Olympia Beer - Pabst Brewing Company

kflorence

California

2.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 2

Thought this beer was a relic of the past until seeing it on the shelf in BevMo. Turns out it was purchased by Pabst Brewing Company and moved to Wisconsin. For a beer established on and advertised for it's local water source (Tumwater), I can imagine this brew has probably changed a lot since it was in the Northwest.

A: Pours golden in color with a good amount of foamy, white head. Lots of carbonation. Surprisingly, there is some lacing around the glass as you drink. A bit darker than your average American adjunct, but otherwise seems to fit the profile.

S: Sweet grains and grass with a touch of hops.

T: Very light and similar to the smell. Adjunct grains (corn), grass, some weak hops. Honestly, this tastes a lot like Pabst, but maybe that shouldn't be surprising.

M: Ultra light body with high carbonation. Almost like carbonated water. This is the low point in the beer for me, it's just not appealing at all.

O: I remember my dad drinking this when I grew up, so for nostalgia's sake I really wanted to like this one. But alas, it seems another classic American lager has been lost to corporatism. I'll never get to see what this beer used to taste like, so I can only judge it by what it tastes like now and I must say I'm quite disappointed. Being owned and operated by Pabst Brewing Company, it actually reminds me quite a bit of the flagship Pabst Blue Ribbon. The carbonation is probably slightly lower, but the flavor is comparable. I likely will not revisit this one.

Serving type: can

10-24-2012 02:32:18 | More by kflorence

cfitterer

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev +22.6%

05-21-2013 02:47:42 | More by cfitterer

obrike

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%

05-20-2013 15:31:55 | More by obrike

hurdjg

Iowa

3/5  rDev +13.2%

04-21-2013 14:22:57 | More by hurdjg

Juno_Malone

Idaho

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

04-15-2013 04:35:23 | More by Juno_Malone

JamesQuaff

California

3.24/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a snazzy orange can into a pint glass.

Pours a nice clear golden with a hint of orange, with an abundant foamy white head that sticks around for a minute and leaves extensive lacing. Looks pretty rich for a canned American lager.

Smell is typical for the style, and is absent of any real unpleasantness. A tiny bit of cooked corn, but otherwise it smells clean and malty. No real hop presence in the nose.

Taste is very mildly sweet at first, tapering off into a bready, biscuity malt finish. No off flavors. Simple, clean and enjoyable. Very refreshing. Totally inoffensive. Pairs well with pretty much any warm, savory food item.

Mouthfeel is somewhat thin, body is light-medium, but it maintains a very mild 'coating' quality once swallowed. Carbonation is just right.

Overall I hold Oly in rather high regard as one of the very best basic American macro lagers. Lately when my budget is low I tend to go back and forth between Oly and Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve. When I'm flush, one will rarely find either of these beers in my possession. But when the bank is broke, you better believe you're getting offered an Oly or a Hank's at my place.

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 00:18:51 | More by JamesQuaff

warpedrevolution

Washington

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

04-01-2013 19:54:47 | More by warpedrevolution

Stevotex

Texas

1/5  rDev -62.3%

03-31-2013 01:23:12 | More by Stevotex

Fatehunter

Oregon

1.98/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A tall boy orange can. Poured a big, foamy head... a bit too much. The body is clear, golden with lots of bubbles coming up.
The aroma is grain and metal, but less metallic than most for this style.
Well, it's vying for most tasteless beer. Watery through and through with the mildest bitterness.
The texture is crisp with moderate carbonation.
I'm not sure there's actually anything in it.

Serving type: can

03-12-2013 03:56:25 | More by Fatehunter

ifixufly

Indiana

1.5/5  rDev -43.4%

02-20-2013 16:43:52 | More by ifixufly

Alek

California

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%

02-17-2013 03:41:27 | More by Alek

DeekNayvuz

Montana

3.5/5  rDev +32.1%

02-16-2013 23:40:25 | More by DeekNayvuz

Segelstrom

Pennsylvania

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

02-02-2013 00:05:21 | More by Segelstrom

Jameswoody

Montana

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%

01-26-2013 02:22:26 | More by Jameswoody

spycow

Illinois

2/5  rDev -24.5%

01-17-2013 06:30:54 | More by spycow

aa8ball

Nevada

3.65/5  rDev +37.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This beer really captures the taste of the original Olympia. I'm glad it's back on the market.
Packing 11 plus carbs, it is full bodied and flavorful. Alcohol content is right up there and so I feel as though I'm being treated properly in this regard.
If the water is as pure and natural as the artisian well at Tumwater's, then I'm very happy.
Pabst has brought back an oldie-but-goodie. They know how to make excellent beer that's priced right for the every day drinker.
One might argue it has too many carbs and we're getting too big around the waist...
Oh, and I'm growing tired of reading about those folks abroad who claim that our American beer is tasteless, has too much carbon dioxide content, and is of poor quality. It just ain't so.
Pour it from a higher altitude, get rid of the gas you're complaining about and try to be more honest about the taste.

Serving type: can

01-16-2013 04:54:47 | More by aa8ball

westcoastbeerlvr

California

2.25/5  rDev -15.1%

01-11-2013 01:54:52 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

CRK

South Dakota

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

01-04-2013 03:15:49 | More by CRK

OldhouseRecs

North Carolina

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

12-24-2012 00:18:06 | More by OldhouseRecs

harrymel

Washington

3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Best by 04MAR13

Pale gold glass with a solid stream of bubbles from the bottom. No foam. Smells of light hay, lemon, grain and a little bit of apple. Taste is clean and corny, with some grain and a little light white grape juice. The feeling is light, crisp and moderately highly carbonated with a wet finish. All and all I'm not particularly disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 01:37:06 | More by harrymel

Nerlman

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

12-12-2012 20:03:31 | More by Nerlman

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -5.7%

12-10-2012 01:34:15 | More by bumchilly25

jooj8

Slovenia

2.75/5  rDev +3.8%

12-07-2012 22:09:23 | More by jooj8

Braz

Washington

3/5  rDev +13.2%

11-25-2012 04:23:35 | More by Braz

jharris0624

Missouri

2/5  rDev -24.5%

11-13-2012 06:46:50 | More by jharris0624