Loch Ness Lager
Expedition Brewing Co.

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Aug 30 2023 and served slightly chilled. Brewed at Lake of Bays.

Pours a hazy golden-amber colour, fitted with a one-inch crown of lumpy, soapy white head that settles within five minutes or so. The surviving remnants include a wide, frothy collar surrounding a sudsy cap, with plenty of lovely lace splattered onto the glass - looks fantastic so far. The aroma is on point for the style, but unremarkable - lots of grainy malts, with lesser hints of doughy bread, corn flakes and grassy hay.

No surprises here - it's a competent craft lager with a twinge of German inspiration. Clean, grainy pale malt and bready, slightly biscuity flavours are what I'm getting, along with a hint of doughy sweetness. These flavours last throughout the sip, joined at the finish by a modest splash of grassy, herbal, noble hop bitterness. Light in body, with average carbonation that prickles the tongue, frothing up just a little in the mouth; smooth mouthfeel, with excellent drinkability. Sure, I could have a couple of these in a row.

Final Grade: 3.75, squeaking out a respectable B+. Expedition's Loch Ness Lager isn't an exciting beer, but after finishing my glass, I'm at a loss for genuine complaints. The brewery's marketing spiel says that this is "inspired by Helles and/or Dortmunder lagers", which I guess I can sorta-kinda see. Taking it simply as an Ontario craft lager, I think this is above average, though I wouldn't say it really stands out from the crowd all that much. Lager enthusiasts should consider Loch Ness worth a spin, at the very least.

 

 

Appearance: Body is a deep golden color with solid carbonation with many bubbles of varying size which is kind of odd. Made a thumb's worth of head that did not stick around sadly. It also has this kind of weird effect where you think you see the smallest of particulate but it just seems to vanish when you focus on it.

Smell: Mostly absent. Nothing bad, but apart from some dough and maybe a bit of grassy hops, this doesn't have potency, even with your nose right in. Warming did not help it in the least.

Taste: Starting to make up for things as doughy malt with maybe the slightest caramel roast starts us off before it backs off and rises back with grass and the slightest bitter orange zest note to it, but also has a bit of a metallic note at the end.

Mouthfeel: That metal note is the downside here, as at first it doesn't make it's presence known, but around the half way point, it has built up and clings undesirably, where previously the beer was clean. Drinking it offers brief respite before it returns, even stronger, which is not a desirable effect. The carbonation is great and frothy, and the transitioning is a nice down and up dip, but that metal note has to go.

Drinkability: Medium bodied, which I kind of like, as it makes it seem like a lager trying to stand on it's own merits instead of being a guzzler. That said, in either case, that metal note, ruins the vibe in either case. I'd still probably prefer it though to a lot of macro options though. That and it's starting to offer an uncomfortable bloat as I near the end of it.

Final Thoughts: This beer kind of reminds me of Molson Canadian, which isn't good. I think because of the bloat I'm starting to get near the end of the offering. I mean, it tastes alright, but it strikes me as everything else isn't quite perfected here. This wouldn't be the beer I would direct my macro drinkers to, in order to introduce them to craft. This is something trying to be it's own thing and that thing is...well a thing. It's not bad, but I would not seek it out.

Poured a 473ml can into a pint glass. A one finger white head on a very hazy brownish amber. Good head retention. Lots of lacing.
Medium body and carbonation.

473ml can served cold into a beer mug. LCBO purchase.

Appearance - Rich golden color with plenty of haze. Two fingers of white capped head and good staying power. Orange-ish highlights.

Smell - Considerable bready malt presence. Some sweetness with doughy qualities.

Taste - Plenty malty, powdery, bready flavors and clean characteristics. A little hoppiness, but pretty restrained.

Mouthfeel - medium-light bodied, good crisp carbonation and nice wet conclusion.

Overall -Really solid American Lager, nails the bready qualities while retaining big flavor and enough hops and bitterness. A big win.

Sept 13 2025