Labrador Lager - Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

metter98

New York

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear deep yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that faded away, leaving only a bit of bubbles on the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of fruity yeast in the nose-apple juice stands out in particular.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of apple juice and notes of biscuity malts. There are some slight hints of grassy hops and bitterness towards the finish: these become a bit stronger as the beer warms up.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of dryness in the finish.
O: This beer seems to be a bit heavier compared to other beers in the style but it is still very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 20:06:43 | More by metter98

flagmantho

Washington

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a little dash of haze and a moderate effervescence. Head pours a thin layer of frothy white foam which doesn't stick around too long. Not too bad.

Smell: sweetish malt with a little hint of noble hops and a clean finish. A bit low in intensity, but it's nice enough.

Taste: pretty rich flavor here, considering the mild aroma. The sweet malt has a rather floral tinge to it; I'm thinking this is yeast-born and not from the otherwise pretty normal noble hops. There's a hint of graininess and a light but acceptable bitterness at the end. A decent Dort!

Mouthfeel: medium body with a light carbonation and a moderate creaminess. Not enough effervescence in my opinion, but the body is nice; almost like a bock.

Overall: a good beer, it's a bit fruity and floral for the style. It feels like it's approaching a bock in many ways (body & sweetness), but overall it's a tasty and drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:04:24 | More by flagmantho

searsclone

Arizona

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle into a globe glass. copper colored, clear with floaters. off white head with lacing starting from the head dissipating.

smell is malt, brown sugar, chocolate, caramel and perfume

taste is hops, pine, malts, cinnamon, dark chocolate, caramel, and spice

mouthfeel is crisp, yet creamy and chewy. leaves a syrupy coating on the tongue

one of the best lagers I have had, and it were available locally, I would make it one of my go to beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 01:52:37 | More by searsclone

buschbeer

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle
Served in a Cleveland Browns pilsner glass

A - It has a golden body with three inches of white head that clings to the sides of the glass. I have never seen so many co2 bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass.

S - I got a snoot full of caramel malt.

T - It has a lot of caramel malt and a bready taste.

M - Surprisingly full for as light as it looks.

O - The only other beer of this style I have had in Great Lakes Dortmunder. This has a different taste to it. Reminds me more of a British style. I am pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 18:28:38 | More by buschbeer

brentk56

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a two inch cap that leaves a few shards behind

Smell: Bready, with a fruity, slightly lemony hue

Taste: Bready, up front, with the faint lemony hop flavors adding some balance to the sweet cracker malt; finishes a bit more to the sweet side than I thought it would

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with crisp carbonation

Overall: A decent enough Dortmunder, though I would like to see a bit more hop balance

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 23:27:34 | More by brentk56

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Very golden with light copper hues. The head is a solid two fingers in height.

Aroma: Rather bready and yeasty. Twinges of citrus hop but it's much more towards the floral end of it. Subtle alcohol notes in the end.

Taste: Wow bread in a bottle and a tasty meal as well with a yeasty touch. Malts are bready with a good dry finish. Hops are more floral than citrus.
Did I mention this is quite bready because it is. From the mouthfeel side fairly smooth with a toffee texture.

Notes: Dam this is tasty an amazing meal in a bottle and very drinkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 01:27:17 | More by horshack7

Mitchster

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

6% ABV, 27 IBU's, OG=14 P per the bottle. Brewed with all german grain and yeast.

Pours out to a sparkingly clear deep golden, forming a tall creamy yellow tinged white head with excellent retention and solid lacing. Moderate carbonation, ~2.5 carbs. The aroma is great...nice bready biscuity malt, a clean ferment, some delicate floral hops. Mouthfeel is excellent...nice chewy body, crisp and clean with a very smooth finish. The taste is excellent as well...munich and pils malt in wonderful balance with the hops. Mild bitterness, freshly baked bread crust.

Overall, this is just a beautiful example of the dortmunder lager. One of the best I've had. Well balanced, true to style. If you like them a little drier and hoppier, get Great Lakes BC.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 23:37:29 | More by Mitchster

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear gold color with about a half inch off-white head that stayed around a little while. There's a small amount of lacing. The brew smells like bready and sweet malt, and some light grassy hops. It tastes like bready and sweet malt. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's a bit creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. It goes down easy enough. This certainly isn't one of the better Dortmunder Lagers I've had. It's not a bad beer by any means, but there's nothing about this that would make me want to buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 23:06:31 | More by bluejacket74

TuffNut87

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lager is one of my favorite styles and this is a good one. Some craft brews are just overpowering. Golden color, yeasty nose and a thin head. Nicely hopped and a slightly sweet finish. I enjoyed it as much or more as other Ohio craft lagers. Enjoyable by itself and washing down some nachos as I watch hockey.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 00:43:47 | More by TuffNut87

DerekP

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pseudo opaque amber with an egg white head. Sticky lacing. Looks good.

