Wasatch Summerbrau Lager - Utah Brewers Cooperative

Vashtar

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has a brilliant straw color and a head worthy of being photographed

The aroma is a bit sweeter than most beers, but it's full and happy. Very clean

It tastes zesty, and sweet, but has a balanced lemon undertone

The mouthfeel has a good viscosity, but lacks a blossom

Overall, this is an interesting summer beer and an easy drink

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 22:35:06 | More by Vashtar

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Beer #43 in my great Utah Brew Hunt.

The nose on this one struck me as I was pouring it. Has this overly tangy thing going on. Unfortunately, that is showing quite a bit on the flavor profile as well. There are also the standard czech pilsener characteristics that you expect for the style, but meshed up with that tangy, which kind of kills the experience a bit too much. It's a drinkable beer, yes. But it doesn't quite work per style.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 19:40:17 | More by RblWthACoz

BeardedRiker

Texas

3.55/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is my first beer review in... forever. I must apologize to all three and a half of my fans. Anyway...

It may be getting a bit cooler here in Texas, and by "cooler" I mean it's not 105 anymore, but I still like to enjoy a light and refreshing beer. A look through my fridge revealed Wasatch Sumerbräu Lager. Color is a clear yellow with a thin and frothy white head. There's some decent lacing.

Smells like sweet grass, light barley, and slightly like toasted bread. Lemon zest and cereal grain.

Clean,tasty beer. Lemon zest and a bit of hop bitterness greet the tongue at the start with a hint of sugary sweet grassiness and toasty cereal grains come in later. Not complex but it doesn't need to be.

This is exceptionally easy to drink with medium carbonation and a light body. Clean mouthfeel and a tad dry at the end.

This is how a lager, or a Czech pilsner as BA labels it, should be. It's simple, tasty, not overbearing, clean, easy to drink, and refreshing. A solid offering.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 23:36:30 | More by BeardedRiker

dbossman

Nebraska

3.9/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pale light golden hue with a one-inch head, good retention, and good lacing

S: Light herbal and grassy hops with light citrus, lemon rind in particular; somewhat subdued up front but the grassy hops and grainy malts build a nice finish in the aroma

T: Very refreshing; much more complex in flavor than in aroma; lots of grassy, herbal hops with a pleasant citrus on top; really crisp and refreshing

F: Crisp and light bodied; some sticky residue on the finish helps with the overall body of the beer

O: This is a lightly hopped, delicious lager; extremely crisp and refreshing and just what I want on a hot day; in a time, when most beer geeks are clamoring for the next extreme beer, I am glad some brewers are still putting out simple, delicious beers like this one--thanks Wasatch!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 17:53:05 | More by dbossman

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden color in the tall glass with a nice white foam. Smell of cardboard and damp clothes, however. Nice fizz in the mouth.

Taste of crackers, but rather tart. A touch of hops but only a faint bitter aftertaste. The beginning of each sip has a pleasant malty richness, followed by that sharp flavor. There is flavor something like graham crackers, and the beer finishes with a little citrus and some earthy bitterness. From the 12 oz bottle.

There are so many of these pale beers in Utah, I got confused as to whether this was a 4.0% beer from the market or as is the case, a slightly stronger lager from the Utah State Liquor Store. Reviewed live in Salt Lake City; from July 9 notes.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:45:10 | More by mactrail

Aluman

New Mexico

3.48/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle into 16oz glass.

Only got to try one, usually like to try two to be sure, but this is my initial perceptions on it all.

A: Golden, lots of little bubbles making their way to the top, finger to finger.5 head.

S: Lots of citrus notes, I am assuming they use cascade as the main hop in this. Mixed with piney sense.

T: Yup, grapefruit. Probably cascade, very little to none to centennial, not bad, in fact goes down fairly smoothly. None of the oddities I get with Centennial.

M: Light breezy. If I were to favor plain lagers, I could probably stand this one better than most.

