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Vienna Lager
Devils Backbone Brewing Company
- From:
- Devils Backbone Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- Vienna Lager
Ranked #44 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #21,825 - Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 12.27%
- Reviews:
- 241
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Wednesday at 05:39 PM
- Added:
- Dec 24, 2008
- Wants:
- 52
- Gots:
- 416
Vienna-Style Lager.
This is our Ol’ Faithful. No, it’s not a geothermal phenomenon. It’s the beer everybody, including professional beer judges, just seems to dig. Maybe they like how it’s smooth, medium-bodied, and semi-sweet, while not too heavy or bitter. Maybe it’s the amber color, or the blend of four imported malts balanced by two Germanic hops, or the fact that it takes five weeks to get right. Or maybe it’s all the above.
Malts: Vienna, Pilsner, Dark Munich, CaraAmber
Hops: Northern Brewer, Saaz
IBU: 18
COLOR: Amber
This is our Ol’ Faithful. No, it’s not a geothermal phenomenon. It’s the beer everybody, including professional beer judges, just seems to dig. Maybe they like how it’s smooth, medium-bodied, and semi-sweet, while not too heavy or bitter. Maybe it’s the amber color, or the blend of four imported malts balanced by two Germanic hops, or the fact that it takes five weeks to get right. Or maybe it’s all the above.
Malts: Vienna, Pilsner, Dark Munich, CaraAmber
Hops: Northern Brewer, Saaz
IBU: 18
COLOR: Amber
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Darkmagus82:
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
3.63/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from bottle into pint glass
Appearance – Pours a deep amber color with a big billowy white head. The head has huge carbonation bubbles entrapped within which pop rather quickly to give a head that recedes fast to give only a very light level of lacing.
Smell – The smell is rather light with some notes of roasted malt and a very light caramel smell.
Taste – A dry roasted malt flavor meets the tongue. This flavor is then present throughout the whole of the taste. While overall dry up front, there is a very light sweetness. The sweetness fades over the taste experience while a light herbal hop taste enters the taste. In the end the roasted malt and light hop flavors give a nice dry and crisp flavor on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – A rather thin body with a good level of carbonation. Very fitting for the style and it makes for one refreshing and easy drinking brew.
Overall – While rather simple in its flavors, it is quite delicious and refreshing. A fantastic session brew.
Sep 14, 2012Appearance – Pours a deep amber color with a big billowy white head. The head has huge carbonation bubbles entrapped within which pop rather quickly to give a head that recedes fast to give only a very light level of lacing.
Smell – The smell is rather light with some notes of roasted malt and a very light caramel smell.
Taste – A dry roasted malt flavor meets the tongue. This flavor is then present throughout the whole of the taste. While overall dry up front, there is a very light sweetness. The sweetness fades over the taste experience while a light herbal hop taste enters the taste. In the end the roasted malt and light hop flavors give a nice dry and crisp flavor on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – A rather thin body with a good level of carbonation. Very fitting for the style and it makes for one refreshing and easy drinking brew.
Overall – While rather simple in its flavors, it is quite delicious and refreshing. A fantastic session brew.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
3.57/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Amber hued with a fingernail of off white on top. Heavy, soapy lacing is on the glass. There’s a bit of caramel in the nose. I’m tasting caramel with just a suggestion of grassy hops. The mouth is light and easygoing.
Wednesday at 05:39 PMReviewed by startreker from North Carolina
3.54/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I just tried this beer last weekend. Poured into a pint glass.
Look - Nice amber look, however the head dissipated very quickly. Didn`t even provide nice lacing down my glass which is important to me, because I like a nice presentation of the beer I`m drinking.
Nose - Nice malt forward on the nose, combined with subtle hop notes as well.
Mouth feel - Medium body that wasn`t watered down.
Taste - Nice toasted malts, that gave way to dark fruits, followed by raisins, and a dry finish. Good flavors for sure.
Overall - Very disappointed with the lack of lacing, and a head that faded as quickly as a can of soda would. Other then that, the flavors were good. I`m happy I tried it, but will stick with my go to Samuel Adams Boston Lager over this one for sure!
Feb 24, 2024Look - Nice amber look, however the head dissipated very quickly. Didn`t even provide nice lacing down my glass which is important to me, because I like a nice presentation of the beer I`m drinking.
Nose - Nice malt forward on the nose, combined with subtle hop notes as well.
Mouth feel - Medium body that wasn`t watered down.
Taste - Nice toasted malts, that gave way to dark fruits, followed by raisins, and a dry finish. Good flavors for sure.
Overall - Very disappointed with the lack of lacing, and a head that faded as quickly as a can of soda would. Other then that, the flavors were good. I`m happy I tried it, but will stick with my go to Samuel Adams Boston Lager over this one for sure!
