Brooklyn Lager | Brooklyn Brewery
Brewed by:
Brooklyn Brewery
New York, United States
brooklynbrewery.com
Style: American Amber / Red Lager
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
In the late 1800’s Brooklyn was one of the largest brewing centers in the country, home to more than 45 breweries. Lager beer in the “Vienna” style was one of the local favorites. Brooklyn Lager is amber-gold in color and displays a firm malt center supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma. Caramel malts show in the finish. The aromatic qualities of the beer are enhanced by “dry-hopping”, the centuries-old practice of steeping the beer with fresh hops as it undergoes a long, cold maturation. The result is a wonderfully flavorful beer, smooth, refreshing and very versatile with food. Dry-hopping is largely a British technique, which we’ve used in a Viennese-style beer to create an American original.
HISTOGRAM
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Ratings: 3,812 | Reviews: 1,276
Reviews by TeeCee:
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle - why do I always think of baseball when I look at this label?
This beer pours a clear, pale golden amber hue, with two fingers of puffy, foamy, and somewhat creamy off-white head, which leaves a decent array of awkward waveform lace around the glass as it genially recedes.
It smells of crisp biscuity, grainy caramel malt, mild aged, indistinct citrus, and punchy leafy, grassy, and sort of herbal hops. The taste is grainy, bready, and musty white malt, a bit of tangy lemon, and grassy, hay-like hops.
The carbonation is moderate in its overall, pervasively thorough pungency, the body medium-full in weight, teetering in its smoothness, and even a tad creamy, for a lager, that is. It finishes off-dry, with more tacitly sweet malt, and a timidly mild, somewhat musty citrus hoppiness.
A pleasant enough, generally lively all-malt lager. This seems to be a proper go-between amongst BMC's best faux-craft offerings, and the headiest of neo-German brewing provocateurs active in those United States. Tasty, and just the sort of thing one might slam a sixer of without moral sidesteps during yer best backyard BBQs of the season.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12oz bottle - why do I always think of baseball when I look at this label?
This beer pours a clear, pale golden amber hue, with two fingers of puffy, foamy, and somewhat creamy off-white head, which leaves a decent array of awkward waveform lace around the glass as it genially recedes.
It smells of crisp biscuity, grainy caramel malt, mild aged, indistinct citrus, and punchy leafy, grassy, and sort of herbal hops. The taste is grainy, bready, and musty white malt, a bit of tangy lemon, and grassy, hay-like hops.
The carbonation is moderate in its overall, pervasively thorough pungency, the body medium-full in weight, teetering in its smoothness, and even a tad creamy, for a lager, that is. It finishes off-dry, with more tacitly sweet malt, and a timidly mild, somewhat musty citrus hoppiness.
A pleasant enough, generally lively all-malt lager. This seems to be a proper go-between amongst BMC's best faux-craft offerings, and the headiest of neo-German brewing provocateurs active in those United States. Tasty, and just the sort of thing one might slam a sixer of without moral sidesteps during yer best backyard BBQs of the season.
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1.68/5 rDev -54.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This beer pours a clear, pale gold with no head or lace. It's aroma is of fruit, bread, and caramel. The flavor is fruity with sweet malt notes followed by a hop bitterness that lasts from start to finish. The flavor is more reminiscent of an APA than a lager and leaves a lasting, dry, bitter, aftertaste. The mouthfeel is light. Brooklyn Lager is a mediochre beer, not recommended.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5
This beer pours a clear, pale gold with no head or lace. It's aroma is of fruit, bread, and caramel. The flavor is fruity with sweet malt notes followed by a hop bitterness that lasts from start to finish. The flavor is more reminiscent of an APA than a lager and leaves a lasting, dry, bitter, aftertaste. The mouthfeel is light. Brooklyn Lager is a mediochre beer, not recommended.
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3.78/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Was suprised at the great appearance of this one great golden color,wirh a great foamy head.Had freas mowed grass fruity amoma almost like a IPA.One of the hoppiest lagers I have had if not the most.Refreshing quaffer with some substance,I can see why alot of people give this brew good marks.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Was suprised at the great appearance of this one great golden color,wirh a great foamy head.Had freas mowed grass fruity amoma almost like a IPA.One of the hoppiest lagers I have had if not the most.Refreshing quaffer with some substance,I can see why alot of people give this brew good marks.
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2/5 rDev -46.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Appearance - This was a light yellow in color with a modest head.
Smell - The aroma here is overly grainy and rough. It smelled more like an adjunct macro than a quality beer from BB.
