Blitzen - New Old Lompoc Brewery

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

2.63/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Oak Bottom location today.

Bitzen pours a very light gold color with minimal head retention and lacing. The nose is equally unimpressive, with some light pepper and spice, but really not much of anything at all. The beer is particulary watery on the palate, tasting like a very light gold or wheat beer, with some spices added. There is also some light honey and pepper, but there really isn't too much to this beer. Drinkability would probably be OK, as it's pretty clear the abv. is pretty low. However, there is so little flavor, and the beer is so watery, I can't imagine why I (or anyone else) would want to drink this.

Am a big fan of New Old Lompoc beers, but this was a big disappointment. I realize that not everything has to be a DIPA or RIS, but there is just so little flavor in this beer, and what's there just isn't very interesting or impressive.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2010 00:57:21 | More by johnmichaelsen

ccrida

Oregon

2.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Their winter 'tonic', basically their Fool's Golden Ale with 'orange and cinnamon.'

Draught served in a shaker (12 oz. Lompoc, not 16 like your menu FALSELY ADVERTISES - you're not alone, but no less guilty!), Blitzen is clear yellow with light streamers and a small white head.

Smell is all spices, mainly ginger, in fact smells a lot like ginger ale. Maybe a touch of all-spice, which is closer to the cinnamon cited on the menu.

Taste, again, is heavy on the ginger, a hint of cinnamon and bread, overall pretty soft though, with a dry, bitter finish with lingering spice.

Mouthfeel is very crisp, like a lager, in spite of the apparent low level of carbonation. Served lager temp in fact.

Drinkability is kind of low, since I didn't care for this, basically a cream ale with spices, not a spicy cream ale but two distinct components that didn't blend to well. Inoffensive and uninspiring, probably the lamest winter ale I've had all season.

Serving type: on-tap

01-16-2008 19:51:46 | More by ccrida