Smell: toasty sweet in the nose. Honey, caramel, maybe a splinter of diacetyl, floral moments, and flashes of bitter-sweet fruit tones.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Light, sweet and a touch bitter up front. Honey-like sweetness. Fairly balanced with malts just barely weighing in heavier. Delicate. A peppermint spice hops flavor sits quietly in the middle, almost unannounced. Honey is king of this brew.

Notes: A bit too sweet for my current interest in drier German-style lagers. I was hoping for a little more bittering hops.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 21:21:24 | More by DerekP

StoutHunter

Michigan

2.2/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I picked up a bottle of Thirsty Dog's Labrador Lager last week for $1.59 at The Lager Mill. I have been pretty satisfied with all the Thirsty Dog beers I have had so far so I thought I should try the only other beer from them that the store had that I haven't tried before, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date. Poured from a 12oz brown bottle into a imperial pint glass.

A- The label looks good, but I am Labrador owner so I'm a little biased. It poured a a pale golden yellow color that was fairly clear and it had a half a fingers worth of white head that quickly died down to a very thin ring that stayed till the end. The color was true to style but the head was pretty disappointing.

S- The first thing that I picked up was loads of sweet malts that impart a sweet grainy, and slightly bready aroma. After that comes a light amount of hops that impart a light earthy and grassy aroma. The aroma was somewhat on track for the style then the sweetness came which seemed to be way too sweet for the style.

T- The tastes seems to be almost exactly the same as the aroma. It starts off with loads of very sweet malts that impart an overly sweet grainy and biscuit taste that is a little similar to a Malt Liquor. After that comes a very slight amount of earthy and grassy hops that are easy to miss. The finish seemed to have hardly any bitterness and in it's place was lots of sweetness and a sweet grainy aftertaste. The taste is pretty boring and way too sweet, I'm not digging it.

M- Not too smooth, a little cloying, on the medium side of being light bodied, and it had a high amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel wasn't that impressive and it was a little over carbonated.

Overall I wasn't impressed with this beer and I thought that it wasn't a good example of a Dortmunder, the flavors were bland and there was way too much sweetness that seemed to dominate everything else. This beer doesn't have good drinkability, it doesn't hold my interest and is way too sweet, one is more then enough for me. What I liked most about this beer was the label, it's pretty sad that the label was the best thing about this beer, but that's the truth. What I liked least about this beer was pretty much everything else, there wasn't one part of this beer that didn't have some issues and the sweetness really hurt it. I wouldn't buy this beer again, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. This seems to be the first miss that I have had from this brewery, it just missed the mark on what a good Dortmunder should be like, and so far this is my least favorite Dortmunder I have had with Great Lakes Dortmunder gold still being my favorite, and this beer isn't even remotely as good as Great Lakes Dortmunder. I took a chance on this beer and it didn't turn out how I thought it would, oh well you can't win them all, better luck next time Thirsty Dog.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:34:39 | More by StoutHunter

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

In Cleveland and tried the Labrador from Thirsty Dog. The beer poured clear golden color with some white foamish head that left some lace. The smell is a bit of strong yeast, some malts. The taste is typical of most Dortmunders, some fruit, grassy hops. The mouthfeel is light in body and good carbonation. Overall it is a decent beer and can be sessioned easily.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 15:49:30 | More by WoodBrew

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at Spotted Dog in Carrboro, NC.

Pours a bright yellow color. Small white head. Decent carbonation.

Smell is very light. Hints of adjunct grains, and floral, grassy, herbal, earthy hops.

Taste is very light. The biggest difference is the hops. Its got a bit of light, sweet caramel malt. The underneath flavors of the herbal hops are fantastic. Hints of full cone grassy hops, and huge earthy presence. A crisp feeling keeps the sweetness in check.

One hell of a yellow lager that competes with GLBC Dortmunder Gold.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 19:55:59 | More by VncentLIFE

AdamGarcia

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in shaker pint

A: Bright golden color. Mostly clear. Decent sized ivory head displays fair retention.

S: Very mild. Sweet malt, a little grain, and faint hops.

T: Crisp and rather sweet, in a moreish way. Very approachable flavors. Not much by way of hops, but enough to prevent imbalance.

M: Light bodied with a slightly creamy feel. Carbonation is appropriate.

O: Pretty accurate to style. Quite quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 00:51:10 | More by AdamGarcia

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a golden color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of grains and malts. Taste is crisp, grains, some malts, a tad sweet, just a touch of hops. Feels light in the mouth and overall is an easy drinking and pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 14:55:17 | More by tone77

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Beer pours a straw color topped by a nice white head that dissipates into a thin layer and leaves nice lacing.

S: Grainy, no hops at all. Unfortunately, that's it.

T: Tastes a little grainy with a touch of carbonation bite. Hops are little to none of a somewhat floral flavor. Despite my descriptors, it doesn't taste half bad.

