New Beer Weekend #299

My first ever Austrian style Export Lager

A question that may pop into your mind is: what the heck is an Austrian style Export Lager? FWIW, I have the same question.

Today’s new beer was collaboratively brewed by Von Trapp and Jack’s Abby, branded as mentioned above: Austrian style Export Lager.

To the best of my recollection the only beer I have had that was brewed in Austria was Stiegl Goldbraü. So, what sort of beer is this? This beer is categorized as being a European Pale Lager style on BA; it is 5% ABV.

I have listened to podcasts with Andreas Krennmaier who is Austrian and is very knowledgeable about Austrian brewing both historically and contemporary brewing. He wrote the book "Historic German and Austrian Beers for the Home Brewer" which I have considered purchasing in the past (but I yet to ‘pull the trigger’).

According to Andreas Krennmaier the top selling beers in Austria are what are locally termed as being a Marzën, but these beers are markedly different for the German (Bavarian) version being lower in alcohol (typically around 5% ABV) and pale in color (‘modern’ Festbiers are pale in color).

Since this beer is considered to be an Export Lager this is an indicator that this beer has a bit more ‘heft’ in the alcohol aspect and it does at 5.6% ABV.

On the back of the can is listed “Austrian style Export Lager: Brewed with Pilsner and Vienna malts, Continental noble hops, and fermented cool with our house lager yeast.

Maybe this beer would be similar to a German Festbier?

Let’s find out.

Served in my Polish Pilsner glass:

Appearance

A medium golden color with a BIG fluffy white head.

Aroma:

Predominantly rich, bready malt but there is some herbal/spicy hops in the background.

Taste:

The flavor follows the nose with rich, bready malt flavor being front and center but again some herbal/spicy hop flavors in the background. There is a low-moderate bitterness.

Mouthfeel

Light - medium bodied with an off-dry finish.

Overall

A very good malty lager.

If I was presented with this beer blind, I am confident that I would assess this beer as being a Pale Oktoberfest (Festbier). Let’s go spring Festing!

Cheers!

@rotsaruch @RobH @KOP_Beer_OUtlet @speakorspasm @Giovannilucano

 

Thanks for opening us up on this lovely spring weekend @superspak, I’m looking forward to joining later this weekend.

I will be following in @JackHorzempa footsteps with Von Trapp and that will mean back to back Von Trapp NBWs for me.

 

Saint Adarius Rustic Ales - Conclusive Illusions barrel-aged barleywine with honey

500ml bottle served in a stemless rastal. No date that I can find. Bought it at Glendale Tap a couple weeks ago, IIRC.

Pours extremely dark brown, very little head. Clear on the edges, looks thick to the point of syrupiness. Smell is big American barleywine, woody tannins and heavy toffee and nuts. Reminds me of Bigfoot, but more intense and with a strong sweetness. Strong booze and barrel, some vanilla and something a bit deeper and darker -- molasses and root beer maybe.

Taste is slightly oxidized root beer, strong bark and molasses. Honey comes across but probably wouldn't have gotten named if it wasn't on the label. Booze is very noticeable, becomes more cola like with more sips.

Mouthfeel is thick, smooth, just a hint of prickle. Overall, very nice, very pleasant.

Welcome home, Artemis crew.

 

Hello New Beer Weekend!!!

It's been a couple of weeks since I've said that due to being sick, and not wanting to review beers while under the weather. My taste and smell is back to normal now, so it is time to get back into the saddle again. I bought this beer last Sunday after Easter lunch with my family. I drove over to Casanova Liquor in Hudson, WI to get it, and I was surprised to see it there.

Fort Point - Trillium Brewing Co. - Canton, MA - Hazy Pale Ale - 6.6%

Wow, I have seen this beer on here for a long time, and I finally got to buy and try it. I like the tropical notes to this beer. I would say that at 2 months old, it is tasting great.

