Buckeye Beer - Maumee Bay Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Medium amber beneath a good-sized crown of ivory colored foam that has a yellowish tint. There's nothing wrong with the lid. It hangs around for a while and deposits a respectable amount of lace in the bargain. The look is unassuming, with no real faults.

My first thought upon popping the cap was 'macro lager'. Now that I'm actually putting my nose over the glass, I feel the same way. Buckeye Beer smells like any of the lagers from BMC, although it has no hint of nastiness. It's just pale grain and a musky German hoppiness. Good thing this stuff doesn't come in clear glass bottles.

Eh, not bad. It's a damn sight better than the more popular lagers noted above, but I won't be counting the days until my next trip to Ohio so I can load up (like I do with Great Lakes, Three Floyds, Founders, etc). To be fair, it does improve a bit as it sits, a concept that BMC lagers are... uh... unfamiliar with.

The malt backbone can't be anything darker than pale malt. It provides flavors of reasonably fresh grain (depending on how fresh the bottle is) and... that's it. The grassy hops (gotta be Saaz) are almost prominent enough for me to agree with the Czech pilsener classification. There's a good sweet-bitter balance, I'll give it that.

The body/mouthfeel doesn't make an impression unless one focuses on it for the purposes of description. It's light-medium in a general sense and doesn't give up the ghost on the back end. Not bad, not bad at all.

I feel like I've already given my conclusion of Buckeye Beer in saying that it isn't something I'm interesting in drinking a second time. The brewery's history is pretty interesting (and the old-time label is great), but the beer is the only thing that really matters in the end. Although I didn't expect excellence, I'm still disappointed that a beer that shares my user name isn't of higher quality.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2007 13:00:27 | More by BuckeyeNation

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 12 oz bottle from The Anderson's on Talmadge. Couldn't leave town without one.

A: The pilsener is a light golden color, crystal clear and very, VERY pale. A thin white head, wispy bands really, are all that remain from the first pour.

S: Sooey, that is sweet. The pilsener doesn't skimp on the fruitier biscuit aspects. The nose is very boring but on par with the era that it is intended to represent.

T: The sweetness continues here. Biscuity with light fruits in tow. Hops are more apparent here than in the nose, a soft crispness. A creaminess lingers after each sip. Very approachable but also very restrained.

M: The mouthfeel is sweet, a good diversionary beer, a sip before bigger ones.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 18:56:36 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

2.17/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance is pale yellow with fine easy carbonation defnitely not your typical fizzy beer. Although the head doesn't last too long here, leaves behind thin speckled lacing. Aroma has some tart grainy offness to it with a touch of metallic character. Not a typical hop character for a Czech pils, some honey cracker sweetness in there as well. Flavor is pretty pathetic a lot of underwhelming characteristics with faint tart finish mild biscuit sweetness and some watery hop flavor, pretty much generic beer. Mouthfeel is light with ample carbonation not too dry compared to a true Czech pils. Drinkability is average at best, I bet this beer sells in the Buckeye state despite the fact that the beer isn't all that. I'll pass on my next Buckeye beer, it's just not worthy.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2008 15:20:14 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pee yellow with a thinner white head. Nose is slight grain sweet with a skunky edge. Flavor is grainy sweet as well. One dimensional, but consistent, lasting, and fairly smooth. Feel carries a slight thickness to the liquid and the carbonation is fairly full. This is an easy drinker. Combined with the super cool packaging, this could be sold en masse.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 05:31:29 | More by RblWthACoz

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.53/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Sample at the brewpub: Clear straw color with an endless stream of bubbles and a wispy white head. Very little lacing is apparent. Light malt and grass aroma. Light-bodied and bland but has flashes of hoppiness here and there. The finish is round and lightly hopped with very little aftertaste. Would be an easy transitional beer from a Macro light but it’s really more of a lateral move than anything. Could try harder.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2007 20:55:28 | More by Dogbrick

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Pale yellow with a soapy white head with good retention. Has some lace.

