Yuengling Traditional Lager - Yuengling Brewery

bamadog

Kentucky

3.58/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've been drinking this beer for 20 years and it was pretty much all we drank in college, and I can't believe I've never reviewed it. But hey, I'll take the opportunity now. Review is from notes taken on 5/22/2013 and poured from can to a pint glass.

Appearance: Fairly dark coppery color as expected, near perfect clarity, moderately strong carbonation bubbling up to a thin wispy and incomplete skim of a head. Head died down really quickly and leaves now trace of lacing, and I know my glass is clean, so that's one of the only faults I can find with the appearance. Solid and looks like it should.

Smell: Grainy and a little toasty, slightly sweet corn. I mean, there's not a lot going on here, but it's clean and simple, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Taste: See smell. Pretty much matches it to a T. It's nothing that's ever going to blow anyone's mind, and it's probably best enjoyed while riding around on a lawn mower, but when the 12 pack is less than 10 bucks, you can't go wrong.

Mouthfeel: Pretty good, really. Body is light (compared to most beers I drink) and it's crisp and refreshing. Doesn't linger, doesn't coat, doesn't leave any nasty aftertastes.

Overall: Like mentioned earlier, it's never going to rock anyone's world or make any top beer lists, but sometimes simple and cheap is all that's necessary for a night of enjoyment. Take something for what it is and be realistic, and you too can enjoy the simple things in life.

Serving type: can

05-23-2013 01:28:44 | More by bamadog

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

3.21/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Surprised by the red color of this one. Caught my offguard as i didn't realize it was an amber. Nice look though. Clear walnut with 1 finger offwhite head. Not much retention, but decent lacing for the style.

Sweet notes to the smell, sugar, molasis, grain and pale lager malts.

Taste seems to follow nose with some added citrus and earthy hops. Husks of the grain. No astringency detected as can be the norm at times with the style.

Light body and fairly drinkable. Crisp and refreshing.

Nothing wrong with this beer as my expectations weren't all that high. An enjoyable lager that I woudln't mind having again.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 15:50:53 | More by Bosoxfan20

rjp217

Massachusetts

3.36/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a mug. Ill try and keep my PA and bias out of this review. I used to drink this throughout college and growing up. Now as a real review, the beer is pretty average and good overall brew to have for a party. One finger head that quickly expires after a few minutes. Almost zero head retention. No real noticeable smell, a little malt, some floral notes I guess. Almost a chemical type nose and mouthfeel. I get large carbonation feel and aftertaste. Almost seems to transition to a watery taste. Maybe my tolerance is now sky high but it tastes more like 2%. I get a little bit of sweetness and some dryness. It's very drinkable, like I said, a good party beer. Decent and inexpensive, brings me back to my college years.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:23:32 | More by rjp217

xrayzebra

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +25.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Yuengling Traditional could be accurately characterized as a Vienna style beer, I think - an amber hue, a bit heavier than a lager, but still refreshing and suitable for my own house beer. It was once available only within a limited area from Pottsville, PA. Now, I am finding it all over the country. Where you find this beer at normal premium beer prices like Bud and other typical American lagers, it is an excellent bargain. I find it selling at import prices in some parts of the country, but it is considered "local beer" around Baltimore, making it pretty irresistable as an all-rounder daily brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 17:52:55 | More by xrayzebra

lwillitz

Florida

3.54/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12-oz can into Samuel Smith "Tulip" pint glass

A - big off-white head over a transparent body of amber, lots of visible carbonation at first

S - herbal and grassy, toasty malt

T - toasty/grainy malt with light sweetness, grassy, herbal hops, citrus; dry finish

M - slick medium body, high carbonation

O - Nothing special going on in the nose or feel, but decent flavor if you're in the mood for something simple and inexpensive.

Serving type: can

05-09-2013 20:16:10 | More by lwillitz

SazzieWazzie

North Carolina

4.49/5  rDev +30.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Great everyday go-to beer. The new but old Budweiser! At least they didn't sell out to a foreign company. It has a full bodied taste without being over powering. Goes down smooth, and clean. We used to be Bud light folks, but now we are true blue Yuengling fans.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 21:39:26 | More by SazzieWazzie

MisSigsFan

California

3.01/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a dark amber/gold color with a frothy white head. Smells mostly of grain. Not much else. Taste is what you'd expect from a beer like this. Mostly a grainy type flavor with a bit of sweetness. A bit of maltyness as well. Not much else. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's light and crisp and easy to drink. Not my favorite cheap go-to beer, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 01:08:26 | More by MisSigsFan

screamking

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz can poured into pint glass.

When poured hard, you get a thick khaki head with a very nice amber color. Your smells here are the typical lager notes, I have yet to find a lager that deviates strongly from this aroma profile.

The taste is sweet and the feel is rather creamy. Small bitter hop notes but mostly sweet. I wouldn't say this is the best beer, or even top 25% beer. But for your dollar I wouldn't put much ahead of this. A 12 pack for 10 bucks... All day long.

