Apollo Seven
Apollo Brewing Company Ltd.

473 mL can from TBS; best before 04/12/2026 and served slightly chilled. Brewed at the Brunswick Bierworks under contract.

Pours a crystal clear golden yellow colour, producing nearly three fingers of soapy, foamy white head that dissipates within four or five minutes. Fantastic lace deposition, with a frothy cap and collar remaining on the surface - looks great, but the aroma is another story. Grainy malts, buttered biscuit, corn husk, ethanol and an unmistakable hint of nail polish remover.

A little more palatable than the nose let on, but after a few sips it quickly becomes a chore to drink. I'm getting sweet corn, bready malts and graininess, with hints of bubble gum and confectionery sugar by mid-sip. Just a flash of grassy hay later on, concluding with a boozy-sweet, borderline sugary finish that I didn't really care for. Medium in body, with moderately assertive carbonation that adds some frothiness to this lager's smooth, slick mouthfeel. Finishing one can is not that difficult, but a single serving is plenty for this guy.

Final Grade: 3.12, a C+. I've had much more offensive strong lagers than Apollo Seven... but being 'merely tolerable' isn't much of a selling point. This is a very sweet lager - which, on some level, actually does help to a certain extent, because it distracts me from the poorly-integrated alcohol. It's also better than many of the Euro alternatives, e.g. the Bavaria 8.6 series, but not nearly good enough to earn a serious recommendation. I'd probably take a couple of Cold Shots over this, because at least I'd finish those before they get warm. If you're a college student looking for something to give you a light buzz before hitting up the bar/club, this is worth a shot.

473 ml can from Longos dated BB 8/13/26, poured into traditional pint glass. Served chilled, formed two finger fine white head on pale gold. Head dissipated within a couple minutes, some lacing on glass. Looks like an excellent lager.

Decent malt scent, very little hops. Taste matches that, not bitter, a touch of sweetness - which matches my typical preference. The 7% ABV doesn't overwhelm the flavor, but not a lot stands out in the flavor to particularly recommend, either.

A local brewer for me, but I'll try another of their offerings to lend my support next time. Not a bad beverage by any means; but, only a good one.

From a 473ml can dated BB 08/13/26. Poured into a pint glass. A big two finger fine white head on a pale gold. The head soon diminished to a persistent thin layer. Lots of fine clingy lacing.

Malt in the nose. Some spicy hop. The taste is a bit thin. Sweet. A faint strange chemical taste in the finish.

The mouthfeel is fairly smooth. Medium body and good carbonation. Overall no major flaws. better than most European Strong Lagers.