Coney Island Albino Python - Shmaltz Brewing Company

ruckzuck

Georgia

3.73/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoying hitting all these Shmaltz lagers lately!

A - pours a hazy light golden body with a frothy white head. Head quickly dissipated to a smaller layer, but did stick around as a thin layer

S - sweet malt with a fair bit of spice. Ginger, some cloves, and a bit of a citrus kick. Interesting

T - taste is similar to the nose. Comes through with an initial malty lager hit and some hoppiness as well. Upon swallowing, many more flavors open up on the back of the palate. The citrus becomes more pronounced as do the spices. The ginger almost reminds me of the stuff you get with sushi. Pretty good

M - light bodied with some big carbonation. Good deal

D - definitely enjoyable. I'm glad Shmaltz is experimenting more with these lighter and interesting styles lately. Don't get me wrong, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool hophead, but it's nice to experience these lately. Enjoyable. Would recommend everyone check them all at least once.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2008 19:14:35 | More by ruckzuck

erosier

Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

L: Pours a hazy golden yellow color with a tall and medium bodied white head that takes some time to fade. Laces a bit down the glass.
S: Smells of very sweet wheat malts, some citris aromas, some banana, and some clove in the nose. Very interesting aroma.
T: The taste follows the nose pretty well. Nice sweet wheat malts under banana, clove, and citrisy flavors.
M: Very crisp, fresh, and refreshing.
D: Pretty drinkable as I could finish the whole bomber. An interesting take on the American Pale Wheat Ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2008 10:54:29 | More by erosier

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle a slightly cloudy grapefruit color with two fingers of bubbley white head.

Aroma of cloves, ginger, flowers, and lemon zest.

Tastes of citrusy hops, spicy cloves, lemon zest, black pepper, and yeast. Finish is quite clean and dry.

Lighter bodied, crisp, and a sharply fizziness to it.

This is what more lagers should strive to be. Terrific to drink and quite enjoyable from start to finish. Well done, Shmaltz!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2008 20:02:16 | More by Monkeyknife

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a fizzy, pale yellow body with a small, bubbly, white head.

Smell: Very aromatic nose here, smelling of pale malts and spicy hops but mainly displaying notes of ginger, peppercorn medley, cloves, citrus zest, flowers, and with a particularly strong note of fresh fennel.

Taste: Pale, pilsnery maltiness with a hint of tangy wheat and a light sweetness. Faint graininess. My my, they really emptied out the spice cabinet here, there's flavors of ginger, cloves, lemongrass, cracked peppercorns, and a strong, licoricey fennel taste. Spicy hops with a restrained bitterness. Finishes rather crisp, with a lingering licorice and ginger.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Somewhat fizzy carbonation.

Drinkability: Pleasant, spicy lager that's plenty tasty, though I could use a tad lighter carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 03:00:51 | More by ChainGangGuy

ballewblake

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into chalace. Wheat brew like color with a one finger head on pour. White head with moderate lacing. Sharp spices on the nose, mild malts in the background, some lager yeast there. Wow, I'd call this a christmas brew. Nutmeg like spices thrown in dominate this brew. Nicely carbonated, good feel on the tongue, very easy to drink without the heavy flavors that most seasonal brews have. Good drink for switch up on the good ol palette.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2008 03:39:47 | More by ballewblake

SilentSabre

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

$4,99 / 22oz Bomber Arbor Place Beverage
Douglasville, Ga
Poured a gorgeous pale lemony colour which suited the style just right, I thought. Nice, snow-white foamy head, about an inch and a half thick, stayed in place for 60 seconds or so, dying down to around a half inch or so.
Smell and flavour were both huge on spice with the ginger and corriander really coming through; the fennel, not so much, but it's still there in a modest capacity.
Mouthfeel was light and crisp; easy to drink. Neither particularly impressive, nor unpleasant. Highly drinkable and very sessionable, IMO. This is a fantastic, and very unique offering from Shmaltz Brewing. Will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 21:23:01 | More by SilentSabre

cvstrickland

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22-ouncer decorated with a sexy lady gettin' friendly with a golden snake, poured into a pint willi glass yields a bright hazy golden body with a storm of active carbonation feeding a thick two-finger crown of soapy foam that retains at a puffy, fizzy finger and leaves a bit of fluffy lacing on the glass.

Smell is spicy and malty with a dash of hops and a twist of lemon.

Taste is zippy, malty, tangy and crisp with a nice spicy character, aromatic orange and lemon zest, and a sting of bitter hops. Plenty of spice in the aftertaste.

There is a gracious plenty of carbonation, to be sure, nearly to excess, but it fits the crisp, zingy nature of the beer and helps the drinker to indulge the "inner beer freak"... as commanded by the devilclown from the neckband of the kitschy-cool, pop-art-festooned label.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2008 21:30:14 | More by cvstrickland

GoodKnight1220

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a plisner.