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 00:12:16 | More by screamking

BrianJohnson

South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is the beer I "grew up on", having went to college in PA. It's been 18 years since I was in college, and I still have this beer constantly in my beer fridge. It's a really fantastic lager that can beat or match any other lager out there, including Sam Adams, New Albion, and any others. Really a nice, albeit cheap, lager. But then, there's a reason why they're the oldest continuous brewery in the U.S.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 00:34:44 | More by BrianJohnson

nmann08

Maryland

3.51/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Served from a bottle.

It's a very copper looking beer. A light amber, that has this look that automatically makes you wonder "could there be flavor there?" The head appears, but its thin, and disappears before I even finished this sentence.

You definitely can pull out caramel and very light hops, but overall, what you would expect from this style, nothing mind blowing smell wise.

This beer is refreshing. It reminds me of playing pool at Froggy Bottom Pub. The caramel definitely comes with a malty backbone.

The beer is very light, with a higher level of carbonation that lingers in your mouth. Dry finish, crisp, best on a warm-summer/spring day.

Overall, the traditional lager from Yuengling is a solid beer. It delivers on exactly what it promises, a simple refreshing lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 02:20:26 | More by nmann08

tim_philadelphia

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Okay, there are hundreds of excellent reviews here that describe this beer in detail, so this is a rather subjective review.

A Yuengling is what you get if you just order a "lager" in Philadelphia. It's the standard, here, and it's definitely not a bad one. The had could be more stable, but besides that, there is simply nothing wrong with that beer. It's well-balanced, lightly (but not impalpably) hopped, with a beautiful amber color. It's not made for beer-snobs that only judge a beer by the amount of hops, but it's an unobtrusive, characterful companion that can be drunk "every day".

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2013 02:23:21 | More by tim_philadelphia

sajaffe1

Alabama

3.59/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Ordered on tap at a Hooters into a large glass mug

A- Coppery amber color, short-lived head, slight lacing on the sides

S- slight caramel, some hops, smells clean

T- Refreshing, a touch of hops and caramel, nothing special though

M- Clean, high carbonation, goes down easy

O- One of the better macros out there, this is my go-to brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 18:24:49 | More by sajaffe1

bsp77

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Serving glass: Poured from tap into large glass.

Appearance: Clear amber with decent off-white head.

Smell: Caramel, grain, spicy hops, slight citrus.

Taste: Malty with a caramel focus. Light spiciness along with a hint of citrus.

Feel: Light to medium body with moderately high carbonation. Semi-dry finish that is crisp despite the low hops.

Overall: Pretty good traditional Pre-Prohibition Style Lager. While nothing particularly rememberable, it is perfect for when you just want a "beer".

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 03:48:37 | More by bsp77

flagmantho

Washington

3.45/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz green bottle into a tumbler.

Appearance: medium caramel-brown hue with a haze free body and a mild effervescence. Head poured a thin layer of white foam and dissipated quickly. Good color, but the head is a bit dissapointing.

Smell: neutral lager aroma; lightly malty with a hint of plastic. Not great, but inoffensive and not bad for the style.

Taste: much like the aroma, the flavor is pretty neutral right up front, followed by a light, grainy maltiness. The plasticy hint in the aroma is thankfully absent in the flavor. Not too bad, especially for the style!

Mouthfeel: light body with a prickly effervescence. Not creamy, but bright and refreshing. I like it.

Overall: this beer is OK, but it is indeed highly drinkable. If Yuengling were available in my neck of the woods, it would probably be my go-to American lager; it would make a great beer for band practice.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 14:37:16 | More by flagmantho

JG-90

New Jersey

2.66/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 2.25 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Bottle into glass

A - Deep amber color. Pours a medium bubbly head that quickly dissipates to leave a ring of bubbles around the edge, leaves minimal lacing

S - Caramel malt, weak hops

T - Malt, grain, earth, toffee. A good mix a sweet and bitter, can taste a touch of hops, finishes with a bready/metallic/bitter taste

M - A bit creamy with light body, moderate-high carbonation

O - Nothig spectacular, but a good option when looking to save money

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 22:23:09 | More by JG-90

delta490

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 12oz bottle into a Samuel Adams glass. Pours a nice clear deep amber with a decent creamy white head. The head lingered on throughout and even left a little bit of lacing. Aroma is malty, with hints of caramel and fruit. Taste is about the same, with just a hint of hop bitterness on the finish. There is a little carbonation and the mouthfeel is slightly thin, but not bad and certainly not watery. A solid go-to on the East Coast when not in a craft beer establishment.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 10:32:33 | More by delta490

YardmanFTB

Maryland

3.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Yuengling Traditional Lager is one of the first beers that I've ever had that got me into "craft" or full-bodied American Lagers. As a college student it was tasty and cheap compared to the more premium imported beers. This beer deserves a lot of the credit of bringing me along the way to becoming a craft beer enthusiast.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 15:45:14 | More by YardmanFTB

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.78/5  rDev +39.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I am so glad I picked this up at the last minute on my way out of Florida. I really wish they would distribute it outside of the East Coast.
I was wondering how an adjunct lager could be so amazing and now I know: it's not one. It's an amber lager, of course. Still, it's quite delicious. Hits the spot impeccably if you're craving a real good lager-style taste. Perfect maltiness, sweetness, and mild bitterness. It even has a kiss of fruitiness to it. This is really great stuff in my opinion. Just the absolute perfect middle-of-the-road mix of lager flavours. You'd be hard-pressed to make something more delicious while remaining so incredibly refreshing. I am getting more and more jealous of the east coast.

