Flywheel Bright Lager - Metropolitan Brewing

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.97/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got this from Monsone, cheers Eric!

Pours an effervescent straw color with a thumb of pearl colored head. Great lacing & good head retention

S: Perfumy & grassy, floral with grainy bready scents

TL Follows the nose, light crackery notes with oh so subtle white grape up front, a touch lemony hop goodness as well. Herbal & grassy hops mix with bready notes as this warms, some dryness here as well. Finishes with lovely perfumy & floral hops, some lemon, crackery notes

MF: Medium bodied, crisp, soft carbonation, just a bit of grainyness, perfect balance

Classic German Pils drinkability, this is better than many tried in my three years living in Germany. Let me amend that, easily one of the best Pils I've had period!

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 05:04:15 | More by russpowell

haveaduff2

Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Beer pours with a thick head that lasts. Aroma is fresh, bready. Taste is slightly malty with a pleasant bitter finish that disappears pretty quickly. It has characteristics of both German and a Czech pils, and I'm fine with that. Personally, I love this beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 17:24:53 | More by haveaduff2

PerzentRizen

Mississippi

4.7/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

WOW got this from Pudge43 and I'm damn impressed. This is a highly and I mean highly drinkable beer. I'm not usually down with too many lagers but this one is amazing! This is my new favorite lager. This has amazing flavor and depth. I'm convinced that the big macro breweries could produce something of this quality if they would leave the adjucts alone and stick with malted barley.

The appearance is a cloudy straw colored minimally frothy beer that quickly reduces to almost no lacing. Head or no head this beer is beautiful in color.

The taste is really different than I would ever expect. It's like Goose Island's Matilda or a lighter version of Duvel. There is a touch of spicyness that quickly gives way to the malt. There is a touch of carbonation that hits the palate hard then softens to give way to a buttermilk biscuit flavor then the hops ride off into the sunset with your imagination. While drinking this I'm imagining soft colored sunsets and waves of grain in the slightly rolling plain.

Mouthfeel is perfect for the style. There is a touch of body up front but the finish is really clean and well balanced. There is everything you want in a lager and much much more!

Drinkability - this is the most drinkable beer I've ever had PERIOD. I could and would drink this all day and night. I'd be like Sam-freakin'-I-AM...in a house, with a mouse, on a train...

My advice - go out and get yourself a case of this and then send me 12 of them. If you don't like the first beer I'll let you send me the other 11. But seriously JUST SEND ME THIS BEER!

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 02:39:17 | More by PerzentRizen

bainard

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - A transparent, pale golden yellow with a fluffy white head. Almost looks like it belongs in a Kölsch cylinder.

S - Grass and bread with a little bit of lemony sweetness, probably from the hops. The citrus really comes through on the second whiff. Nice.

T - With a breadiness that comes through considerably after some warmth, this is very hoppy for a lager of this sort, and it works. Orange blossom honey is a dominant flavor here, as well as a hint of lemon and heavily pollenated summer air. Usually this would make me sneeze, thankfully this is not the case.

M - Light and refreshing without being too thin. Strong carbonation makes it feel like a very gourmet soda.

D - After my first sip, I thought, "this is my summer barbecue beer." I would pair this with Indian or Japanese food in a heartbeat. A hoppy German mild lager is exactly what the market needed, and this one pretty much nails it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2009 01:23:39 | More by bainard

Windigstadt

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy, pale yellow. While it's called a bright lager, this one did not appear to be filtered. As this was literally one of the first three kegs to leave Chicago's newest brewery, I'll assume that future offerings will indeed be bright (though personally I don't mind it unfiltered).

S: A very inviting mix of bready pils malt and herbal noble hops, with a bit of earthy, sulfury yeast aroma thrown into the mix to give it a bit of an edge.

