Henninger Premium Lager - Henninger Bräu AG

kojevergas

California

2.4/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

16 fl oz can served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Expectations are low; I had this from the bottle quite some ago and I was not impressed. Acquired at Trader Joe's for cheap.

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger beige colour head - quite thin - with okay cream and decent retention. Body colour is a light very pale transparent copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Clean pale malts. Salt. Minimal floral hopping.

T: Pale malts. Burnt rubber. A light saltiness. Minimal floral hops - I hardly detect any. Incredibly simple. Balance is off. No yeast or alcohol comes through. A barley foundation.

Mf: Weak. Thin. Smooth. Wet. Sharp from slight overcarbonation. A bit buttery. Too wet. Hardly feels tailored to the flavours.

Dr: Drinkable but forgettable. A cheap Trader Joe's beer that masquerades as a German treat purely for marketing purposes; this is one to be avoided. I'll steer clear from it in the future. A failure within the style. Quite underwhelming.

D+

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 08:57:31 | More by kojevergas

jifigz

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pint can poured into a glass.

The appearance is a very clean and pale yellow color with a head that disappears rather quickly. The color is more rich and yellow than your standard American macro lager offering, but not as richly golden as other lagers I have seen. The smell was basically non-existent with just a touch of sweetness coming through. The taste was very light and tasted vaguely of honey. The flavor had just a touch of hops, but was mainly honey like sweetness through and through. The mouthfeel was thin and watery and refreshing.

Okay, so this came in a preselected box from World Market titled World's Best Beers" or something like that. My friend's dad picked it up in Ohio. I could tell by one glance that most would be relatively flavorless pale lagers. He offered I take one so I chose this one. It wasn't nearly as good as I was expecting.

Serving type: can

06-12-2012 16:27:01 | More by jifigz

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass.

Light golden body with a loose head that dissipated to a film and ring. 3.0

Grassy hops, crackery pale grains with light must, and not much else. 3.0

Stanky Euro hops and a musty, almost fruity, pale grain with serious huskiness. Slightly astringent with a semi-steely flavor. Hint of green apple or Pixie Stick in the finish. 3.0

Medium-light body with medium-light carbonation. Slippery feel. Lower drinkability. 2.5

Serving type: can

05-15-2012 03:15:03 | More by thecheapies

ADZA

Australia

1.63/5  rDev -44.6%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Pours a clear pale gold which leaves a frothy two finger head that stays with some lacing,the smell is grains and grassy herbal hops,the mouthfeel is lightbodied and has tastes of pale malts,grassy herbal hops and a touch of lemongrass,overall its very average and wouldnt buy it thats for sure cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 07:49:49 | More by ADZA

maddux91

Australia

2.48/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bought a slab of these from my local supermarket in Australia, was priced at $33, had never seen these before or even heard of them, so decided for the price they were worth a shot, especially if they were imported from Germany.

Positives:

Size of the bottles fit well into the fridge.
Very little carbonation so good for people who arent interested in taste.
Looks reasonably pleasant once poured, nice copper colour with 2 finger head.

Negatives:

Smells horrible, like burnt rubber.
Tastes fairly bad, a combination of metal and the same burnt rubber.

OVERALL:

Think its fairly certain that this is a mass produced lager, much like the German version of Melbourne Bitter (still way better than that though)

2.5/5

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 08:50:42 | More by maddux91

matjack85

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

I found this single 12oz green bottle at the Binny's store in Plainfield, IL for $1.39. No freshness date and no information about the beer on the label.

The beer poured a clear medium gold color, but I couldn't coax more than a small rim for a head out of it. The thin white rim lasted about a minute before fading away completely, and I got no lacing at all.

The aroma starts out with a mild skunkiness. After that clears up all you're left with is some mild grain. Not much to the smell.

The taste is better than the smell, but thtat's not saying much. There is very little sweetness to this, which is supposed to be a major part of a Helles Lager. The main flavor is unsweetened grain and some mild grassy hops. It also has a mineral water flavor to it. The finish is dry with some residual mild bitterness.