S. Corn and malted barley, slight hops.

T. Pretty well balanced. Light malts and noble hops make up most of the flavor profile. A slight astringency coupled with vague roasted grain. A light buttery note. Finishes semi-dry.

M. Mouthfeel is silky smooth, light and carbonated well.

D. This is a very drinkable beer. Glad I got it as a Christmas present. Thanks Jake!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 18:49:19 | More by Stinkypuss

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

After not seeing Buckeye Beer around for a couple years (if not longer), I was happy to see a bunch of cases of it over at Anderson's this morning so I picked one up.

Served in a mug, the beer pours a clear light golden color with about an inch white head which went away pretty quick. It smells mainly like sweet malt, with a small grassy and adjunct taste too. The smell is a bit weak. The taste is malty sweet, not much hops in this beer. Mouthfeel is light but not too watery, and it's pretty smooth. Drinkability is very good, it's easy to drink and it's nice and crisp. I could definitely have this as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2007 00:30:51 | More by bluejacket74

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

2.2/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Appearance - pours a bright lemony yellow, a snowy cap of maybe a finger. Can't tell for sure, it's gone so quickly, leaving just a scant cover and collar.

Aroma - a fairly average grain, mildly sweet.

Taste - a husky, stale cereal grain flavor. Some apple tartness on the swallow resolving to a bitterness of some kind, or maybe a sourness. Can't tell; either way, it's not too good. It gets a little better as it goes, but stays primarily husky and cereal-like. The main problem here is no presence of anything Saaz-like. This tastes no more like any kind of pilsner than does MGD or Bud.

Mouthfeel - crisp and light to moderate body. Meh.

Drinkability - not that enjoyable but I suppose if I had to...no, no I probably still wouldn't.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 05:38:31 | More by brewdlyhooked13

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My parents brought some Buckeye Sparkling Dry Premium Beer from Ohio. The beer pours a clear yellow color with a thin white head. The smell is slight grain sweet with slight Saaz hop kick. The taste follows the smell...is grainy and Saaz hop being present. The mouthfeel is light in body and good carbonation. Overall the beer is decent and easy drinking. It is alot like Pilsner Urquel.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 12:58:28 | More by WoodBrew

JamesS

Indiana

3.38/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very nice bubbly golden color with some nice initial head and a bit of nice lacing. Crisp and clean scent, with a bit of nice peppery hops in the aroma, but along with the slightly off-jerky aroma common in some lagers. Good taste, nice and sweet-malty with a good German hop finish to it. Goes down fine, if a bit hop-rough.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 02:40:48 | More by JamesS

Brenden

Ohio

2.95/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This review is going to be identical to my bottle review; I saw no change at all in any aspect in getting it fresh, probably 1. because I'm in the town where it's brewed and 2. I've gotten bottles from the brewpub itself. It's light in all aspects, a little above the standard macro in craft. It seems made for the BMC drinker with a little more care and quality.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 20:33:50 | More by Brenden

JDV

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to beervirgin72 for the bottle!
Very light yellow pour with a smallish white head. Smell is cor and grainy like maltiness. Kind of reminds me of the honey smacks cereal with the frog mascot. Taste is sweet maltiness, and is very honey like. Somewhat crisp mouthfeel. Very easy drinking, and this could be my guilty pleasure beer if I lived in Ohio.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2008 21:27:11 | More by JDV

JayQue

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pretty average beer. Good for a session and goes down smooth. Pours a very pale straw gold mostly clear. Big bubbly white head with little retention. Surprisingly good lacing.

Smell was better than I expected. A definite sweet bready malt aroma.

Taste was pretty mild - slightly sweet bready malt balanced by light grassy hops.

Mouthfeel is about average. This is a light bodied beer that is also fairly crisp.

Drinkability is good as a session beer. The abv is not listed but is seems fairly low. Not a bad Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 22:55:29 | More by JayQue

AltBock

Ohio

2.17/5  rDev -31.3%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle with a red and white label that has a retro drawing of a waiter serving beer. He must be moving fast because they put black streaks behind one of his legs. It's either that or he's tripping. I failed to see a date anywhere on the bottle or label. That's probably because they didn't put one on.