O: A decent brew, nothing spectacular but at the same time doesn't go to any extremes either. One I would I recommend as a 'move from mass brew' beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 23:55:59 | More by Aluman

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a clear golden color. The head is one inch of fluffy bright white foam that recedes slowly into a thick cap of stick lacing. The aroma is of lots of spicy and grassy hops with some nice bready malt beneath. The taste is similar to the aroma with a sharp bitterness that really accentuates the spiciness of the hops. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with an appropriately high level of carbonation, and a smooth texture. Overall, this is a mighty fine pilsner that I will surely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 20:12:20 | More by KarlHungus

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz twist-off bottle poured into a pilsner glass.
5.6% ABV, Born On: 03/29/11 printed on bottom.

A - Crystal clear golden yellow in color and crowned with a nicely retained white head, sticky lace coats the beer-clean glass.

S - Grainy pale and pilsner malt are prominent in the aroma yet still allow light spiciness of German noble hops to come through. Crisp aroma.

T - Awesome balance of spicy, lemon grass, lightly bitter German noble hips and pale and pilsner malt backing. Minerally touch to it too.

M - Crisp and refreshing, this lager has a good clean finish with faint lingering hop spice and well-balanced bitterness. Medium-light in body with a great softness!

O - A great summer refresher, Wasatch's brew is quite tasty, to-style, and crisp and refreshing. I do believe that I'll have to pick up more of this if not put it on tap in my kegerator!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:39:24 | More by BeerFMAndy

ZenAgnostic

Texas

2.28/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Back bottom of bottle stamped BORN:03/29/11. Bottle calls it a German/Bavarian style lager, despite BA currently listing it as a Czech Pilsner.

Appearance - Pours a huge, loose four finger foamy head with good stick and retention. Clear pale gold body with some visible yeast sediment and slight cloudiness.

Smell - Big corn and musky hay.

Taste - Super dry musky corn.

Mouthfeel - Watery body. Slight bite and solvency.

Overall Drinkability - Not impressed, whether it's a Czech pils or a German lager.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 05:50:37 | More by ZenAgnostic

emerge077

Illinois

2.65/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

"Utah Brewers Cooperative" in small print on the front label.

Murky orange, thick ring of white foam around the edges with a thin veil of foam in the center. Spotty lacing here and there. Body is strangely hazy and opaque for a pale lager, didn't see any residual yeast in the bottle.

A bit sulfury, mostly sweet grains with a lightly acidic apple note.

Far too astringent, sweet and buttery. Vague bitterness that is overshadowed by the sweetness and off flavors. Lingering dry bitterness shines through in the aftertaste though. Sweet honey, soggy graham crackers, floral weedy bitterness. Overall not something i'd revisit, not clean at all, lacking the crisp body and hop flavors necessary for a refreshing lager.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 22:16:28 | More by emerge077

beertunes

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Tom for grabbing this one for me. Born on date of 6/6/11. Poured into straight pint glass. Poured a clean,clear, bright straw yellow color with about 1/4 inch of white head that dissipated very quickly and left very light lacing.

The aroma had a basic grain scent that was reminiscent of a lot of mainstream beers. Gentle hopping and nothing really jumping out at me. The taste was also that of a basic American Lager, even grains and smooth, easy going hops.

The body was good, light crisp and clean, with solid carbonation that lasted throughout the beer had good effervescence on the tongue. Drinkability was pretty good, the beer went down smooth, quick and easy. I could easily drink a sixer of these on a nice summer day. Overall, a nice example of the style. Not worth really seeking out, but certainly worth trying if you get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 05:30:37 | More by beertunes

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.03/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from an inch or so above the glass giving it a big white head that takes a bit to recede, leaving a ok but slightly thin lacing a top a clear golden colored lager.

Sour aroma initially but seems to dissipate as it sits turning into a more grains malt and hops balance smell.

Slight sour, slight citrus hops with a light grains maybe bready malt taste.

A light dry aftertaste that borders on have some sourness to it.

Light carbonation and a pretty light body make this beer pretty easy to drink but what it makes up for in ease of drinking it lacks in having any really big tastes, but then again light tasting beers like this IE Bud, Coors, PRB, probably out sell every microbrew combined 5 to 1.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2011 22:08:53 | More by LXIXME

Satchboogie

New Hampshire

3.05/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a very light golden yellow (straw), crystal clear, with just under a finger of white head that quickly disappears. Leaves just a little lacing.