This beer is so smooth it almost borders on being creamy. I loved the mouthfeel. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

It's OK, but it's nothing I'd seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 10:25:06 | More by matjack85

notchucknorris

California

3.28/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've seen this on the shelves at Trader Joes for a while, so I decided to pick up a single and give it a shot.

A: Golden color with a lot of rising carbonaiton. Thin off-white head.

S: Lots of grain, corn, lime and some faint grassy hops.

T: Eh, not too great. Lots of grain and some faint malt and grassy hop flavor. Not what I was hoping for.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 15:49:31 | More by notchucknorris

doktorhops

Australia

2.48/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Purchasing this beer I knew I was in for a wild ride. "Cheaper than an Aussie macro lager" said the alarm bells in my head, yes this tallie was cheaper than a tallie of XXXX Gold or VB! Although probably not if we do the math: 1 Aussie tallie is 725ml's whereas this tallie was only 660ml... still alarm bells were ringing.

Poured from a 660ml bottle into a litre Stein (old "Steiny"!).

A: Very very typical light amber body with a white 0cm head that leaves a thin lacing.

S: Peeyooh! This beer stinks! It's got a huge odour of "gone bad" vegetables, corny grains and a rubbery musk... hope this lager tastes better than it smell, though I am doubtful.

T: Well it does taste better than it smells but that's not hard. Typical adjunct corn/grain base with a dry start to finish and a light honey character mid-palate. It's not awful, however it's also not great; it's meh. The hops leave a trace of bitter in the after-taste but overall it's the dry finish that makes this beer even remotely worth drinking.

M: Lagery /lɑːrghɜri/ - Noun: 1. An overtly carbonated beer that makes one gassy. 2. A brew that is renown for it's watery mouthfeel and as such is a waste of malt grains that could otherwise be used in a decent ale or stout.

D: I wouldn't purchase this again. It is in my opinion another in the long line of useless/flavourless lagers out there that make me long for a stronger ale presence in the overall beer market share. Pilsner's are fast becoming the only bottom-fermenting beers I can stand these days and I'm starting to find myself wondering whatever possessed me to say "yeah, why not?" to the litres of cheap lager I've been offered at BBQ's/parties over the years... but I digress.

Food match: Something light on the budget, I mean don't go out of your way for Mr. Henninger when he's making you a beer that tastes as cheap as this: fast food (two words that conjure up a multitude of awful possibilities).

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 09:24:55 | More by doktorhops

EwaldEichstaett

Jordan

2.5/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

So this is a review of the Jordanian version of Henninger which is brewed (I believe in Jordan) under Henninger "supervision". Anyway, this beer is junk. I got it because it is German... (kind of...) but it was really disappointing. It has a nice dark yellow appearance with hints of brown, the head is weak but the lacing is decent... Not bad for a Helles.

There is a smell, but it is not nice soggy, slimy grains and some acrid hops. The taste is not much better, some full bodied grains. The hops are not pleasant at all to my taste, but... at least the beer has some flavor. Definitely drink this out of a glass... from a can it is undrinkable- the tin can combined with the poor hops is a sure bet for gutrot.

Decent mouthfeel and the carbonation is good. Definitely not the worst beer, but it does not have much going for it either. If you are in Jordan, and looking for cheep beer get an Amstel.

Serving type: can

09-02-2011 11:42:17 | More by EwaldEichstaett

brewerburgundy

California

2.6/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

16oz can, nonic, no freshness dating.

The color is sterilely clean lager yellow, but the head is impressive; just off-white, retentive, and meringue-like.

Really quite neutral in the nose, I detect a hint of sulfur, no sweetness, and feed grain. There is a little rich cracker.

If the nose is neutral, the flavor is even more so. A watery liquid with the ghost of grain attempt some type of spice at the close and then is gone, unobtrusive and inoffensive, and very nearly flavorless.