Serving type: can

03-22-2013 06:31:29 | More by ElCommodoro

Wendysd

New Jersey

3.01/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Poured bottle into pint glass. Nice amber color, big bubble carbonation that reduces to small ring around the glass. No stickyness on the glass. Metalic smell. mild hops. Price is right and you can find this on tap most places. Good staple of a beer to have on hand for parties and picnics.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 00:42:46 | More by Wendysd

barnzy78

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz green bottle, pours light-amber in color and is topped with a fizzy white head that dissipates quickly. Aromas are toasted grain, lager yeast, caramel, grassy, metallic. Tastes are rather bland with some caramel, toasted grain, grassy hop. Mouth-feel is thin and watery; metallic but clean finish. Overall, average to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 02:45:56 | More by barnzy78

Cuttooth

North Carolina

3.26/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Oh yes, the mighty Yuengling. Many times have I slayed this beast, only to have it come back for more. Anyway, this beer pours a clear copper color, with decent lacing all around. I came to this keg with my trusty Primator mug, so I felt that I had the proper glassware. The smell was of faint hops and some caramel malts, although it was a strain to find anything super noteworthy. The taste was a bit better, with notes of biscuit, barley, and a faint bit of hops. The mouthfeel was probably the best part about this beer, since it kept the beer clean and gave an almost prickley carbonation to the beer.

Honestly, for the price this beer can't be beat. However, if you're willing to spend a few bones, then you could do much better (obviously).

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 03:02:28 | More by Cuttooth

lordbrad1

New York

2.1/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I'm with many others on this one. I bought this tonight as my treat for Friday night. I don't do a lot of drinking these days, but I still have a deep love of beer. So when it's one of those occasions where I treat myself to something I want it to be good....this was not.

I really like the color of this beer; it's a deep gold/amber. It LOOKS like it should taste good. However, after pouring it, I turned around to grab my cigarettes out of my vest and by the time I turned back around the head was gone as if it had never been there to being with. No lacing, no nothing, just gone. If I hadn't just poured I'd swear it's a beer that's been left to sit over night. There's no carbonation bubbles, and it looks flat as hell. The taste is horribly bland and boring. It's got a certain malty sweetness, but it tastes for all the world like any other cheap American beer right down to the weird metallic taste it leaves in the mouth.

As someone else mentioned I think this gets so much hype because of the story of the brewery. That's all well and good but, based on this offering, I'll be in no great hurry to try any of their other beers. Being the oldest brewer in America doesn't count for much in my book if your beer isn't worth drinking.

Serving type: can

03-09-2013 03:13:40 | More by lordbrad1

dar482

New York

3.44/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Actually my pick for a "cheap" American beer.

It has a gold, amber color. It has a smooth malt flavor and mouth feel. There's a good carbonation and creamy feel to the beer, but still the finish is lacking and has a bit of a cheap macro flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 05:10:25 | More by dar482

orcsinspace

Virginia

2.18/5  rDev -36.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

Ah, Yuengling, the crappy beer that seems to get a pass because it is from a small brewery. While this is not the worse beer, it is worse than Budweiser. It reminds me of a stronger tasting Miller Lite due to that mystery hint of fart aftertaste. The taste is not exactly terrible, but it seems like a PBR that got hot and then was put back in the fridge; at the same time, it can taste a little more complex than your typical gas station grade of beer.

I have always found all Yuengling products low quality and in the vein of Miller High Life or Genesee Cream Ale. This goes even more so for the Traditional Lager. The initial taste is bad for every time I have had it, and it becomes increasingly drinkable the more you have. However, there is a weird, sticky mouth feel to it, and again that subtle but troubling aftertaste. It also gives many people almost instant gas that has notes of that aftertaste, which makes it even harder to pallet.

This beer is sub-par, and I do not know why people claim to like it. It isn't hoppy, but it is sunky. It is a beer I don't exactly hate, but can go years and years without.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 06:02:13 | More by orcsinspace

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.44/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a pint of this at Merk's in New Smyrna, Florida. $2.50 USD for the pint. 'Murica! From notes.

A - Copper pour, one finger white head, bright, spotty lace and a finger of retention.

S - Gentle hop aroma. Sweet grain. Simple but nice.

T - Sweet grain, a little light toffee, some citrus hop. Good grassiness. Quite grainy.

M - Tingly carbonaiton, light body but not thin. Clean and slightly sweet finish with a mild bitterness.

O/D - Nice lager. Flavourful and easy to drink. Could be more complex but it does what it needs to do.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 08:12:43 | More by tbeckett