Douglas Lager
Douglas Lager

 

On tap at Imperial pub in pdx yesterday. Had been curious about this relatively new, locally made beer.

The beer pours a very light gold color with poor head retention and short lived lacing. Not a good start. On the nose I get virtually nothing. Maybe there's a hint of creamed corn, but that's about it. On the palate this is just not a very appealing beer. The flavor profile is very light and is dominated by a creamed corn flavor. The finish is short and watery. Mouthfeel is very light, with undetectable alcohol. So I guess it would be no problem pounding down a six pack of this crap if you were so motivated.

I get it that this is an AAL, and so one shouldn't get their hopes up with the flavor profile. Even so, adjectives like watery, innocuous, insipid and flavorless are the only ones that come to mind when I drink this stuff. Very glad I did not order a full glass of this swill. This is not a beer I plan to ever order again.

Clear amber brew with plenty of foam in the Troubadour tulip. Modest aroma of the brewhouse. Taste is strongly of corn and some other cereal, with a distinct sweetness. Then there is some mildly bitter and stemmy taste. Mouthfeel seems malty and thickish. I would not call it refreshing or interesting. Maybe on tap it would be worth a try, if it's kegged. Label says it is brewed by The Lager Company of Tacoma, which has put out at least one beer under their own name. From the 16 oz can purchased in Bellingham. 2025 date on the bottom.

Poured from 16oz can into a dimpled mug. Best by 6/20/25.

Appearance: pale straw hue with a little dash of haze and a pretty strong, even effervescence. Head is a finger of frothy white foam, with a reasonably decent retention. Not bad for an AAL.

Smell: light, sweet malt with a dash of graininess and just a little bit of corniness. Again, not too bad for the style.

Taste: moderately sweet malt with a bit of astringent graininess to it. Hops add a little bit of flavor and are of a mild-to-moderate bitterness. Maybe not my favorite beer out there, but again, for the style, it's punching pretty high.

Mouthfeel: light body with a moderate carbonation and a decent enough creaminess.

Overall: I mean, if I'm gonna drink a lager, typically it's going to be a Euro pale lager. This doesn't quite hold up to my favorites in that style. But if I had to drink an AAL, give me this any day of the week.

 

12oz bottle (no date evident) into an American pint glass. Pours a crystal clear pale yellow color with a decent 1-finger white head—I haven’t had a beer that was quite this pale in a pretty long time. Maybe Hite or OB with Korean BBQ.

Aroma is subtly floral and grainy. Not sure what hops were used but if I had to guess I’d say some Old World varieties.

Taste is likewise a subtle blend of floral and grainy qualities. Not quite watery but there’s not a ton going on here. A little bit bready but mostly it’s the water. It’s fine for an AAL.

Mouthfeel is clean and crisp, goes down super easy, which I guess is the point.

Overall a decent enough rendering of the style—drinkable isn’t the word; I’d say it’s quaffable. Not sure I’d reach for this again if something more flavorful and interesting was available, but for a session/lawnmower beer it’s not bad.

Poured into a Reuben's Brew pint glass. Pours a light golden amber with a fine, three finger white head with great retention and solid lacing. Aroma of pilsner malt, citrus and grassy hops, lemon and light graham cracker. Flavor is pilsner malt, citrus and grassy hops, lemon, grapefruit, whole grains; lemon and grassy hop bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. I think this brew accomplished what it promised; a thoughtfully and well brewed American lager. The use of lemon leaning citrus hops along with continental style ones makes it more Northwestern. Rather pale in color, but with a beautiful, lingering head. Styled as a modern replacement for the legendary Rainier beer (long ago absorbed by Miller), it does a good job. A nice, grainy lager with an interesting, if simple, hop bill. I'll watch for this while out dining, where it would be welcomed.

Review from 3/11/2024, while waiting for my suggestion for this brewery to be added to BA; glad it finally got a place. This has been widely available on the market for months.

Pint at Chuck's Hop Shop.

Clear, light gold, medium head. A little earthy hops. Taste is same, a bit more on the lemon side. mouthfeel is light and clean. Overall...unknown lager style from an unknown brewery...it's all right. No real flaws, but not that remarkable.