Birthday Beer
Wayfinder Beer

Medium copper body, on the lighter side of color. Mild grain and cracker, big floral and smooth light caramel. Touch bready but the noble hop bite is just so crisp and pleasing. Medium body, slight acidic grain balanced out by the hop presence. Tasty

16oz can

Pours a finger of white head into my Pilsner glass. Retention is average, and the head fades within a minute or two. Initial lacing looks pretty good. Body is golden yellow, high clarity, with a low amount of bubbles coming up. Looks ok so far.

Nose is noticeably malty, and it would suggest a darker beer than the one I’m looking at, reminiscent of burnt toast. That said, there aren’t really any rich notes, and it comes across very dry. There is also a mineral characteristic, along with a pronounced bitter aroma, and some alcohol. Somewhat peculiar, but it’s aromatic, bold, and overall it smells pretty good.

Flavor is also very unique. A touch of malt, but I think what was dominating the nose is becoming clearer here, and that is the bitter hops and alcohol; those three flavors blend together to make a truly interesting profile. Assertive, edgy, and proudly unbalanced. I don’t love it, but I definitely like it.

Carbonation is about medium-high. Body is also medium, a solid weight for being a lager. Bitterness isn’t through the roof, but substantial. A touch of sweetness, but it leans towards the drier side. Alcohol flavor is elevated, there are not enough distractions to drown out the 7% abv, though there is not a burn. Overall the mouthfeel pulls a lot of weight, for some that might not be a good thing, though I think I can handle it. When it’s not covering up some of the nicer flavors, it’s adding character of its own.

Drinkability should probably be worse than it is, but it all comes together to create a pretty crushable lager that begs the question “why is this so drinkable?”

Appearance turned out poor, zero lacing.

Overall a flavorful, unique, and abrasive lager. Not for the unseasoned drinker.

 

 

A beautiful copper to amber beer, perfect clarity, nice white foam that leaves spotty lacing.

Has that new school, cryo hop freezer burn aroma to it. Melons and a bit of a catty smell too. A touch of classic nutty clusters underneath

Similar in flavor. Lots of melon, light bready dough, with drops of caramal and honey. As it warms it gets closer to Honey Bunches of Oats with each sip, especially in the aftertaste.

Exceptionally light and balanced with a clean feel and dry finish. Easy drinking.

Word of advice, let this one warm up a bit and you'll warm right up to it. It's a well made modern twist on a classic style. Not quite your standard Vienna, but it could be a good bridge to it for the modern hophead.

Prost

Can from ABV.

A clear Amber with a dense, white head with good retention and lacing. The nose is excellent. A rich Vienna malt character, bready and doughy, mildly nutty with plenty of hops. Earthy, spicy, mildly floral and even a touch of currant is present. The palate opens bitter and bready, with the full depth of Vienna malt flavor that you'd expect from a decocted lager. Earthy, spicy with mint and a little cinnamon bark, petrichor are present. The mid palate has more malt depth, doughy, mildly caramelized sugar, toasted honey and a nice, rich depth. Drying , bitter on the finish with earth and bread, this beer is medium light in body and moderately carbonated. Excellent.