52
- Gots:
- 144
SCORE
67
Poor
67
Poor
Notes:
Originally called Golden Leaf Lager in the 1890’s, Old Style first appeared in local stores in 1902 and quickly became one of the region’s most widely enjoyed beers. It’s heritage and popularity are proudly displayed throughout Wisconsin and Illinois — one can’t go far without seeing a historically protected Old Style sign hanging on the side of a barn or in a tavern window.
Old Style first crossed state lines into Illinois to capitalize nationwide bottlers strike and subsequent product rationing by the competition. It wasn’t long before Old Style became Chicago’s beer – served from the North Side to the South Side and everywhere in between. Being accepted as a true local, Old Style began sponsoring the Chicago Cubs in 1950. With Old Style still being served at Wrigley Field today, the partnership is one of longest standing in the country.
In 2009, Old Style revived the centuries-old German brewing tradition called “Kraeusening.” This double fermentation process increases carbonation and richness, ultimately leading to a better tasting beer that has since been won medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
Old Style first crossed state lines into Illinois to capitalize nationwide bottlers strike and subsequent product rationing by the competition. It wasn’t long before Old Style became Chicago’s beer – served from the North Side to the South Side and everywhere in between. Being accepted as a true local, Old Style began sponsoring the Chicago Cubs in 1950. With Old Style still being served at Wrigley Field today, the partnership is one of longest standing in the country.
In 2009, Old Style revived the centuries-old German brewing tradition called “Kraeusening.” This double fermentation process increases carbonation and richness, ultimately leading to a better tasting beer that has since been won medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mngermanshepherd from Minnesota
3.8/5 rDev +32.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.8/5 rDev +32.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Growing up in northern Wisconsin (just off Lake Superior), I saw Old Style bar signs everywhere as well as at County Stadium in Milwaukee.
Found this on a whim, never tasted it before. Cracked a can open, first smell was a very doughy/yeasty aroma. Delicious. Flavor was light, not filling but tasty. 30 pack for $17, will buy again.
Cracked another open in 2023. Delicious. Watery, but has a nice malty taste, malty finish, almost black tea/chocolatey like. Head recedes to a nice, thin layer, carbonation still going well after pour. Definitely worth drinking and no purchase regrets.
Monday at 08:13 PMFound this on a whim, never tasted it before. Cracked a can open, first smell was a very doughy/yeasty aroma. Delicious. Flavor was light, not filling but tasty. 30 pack for $17, will buy again.
Cracked another open in 2023. Delicious. Watery, but has a nice malty taste, malty finish, almost black tea/chocolatey like. Head recedes to a nice, thin layer, carbonation still going well after pour. Definitely worth drinking and no purchase regrets.
Reviewed by Jschro77 from Illinois
3.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
The beer that you pop when done mowing the lawn. Get done and then have another while firing up the grill. Is it great? No. Is it good? Yes. Bonus points to not breaking the bank
Apr 17, 2023
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado
3.24/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.24/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
poured from a 12oz can best by May 22 2023
On the pour a decent billowing head of at least 2 fingers formed then slowly receded, becoming rocky but soft. Body is highly carbonated and a clear straw yellow. Leaves light, but obvious, droopy, sticky lacing.
Aroma is immediately corny with a touch of not-quite-sour cheap beer funk right on the back. Actually quite good especially for the category and price.
Taste again is quite corny, but not sweet. A relatively dry light but full flavored lager, with distinct barley and corn along with some biscuity nuttiness in the lightest sense possible. Hops are actually detectable, but very light, imparting a slight bitterness reminiscent of some Mexican lagers. Not quite a Chzech Lager, but a lot closer than some of the other AALs out there.
Feel is dry and drinkable, but full bodied for the style with a lingering mouthcoating maltiness on the finish. You can put these down, but they are quite filling.
