Shift Pale Lager - New Belgium Brewing

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

16 oz can into hardywood park tulip. best before sept. 30 12.

A: very rich golden hued body. head is bright white with great retention and thick clumps of lace.

S: slightly sweet, slightly minty aroma. if i had to guess, i would say saaz was used in this brew. a very inviting aroma, even if it is one not typical of american pale lagers.

T: a little eggy. there is an underlying chalky, earthy noble bitterness throughout the entire drink that slightly reminds me of a german pils. the malt is there, but really as a backboard for the hops. smoooth.

M: moderate carbonation on a light/medium body.

D: i really like this beer. good flavor on a very drinkable lager. glad it is in a hogsleg.

Serving type: can

06-02-2012 21:55:13 | More by Jimmys

Arborescence

Finland

4.2/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Clear, golden, pours a nice and creamy ~1 finger head, which is even surprisingly persistent for a lager. Looks fairly carbonated.

Aroma: Fresh and hoppy, with citrus aromas and some spices; orange peel, grass, cardamom? Quite promising!

Taste: Hops are a bit milder than expected, there is also a strong malt background. Not as light and refreshing as I thought it would be, but there's certainly some flavour. Hop bitterness in the aftertaste. The spices in the aroma are not evident, but I'm reminded of freshly baked rolls.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Bready texture.

Overall: For a lager in a can, this is excellent. Not my favourite type of beer by any means, but it's great to see an inexpensive, easy drinking session lager with some originality and flavour. Hopefully it can convert some of the masses into better beer...

Serving type: can

06-07-2012 03:28:55 | More by Arborescence

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.23/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16 oz can poured into a New Belgium globe.
5% ABV, 02 SEP 12 printed on bottom.

A - Pouring out a shimmering goldenrod color with vibrant clarity, Shift is capped by a well formed and well retained, faintly off-white head. Rings of open lace circle the glass like delicate chains.

S - Bright, crisp, and simply inviting, Shift has a delightfully delicate aroma of pale and pils malt supporting citrusy hops. Notes of earth punctuate the light lemon zest.

T - Thin lemongrass citrus washes over the tongue briefly before the maltiness takes over with a pale grainy flavor that eventually gives way to a little soapiness across the finish.

M - Light-bodied and easy drinking, this pale lager has a well-balanced level of carbonation to bring crispness and refreshment without being overbearing. Despite it's wonderful drinkability, Shift still seems to remain a little thin feeling. The dry, faintly bitter hops could be adding to that effect but easily drinkable it remains.

O - Hellooo tailgating beer! Well constructed and flavorful, Shift offers a simple but tasty marriage of malt and hops for a summer beer that will refresh wonderfully. Appealing to all masses, the triple hops brewed crowd will shift gears with this great gateway beer while craft drinkers will reach for it's clean lager characteristics and smooth flavor.

Serving type: can

03-31-2012 18:10:53 | More by BeerFMAndy

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is currently ranked #14 in the American Pale Lager category. With a score of only 83%, this is certainly not a popular style.

Served in a Stone Brewing Co. pint glass.

A: Poured a clear, sunflower yellow color with a sticky white head that stuck around for a while.

S: I got some sweet barley and corn upfront along with a substantial amount of fruity goodness considering the style.

T: It totally drank as an IPA once it hit my palate, but once the flavors were fully release, the yeast (as opposed to grapefruit-like citrus) took center stage. Delicious!

M: I like the spritzy carbonation which made this all the more drinkable. There was lots of lacing left on the glass, but the palate came out clean overall, with just a nice bitter kick at the end.

O: I think deserves a higher rating for sure and will keep this one in mind come pool season.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 20:52:22 | More by Chaney

CHickman

New York

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Review from 7/11/12: pours hazy gold color with a ton of bubbles racing up the middle and a 2 finger foamy snow white head that faded slowly and left great foamy lacing clinging to the sides.

Smells of sweet malt, orange peel, lemon zest, caramel, brown sugar, grains and spices like cinnamon and coriander. Spicy and floral, the nose is sweet, airy and quite enjoyable.

Tastes of sweet malt, orange peel, lemon zest, citrus hops, caramel, brown sugar, grains, yeast, grass, pepper and other spices like cinnamon and coriander. Sweet overall with nice citrus and malty flavors complimenting each other.

Mouthfeel is silky smooth and almost watery, with a light body, light zesty carbonation, and high drinkability. A definite session beer, this was light, refreshing, flavorful and very enjoyable.

Shift was great out of the can and in a glass, and the name is quite fitting as this is a perfect quenching beer to throw down after any shift. Outstanding drinkability, I could drink this on a regular basis and always be happy.