Taste - Very disappointing. The grain was cheap and just wouldn't quit. From beginning to end this beer left a foul, graining taste in my mouth.
Mouthfeel - This was light-bodied and watery with a fizzy carbonation that made me think I was drinking a wine cooler.
Sinkability - Well I couldn't really pour this in the sink because I was at the pub, but I was drinking it so slow that the barmaid came over while I still had half a pint left and asked me if I wanted something else. I have had so many good beers from this brewery it's hard to believe that this came from the same place.
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look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Appearance - This was a light yellow in color with a modest head.
Smell - The aroma here is overly grainy and rough. It smelled more like an adjunct macro than a quality beer from BB.
Taste - Very disappointing. The grain was cheap and just wouldn't quit. From beginning to end this beer left a foul, graining taste in my mouth.
Mouthfeel - This was light-bodied and watery with a fizzy carbonation that made me think I was drinking a wine cooler.
Sinkability - Well I couldn't really pour this in the sink because I was at the pub, but I was drinking it so slow that the barmaid came over while I still had half a pint left and asked me if I wanted something else. I have had so many good beers from this brewery it's hard to believe that this came from the same place.
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3.49/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a pilsener glass, the appearance was a burnt orange to amber color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a mild pace. Sly lace runs in streams along my glass, didn't cling much.
The aroma had a clean bready to biscuit sweetness playing with a little bit of caramel/toffee maltiness. Light yeasty sweetness applied itself fairly nice.
The flavor was somewhat malty sweet with a light grassy hop trying to blend, but somewhat seemed to leave a semi-vacant sort of misguiding edge of wanting to be that "fine blend" of being a fantastic lager. Aftertaste had some stickiness in it.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a decent sessionability about it. There's nothing distracting. ABV felt fine. It left a courteous malty sort of finish.
Overall, I'd say this was a pretty decent lager. Probably could be a lot better if the flavor seemed to blend just a little better.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Poured into a pilsener glass, the appearance was a burnt orange to amber color with a finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a mild pace. Sly lace runs in streams along my glass, didn't cling much.
The aroma had a clean bready to biscuit sweetness playing with a little bit of caramel/toffee maltiness. Light yeasty sweetness applied itself fairly nice.
The flavor was somewhat malty sweet with a light grassy hop trying to blend, but somewhat seemed to leave a semi-vacant sort of misguiding edge of wanting to be that "fine blend" of being a fantastic lager. Aftertaste had some stickiness in it.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a decent sessionability about it. There's nothing distracting. ABV felt fine. It left a courteous malty sort of finish.
Overall, I'd say this was a pretty decent lager. Probably could be a lot better if the flavor seemed to blend just a little better.
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3.3/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a deep orangey color lager with a nice medium foamy head with average retention. Aroma is hoppier then expected with some light caramel malt. Taste is more bitter and hoppy then I would have expected but still retain some of the light caramel malt that I love in Vienna. While this beer is interesting and refreshing, it resembles more of a hoppy ale ten a Vienna.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Bottle: Poured a deep orangey color lager with a nice medium foamy head with average retention. Aroma is hoppier then expected with some light caramel malt. Taste is more bitter and hoppy then I would have expected but still retain some of the light caramel malt that I love in Vienna. While this beer is interesting and refreshing, it resembles more of a hoppy ale ten a Vienna.
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2.3/5 rDev -38.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours to deep honey amber body. Head is a short one finger of light tan fuzz. Nice woodsy hops meets wheat nose that is soft but appropriate. Mineral and nutty hints exist. Enters the mouth with a very sharp bitter soured feel. Reminds me of a Brittish ale. Mineral notes as well as raw wheat are present on the palate. Mellows a bit with warmth. Bitter feel really hangs around the mouth creating the mouthfeel along with an almost sour vegetable thing going on. Not really my thing.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Pours to deep honey amber body. Head is a short one finger of light tan fuzz. Nice woodsy hops meets wheat nose that is soft but appropriate. Mineral and nutty hints exist. Enters the mouth with a very sharp bitter soured feel. Reminds me of a Brittish ale. Mineral notes as well as raw wheat are present on the palate. Mellows a bit with warmth. Bitter feel really hangs around the mouth creating the mouthfeel along with an almost sour vegetable thing going on. Not really my thing.
