Portland Lager - Bull Jagger Brewing Company

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours medium gold with a big thick head. Some slight lace, but head retention is terrific.

Some grassy and sweet malt aromas, some leafy herbal notes.

I like the balance of this one. Slight sweetness in the malt up front; maybe grassy, maybe a touch of sweet butter, a little spicy grain. It is immediately pushed out by toasted husk bitterness and a pure but not overbearing bitter flavor. The grassy sweet comes up again but the bitter is always there. Finishes crisp and bitter.

Medium bodied, good carbonation.

I liked this one. Fairly smooth and restrained in the right areas. They took the bitter right to the limit and nailed it. This is a very drinkable brew. Clean and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 03:08:56 | More by OtherShoe2

MikeHRayn

Maine

3/5  rDev -9.1%

01-15-2013 01:01:28 | More by MikeHRayn

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

From BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #61 (Feb 2012):

LOOK: Dirty golden, lots of foam

SMELL: Grainy, yeast, fresh-cut hay, ripe pears, faint lemon, flora, rustic

TASTE: Crisp, medium bodied, herbal hop, grainy, malt sweetness, leafy, grassy, nutty

More of a Kellerbier than a Helles, given the overall rawness. Regardless, a solid and highly quaffable lager from the New England area. Now all we need are some authentic German brats and pretzels. Ja!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 17:17:06 | More by BeerAdvocate

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.58/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From the 25 fl. oz bottle. Sampled on December 16, 2012.

It pours like a lager with a pale yellow-light amber tone and a fizzy white head. Carbonation is active throughout.

The aroma tends to be a little yeasty but it most definitely has the German biscuit malt character that is expected from a Helles Lager. The hops bring up the rear with a clean crispiness.

The body is light and a little acidic.

The taste has a bready, biscuit malty character at the start but it does not take long before the moderate hop bitterness kicks in to bring the tasting experience to a clean conclusion. Not a bad lager from this fledgling brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 17:12:17 | More by puboflyons

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased at Tully's in Wells, Maine. Pours a slightly hazy body with about a half inch of off white head. Smells bready with slight fruity notes. Tastes bready with notes of apple and lemon grass. No flavor is overly robust. Everything is balanced and subdued. Very drinkable. Tastes great and is an easy drinker. What more could you ask for?

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 04:34:15 | More by MrHurmateeowish

Boto

Connecticut

3.48/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle: This one pours a Slightly hazy golden color. There was quite a bit of a big white head on it that doesn’t linger long or leave any lacing. Lighter aroma to this one, though not bad. Some grainy and grassy notes. Possibly a hint of breadiness and yeastiness also. The taste is not bad. More towards a medium body. Some grains, malts, hint of earthiness and a touch of bitterness. A decent enough lager. Probably not worth the price charged for it, however.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 20:28:51 | More by Boto

dunix

Vermont

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%

10-29-2012 14:07:33 | More by dunix

raythealeman

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%

08-17-2012 23:16:26 | More by raythealeman

wisrarebeer

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +28.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

$5.49 for a 16.9 oz bottle

A: poured with an incredible meringue-type head, golden straw color, almost too much CO2
S: medium nose, herbal hops indicative of dry hopping
T: clean, crisp, lager, could use a bit more earthy malt but very good, subdued hops
M: clean, crisp, very, very sessionable and drinkable

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 02:14:44 | More by wisrarebeer

Bilco

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%

06-02-2012 21:15:46 | More by Bilco

Pamola

Vermont

3/5  rDev -9.1%

05-30-2012 14:14:00 | More by Pamola

dcME

Maine

2.75/5  rDev -16.7%

04-08-2012 17:44:54 | More by dcME

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +13.6%

03-24-2012 05:04:57 | More by morebeergood

jbear725

Maine

2.53/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is my second time having this beer. Had a bottle from the original release and wasn't impressed. Giving it another shot.

Pours a slightly orange light amber color, not a pale straw yellow like I was expecting. It's slightly hazy as well, again not what I'd expect in a Helles.

Smells mildly bread-y and has a pine and earthy hop aroma.

Taste is not what I would expect. Too many hops for the style and they come across pine, mild citrus and very grassy and raw. Has a good malt backbone but not a rich crisp grain flavor I would expect. Malt tastes more like a pale ale than Pilsner and seems like it has too much of a Munich malt flavor leaning more towards an Octoberfest than a Helles.

Mouthfeel is decent.