Serving type: can

10-07-2012 03:42:38 | More by CHickman

Megahertz

Missouri

4.28/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

16 oz Can

A: Deep gold, crystal clear, massive white head falls into a thin film. Significant lacing suggesting malt content. Looks like a real beer.

S: Faint graininess with very subltle hint of german-type hops. Smells like a real beer.

T: This is a real beer. Restrained malt sweetness with extremely subtle toasted bread note, very light honey-like sweetness, no flaws noted. Seems very 'lively'. Bitterness is assertive for the style, but within reasonable limits. No major hop flavor. Finish is extremely dry.

M: Crisp, light bodied.

OI: Excellent example of the style, one of the best I've had. If macros could make this, the world would be a better place.

Serving type: can

03-27-2012 20:19:05 | More by Megahertz

rfbenavi80

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First craft can. Excited about this one.

Agressive pour straight down into a pilsner glass.

A- Pours a very nice clear gold, with lots of frothy, foamy, white head that leaves a thick cap on top of the beer and thick lacing.

S- Some earthy hops. Plenty of sweet malts. Some bread dough, and biscuity.

T- Hoppier than I expected, but the bitterness is moderate. Sweet caramel malts comes out.

M- Medium body, thicker than I expected.

O- Highly drinkable. Bonus points for the whole craft can thing. Very refreshing. I like their slogan about finishing a shift at work and popping one of these open.

Serving type: can

04-18-2012 23:09:44 | More by rfbenavi80

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from 16 oz can into pilsner glass, golden amber colored with huge 3" bright white head that slowly dissipates leaving fine frothy lacing, crystal clear with lively bubbles
S: citrus hop nose rounded with sweet malt, floral, cereal grain
T: sweet biscuit followed by a good bitter hop punch, lemongrass, light and simple yet perfectly balanced between malt and hops
M: proper lively carbonation with a crisp clean finish, thinner as a pale lager should be
O: every American pale lager made by the big three should be embarrassed that they don't taste like this beer, if you have shied away from the pale lager style due to the abuse it has received try this to be pleasantly surprised

Serving type: can

11-07-2012 01:46:18 | More by M_C_Hampton

BierStein711

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow!

Can poured into shaker

Three finger off white head

Amber body

Taste: piney, grassy, and bitter finish

Smell: lager yeast, grains

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. When I see and hear the words "Pale Lager" [sic], I generally avoid. Have this beer, and celebrate a new, and better form of this beer style.

Serving type: can

05-20-2012 04:31:35 | More by BierStein711

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Easily the best of the style. This stuff is amazing. Redefines the style entirely.

A: Clean, clear, and just as it should be.

S/T: Crisp malt, light citrus, very inviting. This is what Bud Light and others of its ilk try to smell/taste like. Maybe they did back in their heyday.

M: Easy and enjoyable to drink. I could have three more tall cans of this stuff without blinking.

O: An exceptional beer that you must try. Well done New Belgium!

Serving type: can

04-01-2012 01:06:07 | More by Gatch

mjurney

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 pint can.

Appearance:
Golden-Amber color. Some carbonation. Fairly nice head.

Aroma:
Bready, grape skin, a little citrusy.

Taste:
Bready malts up front. Biscuity, grassy, spicy, slight earthy, dry-herbal finish.

Body:
Smooth. Tangy. Medium body. Slight oily. Very soft carbonation.

Serving type: can

07-21-2012 20:34:35 | More by mjurney

TheSarge

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured this one into a .5l dimple glass, and Shift makes a good three finger thick off white head, and the body is copper in color with perfect clarity.

The aroma is floral and citrus in character. Lots of lemon zest, with perhaps a hit of grapefruit. Some saltine cracker, and light caramel aromas are perceptible too

Taste wise it's got a lemon tea flavor to it. Some hints of toffee, and perhaps some brown sugar.

Even with all this complexity, this beer is very quaffable and sessionable due to the mile ABV percentage it holds. Also
makes a good sipping beer too, due to its complex qualities.

This is a pale lager that I'd liken to a pale ale. Very fruity and floral altogether. Quite interesting...

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 22:38:28 | More by TheSarge

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 1 PINT can into a pint glass. BEST BY 10FEB13. I was really excited to try this when I first bought this about a week or so ago. I loved the Nelson Sauvin hop profile in Burley Oak Brewery's Bulletproof Tiger.

Appearance: Pours a rich, golden pale lager body. Beautiful. Decent head for the style with doughy pockets that exhibit plenty of staying power. Lacing is fantastic.

