Otter Creek Vermont Lager - Otter Creek Brewing / Wolaver's

pezoids

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Batch #1492. Bottled on 2-25-04. Consumed on 7-30-04.

For being almost 5 months old, this beer has stood up well. Poured a bright and clear yellowish golden color. Small lacing was left on the glass and the beer had a light and sporadic carbonation. The aroma leans towards the sharp, with a sweet graininess and buttery malts. The taste is light and bitter. Very nice. The finish here is clean and crisp and leaves a slight lemony citric sweetness along with a sharp graininess on the tongue. Perfect body of malt for this beer. Overall, a simple beer that has little harshness in the aftertaste, and one that's very easy to enjoy any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2004 19:30:14 | More by pezoids

NHSTEVE

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

05-07-2013 22:34:26 | More by NHSTEVE

mattparsons

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev +4.5%

04-19-2013 02:08:30 | More by mattparsons

cliff1066

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

12-17-2012 04:25:18 | More by cliff1066

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

02-05-2012 18:11:00 | More by jfcaa193

bonbini26

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

01-11-2012 21:53:49 | More by bonbini26

claspada

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -16.4%

11-28-2011 21:29:58 | More by claspada

ElGallo

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -16.4%

11-19-2011 20:40:48 | More by ElGallo

mnrider

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz. twist off, brown bottle.

A: Pours a clear golden color, with good carbonation. Excellent sticky lacing from this beer.

S: Malty aroma, with sweet notes. A hint of hops can be noticed also.

T/M: A very malt dominant beer, with a smooth feel. Hops are small but are seen in the background. Bitterness is strong, and lingers after the finish.

D: A good Pilsner/Lager. True to the style, and it tastes good. Otter Creek comes through with a winner.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 19:54:45 | More by mnrider

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear yellow color with a thin white layer of head. Little bit of spotty lacing and not much retension outside of a thin film covering the top of the beer. Nose is somewhat bready with a trace amount of sulfur twang to it. Taste is a good mix of malt character that is somewhat sweet in a dry honey kinda way and slight hop bitterness balancing it out. It has a very crisp finish with a light feel, medium carb level and overall is quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2010 05:51:40 | More by stakem

scootny

New York

4/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A beautiful gold with a majestic head. Lacing a little less than the head would lead you to expect but decent. Little carbonation visible.

I saw no indication on the bottle that this was a pils but my nose knew immediately. A sweet and lightly buttery malt is the main player. A traditional Czec hop profile follows. Earthy with a light spiciness.

Taste showcases an excellent malt base by the brewer. This flows light a lightly sweet honeybun over the tongue. A breakfast pastry like yeast and bread core. Herbal and earthy hops give good balance with a touch of spiciness in the finish that also squeezes some grapefruit juice out to wet your whistle. Feel is smooth and with a tingly light creaminess. Spot on weight gives it a supple feel as it flow across the mouth.

A great session beer that goes down easy and with pleasure.

Thanks to The Rowan for this one

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 21:17:46 | More by scootny

steve8robin

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

Random buy...

A: Very light in color with no head. Not impressed with the look of this.

S: Can't get any scent at all. I tried as hard as I could and can't smell anything from this one.

T: Eh, kind of middle of the road. Nothing special. Tastes like a high end mainstream brew. Needs more flavor complexity.

M: Very well balanced amount of carbonation.

D: Way too easy to drink, like water. Not good.

All in all, this one is too easy and is like a high end mainstream beer. Which isn't saying too much. Not recommended for people looking to expand to craft brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2009 03:50:34 | More by steve8robin

donniecuffs

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

At the OC/Wolaver's promo at Vito's, the brewery rep in attendance was jumping from table to table announcing to everyone that the recipe for this beer was recently revamped, so we shouldn't rule it out. I was impressed by this because (a) it showed that the brewery was admitting that the previous iteration of this beer (which I had had years ago) was terrible, and (b) it showed that the brewery gave a damn and was willing to improve the quality. Therefore I ordered one to give it a fair shake. In short, I was pleasantly surprised.

Into a pilsner glass, it poured golden with two fingers of bright white head that laced fairly well. Healthy carbonation was evident as well. The smell revealed some floral Noble hops qualities, as well as grass and hay. The taste revealed this in abundance as well, then dissolved to malt, and then finished on a very dry note. In fact, the finish was probably the most impressive aspect of the flavor. Very well done. The body was just a touch below medium, with a pronounced carbonation presence. I could certainly see myself sessioning this in the future. Kudos to the brewery for the new recipe.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2009 17:05:46 | More by donniecuffs

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours pale gold with a decent white sticky head, good lacing.

Mild malt aroma, some boiled grain elements. Some mineral scents.

Light and refreshing, with just the right light malt flavor, grassiness, and light hop bite. Not particularly strong flavored, and this thinner element is the big drawback. Still ok though.

Lighter bodied and well carbonated. Very refreshing and drinkable, though a little thin on flavor. Glad I tried it but will not chase this one down again (but wouldn't refuse one either).

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 23:24:35 | More by OtherShoe2

BeerPhan86

New York

3.73/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a clear light golden color with a two finger foamy white head with good retention.

S - Grainy and a bit macro smelling. Light hops and breadiness.

T - Grains, toasted malt, lightly hoppy. Very crisp and clean pilsener but definitely has that authentic Otter Creek taste.