The mouthfeel is crisp, bubbly as can be, and it is a good quick quenching pint. It's par for the course though.

This beer is average in an industrial, low flavor way that doesn't live up to its category here on BA. Rating these begs many questions about reviewing to style, personal taste, is there a time and place….. on and on. This is still beer, but does this beer respect beer?

Serving type: can

08-28-2011 18:33:54 | More by brewerburgundy

aeolianshredhead

Australia

3.48/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Typical lager look. Pale straw colour, minimal head fed by steady carbonation, fair lacing.

S- Bit of an odd metallic skunk on this one. Meh, not altogether bad. I can also pick up a sweet, citrusy overtone.

T- There is a noticeable malt presence which provides a nice sweetness to this brew. I'm not picking up an awful lot of hops- which is to be expected- but even for the style, it seems a little underwhelming. Nothing offensive, nice and light.

M- A good level of carbonation and a reasonable body. Definitely drinker friendly.

O- Not bad. This was certainly an enjoyable beer. It doesn't offer an awful lot, but you know exactly what you're getting when you pick this up.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 16:41:23 | More by aeolianshredhead

UCLABrewN84

California

3.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear yellow color with a 1 inch white head that fades to nothing. Small broken rings of lace form and then disappear on the drink down. Smell is of sweet grain, some grass notes, and slight honey aromas. Taste is of the sweet grain, corn flakes, and honey with a grassy herbal flavor on the finish. Mild bitterness on the palate after each sip quickly fades. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good easy drinking lager that is super cheap ($1 for a pint-sized can at Trader Joe's).

Serving type: can

07-19-2011 15:32:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

whatthehull

California

2.98/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a La Chouffe tulip

A - Golden straw, one finger white head and no lacing

S - sour, zesty and some serious apples and citrus

T - Zesty, citrusy, slight hoppiness, slight grass and fruity

M - Light and fluffy, medium acidity, medium finish and almost no body

D - You can drink this beer all day long on a hot day. Nice balance. Taste like your everyday German lager

Final thought - Below 5% abv, and around $5 a sixer. This beer is pretty good and works well on hot summer days for a refreshing non-water drink

Serving type: can

06-25-2011 03:33:00 | More by whatthehull

dansmcd

Australia

2.98/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - A furiously carbonated, straw coloured body with no head no matter how you pour.

S - Citrusy and tangy, with some mild dry salty malt.

T - As it smells. Zesty lemon peel, some cracker type malt.

M - A typical lager. Very refreshing.

O - Extremely sessionable. A pleasant surprise. Give it a try on a sunny afternoon.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2011 11:35:34 | More by dansmcd

eric5bellies

Australia

3.33/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - This beer pours a classic Golden clear colour, with a foamy White head that reduces quickly.

S - Smell is small amounts of grain and malt.

T - Some nice subtle flavours of malt and grain perhaps a little more than usual for this style.

M - Light body and full carbonation.

O - A decent drinkable Helles

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 09:51:44 | More by eric5bellies

keeganfrank

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

From a pint can, pours a bright gold color with about one finger of head that dissolves somewhat quickly. Smells like sweet apricots and apples. The flavor is more akin to bitter fruit, with some grassy notes and crisp sweetness also present. Texture and drinkability are both average but, combined with the pleasing odor and taste of Henninger Premium, make up a worthy lager.

Serving type: can

03-06-2011 17:17:05 | More by keeganfrank

cjgator3

Florida

2.68/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle

A- Pours a golden yellow color with an off-white head with decent lacing and retention.

S- The aroma is grainy malt and faint hops.

T- The taste like the aroma is some grain with a clean refreshing finish with a touch of hops.

M- The mouthfeel is light bodied with a lot of carbonation.

D- Overall, Henninger Lager is a pretty average lager. Not something I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 03:05:32 | More by cjgator3

Sunnanek

Sweden

2.28/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: The pour is straw-colored, with a medium-large white uneven head that after the quick dissipation leaves nice lacings.

