Beer of the Week

The beer: Small Paradise

Brewed by: Love City Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "Small Paradise is a Czech-style Amber lager we brewed this beer with our good friends from 2SP Brewing Company from DelCo. Small Paradise is a slow fermented traditional lager fermented with Czech yeast, malt and hops. Complex yet crushable, this amber lager boasts notes of sourdough, caramel, and dark fruits complemented by a refreshing dryness and floral Saaz hops."

Would I buy it again? This beer was about as amber lager as amber lagers get. It was nice and malty, drinkable but with plenty of substance. Not too hoppy, either. I don't think it'll win any awards, but as a beer to actually drink, it's tough to beat. I'd buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Stings Like A Bee

The brewery: Idiom Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "'Sting Like a Bee' is a bold reimagining of malt liquor crafted with a smooth body, layered malt richness, and just a whisper of honey for natural balance. The sweetness is subtle, the flavor full, and the finish disarmingly mellow. Strong enough to make an impact, yet polished enough to keep you coming back for another round."

Would I buy it again? Imperial lagers are pretty rare, so I knew I had to try this particular beer out. And just as I hoped, it was very good. Mellow, but also deep. Pleasantly malty as well. And at 6% ABV, it was much easier to drink than most other imperial beer varieties. This would be the point where I'd say I'd gladly buy this beer again, and I would ... but there's a problem. Idiom Brewing, staple of Frederick's downtown beer scene, is closing on February 15th. Now, there are good reasons for that closure — the owner tried to do too much at once, attempting to expand production and add in-house food at the moment the beer business began to drop off — but it still sucks. Idiom has such a nice spot on Carroll Creek, with a ton of outdoor seating. It was the obvious choice when you wanted a beer downtown in warmer weather. And while their beer could be hit or miss, they had a large menu so there was always something for everyone. It's a shame to see them go.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Early Dismissal

The brewery: Our Town Brewery, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "Balanced German-style lager.  Think Oktoberfest with some additional ABV to help keep you warm this winter.  No fruit.  No spice.  Call off work and fill your pint glass."

Would I buy it again? They did some great work with the hops here, because I definitely thought this beer was spiced when I was drinking it. It's malty, but it also has those warm, almost citrusy notes. If this was brewed according to Reinheitsgebot, then absolutely very well done on the part of Our Town. I definitely enjoyed drinking this beer and I'd absolutely buy it again. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Autumn Awaits

The brewery: Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Company, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "This true-to-style Märzen is brewed with several heirloom varieties of barley, carefully hopped with Saaz and lagered over 3 months for that intense classic maltiness associated with Märzen. We smell & taste: rich malt, freshly baked black bread, sun-dried raisins & subtle caramel."

Would I buy it again? Elder Pine has gained a reputation for being one of the best breweries in Maryland. Despite being well liked and fairly close, I've never been there, nor have I had one of their beers. They don't have a large circle of distribution outside the DC area. But, here we are with one of their fall seasonal beers, and I can safely say this is one of the best Märzens I've had. Maybe the best. It's just very tasty and malty, with no hint of bitterness. It was a little pricy, but I'd definitely buy this again, and I really do need to get down to the brewery to get a more thorough assessment of their beer.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Fredbräu

The brewery: Attaboy Beer, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Eins, zwei, drei, g’suffa! Velcome to de fest man! (Please proceed to read this in serious Hanz & Franz as we are super sure that is not offensive and probably pretty appreciated by most Germans.) Our Fest Bier, not to be confused with the Marzen style Oktoberfest is a pale lager modeled after the beer served at the modern day Oktoberfest in Munich. We prefer the lighter, more drinkable version as opposed to a malty amber lager. Zis party bier will have you eating giant pretzels and chicken dancing in no time."

Would I buy it again? I think they pretty much nailed the description with this beer. It's light and kind of juicy, which makes it very drinkable. It's not bitter either, so the hops, while present, aren't dominating. While a lot of fall beers are quite heavy, it is nice to have something lighter on occasion. It's a great beer for the end of the evening when you're full of good food. I'd buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Nordic Jam

The brewery: Two Pitchers Brewing Company, Oakland, California

Description (from the website): "We’ve packed this tasty lager with cherries, elderberries, and strawberries - all staples of a viking warrior’s diet - to create a refreshing, tart, and downright delicious party in a can. Jam on, friends. Skol!"

Would I buy it again? This is kind of a moot question, since I already have, but yes, I would. It's an extremely good beer. So often these days, fruity beers are sours, which automatically puts them on my "not interested" list. Fruity lagers are even more uncommon. And that's a shame, because this is a great beer. Pleasant to drink, especially in colder weather. My girlfriend and I will likely buy much more in the months to come.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Oktoberfest

The brewery: Antietam Brewery, Hagerstown, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A deep amber lager, Antietam’s Oktoberfest is crafted with 100% German Hops, malted barley and our pure lager yeast. With a special long and cold-aging process, the result is a smooth and malty brew backed up with rich caramel notes and a distinct noble hop aroma."