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3.97/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Looks golden/red in color.Smells somewhat neutral, mild maltiness, fresh unbaked dough,slight toffee. Tastes buttery,malty smooth. Hops in the way back round. Feels velvety smooth,nicely carbonated. Clean finish. I don't see any resemblance to an "Irish red" This is a really good beer in my humble opinion. I enjoy the simplicity of a lager sometimes more than any ale.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Looks golden/red in color.Smells somewhat neutral, mild maltiness, fresh unbaked dough,slight toffee. Tastes buttery,malty smooth. Hops in the way back round. Feels velvety smooth,nicely carbonated. Clean finish. I don't see any resemblance to an "Irish red" This is a really good beer in my humble opinion. I enjoy the simplicity of a lager sometimes more than any ale.
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4.11/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tasty, slightly hoppy. Zingy tasty.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tasty, slightly hoppy. Zingy tasty.
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3.97/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I love this lager, simple and right to the point. Refreshing, good hop presence herbal and great malt dryness in both taste and mouthfeel. Worked perfectly well with pizza watching a football match.
Had it few months later on tap, even better with a good floweral complexity
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I love this lager, simple and right to the point. Refreshing, good hop presence herbal and great malt dryness in both taste and mouthfeel. Worked perfectly well with pizza watching a football match.
Had it few months later on tap, even better with a good floweral complexity
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2/5 rDev -46.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
I have had this beer before. I have actually had this beer in New York City. Never been to the brewery before… but I wouldn't mind going. I love to travel, I love New York, and I LOVE beer! (Don't get excited… the beer is just okay.)
The beer smells like a lager. Makes sense… this beer is a lager. It has a weak carbonation on top, and sits like a pale in the glass. This beer does get better the warmer it gets. But the beer is an easy find, cheap, and not one that you want to sit around and get warm. At least close to room temperature. You get a hint of that carbonation on the palate, just as the flavor leaves. It's quick, slides down easy, and is a drinkable beer. Its a lager… nothing fancy about it.
I wouldn't buy this beer again, unless it was on sale. I mean, it's a typical boring lager. Brooklyn makes a LOT better beers than this. It's just okay…
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look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
I have had this beer before. I have actually had this beer in New York City. Never been to the brewery before… but I wouldn't mind going. I love to travel, I love New York, and I LOVE beer! (Don't get excited… the beer is just okay.)
The beer smells like a lager. Makes sense… this beer is a lager. It has a weak carbonation on top, and sits like a pale in the glass. This beer does get better the warmer it gets. But the beer is an easy find, cheap, and not one that you want to sit around and get warm. At least close to room temperature. You get a hint of that carbonation on the palate, just as the flavor leaves. It's quick, slides down easy, and is a drinkable beer. Its a lager… nothing fancy about it.
I wouldn't buy this beer again, unless it was on sale. I mean, it's a typical boring lager. Brooklyn makes a LOT better beers than this. It's just okay…
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3.75/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This lager pours darker than expected, with a nice amber colour and quickly dissipating head. It smells good, perhaps a bit metallic, but that could have something to do with how fresh it is. It is very tasty - just enough body and sweet malt to set it apart from other lagers. The hops are not pronounced, but that is not a bad thing whatsoever. A quality lager, to be sure.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This lager pours darker than expected, with a nice amber colour and quickly dissipating head. It smells good, perhaps a bit metallic, but that could have something to do with how fresh it is. It is very tasty - just enough body and sweet malt to set it apart from other lagers. The hops are not pronounced, but that is not a bad thing whatsoever. A quality lager, to be sure.
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3.83/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
a lively lager, more fun than most. it pours a lighter amber color, with a short white head that sticks around. the aroma is very crisp, properly a winter lager, a little nutty on the malt profile, with a clean rounded finish. taste follows the nose, and this beer is a dead give away as brooklyn lager every time. its so distinct in terms of balance and richer malts than the industry standard, its really unmistakable. the red malts give it a nice body, not boring at all, and the carbonation is there. overall not the most adventurous or profound thing to come out of brooklyn brewery, but its a really servicable lager. the lager for the pale ale drinker i like to call it. yummy stuff. golf course beer to me at its finest.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
a lively lager, more fun than most. it pours a lighter amber color, with a short white head that sticks around. the aroma is very crisp, properly a winter lager, a little nutty on the malt profile, with a clean rounded finish. taste follows the nose, and this beer is a dead give away as brooklyn lager every time. its so distinct in terms of balance and richer malts than the industry standard, its really unmistakable. the red malts give it a nice body, not boring at all, and the carbonation is there. overall not the most adventurous or profound thing to come out of brooklyn brewery, but its a really servicable lager. the lager for the pale ale drinker i like to call it. yummy stuff. golf course beer to me at its finest.
