Today we’re going to take a look at a beer from Lakewood Brewing – a small Texas brewery based in Garland – just east of Dallas. This is the second beer that I have had from them and the first that I have reviewed. The first beer I had from Lakewood was part of their Legendary Series – a dark belgian ale called Brabo’s Cut. It was a great beer – and I am hoping that this beer lives up to the Brabo – even if it is a year round selection from Lakewood.
This beer is a Vienna Style Lager – it is a style of beer that came to be in Vienna (shock!) – it was invented by Anton Dreher in the early 1840’s. The beer should be an amber color and be sweet and crisp with bitter hops.
The first thing I noticed about this beer is the label – Lakewood has some great graphic designers in their employ. The label is bright and really catches the eye on the shelf. I know that the label doesn’t give any indication of quality – but I like it just the same.
The beer pours a golden amber with a finger of tan head. The head is thick and foamy – it eventually dissipates – and leaves no lacing around the glass.
In the nose, this beer has a bready aroma with some sweetness in the background. Almost like caramel – but that is replaced by the smell of the lager yeast. Almost a sulphur note.
Upon first sip, Lakewood Lager lives up to the style, it is crisp and refreshing. There is the bitterness from the hops at the front and it finishes with malt and that flavor that all lagers seem to share. – cereal grains cut short by the yeast.
This is a tasty beer – it’s not a an everyday beer for me – I am more of an ale fan than a lager. It is still a nice beer with good roots in the style.
Up and Adam 