T: Surprisingly for German-style lager, a bit of hop flavor greets the tongue, though this quickly gives way to a full but not sweet pils malt profile. Nice and bready with, again, a hint of sulfur that's just enough to give it a mineral bite without becoming obtrusive. It finishes with a nice noble hop bitterness that's neither sweet nor dry but right in the middle.

M: The carbonation was a bit low for a typical German lager, seeming more reminiscent of a Kellerbier on cask. Again, being the first offering from the brewery I wouldn't be surprised if the carbonation was upped in the future.

D: A any good German lager should be, this definitely fits the bill as a session beer. It's full-bodied and full-flavored but never heavy.

Overall: This is a hard beer to categorize... It's too hoppy to be a Helles but too malty to be a Pils and too low in ABV to be a Dortmunder. Since this one appeared to be unfiltered, I would actually consider it an excellent Kellerbier. Regardless, this beer is exactly what I would hope for from a craft brewery focusing on lagers. It's very approachable for beer newbies but offers plenty of flavors for craft drinkers. The extreme beer crowd may find it a bit boring, but those who appreciate the subtleties of a good lager should definitely try it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2009 15:54:08 | More by Windigstadt

JamnesCameron

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed at Finnegan's in Plainfield, IL. Served in a Dogfish head pint glass.

Pours a clear golden straw with a tight white head. Head slowly drops leaving some nice lacing.

Aromas of grainy malt and earthy hops. Very nicely done. Good balance.

Flavors of rich malt, some graininess, earthy noble hops. Light citrus zest. Faint bitterness lingers.

Mouthfeel is clean and crisp. Medium/light bodied, easy drinking Pils.

Highly drinkable beer, very quaffable. Outstanding sessionable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 12:14:51 | More by JamnesCameron

OttoBomb

Illinois

4.47/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz (355m l) bottle into a Sam Adam's Perfect Pint glass (January 26, 2012). The best before date of "MAY 3 2012" is printed on the bottom of the sixpack.

Eyes: Pours a clean, clean golden straw with a short lived white head.

Nose: Fresh grass, fresh grain.

Tongue: A significant hop statement, mild bittering, grain, soft biscuit malt, with a pleasant grassy finish.

Mouth: Light, crisp, and perfectly carbonated. High marks here.

Libation: This is a good pilsener, A fantastic fresh flavor profile, with good body that is extremely drinkable. One of the better examples of the style that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 09:01:35 | More by OttoBomb

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.45/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I got this bottle in a trade with joe1510. Thanks Joe!

It pours a bright straw yellow colour with a huge head of foam.(chilled for 1/2 hour in fridge) That really is a magnificent head of foam...very billowy.

The smell has that nice German Pilsener smell of hoppy bitterness and sweet maltiness in near perfect balance.

The taste is also near perfect balance with the grassy hop bitterness complimenting the malty flavour very nicely. Yum. I love it when I get a tasty Pils like this one and lately, I've been very lucky...jeez, the more I sip the more I like it and it's getting slightly more bitter as it warms but I'm not enjoying it any less.

Medium bodied with a fairly low level of carbonation, it finishes dry and crisp.

Drinkability? No kidding, I could drink this beer all day long as it literally screams "I am a sessionable beer!" and... head retention is awesome. Metropolitan has hit a homer with this one!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2009 14:56:52 | More by Bitterbill

beertooth

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz mug. This was bottled today, about three or four hours ago.

This beer pours a bright clear pale yellow with tons of cascading bubbles that form two fingers of white head that sticks around for most of the glass.

The nose is packed with dry bready pale malts, grassy saaz hops, there is a tiny bit of some spicy yeast as well. It's making my mouth water.

The first gulp follows the nose. Tons of slightly sweet cracker and bready malts, grassy spice from the hops. It's very clean as per the style. It finishes a tad dry and leaves me wanting more and more. Very refreshing and the freshness is unbeatable.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied. Creamy carbonation up front that leads to some nice bubble bite in the end.