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4.09/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into lager glass.
Clear amber/light copper, nice 2-finger off-white head, moderate retention, some laces.
Smell - pretty good floral hops, caramel.
Taste - caramel malts, floral hops.
Medium body and carbonation.
Impressing lager.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into lager glass.
Clear amber/light copper, nice 2-finger off-white head, moderate retention, some laces.
Smell - pretty good floral hops, caramel.
Taste - caramel malts, floral hops.
Medium body and carbonation.
Impressing lager.
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3.12/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I wouldn’t call this an amber, the color is slightly darker than gold. I couldn’t detect much of any smell. I got this in a mixed six pack from Kroger and it was very out of date (Nov 17). I’ll remember that, Kroger. Even so, it had a good balanced flavor leaning a little to the malty side. It had a ever so slight skunk to it that I attribute to the out of date. It feels heavy to me, I could enjoy a couple but more than that would really fill me up. It’s well made and something I’ll get again.
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look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
I wouldn’t call this an amber, the color is slightly darker than gold. I couldn’t detect much of any smell. I got this in a mixed six pack from Kroger and it was very out of date (Nov 17). I’ll remember that, Kroger. Even so, it had a good balanced flavor leaning a little to the malty side. It had a ever so slight skunk to it that I attribute to the out of date. It feels heavy to me, I could enjoy a couple but more than that would really fill me up. It’s well made and something I’ll get again.
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4/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice amber/copper, ample head....floral & fruity nose....the taste was again fruity with more hop character than i would have expected...fresh, lively mouthfeel, somewhat creamy....more like a pale ale than a lager i would say but quite drinkable nonetheless
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice amber/copper, ample head....floral & fruity nose....the taste was again fruity with more hop character than i would have expected...fresh, lively mouthfeel, somewhat creamy....more like a pale ale than a lager i would say but quite drinkable nonetheless
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3.71/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
5/5 rDev +34.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very good beer
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Very good beer
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3.59/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L- Pale chestnut. Gentle rising carbonation into medium tan head, slowly reduces to lacing. The beer is crystal clear.
S- Nice, quite complex for a lager. Some brief deeper conifer/fruits, but a fresh nose
T- Quite dry, 'pale-ale'ish', into yet hoppier dry end. There is a brief flavoursome middle, but I can't put my finger on the fleeting flavour notes there.
M- Distinctly dry and hoppy, especially for a lager. In a blind tasting I would have put money on this being a pale ale, albeit not a sledge-hammer example, perhaps a summer pale ale.
O- I've drunk this several times on/off over the years, but this is the first time I've sat down and thought about it via the prism of rating it. Very nice. Checking now and seeing it's 5.2% makes sense as it feels that way. Strikingly hoppier/dryer than your typical lager. Would happily enjoy this again.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L- Pale chestnut. Gentle rising carbonation into medium tan head, slowly reduces to lacing. The beer is crystal clear.
S- Nice, quite complex for a lager. Some brief deeper conifer/fruits, but a fresh nose
T- Quite dry, 'pale-ale'ish', into yet hoppier dry end. There is a brief flavoursome middle, but I can't put my finger on the fleeting flavour notes there.
M- Distinctly dry and hoppy, especially for a lager. In a blind tasting I would have put money on this being a pale ale, albeit not a sledge-hammer example, perhaps a summer pale ale.
O- I've drunk this several times on/off over the years, but this is the first time I've sat down and thought about it via the prism of rating it. Very nice. Checking now and seeing it's 5.2% makes sense as it feels that way. Strikingly hoppier/dryer than your typical lager. Would happily enjoy this again.
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3.32/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.44/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Brownish lager with a single finger head and
good lacing. Head retention left much to be
desired.
S: Malty with hints of alcohol and grain.
T: Malty brew with a grainy aftertaste.
M: Thin with little to no character provided by
the carbonation.
D: This far surpasses your macro lager but
leaves me wanting more in a lager from this
great brewery.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Brownish lager with a single finger head and
good lacing. Head retention left much to be
desired.
S: Malty with hints of alcohol and grain.
T: Malty brew with a grainy aftertaste.
M: Thin with little to no character provided by
the carbonation.
D: This far surpasses your macro lager but
leaves me wanting more in a lager from this
great brewery.
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Brooklyn Lager from Brooklyn Brewery
Beer rating:
3.72 out of
5 with
3,812 ratings
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