Pumphouse Lager
Grand Lake Brewing Company

 

while this is probably the most plain and straight ahead beers ive had from grand lake, i think in some ways it may also be one of the best. its simplicity works in its favor, clean pale malt base, very very light, great carbonation, and a very quick drying finish that the style asks for. hops are really subtle in both aroma and flavor, but its got a saaz-like complexion in the finish and only really soft bitterness. clover like floral profile to the middle of this, everything very delicate. i have been really let down by most grand lake beers, sloppy and amateurish for the most part, but this is a solid lager, an easy drinking warm weather brew with simple nuance. i like that in my yellow beer, and this one hits the mark.

 

 

 

This one is billed as a helles lager, but I'm not familiar with the style much. Pours a really terrific looking light yellow green, not paying much attention to the head. Smells like a lager, and doesn't really punch the nose much with anything. Taste is much better than I anticipated...this one has some high on the banana notes, almost curiously bright in this regard, that really lingered. Carbonation is moderate and overall a wet, refreshing brew. I was expecting this to be less enjoyable than it was. If you are into lagers, and not into bitter, this was I think would be highly sessionable.

 

Color is a nice pale straw yellow, a bit hazy, but not so cloudy as to hide the floaters (I hope they're just yeast)...Fair cabonation, although bubbles seem a bit large...And surprisingly, absolutely no head to interfere with the aroma! No lacing down the glass, either. Zilch. Na-da.

Aroma is close to classic pilsner character. Light, toasted malt. Faint earthy hop aroma.

Taste is fair. Subtle malt notes, a hint of citrus. Bitterness barely sneaks through the doughy grain and unsalted cracker flavors at the end.

Mouthfeel comes across as a light-medium bodied brew. Clean and wet.

If it weren't for the lack of any head and the (few) bits of yeast or hop debris, I could give this beer a better rating. Taste-wise, it's a pilsner. Not too bad, either - light and easy drinking. And although appearance isn't everything, for me, it is pretty important in the overall enjoyment of a beer.

This sample was part of their six-pack sampler...

This one comes in a mix-six pack from Grand Lakes. Love the mix pack.

Well, yeah, it's a Helles alright. Bright pour for sure. Light golden, clearn (clear + clean). Small head dials down the rating.

Soft aroma. Slight malt, slight zest. A touch of perfume flowers.

While the flavors are light, they are pretty good. Soft malt brings around a freshly baked biscuit. Somewhat sweet. The hops bring in some zest and a flare of tropical fruit...but just barely. I want to say some honey on the end. Just very slight.

A light malt finish that dries out. This is a darn fine beer. Will get again when it's not 30 degrees outside (i.e. warmer)

This is a very light but full flavored lager. The color matched the flavor. It was a very light yellow. Not much hop flavor. Had a cantaloupe-like sweetness with a little bitterness. Very easy to drink, especially on a warm day. I enjoyed the smooth, light feel of this lager.

This lager was smooth and had a slight sweet taste. Easy to drink and great for a warm afternoon. I prefer light beers and this one was just right. Even though it is a microbrew, it goes down real easy but had tons of flavor. I could drink more than one very easily.

Pours a palestraw with stunning clarity, two fingers of white froth on the head with good lacing but rather poor retention.

Nice sweet malt base, a touch grainy with some nice Saaz hop character, grassy and slightly pine, rather earthy.

Light straw and grains lift quickly to a refreshing noble hop pine and grass feel. Very light with a nice flash of bitterness on the end. Finish isnt very crisp but nicely drying with lingering bitterness.

Well carbonated and average lager body. Active finish, not crisp but dries well. Brings in summer nicely.

I could definitely put a couple of these back, the carbonation is a good change of pace and the lager is well balanced. Solid offering.

Extremely pale in the tall glass. Nice enough head and some carbonation on the tongue. The strangest salty taste seems to dominate after the initial touch of malt. Rather acidic. Hops are just a kiss. Very thin body.

Grows slightly better as you sip. More of the biscuit flavor. Sort of canteloupe aftertaste with a little bitterness. I'm trying to like this one since I haven't tasted many in the Helles style, but I'm not convinced.

12 oz into a pint

A - Extraordinarily light colored, pale to almost totally straw. Very transparent, translucent. Lightly bubbly - head formation just about nil.

S - Light nose, some pilsner malts and just a hair of some noble hops.

T - Starts off with a light malty sweetness, which is then built on by the grainy and husky pilsner malts. Pilsner takes over even more mid-stream, revealing a very malt forward beer. Finishes fairly clean, with only the lightest hint of bitterness and a malty aftertaste.

M - Very light mouthfeel, light carbonation. The beer is just a bit under bodied, even for a helles.

D - Very easy drinking. ABV is solid for the style, but manageable. Not filling or palette abusing. A pretty unoffensive beer.

Considering the style, I do go back and forth between this being an okay helles and one that is just too light. I guess try it for yourself and let me know.

12 oz bottle. Pours a clear light yellow with a small white head that quickly goes to a thin film that leaves little lacing.

The aroma is sweet malts and some noble hops.

The flavor is sweet grainy malts leading to a balanced noble hop finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low but smooth carbonation.

Overall, this is one of the nicest light lagers I've had. It was well made, clean, well balanced, with nice flavors. I could drink this regularly.