It was a pale cloudy yellow.

Wheat and spice smell, like lemon and apples.

Grassy lemon cider taste that fades quickly.

Mouthfeel was a little too carbonated, the spice definitely tingled on your lips.

I could put back a few, but would choose others.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2008 01:48:16 | More by GoodKnight1220

zeff80

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a somewhat cloudy, golden-yellow color with a good sized, white, foamy head that left soapy trails of lace.

S - It smelled somewhat funky and spicy.

T - It tasted spicy and sour with a sweet candy flavor like licorice.

M - It was fizzy, sharp and crisp. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - Leave it to He'Brew to come out with a completely unique beer. Interesting flavor that really surpried me.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2008 16:25:33 | More by zeff80

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Coney Island Albino Python

Cloudy golden hue, nice white head,.

Spritzy, spicy nose...smells like a witbier. I think I know where they're going. A Belgian wit, done a s lager. Coriander, ginger, clove....not so much citrus, though.

Taste: more spritz, more spice, and not much after. Stays long at the front of the mouth and lays on the tongue, but there's little else in body or flavor. Big carbonation. That and spices are dominant. Wish there were more, though, but I think they got what they were going for with this, a lager wit.

I hope someone likes it, but I wouldn't chose this over a ale wit.

And, to give it another plus, one of the coolest, sexiest pieces of label art I've ever seen. Especially if you're into chicks getting it on with snakes.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 05:55:51 | More by feloniousmonk

Drew966

Florida

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Coney Island Albino Python pours a hazy yellow with an enormous white head from a brown twenty two ounce bottle. The aroma is very mild, but it is definitely spices. A hint of ginger, perhaps some citrus. The flavor is nice, citrus is pronounced and there is a very minor note of spices. Nice, definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 00:54:44 | More by Drew966

asabreed

New York

4.15/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Lighter golden yellow with some haziness, good carbonation floating to the top from the surge in the middle, initially billowing head that fades more quickly than I'd hoped.

Smell: Yeast, spices, a bit of pepper, very mild phenolic medicinal aromas, cinnamon, cloves, lemon grass and citrus, and maybe some coriander. Overall it's very nice, spicy, and aromatic.

Taste: Major cinnamon initially, but it's not overdone, with pepper, cloves, yeast, lots of lemon in the sweeter and bitter flavors. Lingering spicy finish with mild phenolic activity, spiciness mostly from the cinnamon, and lingering herbal and lemon flavors left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel: Lighter-bodied with some yeast adding to the body, though it has a near-perfect spritzy carbonation that serves everything very well.

Drinkability: A solid and a bit spicier domestic example of the style. I really like Shmaltz and this did not disappoint at all. Plus the labels are always decorative and awesome. Highly drinkable and worth it for sure. I wonder if they'll ever do 6-packs. I hope so.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2008 16:07:52 | More by asabreed

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.58/5  rDev +29%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22oz bottle served in a fluted pilsner glass.

L - hazy, pale yellow color with a fluffy white head that left some spots of lacing.

S - ginger, citrus rind, and saaz hops.

T - very good blend of malts and spices with a light bittering near the back end.

F - light/medium bodied with very good carbonation.

D - excellent summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2008 23:06:46 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.33/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A vigorous pour produces a three finger thick, pale, off-white colored head in my New Belgium globe glass. The beer is a hazed, straw color that shows a hazy, amber-tinged, gold color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite spicy with ample spice notes reminiscent of an aromatic mix of ginger, clove, nutmeg, pepper and something akin to white chocolate. If you really dig for it a grassy grain note becomes noticeable.

The beer is lightly sweet, but mostly comes across as dry. It is light bodied, but has a soft weight to it as it flows across the tongue. It finishes with a biting note that is a mix of pepper and bitterness. Flavors of nutmeg, light ginger, something savor that is a bit like sage or rosemary, clove and allspice. There is not a whole lot of the usually beery flavors here, but I wouldn't say that the spices are overwhelming; the spices certainly play the lead role, but I wouldn't bet my life on the specific mix of spics used. This is well carbonated, which adds a nice textural component to the delivered spice flavors. Perhaps a touch of herbal honey notes and a touch of cracker-like grain are all that I really get of the malt character in the flavor.

The spiciness is certainly more focused in the aroma than it is in the flavor, but it still plays a big role here as well. This is pretty tasty and is a nice mix of spices, but I really wish that the typical malt and hop notes would have added some additional and, I would argue, needed complexity. Not nearly as tasty as the original Coney Island Lager.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2008 22:03:22 | More by Gueuzedude

bort11

Missouri

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle poured into a hefe glass. Tall chunky head that gradually recedes. Nice rings of lace. Color is a hazy golden peach.