Would I buy it again? I'm actually really curious why Antietam Brewery doesn't push this beer in the fall, because it was genuinely amazing. Precisely what an Oktoberfest beer should be. Malty with the right amount of hoppiness, and no bitterness at all. I'd happily buy it again, and what a great way to kick off the fall beer season.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Amber Hank

The brewery: Olde Mother Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Our seasonal light lager is back and still is our favorite fall sipper! Amber Hank is brewed with a splash of toasted malt to give a perfect amber hue and a slightly bready background. Hank, Amber Lager is best suited for flannels and sipping by the campfire."

Would I buy it again? So, it seems like this is supposed to be kind of like an Oktoberfest-style beer, but that's not the impression I got drinking it. A lager, sure, but it was actually kind of hoppy. Not bitter, but hoppy and a little juicy. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I probably would not buy this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Harvest Lager

The brewery: Harpoon Brewery, Boston, Massachusetts

Description (from the website): "Brewed in the spirit of friendship, New England craftsmanship, and the idea that being outdoors is better together. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or an urban explorer, this beer was brewed for all of us who strive to 'be an outsider.' A smooth, crisp, and balanced Amber Lager brewed with Maine-grown malt and balanced with a mild hop spice delivers an easy-drinking finish perfect for any Fall occasion. Gather friends and get outside."

Would I buy it again? I don't know why L.L. Bean decided to collaborate on a beer, or why they went with a brewery in Boston when Allagash is plenty big and also in Maine, but I do know that Harpoon and L.L. Bean made a solid lager. It's easy to drink with a little bit of a hoppy kick to it. I would buy it again, and not just for the novelty.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Perception

The brewery: Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Don't let your perception of dark beers fool you. This Czech Dark Lager is crisp and easy drinking at 5% ABV. Clean and light roasted notes of baker's chocolate gives way to a dry, malty finish."

Would I buy it again? In a second. This beer looks black and thick, but it's very easy to drink, just like the description indicates. It's nice and malty too. I have no complaints about this beer, it's pretty much everything I hoped it would be.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Patagonia Provisions Kernza® Lager

The brewery: Tröegs Brewing Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "This is the start of a new brewing project in our small-batch beers. In partnership with Patagonia Provisions, a portion of select beer’s malt bills will use the regenerative perennial grain Kernza®. The plant’s deep roots, high yield and long life are positively impacting both agriculture and the environment. The clothing company’s side focus on cuisine has a goal to benefit soil and a sustainable food chain. 

Our first-ever time using the wheatgrass grain is in a Helles lager. As 15% of the grain bill, Kernza® combines with organic Pilsner malt to build a crisp backbone. Lightly hopped with organic Perle hops, this wildly drinkable lager has notes of rustic crackers, bright wildflowers and a touch of grassiness."

Would I buy it again? Doesn't everyone love a beer with a copyright symbol in the name? Yeah, yeah, reserved, I know. The point stands. 

This is still Troegs, though, a brewery who is extremely good at making both beer and lagers specifically. It's a good light beer, pleasant and easy to drink. The only issue is that they have so many beers in that niche that this one sort of falls through the cracks. I wouldn't say no to getting it again, but there are more interesting choices.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Scratch #521 - Schwarzbier

Brewed by: Tröegs Independent Brewing, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "Long live lagers! Especially dark ones like this Schwarzbier. Scratch #521 starts with a base of Munich and pilsner malts and a touch of de-husked roasted barley. Our house lager yeast lends a snappy character, giving the deceptively dark beer a crisp finish. With notes of toasted bread, coffee and a hint of cocoa, our take on this German-style will warm your lederhosen."

Would I buy it again? I'm a bit torn with this one. On the one hand, it was very good. It's malty and quite easy to drink, kind of like a Troegenator. But on the other, it feels a bit too much like a Troegenator. Like, if I wanted a malty dark lager from Tröegs, I would just buy a Troegenator. One could argue that, since this beer is significantly less alcoholic than a Troegenator, there's a place for something like this on the menu. But Tröegs also has the Little 'Nator, which occupies the same niche while being less dark and even more drinkable. I just don't see any circumstances where I would want this specific beer.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Kaiju

The brewery: Thick-N-Thin Brewing Company, Hagerstown, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "Light, refreshing, lager brewed with yuzu juice and rice."

