= Brewpub88 Warka Red Label Lager, Grupa Zywiec S.A. (Poland). 5.7% ABV (11/09)
Deep golden color. Very mild toasted bread aromas follow through on a round entry to a dry, medium body with honeyed nuts, wheat cracker and golden raisin notes. Finishes with a crisp, astringent earth hop fade. A very nice quaffer.
88 Timisoreana Lager, Ursus Breweries (Romania). 5% ABV (10/08)
Pure golden color with a foamy white head. Honey-drizzled nut, melon rind and toasted Hawaiian bread aromas follow through on soft, silky entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with clay and almond skin accents. Finishes with a light bread dough and lemon soufflé fade. A pleasant light styled quaffer.
88 Pure Brewed Lager, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery (England). 5% ABV (10/08)
Deep golden color. Cocoa-dusted nuts, toasted raisin bread and custard aromas follow through on a soft, smooth entry to a dryish medium body with nice soft, biscuit and citrus rind accents. Finishes with a mild earthy hop and pepper fade.
88 Moretti Lager, Birra Moretti (Italy). 4.6% ABV (11/08)
Pale golden yellow color. Mild aromas of light rye toast and cracker and egg white soufflé follow through on soft, but crisp entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with excellent grainy bread and earth hop flavors with a touch of butter and dried fruit on the finish. An excellent food beer.
88 Michelob Lager, Michelob Brewing Co. (MO). 5% ABV (10/08)
Deep golden color. Mild peach custard pastry aromas have a toasty edge and follow through on a soft, supple entry to a dryish medium body with toasted nut bread and savory grilled citrus and root vegetable notes. Finishes with a very clean, honeyed nut and candied citrus peel fade. A refreshing and balanced quaffer or food beer.
88 Longboard Island Lager, Kona Brewing Co. (HI). 5.6% ABV (11/08)
Bright golden color. Baked citrus, buttered toast, straw aromas follow through on a round, crisp entry to a dryish medium body with nice integration of toast, raisin, citrus and earth flavors. Finishes with a long refreshing wave of flavor. A nice summer, “chill out” beer.
88 Lager, Tusker (Kenya). 4.2% ABV (11/07)
Golden yellow color. Wet straw, river bed, toast and mace aromas. A round, silky entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium body of honeyed cornbread, hay and lemon cream flavors with a quick, sweet candy corn fade. Interesting.
88 Koshihikari Jikomi, Swan Lake Beer (Japan). 5% ABV (2/07)
Pale golden color. Bread and faint dried banana aromas. A crisp entry leads to a dry, light-to-medium body of toast, citrus zest and delicate grain flavors. Finishes with a refreshing and mildly astringent wave of bittering hops.
88 Ekstra Draught, Svyturys (Lithuania). 5.2% ABV (10/08)
Bright golden color with a lacy head. Honeyed nut and lemon pastry aromas follow through on a rich entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium body with tropical fruit custard tart note. Finishes with a long, velvety yet crisp fruit. Nice weight and poise.
88 Duke Mid Strength Pale Lager, Burleigh Brewing Co. (Australia). 3.5% ABV (11/09)
Deep golden color. Light, toasted raisin bread crust and herbal hop aromas follow through on a soft, supple entry to a dryish light body with good depth and balance. Finishes with a crisp, toasty, lightly astringent fade. A nice, lighter styled session beer.
88 Berghoff Original Lager, Joseph Huber Brewing Co. (WI). (10/07)
Old gold color. Lemon soufflé and caramelized grain aromas follow through to a soft, frothy entry. Dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body with a hints of banana cream, nuts and wet stones. A refreshing, fruity and well-balanced lager.
88 Baffo D’Oro, Birra Moretti (Italy). 4.8% ABV (11/07)
Old gold color. Fresh toasted bread and chocolate milkshake aromas. A soft, sound entry leads to a dryish medium body of honeyed nut toast and citrus marmalade flavors with a crisp, zippy, white clay and nut-accented fade. A great beer for Napoli-style pizza.
88 Ambar Especial Lager, La Zaragozana S.A. (Spain). 5.2% ABV (11/08)
Old gold color. Toasted brioche, honey cream and faint roasted root vegetable aromas follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dryish medium body with a touch of toasted buttered nuts and apple and pear skins on the crisp, light fade. Nice style and balance.
87 Zolotoye Pale Lager, Alivaria (Belarus). 5% ABV (11/07)
Old burnish gold color. Toasted-roasted grain, bread dough and paper maché aromas follow through to a round and dry, medium body with nutshell and lemon custard accents and a chewy, sweet wheat dough fade.
87 Stegmaier Gold Medal Beer, The Lion Brewery (PA). 4.6% ABV (11/08)
Bright golden color. Toasted herb bread, nut and faint roasted vegetable aromas follow through on a crisp, round entry to a dryish medium body nice balance and depth. Finishes with a touch of pear skin, rind and earth. Nice.
87 Lager, River Horse Brewery (NJ). 4.7% ABV (10/08)
Slightly hazy golden amber color. Roasted unshelled nuts, grapefruit and mild melted cheese aromas follow through on a soft, round entry to a dryish medium body with a touch of stewed okra. Finishes with a zesty lemon rind, toasted bread and metal ore fade.
87 Kell’s Irish Style Lager, Rogue Ales (OR). 4.8% ABV (11/09)
Lightly hazy deep golden color with a foamy white head. Aromas of bread, citrus and mild grassy hops follow through on a frothy medium body with melon notes. Finishes with a tart, tangy citrus, nut and earth fade.
