Kidd Lager

Ft. Collins, CO

Available: CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, KS, MA, MN, MO, NE, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, PA, RI, TN, WI, WY

Kidd Lager is an unusual American example of a schwarzbier, a German black lager.

ABV: 4.9
ABW: 3.9
Color: 29
Bitterness: 23
Original gravity: 1047

In Colorado, a state that takes it’s beer seriously, a dark beer labeled “lager” is no surprise! Deep, almost opaque coffee color with amber highlights sports a caffe latte head that disappears like Billy the Kid after a bank robbery. Dry, stout-like nose of cocoa and coffee is fresh and enjoyable. A beer with an identity crisis! In the mouth, it is dry and much lighter than the color and nose indicate. An underlying one-dimensional smokiness replaces malt at the back of the palate begging for more character and complexity. The aftertaste is slight. Worth trying with cold smoked wild salmon, three bean chili or Szechwan eggplant.
- Charles Finkel

The unassuming brand name is a hard bluff. Light speculation fails. I pour a mahogany chestnut brown brew. My interest zigs then zags. Smokey and roasted malt aroma astonishes and is quite complex. Light in body, but full of rich malt and smoke character that emerge as it slowly warms. Clean, well balanced and easy drinking — if you enjoy ventures outside of the asylum of beer styles, this brew comes highly recommended.
- Charlie Papazian

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

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