M - Very light bodied and very carbonated, almost too much carbonation.

D - Definitely a low abv, light tasting, refreshing session beer.

Overall, a very nice crisp lager. Nothing complex but it is very tasty and refreshing. Still, for the 8.99 price tag, I could find many more flavorful and stronger beers. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2009 01:57:59 | More by BeerPhan86

BeerSox

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into pilsner glass.

Crystal clear light honey color with a two finger off-white head that settles to a thick cap. The head wasn't very dense and leaves some wispy lacing on the glass.

Toasty malts, along with a little buttery diacetyl. Very herbal and tea-like hop aromas. Not very sharp.

The flavor, like the aroma, is lacking that characteristic hop bite. The hops have a little bit of bitterness, but the hops are very "flat". Full bodied. The malts have very little to them.

Not the best pilsner in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2009 02:58:33 | More by BeerSox

davisdandrew

Quebec (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

this beer is really yummy.
incredibly drinkable with perfect bitterness level. this one is perfect for summer. i hope otter creek comes out with some other lagers, because this one is delicious.
will definetly buy this one and highly recomend it. 6/17/09

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 00:58:20 | More by davisdandrew

albern

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A pretty good lager that is enjoyable, easily drinkable, but one which will not be challenging the palate anytime soon. The beer pours an ever so slightly hazy pale color with a slightly foamy white head that doesn't retain for long. There is a tad bit of lacing around the glass. There is a heap of carbonation in this beer, and the efforvescence just keeps rising to the top in small bubbles.

The nose on this beer is earthy, lemony, a bit grainy, and sweet maltish. There is a definite herbal aroma to this beer, and it is quite good. The taste is pretty much in line with the nose. There is a pretty pronounced sweetish lemony flavor, perhaps a bit honeyed. There is a floral quality to the taste, some cracked grains in the background, but mostly sweetish malts, a slight crispness, but not overly so, and the tang of sweet lemon and citrus. The mouthfeel and aftertaste are pretty mild to non existent. This is an easy beer to enjoy, definitely refreshing, and one which won't require a great deal of discernment in capturing the essence of its flavors and qualities.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2008 23:51:50 | More by albern

philbe311

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours a hazy golden yellow with a very thick head...

S - Wheat and malts dominate...

T - Grainy and weak... I struggled to find any complexity or hints of flavor...

M - Smooth and refreshing...

D - I hate to be critical, but this is a beer that I wouldn't drink again... I was unimpressed from the get go... I would reach for a macro-brewed light beer before having another... Sorry, but it's the truth...

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 03:47:48 | More by philbe311

kimcgolf

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Not much better than a BMC lager here. Poured to a golden yellow with medium-thick white head that dissipated quickly and left little lacing. Aroma was grainy with little else to offer, and the flavor was no better.

Not even a good session beer. Not much good to say about this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2008 14:36:22 | More by kimcgolf

Brad007

Vermont

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Color: Golden yellow color with thin one-finger head.

Aroma: Malty/bready with some very mild hop bitterness.

Taste: Malty/bready. Smooth. Some hop bitterness but otherwise inoffensive. Crisp.

Mouthfeel: Finishes somewhat bitter at the back of the throat. Smooth.

Verdict: A crisp, smooth lager that is perfect for a warm day. It's inoffensive and would be considered boring to most people but still, don't let that stop you from enjoying it.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2008 22:44:13 | More by Brad007

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear deep golden. Short cap of white. Decent retention. Decent lacing.
S: Lager sulphur and lightly toasted malt with a hint of floral and grassy hops in the background.
T: Clean, slightly toasty malt. Spicy and grassy hops. Solid bitterness.
M: Firm, medium body with a crisp, fine-bubbled carbonation.
D: A well done, well balanced lager. Refreshing and satisfying. Kind of like a cross between a Dortmunder export and a Czech pils.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2007 23:59:32 | More by NeroFiddled

Braudog

Virginia

3.43/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From a bottle: This poured a crystal clear golden hue with a thin white and poofy head. The aroma is light, with biscuity, malt-based tones. This drinks smooth and refreshing, with a definite malt-cookie basis. The finishing bitterness is nice, more or less in a Germanic pilsner vein. Good brew if you’re in the mood for a mellow drinker, this would go well with some stronger charactered foods. (#2682, 2/4/2007)

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2007 23:03:42 | More by Braudog

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is my first czech pilsner since I came back from Prague. Bias could be a factor.
Looks good. Nice dark yellow/orange body, good foaming head in a pilsner glass.
Aroma of malt and unripe fruit. A little green, perhaps too sweet.
Taste is a bit better than smell. Crisp malt sweetness, some lemon hints and very slight hoppiness.
Feels alright, isn't as thin as some pilsners I've had, but compared to the stuff in Czech, it doesn't match up.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2006 22:49:55 | More by Mebuzzard

shirfan

New York

3.13/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark gold, average head, with just a touch of haze.

Aroma is light malt, a hint of vanilla, and a slightly acrid scent like burning wet vegetation.

Mild toasty malt, and fairly high bittering for a lager, but without much hop flavor to back it up. Finish is a bit dry and dusty tasting...the yeast used imparts a flavor I'm not a fan of. Almost a drain pour, but it wasn't a bad beer, I just didn't like it.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2006 18:30:56 | More by shirfan