Classic Lager - Blue & Gray Brewing Co.

blackie

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: the lager is an attractive rich golden color with a lightly retained bone-white head and light lacing, looks pretty good in my pilsner glass

s: a sweeter and maltier lager, with a very floral corn-nectar aroma dominant, very atypical but I really like it for that reason, moderate (local) hop aromas are soft and herbal yet crisp, a little mineral, nice

m: carbonation and body both fall in the light-medium range, could be a bit more lively but I'm digging the smoothness

t: much like the aroma in its maltiness, and though the sweetness doesn't work as well here it's still quite interesting, pale barley and corn honey over a soft herbal hop flavor and mild bitterness, a little too heavy and long in the finish, but a nice flavor overall

d: pretty easy overall, but missing that snap that could make it a session

growler provided to my landlord by the brewer

Serving type: growler

09-07-2008 03:49:59 | More by blackie

beerking1

Virginia

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has recently changed, and they are now using a true lager yeast. Pours medium gold with a slight haze. Small, pure white head of a fine bead, which lingers well and leaves some lace.
Aroma is malty, and slightly sulfury, but not offensive. Sulfur is possibly due to pils malt, like Pilsner Urquell.
Flavor is malty sweet, with a nice balance of bittering hops, and some more mild sulfur notes.
Finish is well balanced, with lingering pleasant hops and malt.
This should not be listed as a "MAcro Lager." This beer is a true Municher Helles style lager.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2008 03:03:50 | More by beerking1

Greenlabel

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased a very fresh 22 oz. bottle at the brewery during a recent visit to Virginia. To my great surprise, I found it to be the tastiest of the 4 Blue & Gray products I acquired. I had previously heard good reports on the Fred Red, their flagship product (and a good one), but nothing of note about this Lager.

Appearance was typical for a lager but there was very little foam or lace. Although this is listed as a "macro lager" style, I found the body, taste and mouthfeel to be much better than I would expect from a "macro" product - and the brewery is certainly far from a "macro" brewery. No unpleasant aftertaste. This would make a fine session beer.

I'm occasionally disappointed by the lagers produced by craft brewers but not in this case. My only regret is that its limited distribution means I'll have to wait quite awhile for the next opportunity to enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2008 00:49:53 | More by Greenlabel

Toddv29424

District of Columbia

2.83/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a dull yellow color with a little haze. Smell must be teased out, but its very malty and one-dimensional, like sweet grains. The taste also must be teased out as well, as there is little to distinguish this from any of the other lagers out there. There is the same sweet wheat taste, but very little else. The mouthfeel is weak, but because there is no real substance to this beer the drinkability gets a good rating. It also falls into the trap that befalls most microbrews, in that there is very little carbonation and it leaves this beer more akin to a syrup beverage than a beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2007 01:09:41 | More by Toddv29424

auxiliary

Rhode Island

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance - Cloudy straw color, not much head or lace going on here.

smell - Nice smell of sweetness and hops.

taste - Sweet like honey and has a alcohol taste too.

mouthfeel - Medium body, nice carbonation balance.

drinkability - Nice fresh lager from B&G, great beers. I have one more to enjoy in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2007 16:47:01 | More by auxiliary

JohnnyM2002

Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 22 oz bomber into a pint glass at 50 degrees. Picked this up at the brewery during a Columbus-day-weekend excursion to Williamsburg.

A - Pours a cloudy yellow with minimal head and lacing.

S - Aroma is of honey and tea leaves...a little sweetness is detected. There is a discernable spice I can't quite put my finger on..

T - Honey dominates the taste - but there isn't really a malty accompaniment. The tea leaves come through as well, so it's a very good blend...if it weren't coupled with a bubbly alcohol flavor, though, it would be dangerously close to a tea, but I'm basing my taste rating on the fact that the alcohol is noticable.

M - Medium body with a good amount of carbonation...very slightly sweet on the aftertaste, otherwise a good, crisp finish.

D - I think drinking this from a bomber helps, because the more I drank (as it neared room temperature), the more enjoyable it was. At first, I was worried it would be too sweet, but that quickly melted away. All in all, a good lager from the boys at Blue and Gray.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2006 02:30:58 | More by JohnnyM2002

pentathlete

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours somewhat cloudy (I know they filter it, perhaps it is a chill haze) for the style...which is incorrect here...this is NOT an adjunct lager...this is all malt. Smell is butterscotch and bready with a tad of floral hops. Taste is malty with carbonation tickling the tongue and again, just a hint of hoppiness, but not much. The buttery nose overpowers the taste. Mouthfeel is medium and this is a highly drinkable brew. The wife liked it during a blind taste. Had it with barbecue chicken and it worked rather well. ABV is 4%.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2005 23:34:27 | More by pentathlete

oelergud

Virginia

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Very clear copper body topped by a white head, carbonation is moderate, decent retention and ok lace.
Subdued grass, hay, hops and floral scents makes up the nose of this lager. Very faint licorice present.
Taste is citric and floral, grassy undertones carries over into the aftertaste and a horehound candy flavor appears, aftertaste lingers well though very faint.
Full body for a lager and lots of coating which isn't necessarily what you want in a lager.
Very drinkable and easy to enjoy, not one of the best offerings from Blue & gray though.

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2005 19:11:30 | More by oelergud

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Its crystal clear golden body is capped by a short head of frothy bright white foam that drops readily to just a razor-thin surface covering. Still, it somehow manages to leave creamy rings of sticky lace about the glass - amazing! The nose is clean with just a hint of grainy malt and some very light floral hops. The body is light/medium; and a very fine, moderate carbonation lends it just enough crispness on the tongue to awaken the taste buds while still leaving it silky smooth. The flavor seemlessly blends a clean, delicately grainy malt with some sharp, fruity and floral hops against a firm backdrop of bitterness. It finishes clean, crisp, short and dry. Why, this beer is almost too perfectly put together! A great summer quencher!

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2003 03:03:27 | More by NeroFiddled