= Brewpub93 Ekstra Pale Lager, Alivaria (Belarus). 4.5% ABV (11/07)
Rich old gold color. Wet bread dough and light honeyed lemon peel aromas follow through to a crisp frothy and dryish medium body with a nice honeyed nut, grain and marmalade fade. Tasty.
91 Singha Beer, Boon Rawd Brewery Co. (Thailand). 6% ABV (11/07)
Bright golden color. Fresh sourdough bread and dried lemon and faint coconut milk aromas. A frothy, zippy entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium body of honeyed lemon, rye toast and straw flavors. Finishes in a long, very refreshing citrus zest and praline fade with balanced bittering hops. A super quaffer.
91 McHenry Premium Lager, Clipper City Brewing Co. (MD). 4.6% ABV (10/07)
Golden amber color. Honey, orange marmalade, lemon poppy seed muffin aromas follow through to a round, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a fruity sweet, tangy golden raisin and honey fade with slight dough and nuts notes. Very tasty.
91 Lager, Brewery Warka (Poland). 7% ABV (10/07)
Pale amber color. Charred nut, butter toffee and tree bark aromas follow through to a round dry-yet-fruity medium body with date and powdered sugar and cocoa dusted fig accents. Finishes with a milk chocolate-covered raisin and nut fade with a hint of mocha. Not a pale lager, but very nice.
91 Imperial Lager, Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC (Sri Lanka). 8.8% ABV (11/08)
Pale golden amber color. Grilled mango, orange blossom honey and Hawaiian bread toast aromas follow through on a very supple and round entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body with honey yogurt, apple and pepper notes. Finishes with a long, warming honey granola fade. Big and tasty; pair with mighty curries.
90 Chang Beer, Cosmos Brewery Co., Ltd. (Thailand). 5% ABV (11/08)
Bright golden color. Honeyed raisin toast aromas with a hint of lychee follow through on a crisp, smooth entry to a dryish medium body with a hint of apple, nut and a solid roasted grain character. Finishes with a crisp, balanced earthy hop and pizza dough fade. A very nice food beer.
89 Island Lager, Granville Island Brewing Co. (Canada). 5% ABV (11/06)
Old gold color. Honeyed golden raisin toast aromas. A round entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of golden raisin, honeyed wheat bread, gravel and orange marmalade flavors. Finishes with a lovely fade of dried fruit, nuts and delicate spice.
89 Guera, Tijuana TJ (Mexico). (11/07)
Rich golden color. Buttered nut toast, cheddar popcorn, with apricot jam aromas follow through to a very frothy and soft, dryish medium body with delicate lemon rind and talc notes and a very crisp, mildly astringent snappy hop fade. Subtle, refreshing and elegant.
89 Golden Pheasant Lager, Heineken Slovensko (Slovakia). 5% ABV (11/08)
Old gold color. Buttered raisin toast, and delicate citrus and spice aromas follow through on a round entry to a dryish medium body with mild creamed corn notes. Finishes with a crisp, savory butter toasted nut and orange spice tea fade. Refreshing.
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 Original Draught, Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. (Canada). 5% ABV (11/06)
Golden amber color. Dark rye toast and orange marmalade aromas. A round, frothy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of caramel, rye and candied orange peel flavors. Finishes with a marmalade, toast and mineral 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 nice integration 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 Esser’s Best, Cross Plains Brewery (WI). 5% ABV (11/06)
Brilliant amber color. Brioche, light caramel and fig aromas. A round, frothy entry leads to a dryish medium body of rye toast, caramel apple and figs and dried tangerine peel flavors. Finishes with a toasty, raisin and citrus peel fade. Nicely balanced.
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 Berghoff Original Lager, Joseph Huber Brewing Co. (WI). (10/07)
Old gold color. Lemon soufflé and caramelized grain aromas follow a soft, frothy entry leads to a 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 mâché 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 Session Premium Lager, Full Sail Brewing Co. (OR). 5.1% ABV (10/08)
Deep old gold color with a fine mousse. Nutshell, dried clementine and toast aromas follow through on a supple, soft entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with lemon and melon rind accents. Finishes dryly with nice toastiness and a touch of lemon-peach yogurt.
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.
