Firebird
Bert's Brewing

rock solid amber lager, true to style and without being original in any way other than being as dialed in on quality as it is, impressive how that has already become their calling card, and i think there can be little doubt that berts is already one of the best boise area breweries. gorgeous brick red tone from the tap, good clarity and a fizzy and high rising and slow fading just off white head, looks fantastic, rich and refined. the nose shows a kilned malt complexity, bready and earthy and less sweet than a lot of its peers, with subtle lager yeast also in play and a nice mineral complexion before some back end bittering hops kick up adding freshness and a little snap to it, simple in the best way. the flavor is certainly malt forward, but this is dry for what it is, never quite getting to the caramel range even though the color and the flavor depth are bolder, hints of bran, raisin, and maple without being sugary, to me it also feels almost healthy. the hops on the back end are more than just bitter, they bring light grassiness and the faintest dried citrus thing, lightening it a lot. the mouthfeel rules, great carbonation, smooth and then quick to finish, insanely drinkable for an amber beer, which is not usually a session style for me, but i could make a day of these. its more about the overall tidiness than anything else, super good objectively speaking. i will look forward to my next pint of this...

Draft at Bert's. Clear amber pour, thin, silky cream colored head. Toasty, malty aroma. Taste is smooth, toasty malts, a bit drier and crisper than their Vienna. Solid, but I thought their Fisser Girl was excellent.