Coney Island Lager - Shmaltz Brewing Company

jables7

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A- not much head retention to this one but it is a brilliant orange/amber color. it's calling me and I'm inclined to listen.

S- the hop character is in the forefront, but unfortunately the smell that follows can only be described as somewhat musty. the sweetness of the malt makes up a little ground in this category.

T- the taste follows closely along the lines of the smell. the malt takes over the flavor of this beer. the 6 varieties of hops are definately overpowered by the 8 different malts. it has a very sweet finish.

M- much more to this beer than most lagers. it coats your entire mouth with malty goodness. this is a great example of a mouthfeel for the style

O- in the end, the thing that takes away from this being a great beer is the lack of balance between the malt and hops. outside of that, this is a solid beer, considering style or not.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 21:52:59 | More by jables7

JizackFH

New York

3.4/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - This beer pours a pretty clear golden amber color. It has a small 1-finger off white head on it. The head has decent retention and leaves some scattered lacing behind.

S - It smells of sweet caramel and pilsner malts. There are also some notes of fruit and citrus. It smells earthy as well.

T - It tastes mostly of sweet malts at first, then a nice hop character comes into play. There are some fruit and citrus notes, as well as a nice earthiness, and some caramel. The finish is clean, and leaves just a touch of lingering bitterness behind.

M - This has a medium body and average carbonation. It goes down smooth, and I find it to be pretty refreshing. The finish is a bit dry and leaves a little bit of lingering bitterness in the mouth.

O - This has pretty good drinkability. It goes down smooth, and I could easily drink a 6-pack of this on a hot summer day. Overall, I thought it was a decent beer, and I'd try it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 08:11:17 | More by JizackFH

Mosstrooper

California

4.05/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bottle into 16oz Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass.

Appearance: Pours an amber-gold color with a substantial off-white head that dissipates quickly yielding lots of lines and spots of foamy lace.

Smell: Sweet and grainy malts are dominant, with a touch of fruit and citrus.

Taste: Starts of grainy and citric, maybe a slight bit piny as well and rounds out to a biscuity flavor and finally finishes with fruity sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with lively, balanced carbonation and a very clean finish.

Drinkability: An easy drinking, very sessionable beer. Nothing about it is great, but it is good overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 01:59:12 | More by Mosstrooper

dstc

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a surprisingly dark ruby color with a small tan head. Head falls just about nothing. Thinnest if lace.

Big, bold aroma of caramel and pilsner malts. Smells like a lager through and though only a good lager.

Rather nice malt taste. Somewhat roasted and mildly sweet. Nice, full flavor; something you do not find in an average lager. Mild hop bitter aftertaste.

Rather full in the mouth and quite smooth. Low carbonation give it a nice mouthfeel.

Nice stuff, easy to drink and worth trying if you are looking for a lager.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 16:08:27 | More by dstc

sommersb

Tennessee

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Corsair Taproom in Nashville

A: Clear, copper colored beer served in a shaker pint. Almost no head, but I think that was just due to the pour I got.

S: Not too strong on aroma but picked up caramel malts and some citrus/hop smells.

T: Crisp taste with a moderate level of bitterness balanced nicely with the numerous malts in this brew.

M: Clean with a medium body and dry finish, moderately carbonated. Leaves a slight bitter aftertaste.

D: Nice easy drinking beer; a fine lager

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2011 04:42:25 | More by sommersb

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

650ml bottle poured into pint glass jan6 2010

A clear copper with a few bubbles feeding a thumbs width of off white head that leaves a few specks of lace

S lots of caramel with some guava and biscuit

T what I smell but with plenty of sweet malts, some faint booze and just a little pine

M full for the color, a little syrupy and just enough carbonation to give it some life

D I had no issues taking the bomber down by myself and could drink another if I had one

a nice hopped up lager with a big malt backbone, I like the tropical fruits with sweet malt it works well and I could see myself drinking this again

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 08:28:10 | More by wordemupg

cjacobsen

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a nice, clear, deep golden color. LOTS of head on this. Some sediment.

Smells of biscuit, citrus notes, some spice and a bit of hops.

Taste of light malt, flavorful hops, not bitter except for a slight bit at the end. Some light citrus and spice notes but not as much as is in the nose.

This beer is really smooth. Its a nice brew, well balanced with flavor, carbonation and all around. It's nothing out of this world but its a good brew. I didn't know what to expect but it was a nice lager beer. Basically, good for what it is...

