1811 Pre-Prohibition Lager - Fort George Brewery + Public House

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a can at SAVOR 2011 and served in a SAVOR goblet.

THe pour brings forward a sparkling yellow brew with an average fizzy white head. Fair retention and an average amount of lacing. The nose brings some light grainy malt. The malt is accompanied by a light floral-hop character. The flavor balances between the two. There's a light grainy taste at the beginning followed by a slight amount of chewy bread. The floral hops finish things off and lead to a bitter and dry finish, that's unfortunately also a bit astringent. Light body with fizzy carbonation. Pretty decent stuff, especially considering the style.

Serving type: can

06-06-2011 23:11:12 | More by Thorpe429

tone77

Pennsylvania

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

Thanks to the legendary woodychandler for providing this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a cloudy golden color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of hops, some corn. Taste is very hoppy for a lager, some grains are present, as is bitterness at the finish. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall I was surprised to get this taste from an AAL, but I'll take it.

Serving type: can

05-28-2011 15:11:16 | More by tone77

djbreezy

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured into a pils glass

appearance - yellow/gold, unique lacing that spots the glass, generous frothy head

smell - biscuity malts, floral hops

taste - grass, biscuit, hops

mouthfeel - light body, well carbonated

overall - flavorful, great session beer

Serving type: can

05-06-2011 17:03:53 | More by djbreezy

Reidrover

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can from "Lifesource" ,Salem. $1.99 Bright hazy sunlight yellow beer with a small white head. Fine hay/biscuit aromas..touch nutty maybe. Taste is semi sweet malts, well balanced citus zest hops and a ale fruitiness. OK on the palate..quite thick for style. Overall a very tasty drinkable beer. I have one quibble with the "style" this is under. To me the brewers description makes this a "Steam Beer".

Serving type: can

04-30-2011 18:05:45 | More by Reidrover

philbertk

Washington

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

Fort George Brewery--1811 Pre-Prohibition Lager--2011 16 oz. MicroCan. 5.10% ABV. 25 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0) Slightly hazy thin yellow gold color. Very thin white no lace head. Delicate nice floral hop front. Crisp refreshing tasty smooth malt body with light creamy buttery mild pale fruit notes. Mild hop clean smooth lager end. Fresh & tasty, but not over carbonated or too zesty. Nice. Sampled 4/12/2011. Purchased for $1.99 at The Loft, Bridgewater Bistro, Astoria, Oregon on 4/12/2011.

Serving type: can

04-18-2011 02:17:04 | More by philbertk

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Many thanks to msbulldog25 to sending this along in support of The CANQuest (TM)!

From the CAN: "Official Bicentennial Beer of Astoria"; "Two centuries ago, on the site of what is now the Fort George Brewery block, fur magnate John Jacob Astor's expedition boldly built a trading post they called Astoria - the first settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. Today, we're proud to craft the Official Bicentennial Beer of Astoria."; "Many West Coast brewers in the 19th century had no ice, so they improvised an effervescent beer by brewing lager yeasts at higher-than-normal temperatures. Described as a 'refreshing drink, much consumed by the laboring classes,' it's the inspiration for 1811 lager."; "More flavorful than most modern lagers, and fermented at warmer temperatures, 1811 is lovingly concocted from 2 row malted barley and cracked maize: corn was a popular beer ingredient in pre-Prohibition days. 1811's hop character gives it a distinctive Northwest style worthy of Astoria's 200-year history."; and "Lewis and Clark spend first winter at Fort Clatsop - 1805, John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company founds Astoria and its Fort - 1811, Fort and fur trade sold to British, renamed after King George III - 1813, Fort is returned to US posession -1818, Oregon Trail populates Astoria - 1840s, Oregon Territory votes to prohibit alcoholic beverages - 1844, British end occupation of Oregon Territory - 1846, First US post office west of the Rockies starts service in Astoria - 1847, Oregon territorial legislature repeals state prohibition law - 1849, Town of Astoria officially incorporated in State of Oregon - 1856, Astoria Brewery opens for business - 1872, Columbia Brewery opens - 1875, St. Louis Brewery opens - 1870s, J. T. Borchers manufactures bottled beer, opens Caviar Saloon - 1881, Hanson Brewery & Henry P. Soda Works open - 1883, Downtown Astoria devastated by fire - 1883, John Kopp starts North Pacific Brewering company near 34th & Grand - 1884, Gambrinus Beer opens - 1893, Kopp builds new brewery (now Uppertown Fire Fighters Museum) - 1896, Crown Bottling Works in operation - 1896, Cannery business booms - 1910s, Clatsop remains Oregon's last 'wet' county by narrow vote - 1914, Alcohol prohibited statewide - 1916, Prohibition starts throughout USA - 1919, Another fire destroys downtown Astoria - 1922, Astoria column built to commemorate town's history - 1926, Astoria-Megler Bridge opens, completing Highway 101 along entire Pacific coast - 1966, First annual performance of the musical 'Shanghaied in Astoria' - 1982, 'The Goonies' filmed in Astoria - 1984, First Fisher Poets Gathering - 1996, Pacific Rim Brewing Company fouded in Wet Dog Cafe - 1997, Fort George Brewery & Public House is founded - 2007, Astoria Bicentennial - 2011".

