Original Lager
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant - Eleventh Avenue

 

Oddly enough it has taken me a long time to review this brew, despite being a Brewsters regular, for at least two reasons. One, the description provided on the beer card doesn't look that compelling. Two, it is quite frequently sold out. Evidently the majority of Brewsters customers do not wish to try anything particularly interesting or different but will instead gravitate towards the familiar... "What, you don't have Bud Light?" ... Craft beer still has a ways to go. Anyhow, this beer is indeed better than Bud Light. Looks like a plain Jane vanilla pale lager, pale golden straw colored with aggressive carbonation and a fairly anemic white head. Smells like fresh yeasty dough, sweet hay, a little floral perfume like chamomile tea. Tastes sweeter than expected perhaps, cornflakes, white Wonder bread, maybe a little sourdough. Subtle hopping provides some floral and citrus spice character ... I like the floral hops, not bad. Body is a shade thick for the style, almost a little syrupy or chalky although this could be the residual sweetness fooling me. Started off quite strong but I found the sweetness getting somewhat cloying after a while. Certainly worth a try, reminds a bit of Steam Whistle or another "Canadian pilsener". Can't say I'd snag it again when the other side of the beer card holds a shit ton more interest.

500ml bottle poured into pint glass feb15 2011

A clear straw yellow with plenty of bubbles feeding a thumbs width of bone white foam that leaves a few random patches of lace

S sweet malts with a little lemon

T not far from the smell, a little grassy and some fruit I can't quite place

M light bodied with enough carbonation to give it some life

D pretty easy drinking going on here, I could drink a few of these before I got board

another respectable brew from Brewsters, a simple brew but no flaws and ease of consumption is keeping it worthy

20oz pint at the Oliver location.

This beer appears a slightly hazy, pale golden yellow colour, with one finger of weakly foamy and mostly soapy dirty white head, which leaves some sparse stringy lace around the glass as things quickly recede.

It smells of gritty and crackery pale malt, kind of bready and doughy as well, a bit of yeast, tart, ethereal lemon, a touch of petrol, and strong weedy, grassy hops. The taste is more bready cereals, peppy earthy yeast, a muddled, indistinct citrus character, and steady floral, somewhat grassy hops.

The carbonation is fairly low-key, just a tame frothiness throughout, the body medium-light in weight, and generally smooth. It finishes off-dry, crisp in its grainy maltiness, floral, and perhaps a bit chalky.

A pretty drinkable and refreshing base lager, with thankfully none of the underwhelming hallmarks of the style. Would be good for some sort of session on the west (and parking lot expanse) facing patio here.

Your pale lager, its drinkable and it's a hair better than a macro lager. Its also very actively carbonated, its creamy and fresh and dry - very dry. Malty aroma. Try their Frog Lager instead. I was here, I had time till my flight, that's my story.

Presented with a nice creamy head, a thick and solid lace clinging to the glass, and a pale clear lemon yellow underneath.

The nose is very mild, with a little malt and hops, and a slight sulfur bite. The flavour was a good malt and hops balance, with a touch of vegetables and something of a sulfur bite again. It was quite nice and tasty, which surprised me.

The body is smooth and rich, but light and refreshing. As usual, Brewster's lighter styles seem to be their best.