S: Lightly toasted pale malts with a touch of biscuit and caramel. Floral hops with the slightest herbal quality.

T: Tip of the tongue is mostly floral hops with very light lemon peel, clean toasted pale malts with a biscuit quality. Slight caramel sweetness in the middle mouth that fades to a clean, dry finish. Yeast character is way in the background with mainly a very clean, light fruitiness. Slight bitterness through the finish. The body is fairly light and grainy. Flavor is a little shallow and lacking, but at is clean and in no way offensive.

M: F light body with moderate to high carbonation. Fairly clean, aftertaste does give a little bit of unpleasant astringency (combination of yeast character and hops).

O: Not a terrible lager, but it is a little shallow and doesn't have the best finish. I certainly wouldn't complain if I was ever served this, but it really doesn't separate itself from the pack at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 19:37:23 | More by Satchboogie

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Acquired via trade from Wasatch so a big “Thank You” goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a short white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains light malts, lager yeast, a good amount of hops and a touch of citrus.

T: The taste starts out with bready flavors of grain, lager yeast and light malts followed by a decent hops presence for the style. Then some citrus sweetness comes in and brings a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet and slightly bready.

M: Crisp and smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a nice lighter but flavorful beer to pound down for a while.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2011 02:36:43 | More by TheManiacalOne

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.03/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a Pilsener glass.

Look - light golden color, clear, with about 2 fingers worth of off-white foam that dissipates slowly. Good carbonation.

Smell - Not a whole lot of aroma to this one, but somewhat cereal-like in smell.

Taste and Mouthfeel - Also not a whole lot in the taste except that it is also a little cereal-like in taste, but with more hop flavor and bitterness. Also a little sour toward the middle and finish. Texture is fairly watery.

Overall - not a very interesting beer at all, but not horrible tasting either.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 03:08:36 | More by Nerudamann

backfat

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz twist off bottle. Born 3/29, reviewed 5/16
Recieved this bottle from the very generous pokesbeerdude in a recent LIF I won. Thanks chuck! Poured into a SA perfect pint glass.

-Pours a golden, translucent yellow. Looks like your average pilsner with a filmy head.

-I get a nice pilsner malt toastiness on the nose with an earthy, floral noble hop core. some bread dough and a touch of lemon grass.

-Taste is fizzy and grainy. Very resinous hop flavor with a lingering bitterness. You can tell this one is a pilsner. I always feel like I am drinking grass water with most of them. Short, very dry, and to the point with a little chalkiness. I don't think I would crave one of these in the summer heat, but it's not terrible.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 19:50:15 | More by backfat

yemenmocha

Arizona

2.6/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours slightly hazy straw color with white head that fades quickly. Nose has some herbal qualities and is light. In the palate there is a dominating cereal grain sweetness with a prickly hop presence at the end. Seems fuller bodied than what I anticipated for a pale lager. Also there's a melon rind flavor that is unpleasant.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 03:32:49 | More by yemenmocha

kagent777

Utah

3.98/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from the Utah State Store. I have been looking forward to trying this one since I saw that it got Gold at GABF this for Dortmunder style.

Appearance: A hazy golden lager poured into the pint leaves a nice white cap of head. A little lace was left on the glass as I drank.

Smell: A mild smell. I can't quite describe it.

Tatse: Slightly sweet bisquity malt. The label says that there is a "Blitzkrieg of hops", but I not sure it is quite that strong. Mildly bittering, a very pleasant taste. Nothing sticks out as wrong.

Mouthfeel: On the strong side of thin body. So many of the beers brewed in Utah seem watery because of the low ABV, but this one has a little meat on its bones. The carbonation is just right.

Drinkability: Good price and very tasty brew, I will seek this one out again. Could easily drink several at a summer BBQ

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 02:15:00 | More by kagent777

roopy40

Rhode Island

3.18/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Pokal
5.6% abv

Appearance - Golden in color, leaves a 1/2 inch thin, white head that doesn't last too long despite the lovely pokal I am drinking from.

Smell - Hint of fruit (hops)? Smells like German lager alright.