One of the best by the book American made Pils out there. Insanely sessionable and delicious. Thanks Doug and Tracy!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 02:28:18 | More by beertooth

SammyDavisJrJrJr

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Best by: Jun 30 2009. Into a Schlitz Pilsner Glass...

A - Pale yellow body with perfect clarity. Two fingers of white head with good retention and lacing. A very attractive beer.

S - Apricot, grass, and lavender are all donated to the aroma by the noble hops. Good balance of sweetness from the malt, has that EKU maltiness to it. Exactly what I look for in this style.

T - Classic German pale malt sweetness, with sweetness that always reminds me of custard, bread pudding, and banana. Quite minerally. Hops balance out the beer excelently, leaving the beer dry, grassy, and clean.

M - Has a great soft, full mouth feel, what I imagine people are talking about when they say "round."

D - Great local lager, very sessionalble. Great balance, wonderful, delicate compexity. Just a great beer, with no real flaws.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 19:04:07 | More by SammyDavisJrJrJr

BDLbrewster

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a surprisingly hazy apricot, yellow with obvious amber hues. Pillowy white head that dissipates leaving sheets of light lacing.

The smell is light and fragrant, pils malt is the first and most noticeable smell this brew emits. I also pick up an odor of spicy and somewhat floral hops along with a hint of yeasty sweetness.

Wow, sweet, earthy and almost fruity malts rear their head instantly upon contact with my tongue. The malt character is very pronounced without being cloying. The very mild spice of the hops along with the aforementioned floral tones clean this one up well. The finish is so refined and crisp, for a lack of a better word, perfect.

The mouthfeel follows the style guidelines very well. Light bodied, moderate carbonation and slick on the tongue, no gripes here.

I was very surprised by this brew. A random extra from a brewery that I have never heard of has made a big fan out of me. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2009 23:58:46 | More by BDLbrewster

matjack85

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's in Glen Ellyn, IL fir $1.59. No marked freshness date that I could find.

The beer poured a slightly hazed pear yellow color with a nice 2-finger white head that hung around awhile and left plenty of clingy lacing.

The smell had a light but nice combination of bready malts, spicy hops, and a touch of lemon.

The taste followed the smell exactly. Nice balance between sweet and bready malts with spicy hops. Add a touch of lemon on the side and you've got a really good beer.

Clean, crisp, and refreshing mouthfeel with a light body and fairly high level of carbonation.

After tasting this, it has now become my #1 favorite lager. Exceptional drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 06:02:49 | More by matjack85

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light gold color with a small white head.

Smells of some floral notes from hops and a slight bready grainy quality from malts.

Taste is spot on for a German pils. Some light spicy hops up front with a little bready malt coming through in the middle of the palate, finishing with a light dry spicy hop bitterness.

Body of this beer is very light with good carbonation levels leading to a nice crisp finish.

I love a good German pilsner and this one is done perfectly. Not quite enough to unseat Polestar Pils, but not many others I've had that I like better than this.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2011 08:54:51 | More by jmarsh123

TTAmod

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle with 10 Apr 2012 expiration date poured into pint.

A: Bright, vibrant, clear gold with a thick white head and loads of carbonation.

S: Fresh cut grass, light hops, and grains.

T: Fairly ample hop bitterness, grains, buttered biscuit, finished off by a hoppy/flowery/grassy bitter flavor.

M: Light, prickly...very nice.

O: Metro really nails these lagers extremely well. Pretty much spot on for the style in every aspect. What's great about these guys is that the beer ALWAYS tastes so fresh. With a very traditional pilsener, it's hard to find one fresh outside of Germany...but these guys nail the tradition German pilsener AND it tastes super-fresh.

This is really a flagship for the style, in my opinion, and it's done by an American brewer. Huge kudos to these guys. I love every one of their four beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 04:11:22 | More by TTAmod

steveh

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Number 3 in my tour of the Metro beers, and the second lager. Labeled as a German Pils by BA, but the Metro label only says "a German-inspired beer."

