Trader Joe's Vienna Style Lager - Trader Joe's Brewing Company

steveh

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +40.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Okay, so I'm going to rate this beer against the style guidelines of both BA and BJCP. It's dead on to style, can't find huge fault anywhere, really.

I know this is basically Gordon Biersch's Vienna repackaged for TJ's, but that just adds credence to both GB and TJ's, IMO. GB for the outstanding beer, TJ's for recognizing a good beer.

12 oz brown bottle, pry-off cap.

A - Soap suds foam that settles in a nice cragy lace. Maybe not as persistent as it should be, but it revives well. Outstanding clear, orange-amber color.

S - DMS (a little heavy to style, but not offensive), to light toasted malt, to mellow noble hops - in that order as you inhale.

T - Light malty character that starts bready and sweet and finishes dry with a fresh hop finish.

D - Very easy to drink and very satisfying for this style. Even if you don't know the style, this is a smooth and drinkable beer. I've always called this style a sort of Oktoberfest light, this beer epitomizes that, wonderful stuff.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2007 12:30:00 | More by steveh

bbluemzbeer

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appreance. The beer is amber with a fluffy tan head. with some lacing

Smell : Caramel malts and some grassy hops.

Taste: It was sweet taste with moderate bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: thin and a bit watery.

Overall: Not a bad beer especial if is ice cold. If I was in mood for this style of beer I would buy it again. The price is right too!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2013 16:44:24 | More by bbluemzbeer

herrburgess

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

05-28-2013 16:46:41 | More by herrburgess

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.31/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle marked 09/23/13-12:11. Sampled on May 27, 2013.;

Well it looks nice anyway. There is an attractive looking copper-amber look with a thin head to start. The head dissolves fast.

The aroma emulates the German Purity law with its malty characteristic and milder hop note. Enticing enough but not much better than Becks in this case.

Medium body and creamy.

The taste is too sweet and malty for my liking. Some folks may like that. Caramel and toffee notes up front. Low to played down bitterness at the end.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2013 21:48:56 | More by puboflyons

rhizomatic

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

05-23-2013 03:35:13 | More by rhizomatic

dpodratsky3

Georgia

3.51/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: Crystal clear, orange-brown, very nice looking color but head (as usual for Trader's beer) is lacking, fades quickly to barely enough foam to cover just the edges with film

S: Characteristic bready malt, hints of a little metallic that can come from the combination of malt and herbal/spicy hops, hops a more present towards the finish

T: Very well balanced, flavor is a little hop forward, very clean hop flavor, slight spicy/herbal flavor, malt is mostly a very, very light caramel, not cloying at all, easy to drink

M: Pleasant feel, medium body, hints of dryness to easy to drink

O: This beer manages to be better than the sum of its parts. The flavors do not stand out in any way, but something about it is slightly better than average. Looks good apart from the lack of head and its easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:44:14 | More by dpodratsky3

fastrodney

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

05-10-2013 23:34:26 | More by fastrodney

ranger7

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

04-29-2013 00:04:43 | More by ranger7

GraduatedCashew

California

3/5  rDev -13.5%

04-25-2013 16:38:35 | More by GraduatedCashew

Daktah

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

04-24-2013 17:09:08 | More by Daktah

fx20736

New York

3.13/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

bought at Trader Joe's in Pittsford on 3/23/13. Price $ 1.09.

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a mug, served at fridge temp.

appearance: medium orange amber with a solid finger and a half of French Vanilla colored head that recedes to a creamy film, perfunctory lacing.

aroma: lightly toasted Vienna style malt provides a touch of caramel sweetness to a well restrained noble hoppiness.

mouthfeel: average lager lifelessness.

taste: maltiness gives way to too much sweetness.

notes: too sweet

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 07:09:02 | More by fx20736

RichH55

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

03-15-2013 15:48:33 | More by RichH55

shick1

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

03-11-2013 16:30:53 | More by shick1

Dapperticus

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +22.5%

03-09-2013 04:18:20 | More by Dapperticus

OldTime

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

03-02-2013 23:24:37 | More by OldTime

GabeQ

Tennessee

3.36/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured in to a tumbler.
A- Decent 1 inch head. Really pretty copper color.
S- Buttery, Bready, sweet malt.
T- Sweet and malty, butter flavor is still present, floral hoppy finish helps offset some of the sweetness.
M- Thick, moderate carbonation.
O- A decent lager, probably won't get again.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 21:46:36 | More by GabeQ

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

02-15-2013 16:15:43 | More by dvmin98

ExaltedNecrosis

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +8.1%

02-11-2013 18:43:33 | More by ExaltedNecrosis

rlb49

Missouri

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

02-07-2013 01:24:26 | More by rlb49

matjack85

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

02-02-2013 23:36:13 | More by matjack85

beerpadawan

California

3.5/5  rDev +0.9%

01-23-2013 18:44:46 | More by beerpadawan

TGZ32

Michigan

4/5  rDev +15.3%

01-13-2013 00:10:47 | More by TGZ32

avckc

California

4/5  rDev +15.3%

01-09-2013 06:06:05 | More by avckc

TheMarkE

California

3/5  rDev -13.5%

01-09-2013 04:54:58 | More by TheMarkE

sendbeer

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -6.3%

01-05-2013 05:56:46 | More by sendbeer