Review:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/43481/88949/
4.34/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
From a 16oz can. Canned on 02/04/2026

This beer is a nice looking beer. It has a beautiful pale golden color to it. The beer is quite murky looking in the glass. There's a 1 1/2 finger white head to the beer that is quite fluffy looking. The head retention is decent, and there's a bit of lacing on the glass as the head dissipates.
The aroma hit my nose while pouring. I was getting some pretty good tropical citrus notes hitting me while pouring. Time to get in close to the beer. I am getting a nice pineapple aroma hitting my nose. I am also getting some orange and grapefruit notes touching my sense of smell. I am sure they were stronger notes when this beer was freshly canned, but they're still powerful.
The citrus notes from the hops hit right away. The pineapple is the major flavor hitting me. I also get faint orange and grapefruit notes. There's some earthiness that hits my taste buds on the backside. There's a nice light bitterness that finishes off the flavor profile.
The body is pretty damn full for the style of beer. There's a bit of softness to the body. There's a bit of a bubbly feeling hitting my tongue.
Quite impressive beer overall. I am glad I finally got the chance to buy and try it.


I will be back tomorrow for more new beers. Cheers all.

 

What an awesome experience to watch and be part of.

 

When I'm in Hudson WI usually go to Chicones liquor and Festival Foods more than Casanova for beer. Some people don't know Festival has beer but it's not a big whale stop, it's more for common WI brewed beers. I buy most of my meat at that store.

 

Hope you will entertain this question @superspak, what is your system for remembering who sent you all the beers you share each weekend? I mean, you know who sent you a beer from 4 years ago...do you have a spreadsheet or something?

 

I wasn't sure what would be open on Easter. Casanova was close to the border, so it was my first attempt. It, thankfully was open. If not I would have tried the other 2 places.

 

Had this a little earlier this afternoon, another Bruery anniversary beer. Kind of like all the others. Cheers!
_______________
4.45/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
375mL bottle into a tulip—first one of these I’ve had in the smaller format, but I don’t disagree with the decision, especially since I always end up drinking these on my own. Pours a clear reddish mahogany with a minimal khaki head.

Aroma leads off with an intriguing blend of sour and sweet. Subtle tartness balanced by fruity caramel malt. All these Bruery solera anniversary beers have been so similar, I’m actually surprised by this apparent deviation. Could be an anomaly, time to taste.

First sip is decidedly sweeter than what o detected on the nose, now countered by a subtle oaky bitterness. Caramel, vanilla, toffee, bourbon char—much more in line with what I’ve come to expect from this series, which is not a bad thing. Rum-soaked figs/dates as it warms.

Mouthfeel is medium-heavy, lingering boozy warm finish.

Overall another tasty link in the Bruery anniversary chain.

 

Great kickoff @superspak! I’ll be back with my new beer soon but wanted to recommend Pillars of the Earth - I read that years ago and thought it was very good.
Of course, I also liked Dune and Edgar Rice Burroughs John Carter of Mars series, So take that for what its worth.

 

Appreciate the opening, @superspak - not sure if I'll find a new beer this weekend but I'll likely look in to see what others are drinking.

Seasonal creep has achieved its ultimate goal, perhaps??

Or maybe not? I am going to try to find a 2027 Oktoberfest to review by this Sunday.

 

So, a while back I asked @russpowell for a favor and he came through in spades. I can only hope that the return fire is somewhere close to equality.
This one is another one that he sent me as he probably noticed that I really like Baltic Porters.
And this one is excellent.

You pour is strong coffee brown that looks stout black in the glass. The light brown head reached over an inch in hight but left almost no lacing.
The taste is figs and chocolate and mild coffee and raisins. Molasses tainted sugar is brought to mind. If there are hops present they were very subtle.
The feel is a bit fuller than most lagers, but Baltic Porters are not like most lagers. Good, full feel, nowhere near heavy. Just far too easy to quaff.
OA, might not be the best according to the style write up, but I thought it was delicious.
Thank you Russ for sharing this with me!

 

Had a few beers in mind for NBW, but spotted this at the local supermarket.
Fresh (BB July 2026) and only $3, so...
Never really got into their stuff when it first came out. Tried Bengali and The Crisp. Meh. Recently saw good reviews for Resin here, and, being a fan of resinous and dank DIPAS, figured I'd give it a go...
Pours a beautiful gold with a nice foam head that quickly dissipates. Upon cracking the can, there's an initial blast of hop aroma, but it's short-lived. The taste is bitter, resinous hops parallel to a strong sweet malt presence. Almost equal bitterness and sweetness in the mix.
I crave old school hop bitterness over newfangled soft, juicy, murky IPAs, but there's not much else going on with this. Kind of a one-trick pony (not a six-point pony?).
The 9.2% is apparent, as well, as it's quite boozy.

 

Glad you enjoyed it. By All Means makes some good stuff, just happy they seem to sticking around in the Tulsa market