Smell is sweet malt base with grainy spice. A little herbal and citrus. Taste is predominantly spicy. Hints of pepper, cloves and allspice. Mild lemon zest. Mild sweet balance.

Mouthfeel is light and prickly with the carbonation. Quite quaffable and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2008 04:20:31 | More by bort11

merlin48

Kentucky

4.05/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber pours a hazy straw yellow body with a tall vanilla head that deposits some puffy and splotchy lacing. Aroma is lemony citrus, hay, coriander, ginger, and pepper. Light medium body with seltzery carbonation. Taste has a lemon rind dry bitterness with a subtle spicing of ginger and pepper. Just a hint of malt sweetness. Spices in no way detract here. An excellent summer beer that is highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2008 14:09:57 | More by merlin48

paulthebeerguru

Florida

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Albino Python
Draught @ Underground Bluz

A: poured into a wit glass. the beer pours a nice slightly hazy yellow color with a nice white head. nice retention and perfect lacing.

S: some nice citrus int the nose, with a hint of liquorice. some light spices, like coriander and a dash of lemon zest.

T: nice lemon flavor, with a spicy lager finish. some coriander and a good amount of liquorice and mint.

M: medium bodied. solid carbonation level. very clean and crisp.

D: very intriguing flavors. never had a lager like this before. definitely worthy of a try.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2008 01:23:29 | More by paulthebeerguru

pershan

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on-tap at Frisco Grille in Columbia, MD.

The beer poured a hazy yellow with a thick, white head into a chalice. The smell was the classic Belgian yeast bubble-gum aroma. The taste was more of the Belgian yeast, but will a very noticable coriander presence and some other spices I couldn't identify. The carbonation was good, and the beer was light and refreshing, but I think HeBrew went a little overboard with the coriander. In my opinion, less would have been more, but still a pretty darn good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2008 16:16:06 | More by pershan

getalife2k5

New York

3.6/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

bottle. i could've also had it on tap at Blind Tiger Ale House, but there were so many choices that day. cloudy, pale yellow in color, like Lemonade with honey. had a very fizzy head, like a wheat beer, with only a thin ring clinging to the glass. smelled yeasty with lemon peel, honey & lime, like a cider. the taste was pretty nice... lemon and herbs, mint, ginger, white pepper were all there... like a Ricola throat drop. very bubbly and gassy, like champagne. maybe a little too gassy. i started to feel a little bloated. i'd have to say that this is certainly unique perfect for summer!! the label is also quite appealing, with a voluptous woman holding and almost kissing an albino python with a snakeskin background. Cool idea, definitely novel.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2008 03:50:25 | More by getalife2k5

cichief

Virginia

2.7/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Had on draft at the Frisco Grille, Colmbia, MD.

A- Pours a hazy gold, with a nice white head.

S- Not much there, a little fruit (citrus) and some spice???

T- First I was hit with menthol???? What the... Second sip I got some of the orange and some spiciness (clove?).

M- Not overly done but very carbonated.

D- Sorry, I like Wit biers, but I wouldn't, and couldn't have another of these beers. Maybe there was a problem with this keg, but it didn't seem infected.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2008 03:02:32 | More by cichief

dedrinker

Kansas

3.08/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Wow. A very light sunny yellow color - cloudy, peachy. Is this what an unfiltered Budweiser would look like? Creamy/ foamy white head. The nose is citrus zest and lemon lollipop. The flavor is a muted more of the same. Prickly carbonation on a light body. The carbonation makes it feel fuller, but don't get fooled. An interesting twist on a witbier as it is a lager. This is a better version of Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat, but still not something I would buy. It's kinda got my stomach all gassy. But I love the way it looks in the glass.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2008 04:39:05 | More by dedrinker

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Part of the new Coney Island Craft Lagers line from the Shmaltz Brewing Company. The bottle describes it as a white Lager brewed with spices.

22 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a hazy light straw colored gold with a finger of foamy brite-white head. Retention is just OK, with some fizzy foam around the edges that leaves just a few spotty hints of lacing. A bit of yeast eventually accumulates on the bottom. The aroma is quite inviting, with a big nose of spice and fruit. A lively mix of coriander, ginger, and clove meets notes of orange and lemon zest.

The taste profile is very similar to the aroma, with zippy spices and citrus that are well supported by a backbone of caramel malt sweetness. There is also a fairly well done hop profile in the finish that lets things end with a bit of an attitude. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with a fresh, crisp feel and poppy carbonation. It was very hard to pick up any sense of that 6% ABV anywhere.

I think that this "White Lager" style turned out fairly well for the most part, with the crisp nature and hoppy profile of an American Lager mixing well with the full flavored zesty nature of a Hefe or Witbier. Drinkibility was very nice. I paired this up with some barbecued chicken, grilled sausage, and corn on the cob for a perfect Summer afternoon meal.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2008 22:18:57 | More by Kegatron