Vienna Lager
Forest & Main - The Brewery

 

16oz can purchased from the fridge as a mixed 4-pack directly from the brewery for $20. Not sure when this was canned, probably a while ago. I think that I purchased it in the winter months, so it's at least 7 months old.

Look: Beautiful copper color with nice clarity and a rocky tan-colored head that ultimately dissipated to a very thin layer. Nice stream of tiny bubbles rising up the glass. After pouring the rest of the can, the beer gained a mild haziness.

Smell: Nice toasty and bready aromas. There are some spicy notes on the back end a bit of light citrus (orange zest) and stone fruit (cherries). The nose is a bit yeasty and crackery. Green bell pepper note on the finish after swirling the glass, which is very interesting for a Vienna lager. The beer smells very inviting.

Taste: Flavors on the palate mirror the nose. It's very smooth and flavorful. Up front, it is a bit sweet with some notes of honey and orange zest, toasty and grainy cracker. The finish is crisp and dry, with a mild lingering peppery bitterness that is mildly spicy. I get mild cocoa notes also. The mild cherry note is also very nice. Very refreshing and drinkable.

Feel: It's on the lighter side of medium bodied. The beer is very drinkable. Carbonation is right on.

Overall: This is a very nice Vienna lager. It's really light and flavorful, very balanced.

A very nice local example of the style.
Very much enjoyed this one.
On a revisit, it's a little heavy on the Saaz finish, but otherwise pretty tasty.

 

I had this on draft 4/3/25 @ the Beer Temple.

Mostly opaque dull orange appearance.

Huge bright white head; strong, frothy tree-rung lacing remained.

Honeyed grain & spring water notes in the nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Honeyed grain & mineral water flavors.

Sweeter than I expected a bit thin & sharp; it's mildly enjoyable but it's not one I'll return to.

Poured chilled from a can into a 16oz pint glass. Appearance is pale gold with slight chill haze, 2 finger foamy head that receded slowly with decent lacing on the glass.
Aroma is bread and malt, maybe some corn.
Taste is bready, malty, and slight caramel sweetness.
Mouthfeel is light with some sweet up front and a subtle hop bitterness at the back. Decent carbonation that lends a smooth feel. Finish is dry and crisp.
Overall, not my go-to style but I really enjoy this brewer so figured I would try it. On-point for the style, from the vienna malt to the Czech saaz hops, this is a really tasty and enjoyable rendition of this style. Well done.

Presumably fresh, into a pils glass.

Pours a rich gold, with copious white foam that sits perfectly on top for years. Aroma is sourdough and lemons, as well as some dark honey. Very aromatic for a lager. Flavor is lovely. Tons of honey, muted lemon in an almost pastry-ish way, and loads of bready, gently toasted malt. There's a little spice and a soft bitterness on the back end as well. Feel is really great, not too bright but energetic, and it's got a surprising body to it. The depth of flavor in this lager is incredible, and it's of course very easy to drink.

My first Forest & Main beer and I get the hype. Wow, this is pretty much the perfect example of this style. Just so easy to enjoy.

 

From an undated 16oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a light orangish brown with about two fingers of white head. Excellent retention and lacing.

Bready, caramel and corn aromas.

Sweet bready, caramel flavors with light peppery bitterness.

Medium body and carbonation. Mild bitter aftertaste.

Not a style I reach for often but this is delightful.

 

16 oz can

pours a dark golden color, not quite amber. thick white head. nice mildly toasty aroma, a touch of fruitiness. similar taste - well balanced not overly sweet. medium bodied.

 

Pours a very light amber, frothy 1" head with solid retention but very good lacing. Color a bit light for the style. Nose is bright with floral and earthy hops with a warming layer of light caramel underneath. Taste follows, though the caramel is a bit more present than the hop up front; midpalate, this turns quite bready and grainy; finish turns towards light caramel sweetness once more. Hops are present, though help perform a balancing act with the sweetness underneath. Feel is crisp and on the light side with prickly carbonation. This was extremely enjoyable, so very excited to see these in NY distro recently.