RTB Vienna
Roaring Table Brewing Company

Can from the brewery. Purchased 5/10/2025. Canned on 11/19/2024.

Not really a "true" Vienna lager, more of a brown ale malt base meets a lager yeast, but still a very enjoyable beer. This is now just called "Vienna" (that is, no "RTB" in front of it).

Pours a beige to very light tan colored foam with average retention, fading to a thin ring around the perimeter of the glass. Lacing minimal. Body is a medium golden orange color, with light bringing out golden orange hues. Transparent.

Aroma of fairly rich maltiness, a mix of medium-colored caramel malt character with some toasted base malt nuances, slight hint of burnt/toasted marhsmallow, and a gentle background of chocolate malt-like (milk chocolate and toasted nuts) character.

Flavor is fairly rich in maltiness, with medium-colored caramel malt character, toasted nut and slight milk chocolate character, and light hints of toasted maltiness and hop spice in the background, with some complex "autumnal" like characters as well. Front: medium intensity medium-colored caramel malt character with a hint of light hop spice, slight dry leaf character, hints of toasted malt, and a hint of light & smooth roast/toasted nuts from chocolate malt. Mid: medium intensity medium-colored caramel malt character, light amount of chocolate malt yielding a hint of toasted nuts and milk chocolate, light hop spice, light "dry leaves" type flavor. Back: caramel malt character is balanced by the toasted nuttiness from the chocolate malt at this point, with general toasted maltiness and medium hop spiciness and light hop bitterness in the background; continued slight dry leaf character as well. After: lingering light hop spiciness and bitterness with touches of chocolate-malt based toasted nuttiness and faint milk chocolate; subtle medium-colored caramel malt sweetness and character in the background.

Beer is medium-light in body with medium-high carbonation resulting in a mostly foamy mouthfeel that works well for the beer and style. Closes dry, with medium-light stickiness on lips.

(C/C-, B+/A-, B+, B, B+/B)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a crystal clear darker amber color. Two to three finger white head forms on the beer, lingers for a few moments, then dissipates leaving no residual head. Aroma has notes of bready malts, some light nutty notes, just a hint of toastiness with spicy, grassy hops coming through on the back end.

Taste follows the nose with notes of nutty, bready malts, a subtle sweetness with some toffee character, a touch of crustiness giving way to some spicy, grassy hops. Feel is light to medium bodied, crisp, easy drinking. Semi-dry finish. Bright carbonation.

Overall this is an outstanding Vienna lager - it does an excellent job hitting the style and tastes great.

Had on tap. Clear classically copper vienna brown with a khaki head of foam, spotted lacing. Big toasted caramel with nuts, earthy malt, old world grassy hops, and a great rising yet sneaky grainy yeast. This is the case of both the smell and taste, though taste is deeper in the malt flavorings especially. Feel is lush, full, yet finishes decently crisp and clean. Goes down so easily. One of the better veinna lagers I have had in awhile!

 

 

Canned 5/24/22; drank 6/11/22 @ the Yarchives.

See-through copper appearance.

A rough pour yielded a big, noisy khaki head; minimal lace.

Autumn leaves, mild caramel & faint cream notes in the nose.

Creamy, medium mouthfeel.

Autumn leaves, mild caramel, & faint cream flavors; a mild hop bite hits the lips.

This would be an absolute banger in the fall; as it is, good to drink anytime. I'd have another!

Canned on date of 5/24/22

Appearance: Translucent amber bodied beer with a copper hue. Bone white head that stacks up really tall. Lots of staying power on the head.

Smell: Nice malty lager notes here. Caramel. Toasty and nutty grains.

Taste: Caramel, toasted grain, and nutty. Hint of lightly bitter earthy hop finish.

Mouthfeel: medium light bodied malty lager. Moderate high carbonation levels. Very drinkable. Creamy textured body.

Overall: This one from Roaring Table easily falls in line with the top three Vienna lagers brewed by Chicagoland brewers. Goldfinger Vienna just mops the floor with three list and is easily the undisputed champ at #1 Vienna lager brewed in the Chicagoland area. I would say for my tastes that I prefer Roaring Table Vienna over Dovetail Viennna as well. In conclusion the Hierarchy of Chicagoland Vienna lagers go: Goldfinger #1, Roaring Table #2, and Dovetail #3. I will also mention that I need to try Art History's spin on the Vienna Lager style yet as well for science and to weigh in because the potential is definitely there for Art History to brew something delicious in the Vienna lager beer style.

The new release from RT -- happy to be the first review. 1 pint can poured into my tall Becher. Canning date of 5-24-22 on the bottom along with a special message, "Waiting for You." Cryptic, but fun for Billy Joel and even Dovetail fans.

L -- Clear, deep copper-amber with a dense and resilient, off-white head.

S -- DMS of the "fresh" strain, lightly herbal hops, nutty to bready malts and a light touch of cocoa.

T -- Rich, bready malts with a hint of cracker graininess back and a light touch of stone fruit -- but more from luscious malt than yeast or hops. Finish lightly bitter herbal hops with a nutty character in the aftertaste.

F -- Mouthfeel is soft up front to crisp and dry in the finish. Body is light-medium.

O -- This is probably one of the best Vienna Lagers I've had in a long time. It's rich and malty like a Märzen, but not as big on the palate -- so that makes it highly drinkable. A very elegant beer, as the style was first interpreted. RT took lager-brewing very seriously with this beer. I'm glad I gambled on two 4-packs... hope I can get back for more!