Overall I'm not a fan and don't consider this a very good Helles. The color and appearance is just too dark and the over use of hops is a turn off. Just can't get past the grassy raw hop flavors going on to make this enjoyable. The price is way too high for a mediocre to average beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 01:53:32 | More by jbear725

twelvsies

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this one a bunch now, finally getting around to giving it props. The original beer from Bull Jager, this one pours a crisp bright gold color with a white head, nice and fluffy for a lager. Lots of character in the aroma with lots of bread, dough, yeast, milk and honey, and some dusty hops. Crisp and drinkable yet with a nice sturdy body and some stand up flavor to this lager. I like it. Had this on draught recently and liked it even more than the bottled version. Looking forward to drinking lots of this in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 04:03:33 | More by twelvsies

beerbiatchMD

Maine

4.08/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Novare Res 2/11/12, reviewed from notes taken on iPhone. 16 oz pint glass.

A: yellow opaque, thickish looking for a lager, there is a half finger of white head, good lacing.

S: fruity, yeasty, and hint of citrus hop and great sweet malt background.

T: nicely balanced. Beginning is refreshing fruity sweet, pear and grapefruit, minimal biterness, very refreshing. Finishes with smoothly with a bit of hop bite.

M: Crisp, refreshing, good carbonation.

O: Wow, this is a fantastic lager. At least as good as Brooklyn lager in my opinion (which is very good). It's pretty complex for a lighter beer and very easy drinking. I'll definitely be picking this one up in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2012 08:09:44 | More by beerbiatchMD

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Will pour a five+ finger cream head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Hazy, pale amber color, some yeast left in bottle. Strong carbonation and medium bodied. Hay nose, sweet hay and bread flavor. $5.80 for a 500ml bottle from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 23:01:42 | More by jdhilt

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Into a pilsener:

A: murky pale yellow colored body with a small white foamy head and a decent amount of carbonation seen rising, lacing is kinda thick and leaves spotty rings down the glass

S: some wheat, grains and bready malts

T: sweet wheat and breadiness

M: light to medium with a fair amount of carbonation hitting the tongue and mouth, fairly sessionable, no aftertaste, sweet finish

O: a decent MHL, but its nothing to go out of my way for

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 15:36:30 | More by kangarooAdam59

mdfb79

New York

2.55/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

From 01/07/12 notes. Thanks to joepaid for sending this one my way. 22 oz. bottle into a tulip.

a - Pours a murky pale yellow color with two fingers of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of wheat, grains, and bready malts. Not bad at all, but quite bland. Pretty average.

t - Tastes of wheat, grains, sweet corn, bready malts, and light vegetables. Not very good at all; oddly sweet. Major step down from the nose.

m - Light to medium body and low carbonation. Easy to drink for what I'm guessing is a lower ABV lager.

o - Overall a below average lager. Nose is a bit bland, and the taste is oddly sweet. Wasn't a big fan of this one, wouldn't seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 17:57:19 | More by mdfb79

GehenHerzog

North Carolina

2/5  rDev -39.4%

01-22-2012 00:08:39 | More by GehenHerzog

auroracrisis

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev +6.1%

01-14-2012 08:10:41 | More by auroracrisis

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I met up with the brewery in VT over Thanksgiving in Windsor and we exchanged some beers in the parking lot. Good to see another brewery come out of Portland, especially 3 in the same industrial complex. 16.9 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a minimal head and has a ring of foam at the top of the glass. A golden straw yellow with some haziness, but still very clear. Carbonation is coming up slowly through the glass. Some nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank too.

Smell: I am picking up some yeasty, grassy, and bready malts.

Taste: Same bready malts and some bitterness and spicines from the hops. Very ineresting for a lager, but very tasty.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, well carbonated, full bodied. For the most part, this beer was easy to drink once the bitterness from the hops wore down. Also, the beer was a little chewy too.

Overall: This is a good brew from the newest brewery out of Portland. I wonder what Tom has in the works for his next batch. Beer is still in it's infacy stage and could use some refining. Looking for more of this when we go up to OOB next time around.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 07:00:37 | More by Flounder57

drabmuh

Maryland

3.13/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks Mike, beer served in a snifter. Beer is yellow, clear with a thin white head, low retention, some lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is yeasty and bland.

Beer is light in body and sweet on the finish, a mild aftertaste makes the beer less desirable. Not a great lager for sure, just an average one.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 03:23:44 | More by drabmuh

erlenmeyer

Maine

2/5  rDev -39.4%

01-11-2012 05:01:07 | More by erlenmeyer

ygtbsm94

Virginia

1/5  rDev -69.7%

01-10-2012 07:34:45 | More by ygtbsm94