M: Mouthfeel is not bad, light bodied and moderately-high carbonation.

D: It goes down easily, and it quite quaffable. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 01:38:03 | More by tlazaroff

billab914

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle given to me in a mix of beers from a family friend from Ohio. It poured amber in color with a thick and foamy white head filling the top two inches of the glass. Nice head retention and lacing as I drank it as well.

The aroma mixes toasty malts with some sweeter and grainy malty flavors. I get a little zesty, slightly citrusy hops to it as well. Very nice aroma overall, the toasty malts especially stood out to me.

The taste shows a little more of the sweeter, grainy malts throughout it. I get more of the toasty flavors coming out in the finish mixing with a touch of caramel.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with carbonation being moderate. Overall it was a pretty good beer of the style. It was both easy drinking and flavorful and pretty enjoyable overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 22:28:15 | More by billab914

nukem5

Pennsylvania

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a crisp clear golden color with light thin head.Sadly no retention.

S: Aroma is of malt, sweet grassy,and a bit of Earthyness.

T: First thing you get is a wash of sweet buttery flavor,followed by light earthy taste then the malts hit. Followed by some hops.

M: Medium bodied with little carbonation.

O: Overall a very easy, drinkable beer, would have more of these ... Thirst Dog. Mmmm

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 00:58:29 | More by nukem5

Tone

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, golden/copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Decent retention and decent lacing. Smells of sweet malt, pale malt, hint of earthy malt, slight citrus hops, and hint of dough. Fits the style of a Dortmunder / Export Lager. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, pale malt, hint of dough, slight citrus hops, and hint of earthy malt. Overall, poor appearance, but good aroma, blend, and body.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 18:59:11 | More by Tone

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Really nice and tight looking as white head of maybe an inch and a half came up and settled down, fading slightly but holding its own. Light grains and bready malt notes really pulling through here. Some smattering of hops in there but again nothing really pushing that way, this was a well rounded, and very straight forward lager. As I take the first sip, crisp, clean flavor rolls across the taste buds. Really very well put together. Earthy, nice touches of grain and smooth, mellow caramel notes infiltrate as it warms. Light banana and clove maybe then coming through. I am very pleased here

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 02:23:38 | More by mikesgroove

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Looks decent a nice amber color but the head is minimal with only a slight ring lace. Lacing is pretty sticky though.

S - Smells of light grains and sweet malts. Very little hop smell surprisingly.

T - Ow not bad! I get a nice level of caramel malt similar to an amber lager but better. It's beside a slight bit of hops and grain taste but it's sweet rather than bitter.

M - Biggest amber lager I had so far clocking in at 6% yet it's medium bodied for sure.

Overall I like this lager it has a very good flavor and is almost in the IPA territory with the ABV. Smooth.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 04:44:32 | More by DrDemento456

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. I've had this countless time on tap; I'm curious to see how it is bottled.

Pours a honey gold, with a 1" white head that reduces to a few wisps and ring around the edge of the glass. The beer is very clear, with an obvious filtered appearance to it.

Has a honey malt smell, with undertones of wet grass. A simple, fresh aroma.

Starts sweet and malty, clover and barley hitting the tongue, and a richer creamy finish with a hint of hop nip as it goes down.

Medium-bodied, with a richer mouthfeel than you would think to look at it. Mild bitterness to finish rounds it out.

An easy drinking, pleasant beer, one which you'll enjoy, but also one which, you'll frankly find rather forgettable. A serviceable, yeoman-like brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 21:13:34 | More by TheHoppiest

goldennectar

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden color with 1 finger of head that quickly settles down.

Smell: Fragrant Some floral and spicy notes

Taste: Balanced lightly hopped. sweet and slightly malty Full of flavor

Mouthfeel: Crisp fresh Nice & smooth

Overall: A slightly hoppy very drinkable lager. Worthy of another purchase

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 18:41:38 | More by goldennectar

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner glass

A- Poured a clear golden orange with high streaming carbonation. Had a three finger frothy head that left some droppy lacing.

S- Big floral notes, lemon, German hops and some spice

T- Floral, lemon zest, some indistinct fruitiness, German hops, barley, and some earthiness

M- Very crisp, finishes dry, a little oily on the front, and very refreshing

O- This beer tastes like if Anchor Steam and Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold had a baby. This is very nice Dortmunder style lager from Thirsty Dog, I actually prefer this one to Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, a little more complex.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2011 23:17:18 | More by Hoptometrist

DAllspaw

Indiana

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into pint glass. Deep apricot with slight head.

Fresh baked bread is the first scent, a bit of fruit and yeast as well.

Taste is also bready, with some definite grains as well. Nice carbonation. The grains are prominent, probably typical for a lager which I just don't have that much, but this is a nice surprise, good substantive beer, pretty solid, would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 00:43:59 | More by DAllspaw