Taste - Malty, but not very bitter at all. A touch of hops is detected in the finish, but surely not a wallop.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied, decent carbonation.

Drinkability - Light enough and crisp enough for a hot summer day which is what this was geared towards. Needs a way to go with character though. It's simply not something you could have with BBQ like an IPA. I could certainly envision sitting under the hot sun with a bunch of these to cool off though.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 01:44:35 | More by roopy40

bunnyhustle

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear and light gold in color. 2 finger white head with decent lacing and some retention. Smells was dry malt with some grass and yeast. Taste was good, light grassy hops with some malt and a touch of citrus in there. Mouthfeel was nice, thin and light and easy going down. Overall a good summer beer, not huge on flavor but light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 01:41:39 | More by bunnyhustle

GRG1313

California

2.63/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Note: Bottle of this release indicates 5.6% abv.

Pours orange amber with a very thin white head; Nose is orange fruity and a bit like Belgian candi sugar;

Mouth is nice medium bodied, mild carbonation and well balanced-perhaps needing a bit more carbonation.

Unfortunately, the flavor profile just isn't pleasant. There is a pine bitter but it's more like an upleasant sour/bitter that is "heavy" and burdensome to the flavor - not appealing. There is no brightness, no real character and not a lot of acid to the flavor profile. I don't see this as a match for food at all and not so appealing by itself. Perhaps a bit more carbonation would help? Some who don't like high acid profiles may like this one; however, if you like more than just a simple "dull bitter" lager character, this is not the one for you.

Finish is light/medium bitter pine. All in all, having now had it in the glass for longer than I usually do for a tasting...my conclusion is that more carbonation is likely what this needs and which could salvage it. As is...just to heavy on the palate without any appealing flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 22:50:23 | More by GRG1313

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.4/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A clean pale yellow beer. Has a small white has that disappears quickly. Has a light sweet grass aroma with a hint of lemon. Light mouthfeel. Some sweetness on the tip of the tongue followed by a hint of hops at the back of the throat. drinkable with some flavor as opposed to what the TV sells us. style is not my fave but i drank the whole bottle easily.

thanks John

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2010 20:41:39 | More by ybnorml

cavedave

New York

3.85/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to Wasatch for the chance to try this Utah gem

Pours a nice, very slightly cloudy, straw yellow, topped by a purest white plume of lather that leaves lavish loops of lace on the glass. The head hangs on for almost the whole ride.

The smell is tart yeast and bready malt, some nice spiciness underneath, even some earthy and bitter notes at the edge.

The taste of this is more complex than expected. It starts with a nice rush of tart yeast and bready sweetness, but some really nice spicy hop joins the ride, and some mild bitterness finishes the sip with all the tastes still on tongue. Clean flavors are joined by a bit of lemony goodness as it warms.

Nicely carb.'ed but not overly so like many American lagers, light in the mouth, easy on the palate though full of flavor, and a good, if not great, finish.

Drinkability, as a factor of refreshingness versus ABV, combined with an very fine taste, makes this beer drinkable to a fault. Had I sufficient quantity, I could drink this beer until whales re-evolve to land animals.

Impression: Yet another fine beer requiring long distance travel to re-visit.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 22:26:29 | More by cavedave

Mora2000

Texas

3/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to jkwalking05 for sharing this bottle.

Pours golden straw color with a white head. The aroma is corn, with a slightly skunked smell. The flavor is similar to a macro lager with a lot of adjunct notes including corn. There is no real hop presence in the flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 00:40:25 | More by Mora2000

blackie

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: standard pint, clear golden in color, capped with a reasonable white head

s: first sniff is all macro lager, looking further reveals german lager malts with some sweetness and offset by a grassy citrus, mostly benign hop aroma, some light residual yeast character, bready and doughy - seems a little soft and lacking the snap of a proper czech

m: carbonation is light-moderate and a bit prickly, body is lighter

t: lager malt body carries flavors of white bread, hop flavors are moderate citrus and grass with a decent metallic bitterness nudging into the finish, finishes a little dirty - with some doughy yeast character and sugars lingering

d: okay, though certainly not up to par for the style

single from the State Liquor in Moab

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2009 04:41:02 | More by blackie