S: Unbalanced bready malt, mostly sweet. Not much else going on...

T: Bready and sweet malt, with a kind of metallic artificial wibe to it.

M: Aftertaste stays for some time, mostly sweet. Medium body and medium carbonation but quite offensive.

D: You'll have to try lots of beers to separate the nice ones from the weaker - this is the latter.

Serving type: can

11-06-2010 19:08:31 | More by Sunnanek

bark

Sweden

2.25/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

The colour is medium yellow; the two finger head is airy and white. It sinks quickly leaving a thick ring on the glass.

The smell is light and sweet with somewhat frowsy notes of dough and bread. It smells a bit "cheap".

The taste is wishy-washy. Some sweet notes in the finish, then some minerals emerges. Hints of dough. The aftertaste got some very weak bitter flavours and some tired sweetness.

The carbonation is medium strong. The fresh bubbles are very small. The liquid is semi-smooth.

What's "premium" about this watery beer?

Serving type: can

10-15-2010 21:17:39 | More by bark

rarbring

Sweden

2.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The beer is clear, straw colored, has a white head with small bubbles leaving lacing.

The smell is sweet, a bit fruity, pears, a bit metallic.

Upfront sweet, biscuit-like, some sourness, indeterminable fruit associations, a short metallic bitterness.

Small carbonation, rather soft - a bit soda like, a dry finish.

Yet another rather anonymous lager.

Serving type: can

10-13-2010 09:50:46 | More by rarbring

Halcyondays

California

3.85/5  rDev +31%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pint can,

A: Pours a clear yellow with a mild white head, fair retention, light lace.

S: Some grassy hops and bready malt, fairly nice.

T: Very mild malt profile with a quite enjoyable crisp hop attack. Grassy, lightly herbal.

M: Smooth, crisp, clean, light-bodied.

D: Surprisingly good considering its score. Perhaps the can helped, a good selection on the cheap.

Serving type: can

09-27-2010 06:46:29 | More by Halcyondays

MTNboy

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It has a great gold colored body with a fluffy and rocky white head. It has a typical pils grass and grain aroma. The head has a lot of staying power that moves with the beer. It has grassy sort of cheap wine taste. I now the Germans have the purity laws but this beer tastes adjunct to me. There is some sour and bitter tastes. The body is thin with a lot of carbonation.

Serving type: can

09-24-2010 08:26:11 | More by MTNboy

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

16 oz black can.

It pours a very yellowy yellow with a big foamy white head.

Smell is not quite there for a Munich Helles, smells more like a premium epl. There is a lot of husky grain and a pinch of hops but not much hops.

The flavor has a noticeable hop pinch, but is mostly bready, grainy, cheaply tasting for the style.

It isn't that bad of a beer but it can't compete with a true Bavarian Helles.

Serving type: can

09-18-2010 05:09:33 | More by crossovert

jarmby1711

Australia

3.35/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

As a Munich Helles I believe this to be a true to character example of the style.
It is a "subdued " Czech Pils
It pours cleanly with an easily accomplished head and solid carbonation Light gold and clear.
Smell is characteristicly malty and sweet.
Flavours are unremarkably expected and average.It does no harm but offers nothing in individuality.
Mouthfeel has the underlying oiliness of a Pils but definably more watery.
As a cheap Coles Liquorland option this is a far better choice than any of the Australian macros that rub shoulders with it in the display fridge

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 08:04:45 | More by jarmby1711

spoons

California

2.63/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very light yellow color with a decent white head to start but fades to a thin film rather quick.

Has a grainy smell with a tiny bit of that helles honey smell, but only just enough to hint at the style.

This is pretty highly carbed and comes off pretty watery. the flavor is bland with just a little sweetness. Overall a pretty weak version of the style. One that I dont need to have again.

Serving type: can

07-28-2010 20:41:36 | More by spoons