When poured into a Southern Tier pint glass, this retro Sparkling dry beer was a clear as crystal pale straw yellow. It was so pale that it was about a shade up from being a urine yellow. What did the head of foam look like? You have to be joking! The head of foam was nothing but a sad looking faint string of bubbles acting as the head of foam. Pathetic! What was there quickly disappeared into oblivion. It left nothing behind to say that it even was there. Overall, it's a sad appearance from any beer.

I wish I could go in depth about the aroma, but there's not much to write about. It was simply a grainy aroma filled with cheap malted grains. That's it folks! No hops or fruits, just cheap malted grains like corn and rice.

This beer featured a sparkling dry taste of more cheap malted grains. There was a faint hop presence toward the back, but nothing to write home about. I don't care if it's labeled as a Czech Pilsener here, it tasted just like a Macro Lager to me.

This was a light bodied beer with more than enough crispy carbonation and a tiny aftertaste of cheap malted grains and a gentle touch of bitter hops.

Do you know the saying "You get what you paid for?" Well, that's what I get for a $1.25 a bottle. If you want a cheap Macro Lager with a retro label that makes you feel like you stepped back in time, then grab a bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 22:20:14 | More by AltBock

hosehead83

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev +7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Clear gold in color, with a short, bright white head of foam.
Aroma-Faint pilsner malt.
Taste-Faint cracker and pilsner malt, very crisp, subtle hop note, rather dry finish.
Very refreshing and drinkable, light but with a bit of character. A step up from a macro. Sure to please a cookout crowd on a hot day. For me, local, fresh and affordable. A pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 16:21:01 | More by hosehead83

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a nice average American-style Pilsener with less Saaz hops dimension than would be present in European brews.

The look is good for the body, being exceptionally clear and bright gold in color. The head was lacking and there was very little lace from the white head.

The nose was light, but did hint of some nice hopping that faded in the flavor. The feel was fairly light, but had a nice crisp finish.

The drinkability of this beer is good; small ABV, light body, and crispness without over carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2003 03:48:24 | More by AtLagerHeads

buschbeer

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I poured into a pint glass to two inches of white, foamy head. It is yellow and clear. It looks a lot like a Busch beer. The smell is very sweet. The taste is sweet and bready. It is watery and goes down quite nicely. It's not my favorite style, and I hate the name.

Go Blue!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 23:33:33 | More by buschbeer

Beejay

Virginia

2.58/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Extremely light, clear, high carbonation, and little foam.. Looks like generic cheap beer....

S:Almost salty... hmm.. Not a good sign....

T: Slightly sweet, with a strong barley aftertaste.. Malty and biscuity.. dry indeed.. The taste is a pleasant surprise, considering the bad smell.

M: Light and crisp.. a little slick at the end. Leaves a huh kind of after taste and feel...

D: One and Done. I see no need in buying this again.. but it is something different and new.. worth it for the try.. but don't buy a six pack...

I knew there was a reason why I didn't like Toledo..

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2009 06:24:14 | More by Beejay

joepais

Maine

3.5/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to RyanS107 for this one I poured it into a pills glass and it produced a good two finger white head that settled to a thick lace across the glass the body was a crystal clear pale yellow in color ( nice looking beer)

I got aromas of bready yeast with some light citric hops. While the mouthfeel is light and crisp with great carbonation.
The flavor of the brew is pale malts sweetness with a light hop dryness in the end . It is a easy drinking brew a step above BMC. It realy reminded me of a PBR or a Narragansett

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2010 16:57:06 | More by joepais

marburg

Michigan

3.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Glowing, crystal clear golden yellow brew with a smallish head. Admittedly, my estimate of the appearance may be a bit off because I tasted this via their sampler; so it's hard to say for sure what the head looks like on this beer.