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 21:53:36 | More by cjacobsen

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for the trade. Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a caramel color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is rather mild, some malts. Taste is good, malts, a caramel sweetness with some hop bitterness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a good quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 19:06:27 | More by tone77

NickRivers

California

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Red-ish Amber Carmel-like look that pours beautiful in a pilsner

S - Super-Sweet kinda hoppy lager smell with hints of citrus and honey

T - Sweet and Bitter, just what a hop-heads Lager-alternative should be

M - Very crisp and sweet, yet the hops make you pucker

D - Exceptional

This is the first of the Coney Islands I have tried, and I gotta say, it's pretty damn good. I bought it cause it stood out with its bright colors and 22 oz. bottle, and I'll admit I wasn't expecting it to be this good. It truly is beautiful with all its hop-majesty and smooth lacing. Its great for hangin out or taking a few to a get-together for a nice start. I will definitely buy this one again, its a very fun and interesting take on lagers. Oh by the way mine was carbonated like a ginger ale, I don't know what happened to the other folks'.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 07:48:20 | More by NickRivers

tapman

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -28%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Less than one finger head of off white foam, low levels of carbonation strings and a rudy orange in color.

A little bread, a little white toast, some sweet, fruity notes and a little caramel/butterscotch, but only a little.

Very toasty, but like white toast made from Wonderbread. Also some darker,roasty, astringent notes that attempt to balance the moderate bitterness but comes out tasting a little sour in the finish. Pretty bland.

A little watery. Maybe a little more carbonation?

8 malts? 6 hops? The Czech Pilsner yeast I can understand as it is clean and does not support the hop bitterness at all in my opinion. They sell these for $20 bucks a 12 pack around Chicago. Por que?

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 04:15:49 | More by tapman

JayS2629

Alabama

1.75/5  rDev -52.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I hated this beer. Sorry to dump on all the good reviews.

A- Beautiful bright and festive red! Nice white head with medium rings of lace.

S- Faint caramel and honey with grapefruit and toasty malts.

T- Sharp and bitter with citrus and honey. Overpowering grapefruit bitterness and cloying honey character. Hints of spice.

M- Heavy and creamy. Thick and over carbonated.

D- I had to force this one down sip by sip.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 04:29:09 | More by JayS2629

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Betcha thought I was gonna say "CAN", dincha?!? Sike! Nope, I had a generous CouchSurfer who not only sprung for a short night out, but brought a 12-pack, to boot! Bee-yoo-tee-full!

From the bottle: "Arouse! your liquid curiosities, Amaze! your oral sensibilities, Indulge! your inner beer freak"; "Lager Freaks and Beer Geeks! Scmaltz Brewing Co. (ringleaders of He'brew Beer) invites you to witness the delectable alchemy of 8 malts, 6 hops & Czech Pilsenr yeast. Discover the thrill of old world brewing conjoined with beguiling new world flavor." "Freaks' Beer Favorite - Alive"; "Proceeds help Coney Island USA, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, fulfill its mission to defend the lost forms of Ameri[CAN] popular arts and culture, leading the renaissance in Brooklyn's historic Coney Island neighborhood."

My pour netted me just over a finger of bubbly tawny head with good retention. Color was a coppery-amber with NE-quality clarity. Nose was on the sweet side, but accompanied by a slightly piney bitterness. Mouthfeel was medium with a honey-like sweetness on the tongue. It evinced a slight bitterness on the finish and then returned to a honey-like sweetness on the extreme finish. It was okay, but not compelling enough to make me want more of it.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2010 23:33:44 | More by woodychandler

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. No obvious best before date.

A - moderate head that resolves after a couple minutes with a tiny bit of lacing. Looks a little darker than I thought it would since it's listed as a "lager" on the bottle; looks kind of like a Red or an Amber. No visible carbonation.

S - not much to smell. A little bit of caramel malts, but that's about it.

T - nice sharp initial tones with some citrus-inspired hops resolving into nice round malt flavors. A bit of residual bitterness the endures.

M - again, a heavier than expected mouthfeel with a bit of creaminess offset by significant carbonation.

D - this one is a beauty and really drinkable. The hops are nicely balanced and it's surprisingly smooth. I could easily have more than one of these!

