Planning Thread: American Adjunct Lager Tasting (July 4-7)

I need some and it's really EZ to find here.

 

Based on one of the numerous recent AAL threads, and for “science,” I still have on my list to try and review the following (none of which I’ve tasted in decades, if ever):

• Budweiser
• Bud Light
• PBR
• Corona Extra
• Miller High Life
• Coors Banquet
• Rainier
• Modelo Especial
• Hamm’s
• Stroh’s
• MGD
• Schlitz
• Old Style

However, I still have not managed to find these available for purchase in single-format bottles/cans, and I don’t often go out to drink (and if I do, it’s not usually to anywhere that serves any of these beers). I’m not investing in multiples of any of these. So unless I crack that code, I don’t know that I’ll be participating. If I do find a place that sells these beers as singles, I might as well get this over with soon.

But as a long-time member on this site, I find the whole “let’s celebrate AALs” thing pretty fucking ironic. Next up—it’s Yankee cap day at Fenway Park!

 

No, I get it. My list is just a promise I made to myself to try all the main/macro brands at least once, and be as objective as possible about them, as a person who respects beer. Kind of like anyone who likes cheeseburgers should at least try the Big Mac, Whopper, and whatever Wendy’s flagship burger is called at least once.

I’m all in favor of your final sentence.

 

The thread I started "Let's Give Lagers Some Love" has a lot of nice "newer" beers along with the expected macro and imports. It's worth a look.

 

I don’t really know what local AALs are available—maybe I’ll delve into that after I’ve had my glasses of Bud, PBR etc. I kind of feel like it’s just a style I’m not all that excited about, and it offers only so much range, but I’d be happy to be proved wrong.

 

it could be completely different where you’re located but i would keep an eye out at gas stations and liquor stores for bigger sized singles. a lot of the beers on your list i would be able to find in 25oz cans (unless that’s just too many ounces of mediocre beer for you.) cheers!

 

That’s a good suggestion, I always forget about gas stations because I never visit them (I drive a plug-in hybrid and the one or two times a year I fill my tank I do it at Costco). I don’t mind drainpouring excess beer I don’t want to consume from an oversize can/bottle—I just don’t want to buy six cans for the privilege of drinking one.

 

Are beers listed as American Lager allowed in this tasting event, or is it strictly AAL, Light Lager, and Cream Ale as mentioned in the OP?

 

One time zone's midday isn't the same as another. Simple is best.

 

@jonphisher can't believe there are things like *Cream ales with lactose, coffee, vanilla, nitro, etc. I have never understood that ha.

Anyway, I'll try to pick up some Back Pew Blue Testament

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/43230/201226/

Labeled here as just an American Lager, but it is a lager with blue corn, which falls clearly in the Adjunct Lager style for me, and pretty good. I haven't had it in a while, so as good a time as any to track down a six pack.

 

I'll pick up some Schell's Deer Beer but as of now, here's what's in my fridge being saved for the sacrifice....I mean tasting.
Point Amber Lager
Schell's Northland Gold Session Lager
Heileman's Special Export
Shiner Light Blonde Lager
Shiner Black Lager
Shiner Orale' Mexican Lager
Shiner Sea Salt & Lime Lager
Drekker I Don't Know No Snakes Lagerbier

 

that brings up a whole other issue that this thread has me pondering hardcore for the last like 24ish hours… and that is that SO MANY beers on this site are labeled with incorrect styles!

sometimes i don’t always think it’s our users’ / community’s fault. sometimes i think these breweries (and brewers) don’t always know what the hell they’re talking about. another problem is that american brewers are obsessed with mashing up styles. that doesn’t help.

this probably isn’t the time or place for this discussion but i doubt i am alone in thinking about certain beers and whether or not they “make the cut” for this tasting. cheers!

 

There has been some posts asking whether certain types of beers are acceptable for this tasting so I have one: is it OK to discuss an Adjunct Lager (e.g., brewed with some corn) that are not labeled as being American?

In another thread I discussed Modelo Especial which is an Adjunct Lager brewed in Mexico (and categorized as American Adjunct Lager on BA). I presume an Adjunct Lager that has a connection to a differing country than Mexico would be acceptable as well?

Cheers!

@jonphisher

 

I did a couple of blind tastings of AAL American lagers in the 1970s. My fellow beer fans and I of the time were able to discern differences among the beers. We did identify preferences, and, in a limited sense, agreed on those. But the overall conclusion was that there just were no standouts. For me, a better-than-average AAL would taste very good only under rare special circumstances. The differences were so small that individual taste controlled one's favorite. The differences among AAL beers have decreased over the years. Given the trend toward lower hopping rates and possible changes in malts and adjuncts, I'd be surprised if this mass tasting can give a clear indication of "better" AAL beers.

 

So, just to be clear here: beers like Modelo Especial, Corona, adjunct lagers brewed by craft breweries but labeled as Mexican Lagers (e.g., Tonewood Poolside), etc. are not permitted for this upcoming tasting?

If this is the case then I think you need to emphasize this in the 'instructions' for the tasting.

Cheers!

 

FWIW beers like Modelo Especial, Corona, Pacifico, etc. are genuinely AAL beers. Just like an American craft brewery can produce a Belgian Dubbel, breweries in Mexico can produce an American Adjunct Lager.

Some Mexican Lager history:

“So, what is Mexican Lager? It’s often said that it’s a pale lager (but sometimes amber, sometimes darker), made with adjuncts. These days, that primarily means a corn-based product. This definition is true, but also broad and doesn’t distinguish Mexico from a number of other lager producing countries. This includes the United States, which began making adjunct lager shortly before Mexico did.”

And:

“Brewers that either worked or trained in the United States brought this type of brewing with them to Mexico in the late 1800s to early 1900s.”

https://www.casketbeer.com/home/2022/12/1/mexican-lager-history-and-appropriation

Cheers!