The Crack & Glug produced a thick two-finger cap of eggshell-white head with good retention. Color was a cloudy orangish-yellow, like fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Nose had an interesting mustiness to accompany the bitter hoppiness that was prevalent. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with an unexpected pine hoppiness on the tongue. Wow! If only all AALs were so hoppy, I would be a very happy CANQuester ... Finish was more like an AmeriCAN Pale Ale than a lager of any stripe. You CAN absolutely believe that I would not hesitate to put some of this in my cooler!

Serving type: can

04-17-2011 04:46:38 | More by woodychandler

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Freshly released 16 oz. cans began hitting local shelves in mid-March 2011 - just in time to celebrate the bicentennial of Oregon's (and the West's) first established trading outpost, what has now become the town of Astoria. Poured to a pint glass.

In fact, the label notes 'This beer has been approved by the Astoria Bicentennial Committee' and as such is the 'Official' beer of the year-long celebration. The periwinkle blue and silver can is ringed by a timeline of notable dates in local history, everything from tragedies (fires, Prohibition, etc) and triumphs (brewery and cannery foundings) to the most important date of all (that being 1984, the year 'The Goonies' was filmed... no, really, it's a big deal!). All in all, I spent a good 10 minutes studying this textbook of a can. Cool.

A: Pours golden, but deeper and richer than most lagers - thanks to the 'Pre-Prohibition' roughness. No fining agents means, that a very light haze hangs suspended around a relatively scarce amount of wriggling bubbles. OK, look I guess, certainly nothing like your standard 'crystal clear' adjunct lager. Head is pretty awe-inspiring, a 2-finger+ pile of tight cream, driven-snow white and sticking in goopy webs. Lasting retention, dwindles over several minutes.

S: The can sat a while out of the fridge before opening, then the pint glass sat a few more while I pored over the label copy... therefore I expected the aroma to really open up and shine. Well it sorta did: Germanic hop aromas of spice and domestic ones of lemony citrus

T: Stunning flavor, don't expect boring 'macro' lager here. Saaz and Centennials sparkle with freshness, offering big-time spice and vibrant grassy herbalness, with softened honey, biscuit and flower notes in the finish. Dry, crackery malt, saltines then a dusting of lemon-pepper. Think Bohemian pilsner in feel; APA in flavor. Excellent depth.

M: Crisp yet smooth all at once, would be even more refreshing if only for a lighter body! Yes, I said I actually WANT a lighter body to make an adjunct lager more refreshing. Carbonation is a little subdued, but the bright, and somewhat oily, and a maltiness that offers some lip-smacking chewiness more than compensate. My mouth won't stop watering!

O: Having just appeared on shelves, this is about as fresh as it'll get, and is such flavor-filled and quite drinkable. Really, it's a pretty stunning example of what lagers of the style can be (and may have once frequently been). Big hops and a slight off-balance make this a little less drinkable for me (key word: little), but that reflects my palate rather than whatever consensus will be reached by the general public. Otherwise, completely enjoyable, start to finish. A touch over 5% abv, makes it 'sessionable', too.

A winner by Fort George, a fitting tribute to their historic hometown and a beer I hope will be accepted and will continue for years beyond the bicentennial.

Serving type: can

03-20-2011 04:25:08 | More by msubulldog25

chumba526

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It appears light gold with a foamy white head.

It smells a bit spicy, there is a bit of a dry grainy and corn like smell and a mild citrus smell.

It tastes a bit spicy but not in a hot sort of way. There is a bit of a grainy corn like flavor. I get a bit of a mild floral and citrus hoppy like flavor. Overall a really flavorful light lager that almost tastes like a Czech pilsner.

There is a somewhat high level of carbonation and a bit of a fizzy mouthfeel.

This is a light and easy to drink ale.

Overall a nicely done flavorful old school lager. Worth trying if you see it and feel like a pretty good lager.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2011 00:45:03 | More by chumba526