This is a very solid beer. I've been trying a mixed pack of beers in the Coney Island brand and they're all good, and this one is one of the best. I would definitely drink this year round.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 04:46:36 | More by DoktorZee

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer's mint copper complexion is that of a penny from heaven. Indeed, despite the deep coloring, it illuminates with such grace and dazzle that it appears almost ethereal. The way its kindled edges coddle the light it looks a quaff most sublime. The virile head atop it suggests a beer that is prolific, hearty and in very good condition.

This bouquet, with scents of toffee so sweet, grapefruit so bitter and the combination of the two so fragrant and delightful, is as poignantly familiar as the scent of a long-ago lover. I've smelled this before in many a IPAs but only select few lagers, the citrusy tang of hops so sharp as the edge of a chef's knife and the toasty maltiness as deep as an Olympic-sized swimming pool. This ain't gonna be no insipid lager, that's for sure.

Why use only a select few malts when you can use 8 and then boast of it as if the beer were automatically more flavourful for it? The variety of ingredients really matters only so much as the quantities used - fortunately, Coney Island Lager not only uses many different malts, they use them quite abundantly. Likewise for the 6 varieties of hops. As result, the beer is extensively toasty and sweet whilst also lavished in fruity, piny resins.

It's like a two-headed monster with one head belching out toffee and biscuits and the other breathing fumes, not of fire, but of a fiery, citrusy balm. While the malt and hop flavours in most beers can easily be discerned from one another - they tend to stand independently, oppositely, side by side - there exists some examples where they genuinely mold one into the other, like Siamese twins conjoined at the hip.

In every sip such a swift change in direction from malty to hoppy; to find such endowment in both maltiness and hoppiness - for a lager no less - is the product of a generous brewer with high-standards. Coney Island Lager is awfully reminiscent of its neighborhood counterpart, Brooklyn Lager. Whether it's something in the water or what, who knows, but that borough can definitely lay claim to two of NYC's best lagers.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 17:47:48 | More by biegaman

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours light copper with a nice white head and a good deal of lacing. The nose brings forward a pretty good amount of biscuit malt as well as some light hops. Good bready flavors throughout. Light to medium body with good carbonation. In the end, a nice craft example of the style and drinks quite well. Very good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 20:51:49 | More by Thorpe429

taxguyjase

New Mexico

4.03/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Golden yellow color, with a lighter head. The frothiness of the head sticks to the glass, leaving a visible residue as the head dissipates. - 3.5/5.0

Smell - Really sweet malt aroma. I get scents of honey, maybe some lemon. 3.5/5.0

Taste - Definitely a lager. The malt is really enjoyable, but not as sweet as the smell would elude to. The initial crispness is really enjoyable too. 4.0/5.0

Feel - Smooth and flavorful, with a nice malty aftertaste. Very refreshing. 4.5/5.0

Drinkability - I think this is a great beer for just chilling out. I happen to be clearing out e-mails and this just hit the spot. - 4.5/5.0

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 01:39:24 | More by taxguyjase

taylocd

Alabama

4.2/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from 12-ounce bottle into pint glass

A - closer to copper w/brown tint than to red or amber; small white head and faint lacing dissipated quickly

S - slight malt aroma, but nothing of significance.

T - MUCH more flavor than the aroma would have indicated. It seemed closer to Vienna style lager than Amber. Very impressive hop presence in a malty beer.

M - just a bit thin to get any higher mark, but it has a great texture overall

D - with the balance of flavor and smooth texture, this would make for an easy drinker any time of year!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 23:11:34 | More by taylocd

david18

New York

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my review of the bottle:

I thought this would be a little lighter when I bought it for our outdoor, afternoon meal but it was pretty good for what it was. SImilar to Sam Adams lager this had a good amber color, decent aroma and mouthfeel. A little strong on the malty character but another good one from Schmaltz.