Would I buy it again? It's a short, pithy description, which is honestly all it needs to be. This beer is pretty much what it says. Easy to drink, pleasant, it's a fine lager. And since this is now my local brewery, I definitely anticipate buying more of this in the future.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Wamcat Light

Brewed by: Rough Edges Brewing, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "Named for our friends from the Tomstown and Quincy areas, this light lager was brewed with pilsner malt and flaked corn for a light color and dry finish with little bitterness."

Would I buy it again? Pretty much any beer is great when you get it for half price (I got this during a kick the keg special). But yes, this is a solid beer. Obviously it isn't anything fancy, but for a light lager it had a surprisingly deep maltiness to it. Nothing extraordinary, but this was clearly not watered-down swill for the masses. If they bring it back, I'd definitely get it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Munich Helles

The brewery: Steinhardt Brewing Company, Frederick, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A clean, smooth, golden lager. This is a slightly malty beer that is very easy drinking. The Munich Helles was introduced in 1894 and set the 'Gold' standard for lagers."

Would I buy it again? This was exactly what I want from a lager. Pleasantly malty with very little in the way of hoppiness, it was light and easy to drink while maintaining that nice breadiness a good lager should have. I would absolutely buy this again, and since Steinhardt is a brewery I actually go to semi-regularly, I probably actually will.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Is Butter A Carb?

The brewery: Evil Genius Beer Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "The only thing better than pretzels and beer is pretzels in beer, and EG has teamed up with Auntie Anne's to bring you just that. This crisp Oktoberfest-Style Lager was brewed with malt, hopes, and warm, soft pretzels for an extra dose of rich flavor. Don't get it twisted."

Would I buy it again? Perhaps I had unrealistic expectations for this beer. After all, the other pretzel-flavored beer I've had is one of my absolute favorites, and beer and pretzels are such a natural combination. And I think, if I had this beer in isolation without previous knowledge of Aldus' pretzel beer, I'd probably like this beer a whole lot. But I have had Aldus' pretzel beer, and this one just doesn't compare. It's a solid beer, and there's a bit of that bready saltiness, but it just doesn't capture the pretzel magic that Aldus managed. I'm afraid I just could not buy this one again. Once you've had the real deal, you can't make due with a pale imitation.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Dunkel

The brewery: Port City Brewing Company, Alexandria, Virginia

Description (from the website): "Dunkel is a German-style dark lager from Bavaria, made popular in Munich and known for balancing a dark malt character with lager smoothness. Port City's Dunkel is chestnut in color with a toasty malt aroma, and flavors of nut and caramel. This easy drinking lager is medium in body, finishing with a refreshing crispness."

Would I buy it again? Yeah, this is a very solid lager, I'd absolutely buy this again. Not much to say beyond that, lagers don't tend to be too complicated, so as long as the hop profile is kept under control, it's tough to go wrong with it. It's a little dark for the 100 degree day I drank this on, but that's not on the beer. Blame global warming for making it 100 degrees after Labor Day weekend. It would be amazing on a slightly cool early fall evening.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Redland Lager

The brewery: 7 Locks Brewing Company, Rockville, Maryland

Description (from the can): "The first sip brings you back, smooth caramel notes cresting to meet gentle floral hops, creating a layered, balanced finish. The second sip says: This is home, atop a sturdy red land foundation. The third sip? Simply put, life should always be this easy."

Would I buy it again? It takes a lot to stand out in the drinkable lager category, but this beer definitely manages it. It does have a pleasant floral yet slightly sweet taste, making it taste distinctly different from your standard Yuengling. I've never seen a red lager before, but I'll have to keep my eye out for more in the future, because this was very good.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Nocturnal Visions

Brewed by: Revision Brewing Company, Sparks, Nevada

Description (from the can): "This traditional German-style black lager presents notes of chocolate and a hint of roastiness, but don’t let the color fool you, this deceptively light-bodied beer is here to quench your thirst anytime."

Would I buy it again? I definitely get the roastiness and the finish is pretty dry, not so much the chocolate. It was lighter than you'd expect for a beer that's literally black, so it does have that going for it. It's not bad, but I'm not completely sold on it, so no, I probably wouldn't go for this again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Catoctin Heritage Vienna Lager

Brewed by: Milkhouse Brewery, Mt. Airy, Maryland

Description (from the website): "One good lager deserves another, so we decided to see how Monocacy played with a grist heavy on Bear Branch's Vienna Malt.  The two go together wonderfully, with a smooth and toasty maltiness complimenting the floral earthiness of Monocacy."

Would I buy it again? Maybe it's not a huge surprise that this is a lot better than the American Lager. That's probably kind of the point of last week's beer, to be a cheap, simple beer for the masses. This beer has a lot more taste to it, and the hops are really doing a good job. It's still pleasant and easy to drink, but it's not watery. I'd probably buy it again, provided it doesn't cost too much.