Overall this was a pleasant surprise. Some beers are better in the can, or the difference just isn't obvious, but this beer is definitely much better when poured in a glass, to get the full almost a pilsner flavor. Good price to quality ratio.
Mar 15, 2023On the pour a decent billowing head of at least 2 fingers formed then slowly receded, becoming rocky but soft. Body is highly carbonated and a clear straw yellow. Leaves light, but obvious, droopy, sticky lacing.
Aroma is immediately corny with a touch of not-quite-sour cheap beer funk right on the back. Actually quite good especially for the category and price.
Taste again is quite corny, but not sweet. A relatively dry light but full flavored lager, with distinct barley and corn along with some biscuity nuttiness in the lightest sense possible. Hops are actually detectable, but very light, imparting a slight bitterness reminiscent of some Mexican lagers. Not quite a Chzech Lager, but a lot closer than some of the other AALs out there.
Feel is dry and drinkable, but full bodied for the style with a lingering mouthcoating maltiness on the finish. You can put these down, but they are quite filling.
Overall this was a pleasant surprise. Some beers are better in the can, or the difference just isn't obvious, but this beer is definitely much better when poured in a glass, to get the full almost a pilsner flavor. Good price to quality ratio.
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4/5 rDev +39.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +39.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this once, at a nighttime Cubs game in June 2014; quite an evening... slugged it from the can, probably eating nachos or a hot dog with it... typical, homogenous adjo-lager flavor... been looking for some on the East Coast ever since (how does State Line not have this?!?)... I'll do a proper champagne review before I expire and get the entire scoop... just here to say biglil BB was here and there (2085)
Feb 05, 2023
Reviewed by pheasantpete from Minnesota
4.59/5 rDev +59.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.59/5 rDev +59.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Great Old Style Lager, at least the stuff brewed in WI. Refreshing and crisp like a good larger and priced affordably for the thirsty masses. A special treat I picked up after a hiatus of several years. Truly refreshing after some heavy snow shoveling. One of my favorite reasonably priced traditional American lagers.
Color was spot on for a lager as was the smell and feel. It is very drinkable when served ice cold as a larger ought to be. It leaves you wanting another and I am slow drinker who usually stops at two. The hop profile is light which many older drinkers enjoy. I personally prefer Grain Belt premium as it has a better hop profile imo. This brew is a serious contender for the best buy for buck.
Jan 06, 2023Color was spot on for a lager as was the smell and feel. It is very drinkable when served ice cold as a larger ought to be. It leaves you wanting another and I am slow drinker who usually stops at two. The hop profile is light which many older drinkers enjoy. I personally prefer Grain Belt premium as it has a better hop profile imo. This brew is a serious contender for the best buy for buck.
Reviewed by Hatchel from Minnesota
3.49/5 rDev +21.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.49/5 rDev +21.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
World’s largest 6-pack anyone? (At least 20 years ago though). Was better in the early 90’s but a decent change of pace on occasion. Love the logo & label too.
Dec 21, 2022
Reviewed by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois
3.57/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Compared to other adjuncts, this one is clearly above most in the style. These adjuncts are hard to rate because...lets just say the style is a handicap. I would say for the style, it is among the upper tier. If you compare it to say Lone Star for example, there is actual flavor here thanks to the malt. Decent finish. This, Pabst, and Schlitz have their own thing going on that distinguishes them from the big 3. By all means support your local adjunct brewery. Chances are there will be more flavor than you expect
Aug 25, 2022
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware
2.47/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
2.47/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
Pours a pale goldish color with a white foamy head. The smell is of corn, grass, and malt. The taste is of grass, corn, and malt with a slight bite in the finish. This was a very popular beer back in the day, especially all over the Midwest.
Aug 21, 2022
Reviewed by elNopalero from California
3.07/5 rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.07/5 rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Is this the official beer of Chicago?
Perfect for dive bar drinking. There’s a little harness to this that lingers, some grain and cereal. Drink ice cold.