---

Draft version is pretty much the same, hard to have lagers on draft for me. Very good though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2010 22:41:49 | More by david18

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours like a traditional amber lager, semi clouded nice khaki tan head forms minimal lacing between sips. Aroma fruity caramel malt notes, slightly spicy with a floral edge. Flavor has a dry back end with a bunch of upfront sweetness interesting blend, there are competing flavors here that don't seem to agree with each other spicy malts dry yeast strain American hop bitterness from teh cascades. I don't know, it's not my favorite. Mouthfeel is light bodied dry bitter harshness, carbonation is a bit spritzy making the mouthfeel rougher than it has to be. Drinkability overall for me, leaves me in confusion. Not an average style, I question the flavors I'm getting whether or not they work together...I'm going to try their hoppy pale lager.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2010 17:55:53 | More by WVbeergeek

noel2977

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Copper, clear with a small head that dissipates quickyl, with not much lacing.
S - Malty, bready
T - Intially - a nice malty flavor, with hints of raisin. Some slight fruit on the finish, intermingled with hops, but no overwhelming hoppiness.
M - nicely carbonated and balanced - the mouthfeel measures nicely with the taste profile
D - tastes GOOD... sessionable. nice approach at a lager, unfortunately, if one doesnt search around here for a lager (like Victory), they'll settle for a Yuengling and perhaps think the brew style peaks there.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 02:16:36 | More by noel2977

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VII:

Brought to you by the people behind He'Brew, this hybrid mashup of European tradition boasts an unusual malt bill (eight), hops (six), a Czech Pils yeast, and dry-hopping with Cascades. Proceeds help Coney Island USA, a nonprofit that defends the honor of America's lost arts and culture.

Copper in color, bright, clear, and topped with an off-white foamy lace. Aroma is clean, beery, lagery, with some faint DMS, spicy herbal hop and some steeliness. Smooth and silky consistency, fluffy with a medium body and a crisp carbonation. Toasty malts up front with a moderate sweetness, some caramel, orange note, and dusting of herbal hop character. Powdery aspirin (thanks, Amarillo!). White grape skins. Crackery. Drying, bitey finish.

Love the concept and cause. The plus? The beer is pretty damn good too. Kudos to Shmaltz for coming up with the Coney Island Lager series. We need more lagers! Beer freaks and geeks rejoice!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 20:35:16 | More by BeerAdvocate

Spineypanda

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber color, just slightly more on ambers side than red.
Smells of caramel and nice maltiness.
Taste is almost like raisins, and has a great refreshing character to it followed by a hop kick, nothing serious though.
This is an enjoyable beer, but considering I cannot get it in Texas, I probably won't drive far to get it.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 03:01:50 | More by Spineypanda

BeerNemesis

New York

3.65/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Coney Island Lager | 350 ml | 5.5% ABV | June 2010

Brewer: Shmaltz Brewing Company (He'Brew)
Style: American Amber / Red Lager
Glass: Pint

Coney Island Lager neck label:
"Arouse! your liquid curiosities... Amaze! your oral sensibilities... Indulge! your inner beer freak..."

Appearance:
Tangelo in hue, leaving a spattering of patchy, off-white lace in its wake.

Aroma:
Buttery caramel hops and a mix of earthy and fruity tones.

Taste:
Toasted malts, citrus peel, and earthy funk. Towards the end, the hops fade, leaving a much less satisfying feel.

Mouthfeel:
Mostly buttery actually. Hops and carbonation counteract this to a point.

Harmony:
Not like your average lager. More like an English Pale Ale. Not bad.

Would I get it again?:
Sure, but in no particular hurry.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 17:51:02 | More by BeerNemesis

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a slightly hazy golden orange hue, with two fingers of dense soapy beige head, which renders some drooping curtains of lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of bready caramel malt, a bit of orchard fruit, and leafy hops. The taste is bready, biscuity caramel malt, crisp fleshy fruit - pears and apples, and spicy, earthy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body decently weighty, smooth, and surprisingly creamy. It finishes fairly sweet, the "8 malts' asserting their dominance, offset increasingly so by the "6 hops".

A pretty hefty lager, enjoyable for its near-balance, and lovely intensity.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 02:29:29 | More by biboergosum

metter98

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer poured hazy light amber in color with a finger high head that faded into lacy patterns of bubbles covering the surface. A light amount of carbonation is visible in the rising bubbles.
S: There are aromas of sweet caramel and toffee malts in the nose along with some hints of apples.
T: The taste is similar to the nose; there are lots of malty flavors, but a moderate amount of bitterness from the hops comes out of nowhere to balance these out and add some complexity.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with some dryness from the hops. It has a medium amount of carbonation.
D: The beer wasn't that difficult to consume. I might considering trying this again because it had tons of hops for a lager, which seems rather unique.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 00:04:08 | More by metter98