Country of Origin: United States
Availability: On tap at a John Harvards brewpub only.
Price comparison: Standard beer-on-tap pricing, or a sampling at $1 per 2-3 ounce serving.
Alcohol percentage by volume: Varies from brewing to brewing; this sample was about 4.8%.
Cute bottle/label? One of five tiny glasses served on a divided wooden paddle.
Appearance: Hazy red-gold with no head, but a thin film of lace on the surface.
Scent: Toasted malt and very floral hops.
Flavor: The flavor is predominantly malt, very crisp and light, with a lot more hops at the finish.
Impressions: Of the five beers I sampled on this trip, this was the one I liked the least, and, furthermore, it was the reason I didn't get any nut-brown ale (they weren't planning on brewing more till the amber lager was used up). However, leaving bias out of the equation, this was not really terrible, just not as wonderful as the others (reviews pending, hang in there).
Will I buy this beer again? At John Harvard's you basically have to take what they've got. This would be a very bad thing if you were dealing with a bar that only supplied national brands, but John Harvard's is a brewpub, and you can be secure in the knowledge that what you are getting is the freshest, most versatile, most drinkable beer they can produce. Don't try to get drunk off their low ABV offerings; you'll just be asking for a night of constant restroom-hopping and a headache the next day. Order the style of beer you like and their version is bound to make you happy. If you're not sure what goes with what you're eating, ask your server or bartender; they do know.
This particular lager is more appetizing to me and has more character than bottled lager. I would order it again at a John Harvard's if it were available and I were eating something that traditionally pairs with lager (their fresh bread, for instance, is heavy on rosemary and garlic and is served with infused olive oil for dipping).
Rating:
3 out of 5 cute beer glasses
Reviewed: March 3, 2004