A -- Clear, pale straw-gold color with a long-lasting, sudsy white head.

S -- Doughy, yeasty nose with the slightest of DMS. Mild spicy to lemony hops. Not at all overpowering in its citrus character, just refreshing. Mildest of crackery biscuit malt back.

T -- Spicy hops up front that blend into a clean, bready malt character then finishes with spicy bitter hops -- leaving a lingering bitterness with a touch of citrus and that bready malt in the aftertaste. After a second bottle the balance of the hops, just a little bigger than the crackery malts, really shines to style for a German Pils. Very nice.

M -- Mouthfeel is crisp to soft with a light body and finishes clean and dry.

O -- I agree with the German Pils assessment, and a very fresh example. Though the malt character could be a bit stronger, this is a fine representation of the style -- and did I mention fresh? Metro's biggest strength is that they are serving us some great to-style beers the way they should be enjoyed -- a glassful begs for another.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 21:30:37 | More by steveh

ckeegan04

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear bright straw yellow with a big frothy white head. Excellent retention and chunky lacing. Very good looking pilsner.

S - Big spicy hop aroma dominates the nose. A light sweetness lingers underneath and the faintest hint of grains.

T - Light grain driven sweetness initially. A very nice spicy noble hop taste dominates the drink though.

M/D - Light and crisp. Excellent carbonation and very drinkable. Pilsners are far from my favorite styles but this is a very nice version.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 16:23:14 | More by ckeegan04

dpodratsky3

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass

A: A not crystal clear pale straw color with an airy but fairly substantial 1.5 finger head that settles to around .5 finger.

S: Distinctive pilsner hop profile, very clean aroma, with some hints of grass.

T: Slightly mellower and smoother hops than some other pilsners, makes it distinctive from a czech pilsner. Again a very clean taste. A little malty breadiness balances nicely.

M: Good, smoother than I expected from a pils. Not thin either.

D: I have found the elusive "drinkability", and it is from a pilsner, go figure.

Notes: It starts from the pour and goes all the way to the last drop. This is what a light pilsner should be. Super light look, clean aroma and taste, which won't let the brewer hide any imperfections. Everything is in balance. A really good all around beer. Big time thanks to beerad666 for throwing this extra in. It turned out to be awesome.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2009 03:25:32 | More by dpodratsky3

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass. No date or info.

A - It's certainly bright! Brilliant clarity to the pale straw yellow color with a dense white head. Strong carbonation maintains the firm stature while wispy lace covers the glass as it sinks.

S - Lightly citrus-based noble German hops pour from the aroma on the pour. Very open and crisp. Pale and pils malts back it all up nicely with a little grainy hint and a slight mineral touch.

T - Smooth and crisp right off the bat, it's filled with mild pils malts that are balanced nicely by a good, mellow citrusy hop flavor that seems to shine after the swallow. Grain hints and a touch of mineral flavor in there.

M - Bright and crisp clarity with strong carbonation that finishes with a tingle. Smooth and very refreshing with a tiny hop bitterness.

D - Perfect drinkability, this could go down by the 6 pack. It's a good pilsner that you could use to replace a BMC in people's hands but stands up very well to the craft drinker. Good clarity, nice finish, it's one hell of a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 00:16:18 | More by BeerFMAndy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: The clear golden liquid arrives at the bar with a reasonable head that leaves a bit of lacing behind

Smell: A hint of the biscuit and plenty of grain and grass

Taste: Biscuity malts lay down the backbone and the grassy hops add a nice bitter tone; very clean in the finish in a way that shows off the Noble hops well

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation; could be crisper

Overall: This is a very fine example of a US brewed pilsner; not often that I come across one that is this good

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 22:20:18 | More by brentk56

jrallen34

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

I drank this from the bottle.

I drank it out of the bottle at a bar so I can't describe it.

