Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

Not Your Grandfather’s Lager

Pale Lager

Pale lagers are the standard international beer style, as personified by products from Miller to Heineken. This style is the generic spin-off of the pilsner style. Pale lagers are generally light- to medium-bodied with a light-to-medium hop impression and a clean, crisp malt character. Quality, from a flavor point of view, is very variable within this style and many examples use a proportion of non-malt additives such as rice or corn. Alcohol content is typically between 3.5-5 percent ABV, with the upper end of the range being preferable if one is to get a true lager mouthfeel.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

84 Lager Beer, Narragansett Brewing Company (RI). 5.1% ABV (10/10)
Rich golden yellow color. Aromas of buttery roasted pistachios, roasted squash and crusty baguette with a crisp, round dry-yet-fruity medium body and a lemon curd on wafer, dried pear and straw-like hop finish.

84 Gold Crown Beer, Cambodia Brewery Limited (Cambodia). 4.5% ABV (10/10)
Yellow color. Mild aromas of bread pudding and poached egg with a soft, silky, dry light-to-medium body and a tart apple core, radish, and apple phosphate finish.

84 Cinco Pale Lager, Del Norte Brewing Co. (CO). 4.4% ABV (10/10)
Bright aromas apple vinaigrette, lavender talc, and buttered cornbread toast with a crisp, soft light-to-medium body and a polenta, roasted squash, lemon yogurt, and light peppery spice finish.

84 Alpine Lager, Moosehead Breweries Ltd. (Canada). 5% ABV (11/08)
Bright golden color. pepper and egg bread aromas follow through to dryish light-to-medium body with corn flake notes and mild citrus, apple and earth on the piquant finish. Pleasantly zesty.

84 541 Lager, Hop Valley Brewing Co. (OR). 4.9% ABV (11/09)
Deep golden color. Tilled earth aromas have hints of peach marmalade, banana bread, and buttered nuts. Frothy and medium bodied with chewy pastry dough-like malt a note of canned vegetables. Finishes with a zippy citrus and grassy hop finish.

83 Pacifico Clara, Cerveceria Modelo (Mexico). 4.4% ABV (11/08)
Egg bread aromas and flavors with a dry light body with hints of apple skin and nuts. Finishes with a quick, metal ore and buttered corn bread fade.

83 Moosehead Lager, Moosehead Breweries Ltd. (Canada). 5% ABV (11/08)
Bright golden color. Pepper muffin and buttery corn niblet aromas follow through on a crisp entry to a dry light-to-medium body with a mild apple skin and buttered toast fade. A decent quaffer.

83 Hollandia Premium Lager, H-West B.V. (Holland). 4.8% ABV (11/08)
Gold color. French toast aromas have a faint, savory vegetal edge and follow through on a round entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with a touch of creamed corn. Finishes with a dash of pepper, dried citrus, and foil.

82 Lager, Wingwalker (USA). 4.5% ABV (10/10)
Bright golden yellow color. Buttered popcorn aromas with a frothy light body and a crisp, sweet potato and lemon curd accented finish.

80 Orale Mexican Style Lager, Del Norte Brewing Co. (CO). 4.5% ABV (10/10)
Bright golden yellow color. Slightly skunky dried grass and toasted herb corn bread aromas with a round dry light body and a funky lemon yogurt, turnip, and musty rag accented finish.

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