The Lager
Hammer & Stitch Brewing Co

Perfect look and feel just a bit over hopped for a lager but I really love the beer over all

my first from these guys, thought i had portland down like the back of my hand, cool that things keep springing up and making us reassess what we think we know. this is not radical lager, but its a good one, and thats the next best thing, bright and flavorful from all the elements, yet real drinkable, simple and clean, something i could do every day without thought, a hard thing to achieve in a style that is demanding more and more these days. very light and very clear, hay and straw in the nose, noble hops maybe, light spiciness, a rye hint but i dont think there is any present, a dandelion thing, floral honey but its not sweet, and biscuit dough, this is relatively complex for simple yellow beer. the yeast adds a lot, its hoppy in a modern sense, and the packaging looks cool, this is what contemporary lager should be, and it stood out in a lineup for beers in this range. this is dry as can be but also lingers in a sort of dancing on the tongue way, not fire ant level, but there is some slight danger to this that makes it kind of cool. i need to drink a lot more beer from these guys, but their lager does the trick in a not fancy but close to perfected way, and im into it!

16 oz. can from Lifesource Natural Grocers in Salem OR
$3.79
old can..5 months old.
Pours a very bright yellow..like liquid sunshine. Large rocky/frothy pure white head.
Aromas of lemon zest hops and light biscuit malts. Simple and worthy.
Taste is the same lemon zest and light malts, no off tastes. Maybe some floral hops in the end.
Mouth feel awesome..well carbonated and no sticky sweet residue.
Fantastic lager.
Really need to visit and get their beer fresh. Its great stuff.

 

Look: Nearly clear light yellow with a lively and quick-forming head that settles to a lid, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Floral hops, a little wet straw, soda cracker-like malt, light wafts of citrus, pilsner malt, and a kiss of honey
Taste: Wet straw, pilsner malt, honey, and a little grass kicks things off and soon after are joined by light citrus and a boatload of flowers – notes of true jasmine, room-temp rose, and spirea. Cracker led malt ever-present and guides the journey to its floral finish
Mouthfeel: Full but light, medium-high carbonation, very clean and crisp throughout, and especially so on the finish
Overall: I’m digging this quite a bit. I saw a single today and knew I’d heard the brewery name dropped but couldn’t remember much more than that so grabbed on a whim and glad I did. A tasty, clean, and well-made lager that to me, rides a line somewhere between a Helles and a Pilsner. Lots of floral aromas/flavors, a kiss of citrus and honey, and pilsner malt all fit the bill. Delicious and definitely would get this again and plan to try others in the lineup from these new folks