Jul 26, 2022Perfect for dive bar drinking. There’s a little harness to this that lingers, some grain and cereal. Drink ice cold.
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
3.59/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Old Style pours a darker bronze color, long lasting, small head. Aroma is grainy, cereal notes. Flavor is lighter, dark cereal, not offensive, a bit sweet and light. A bit fizzy.
Jul 19, 2022Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
2.98/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.98/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours straw yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of cereal grain, not much else. Tastes of plain cereal grain. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, an average beer.
Apr 25, 2022
Reviewed by chum_husk from Minnesota
2.64/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
2.64/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75
12oz can
Looks beautiful, clear, golden, commercial beer. Smells like corn and garbage can. Tastes like PBR-lite, just very mild corn, garbage juice, playdoh, and hops, in that order
Feb 01, 2022Looks beautiful, clear, golden, commercial beer. Smells like corn and garbage can. Tastes like PBR-lite, just very mild corn, garbage juice, playdoh, and hops, in that order
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
2.93/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.93/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz can enjoy by Jan 02, 2023 into a nucleated pint glass.
L: Pours transparent light yellow gold w a thin eggshell white head that quickly recedes to a skin and edge foam, light carbo, light spotty lacing.
S: Corn, caramelized malts, a hint of bread, cereal grains, a suggestion of yeast.
T: Caramelized malts, a very faint paleness, grains, a hint of corn, very light yeast w a touch of bread. Quite clean tasting.
F: Very lightly fizzy w a medium-light body and a clean, smooth, lightly drying fast finish. Very little aftertaste.
O: A classic American Lager that is sort of Germanic and is a staple in the Great Lakes region. Crushable, refreshing and par for the course. A nucleated glass helps this beer stay alive to the last sip. It is okay in its style.
Oct 23, 2021L: Pours transparent light yellow gold w a thin eggshell white head that quickly recedes to a skin and edge foam, light carbo, light spotty lacing.
S: Corn, caramelized malts, a hint of bread, cereal grains, a suggestion of yeast.
T: Caramelized malts, a very faint paleness, grains, a hint of corn, very light yeast w a touch of bread. Quite clean tasting.
F: Very lightly fizzy w a medium-light body and a clean, smooth, lightly drying fast finish. Very little aftertaste.
O: A classic American Lager that is sort of Germanic and is a staple in the Great Lakes region. Crushable, refreshing and par for the course. A nucleated glass helps this beer stay alive to the last sip. It is okay in its style.
Reviewed by Caldwan123 from Iowa
3.92/5 rDev +36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
3.92/5 rDev +36.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25
All around a solid beer as the description of the beer gives that they use the double fermentation process. A drinker can tell that there is the additional richness. Reminiscent of imported German beer. for 9 bucks a 12 pack bottles or 30 pack cans for 15 are actually a solid been. I am having an issue finding Old Style Light but that is also good.
Apr 01, 2021
Reviewed by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania
3.54/5 rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.54/5 rDev +23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
This is a fairly good bargain beer for filling a summertime cooler.
Taste is not unlike that of most AAL's but a bit more body and no real bad aftertaste.
It's a beer you buy for the price, not the taste.
Feb 17, 2021Taste is not unlike that of most AAL's but a bit more body and no real bad aftertaste.
It's a beer you buy for the price, not the taste.
Rated by BourbonForBeer from Illinois
3.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
3.3/5 rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Good/ solid / summer crusher. Great for fishing, outside, and yelling at baseball games.
Jan 18, 2021
Reviewed by TedHead from Illinois
3.43/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a standard gold with a a fluffy head. It smells like wet grain with not much hop scent other than a slightly bitter and spicy finish. The taste is surprisingly better than most macro's and has a solid malt character that's backed by enough hoppy bitterness to keep it from being too sweet. Overall much better than other popular lagers in my opinion.
Jan 03, 2021
Old Style from Pabst Brewing Company
Beer rating:
67 out of
100 with
812 ratings
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