The aroma is light notes of hops, like your typical lager but stronger and absent any skunk.

The tatse is very good which is surprising, I'm not a lager fan at all. It has strong and crisp and enjoyable with light taste of hops.

Mouthfeel is decent very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 16:06:38 | More by jrallen34

emerge077

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Bottles just hit the streets, so here goes a bottle review...

Served at 40º in a stange glass. Very pale canary gold, puffy head that rises above the rim of the glass and stands proud for a few minutes. It leaves rings of webby lace all around, and never breaks it's fine surface. Clean crackery malt nose.

Bready, crisp noble hop bite, hint of popcorn. Dry and light with residual herbal hop flavor. Nice and dry, true to style. Perfectly simple session beer, just in time for spring & summer barbecues... this will be great for pairing with spicy or grilled foods. Also a good candidate for converting macro-dependent friends.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 23:26:05 | More by emerge077

ChadQuest

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is as good as a Lager can possibly look! Massive chunky head that has amazing retention with a bleached bone white color, and a clean and clear golden body with jets of carbination bubbles constantly rushing to the surface. This is the Duvel of Lagers for me.

The aroma & Flavor has subtle hops, biscuit and baked bread, clean grassy notes, romaine lettuce and celery, and light fruit.

The mouthfeel is great with a medium to crisp carbination, and a medium to light body.

This is as refreshing as it gets, i really wish i had a seconed bottle so i could extend this review but i drank it so fast! I am not a Lager guy normally so i only bought one of these, and i made quite an error. Outstanding Summer Lager.

Might i add that now that my glass is empty, one entire side is covered in a sheet of lacing. wow.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 04:58:40 | More by ChadQuest

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into shaker pint, with a big thanks to Jeff (Alewatcher) for his endless supply of tasty beer!

Pours golden, bit of chill haze, with a thin fluffy white head on top.

Nose is grainy, bit on the sweet side, with mild floral quality. Big and surprisingly bold, I like it.

Taste has a grainy sweetness to it, mildly herbal, floral, finish carries another dose of cereal grains and a light balancing floral bitterness that disappears cleanly. I think this one is miscategorized - certainly closer to a Helles than a German Pils, and a very well done one at that. Nice subtlety to the whole affair, what's simple and quite tasty at first hides a bit of complexity that emerges as the glass empties.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, medium-light carbonation is soft and whisks along the tongue instead of scrubbing it. Perhaps just a hair on the heavy side, but still beautifully drinkable. Would love to see just a bit more of a grassy hop presence, but that's generally my stance on most pale lagers. A very good beer in all respects.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 23:47:01 | More by JohnQVegas

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #48 (Jan 2011):

Clear golden and bubbly, thin but sticky lace from a moderate-sized head. Grassy, doughy malt nose, fresh with an herbal and berry hop edge. Clean and crisp with a well-toned, moderate-sized body. Graininess comes in strong but clean, with a light biscuity character. Hop bitterness is aggressive but not boisterous; a bit of oily resin and a lot of fresh herbal flavors. Clean palate throughout. Pleasing dry finish that begs for the next sip. Spot-on for style and extremely drinkable, this is a Pilsner to seek out for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 14:39:05 | More by BeerAdvocate

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes--
Served in pint glass.

Pours a kind of chill hazed bright copper/orange with a glowing yellowness. Weird ? Nope! Nice head and retention. I really like the color too.

Very faint malt and some hops-- perhaps of a noble variety? The nose is pretty faint. The yeast is doing something that I can't quite put my finger on... This is a subtle beer that is really putting me to the test. It tastes good, but I'm having a hard time pinpointing why. There is a light hint of oranges...

Body is very light-- and very easy drinking. Smooth feel with solid carbonation. The taste is really good... a mild sweetness with some spicy floral hops... A good touch of bitterness.

The subtle beers are much harder for me to review!

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 03:22:56 | More by AleWatcher