Reviewed by DarkPassport
3.71/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.71/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Appearance: Drafted into tulip glass. Clear beautiful reddish golden color with white foam that lingered around appropriately with lacing.
Aroma: Light grains.
Taste: Same as nose. Add corn. Typical for the style.
Feel: Light with low carbonation. The latter might have been a keg issue though.
Overall: In line with the style.
Pairing: Balanced a lean seafood burger decently.
Sep 30, 2023Aroma: Light grains.
Taste: Same as nose. Add corn. Typical for the style.
Feel: Light with low carbonation. The latter might have been a keg issue though.
Overall: In line with the style.
Pairing: Balanced a lean seafood burger decently.
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
3.88/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
draught
Medium low amount of creamy, alabaster head. Very clear, medium orange/chestnut appearance. Low level of a touch woody, caramel tinged, medium light toasted malt, for the aroma. Fairly light amount of medium light toasted malt, a little caramel tinged woodiness, all quite subtle, for the taste.
Aug 22, 2023Medium low amount of creamy, alabaster head. Very clear, medium orange/chestnut appearance. Low level of a touch woody, caramel tinged, medium light toasted malt, for the aroma. Fairly light amount of medium light toasted malt, a little caramel tinged woodiness, all quite subtle, for the taste.
Reviewed by impossiblyjacob
3.22/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Picked this up because I'm re-exploring lagers and pilsners, which I'd stopped drinking for a long time. This is a good beer, but it really doesn't do it for me.
Aug 12, 2023Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
3.89/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.89/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is a sound, tasty, flavorful Vienna lager. Quite toasty, on the sweet side, but fairly balanced. Light hop notes that imply orange marmalade, rye pepper, and pine.
Jul 19, 2023Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania
3.62/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by 8/8/23.
Nice looking beer. Crystal clear reddish amber body with a small off white head. After the look, it slides downhill. Faintly sweet malty aroma. Stronger sweetness on the taste. Feels very dead in the mouth. Quite clean.
Jul 08, 2023Nice looking beer. Crystal clear reddish amber body with a small off white head. After the look, it slides downhill. Faintly sweet malty aroma. Stronger sweetness on the taste. Feels very dead in the mouth. Quite clean.
Reviewed by Radome from Florida
3.73/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had on tap at Bar Louie in Hampton, VA.
L - Just less than crystal clear with a medium copper color. Short but sticky off-white head and lots of lacing.
S - Not much aroma comes out of my tall, narrow pint glass. Maybe just a hint of bread-like malt, a tiny amount of roast grain, and low, herbal hops. Nothing is “off” for the style, it’s just restrained. I wish the glass had not been frozen.
T - Flavors are clean and restrained, like the aromas. Just s bit of herbal Noble hops backed by light malt, with the tiniest hint of toasted malt.
F - Crisp, very light body with almost no aftertaste or presence. Light to moderate carbonation. Light hops bitterness and low alcohol presence. All seems well-executed and true to style.
O - No flaws. This is a decent example of the style. Very poundable (if you’re into that), but has more character than a standard light lager.
Mar 08, 2023L - Just less than crystal clear with a medium copper color. Short but sticky off-white head and lots of lacing.
S - Not much aroma comes out of my tall, narrow pint glass. Maybe just a hint of bread-like malt, a tiny amount of roast grain, and low, herbal hops. Nothing is “off” for the style, it’s just restrained. I wish the glass had not been frozen.
T - Flavors are clean and restrained, like the aromas. Just s bit of herbal Noble hops backed by light malt, with the tiniest hint of toasted malt.
F - Crisp, very light body with almost no aftertaste or presence. Light to moderate carbonation. Light hops bitterness and low alcohol presence. All seems well-executed and true to style.
O - No flaws. This is a decent example of the style. Very poundable (if you’re into that), but has more character than a standard light lager.
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
3.92/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.92/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
It lasted for a short time, but it was a beautiful modest head. It sat atop a beautiful beer. Poured from a tap and served in a clear pint glass, it truly is a beautiful beer. Its color is golden amber, bright and although not opaque, it's also not close to being translucent. The aroma is a well-balanced blend of hops, malt and yeast, just like a good lager should. But, the taste disappoints. For some reason there's more than a hint of that distinctive lactobaccellus aspect to the taste, which might be OK for a Belgian Lager. But, for a Vienna Lager?, not so much. It lacks a little of this styles malt taste and the mouthfeel is a little thin, but more than acceptable for a lager. Also, it's a little more bitter than a typical Vienna Lager. If that's what you're offering it as, that has to be a bit of a negative. Overall, it's not bad, but it certainly isn't a great representation of the style.
Oct 30, 2022
Vienna Lager from Devils Backbone Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
1157 ratings
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