Good vienna lagers

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SeanBond, Jan 7, 2016.

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  1. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I realize this may be a shot in the dark, because it's not barrel-aged or dry-hopped 97 times from experimental hops grown on the dark side of venus (and thus isn't the rage), but I figured I'd ask:

    What are some good, relatively available vienna lagers (if they exist)? I just recently got into the style mostly through this: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18539/46793/ (they don't distribute here in Chicago), and was hoping to track a few more down.

    I see that Sierra Nevada makes one, so if that makes it to Chicago I'll check it out; any other ideas, from anyone? Basically, if it distributes to Illinois or Wisconsin, that would be most helpful.


    Thank ya!
     
    #1 SeanBond, Jan 7, 2016
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  2. malloyca

    malloyca Zealot (587) May 25, 2010 District of Columbia

    Samuel Adams Boston Lager
     
    #2 malloyca, Jan 7, 2016
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  3. Jnashed

    Jnashed Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2014 Virginia

    Cant go wrong with GL Eliot Ness. I assume that is up in Chicago. I agree with you on the Devils backbone . great beer.
     
    #3 Jnashed, Jan 7, 2016
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  4. twb0392

    twb0392 Initiate (0) Aug 1, 2014 Wisconsin

    Boston lager is great, dont listen to the haters.
     
    #4 twb0392, Jan 7, 2016
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  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    There are a number of good Vienna Lagers that are produced but the "relatively available" aspect is tricky.

    Some Vienna Lagers I recommend:
    • Devils Backbone Vienna Lager
    • Neshaminy Creek Churchville Lager
    • Great Lakes Elliot Ness
    • Sierra Nevada Vienna Lager (a seasonal in a variety pack)
    • Straub Vienna Lager (a seasonal in a variety pack)
    • Stoudts Oktoberfest (a seasonal; it drinks like a Vienna Lager to me)
    Cheers!
     
    #5 JackHorzempa, Jan 7, 2016
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  6. grantcty

    grantcty Savant (1,016) Feb 17, 2008 Minnesota
    Trader

    August Schell Firebrick is a really good one.

    It's been a long time since I've had this, but Capital's Wisconsin Amber was a good one too.
     
    #6 grantcty, Jan 7, 2016
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  7. TCJ0100

    TCJ0100 Initiate (0) Oct 9, 2014 California

    Sierra Nevada's Vienna Lager is fantastic. It's my favorite part of the autumn sampler.
     
    #7 TCJ0100, Jan 7, 2016
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  8. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    August Schell Firebrick. End of your search.
     
    #8 steveh, Jan 7, 2016
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  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I have seen posts concerning Sam Adams Boston Lager. That beer is a tasty American Amber Lager IMO since at 30 IBUs it is too hoppy for the Vienna Lager style.

    Cheers!
     
    #9 JackHorzempa, Jan 7, 2016
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  10. tillmac62

    tillmac62 Pooh-Bah (2,859) Oct 2, 2013 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Great Lakes Eliot Ness, the best Vienna I've ever had.
     
    #10 tillmac62, Jan 7, 2016
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  11. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Not sure if Schell's distributes your way but if they do Firebrick would be one to try. As stated Great Lakes Elliot Ness is another. I think Leinie Red is considered a Vienna. Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Amber are Mexican takes on the style. Not recent takes on the style but versions that were developed many years ago. I'm not an expert on the history of that but someone surely is.
     
    #11 ZAP, Jan 7, 2016
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  12. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's funny, back when I started drinking craft beer I had some of Sam Adams' more esoteric stuff, but I'd always meant to try Boston Lager (just never do it because there's always something newer and shinier to try).

    Didn't know Eliot Ness was a vienna lager, and I definitely sleep on GL too often (Nosferatu is an old favorite, and I tend to forget how good their stuff is in general).

    Good to know the SN one is in their sampler packs, I'll keep an eye out, and the same goes for Firebrick.


    Thanks guys!
     
    #12 SeanBond, Jan 7, 2016
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  13. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Wisconsin Amber isn't listed as a Vienna Lager these days. And to be frank, the last time I tried it I would not have categorized it as such either. Sorry to say, more akin to Leinie's Red than anything (which is odd, because that is listed as a Vienna. :astonished:)
     
    #13 steveh, Jan 7, 2016
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  14. eldoctorador

    eldoctorador Pooh-Bah (2,096) Dec 12, 2014 Chile
    Pooh-Bah

    Does Lakefront Brewery Riverwest Stein work?
     
    #14 eldoctorador, Jan 7, 2016
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  15. RobertColianni

    RobertColianni Pooh-Bah (1,789) Nov 4, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is the gold standard for me. Fritzie's by 2nd Story is up there as well.
     
    #15 RobertColianni, Jan 7, 2016
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  16. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,355) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    When in New England, try Von Trapp's Vienna.
     
    #16 bleakies, Jan 7, 2016
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  17. CraigP83

    CraigP83 Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2014 Minnesota
    Trader

    The Vienna Lager that came in the Sierra Nevada Fall Pack was really good, I also enjoyed Bent Paddle's Roof Rack.
     
    #17 CraigP83, Jan 7, 2016
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  18. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Looks like it might!
     
    #18 SeanBond, Jan 7, 2016
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  19. 5thOhio

    5thOhio Pooh-Bah (1,571) May 13, 2007 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    #19 5thOhio, Jan 7, 2016
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  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Neshaminy Creek is indeed a good beer.

    I think my favorite Vienna Lager of 2015 was Straub Vienna Lager. I posted my impressions of this beer in a New Beer Sunday thread: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-540.308103/#post-3814382

    I also discussed Stoudt Oktoberfest (which drinks like a Vienna Lager for my palate): http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-sunday-week-556.345506/#post-4163002

    I will have to schedule a trip down to 2nd Story to drink some Fritzie's Lager. I think it is cool that they provide a homebrew recipe for this beer on their website: http://www.2ndstorybrewing.com/fritzies-lager-recipe-notes/

    Cheers!
     
    #20 JackHorzempa, Jan 7, 2016
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