Smell: Floral bouquet of hops. I pick up the fruity mango of the Nelson Sauvin hops. Sweet green grapes. Plenty of rich bready maltiness. Slight sour lager yeast aroma.

Taste: Nelson Sauvin up front (mango, lychee, honeydew). Fades to a crisp, almost Saaz-like spiciness. Tasty bready pale malts. This lager has a lot of flavor on both the hop and malt sides of the equation and has managed to be an extremely balanced brew at the same time.

Mouthfeel: I love how full bodied this beer is despite the low alcohol and overall crispness. No aftertaste, unpleasant or otherwise. Near perfect for me.

Overall: I have been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with this beer since I bought a four pack and then a subsequent case (6 x 4 pack) about a week or two ago. The first sip of the first can was an explosion of Nelson Sauvin hops and I immediately declared this beer my new favorite. After a couple more cans over the next couple of days, I was fighting to detect that strong Nelson Sauvin hoppiness I so love and cherish (especially in a beer like Bulletproof Tiger). But since then, I have been literally pounding this beer on a near daily basis. It is just so damn drinkable, balanced, and great tasting (read: LOTS OF FLAVOR FOR A LOW ABV LAGER), if not delicious. Very satisfying from the can or in a glass. This could possibly be my session, daily drinker, beer for life when Sierra Nevada Summerfest is out of season. The only knock is the somewhat high price - I calculated that this works out to about a $40 standard case (as opposed to $30 for Summerfest in my area.) I would love to see more brewers doing more with Nelson Sauvin hops - my new favorite hop alongside Saaz (with Citra running a close third!)

Serving type: can

01-04-2013 23:43:09 | More by JednoPivoProsim

joecalderoni

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: pours a beautifull golden/yellow color! Good fluffy Head!

S: Amazing hop aroma well balanced by pilsner malt on the back of the nose!

T: Sweet grainy taste with a well balanced bitterness! Some amazing hop taste at the after taste!

M: Light to medium body! high carbonation that accentuates the hop bitterness!

O: an amazing pale lager! suit for every occasion! perfect presentation! Cans mean you can drink them everywhere!

Serving type: can

05-28-2012 01:36:51 | More by joecalderoni

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +29.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Where The CANQuest (TM) is CANcerned, you CAN forget Quinn the Eskimo. It's tone77 who makes this boy jump for joy! He is my local CANTrader and this was part of a recent drop-off on his part. Let the madness reCANmence!

From the Royal Blue & Silver CAN: "When your work is done [...] You'll want one[.]"; "Alternatively empowered/Employee owned".

The Crack & Glug was music to mine ears! The two fingers of thick tawny head began to fall pretty quickly, leaving some pretty, sticky lacing in its wake. Color was a deep golden-yellow with NE-quality clarity and both King Midas and Croesus called to express their jealousy. Sorry, fellas, but you gotta score your own CAN, dig? I recently listened to Greg Koch rail against fizzy yellow beers (again) and all I CAN say is, more for me! The nose made me weep for what Prohibition has wrought. One adverse aspect of The CANQuest (TM) has been the plethora of AALs from a CAN and I have more than had my fill of them, although there is no end in sight. This smelled not just of the expected malt sweetness, but there were also hops readily evident on the nose! Be still, my heart. Mouthfeel was full, almost creamy, with a wonderful intermingling of biscuit malt initially, followed by a brief rush of minty hops on the tongue. Finish was quite dry with the biscuit malt and hops combination acting nicely in tandem. Great Caesar's Ghost, but this is definitely cooler-worthy and just in time for summer! Get some!

Serving type: can

06-19-2012 20:20:02 | More by woodychandler

HappyPappy2X

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +30.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

App: Pale Orange Yellow. Clear. Dense head with medium retaining.

Smell: Bread Yeast, Citrusy hops.

Taste: Dry malt, hops bitterness, lagerfunk yeast, ends slightly toasty and more hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation. Medium body for a pale. Creamy.

Overall: A favorite of mine. This is what BMC wish they could have been. A refreshingly dry pale lager.

Serving type: can

02-19-2013 19:32:57 | More by HappyPappy2X

bnes09

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Beautiful golden copper color with excellent clarity and large visible bubbles. Big head on the pour and coats the glass in creamy lacing.

Fresh aroma of pine needles, spinach leaves, herbs and flowers.

Solid malt backbone of mild wheat and rye. Spice hop character follows the aroma. Exceptional balance.

Light to medium body and ample carbonation brings the flavors to life.

I love seeing breweries come out with a fresh, flavorful lager for a change. Lots of malt character in this one adds heart to the brew. Tasty, refreshing and highly sessionable.

Serving type: can

12-28-2012 17:34:39 | More by bnes09