A bit grassy and plain. Nose is dull and almost non-existant. Similarly, it's got a bland flavor about it. Nonetheless, it's a quality brew as evidenced by its richer, heartier mouthfeel. Certainly not the best pilsner I've ever had, but it gets the job done. And from what I learned today, Buckeye Beer has a remarkable history behind it. Nice little brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2004 00:58:17 | More by marburg

beveritt

Ohio

3.13/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz brwon bottle into a standard pint glass. The label is predominantly red and white and depicts a cartoon character waiter carrying a tray with a bottle and a pilsner glass. "When you're dry . . . Drink Buckeye." No visible freshness date.

Appearance: Pours with three fingers of nearly white foam with enough surface tension to rise 1 finger above the rim. This settles slowly to q tick, half finger head. Some lacing. The beer itself is pale yellow and perfectly clear. Lots of activity.

Smell: Slightly spicy and metallic Saaz hops in the nose. Very slight hint of the underlying malt.

Taste: Some hop spice upfront, with very lightly sweet malt. Mild bitterness in the finish with some husky astringency.

Mouthfeel: Average level of carbonation, though the activity continues throughout the beer. Body is average to average plus.

Drinkability: Typically not my style, but this one is refreshing, Just having finished a long run in the August heat, al ight bodied beer with some flavor hits the spot.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2008 21:53:07 | More by beveritt

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a really light orangish yellow color with a small foam head the quickly dissipates to nothing. There is no lacing to speak of.

S: Very mild on the nose. There is some warm biscuit, caramel and some earthy hops.

T: Not overly complex but an ok pils. Starts off with a nice amount of buttered biscuit and caramel. I was waiting for some hops to come through but there were none.

M: Nicely carbonated, leaves a creamy taste on the palate.

O: I wish there was some hops character in this beer as there is a lot of potential. I thought there would be some hops to balance out the buttery biscuit.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 21:31:01 | More by IronCitySteve

Ricochet

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My review for on-tap says this would be a regular drinker for me if I could get it local. Now it's at my favorite beverage store, so gotta try it in the bottle to see if the prediction holds up.

A: Beer head, left quick, really light yellow, clean.

S: Well, it's a beer. a "dry" scent? Oh, that's hops asserting themselves. Like a Pabst. Nothing special.

M: Little hops bitter, mostly sweet corn-pop aftertaste. Watery.

T: Dry. As advertised. The bitter from the hops makes this a little better and it's a bit fresher than others. Step above Pabst but pretty close. Corn pops without the milk is the main note to this.

D: Yeah, I would get this again if I was in the mood for this sort of drink. It's less obtrusive than Pabst so a little more than a lawnmower beer, but I don't like to think about the drink when I want a lawnmower beverage. Eh... Maybe the difference of bottling made this rank lower than when I got it fresh off the tap. So it goes.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2007 08:08:13 | More by Ricochet

csmiley

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours clear, yellow, and gives about an inch of head. Retention and lacing are both average.

S - Spicy on the nose. Biscuit and earthy aromas are first in line, followed by sharp floral hops. Very nice aroma on this one.

T - Taste was a tad bit bland. Earthy flavors are there but seem muted. Bitter hops are there but are average. As it warms the hops tend to become more dominant (which does give it some appeal).

M - Light bodied with good carbonation. Too light bodied for my taste. There is a dry finish.

D - Drinkability is average. The lack of flavor and body make it go down pretty easy but I would look elsewhere if I wanted a pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2008 03:35:21 | More by csmiley

BDIMike

Ohio

2.73/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice-looking pilsner. A straw-yellow color with a nice thick white head that laces nicely.
Smell is not good. A bit of strong wheat smell and almost a skunk hop smell too.
Taste is not much better than the smell. A biscuit taste with a bit of bad hop as well.
Mouthfeel is okay. An okay thickness, but nothing spectacular.
Drinkability is good. A balanced beer, but nothing going on that would make one want to drink a lot of these. Eh...

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 01:05:42 | More by BDIMike