Brooklyn Lager - Brooklyn Brewery

righlander

Florida

5/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Surprisingly for a Lager it poured amber with an inch head that downgraded to a 1/4 inch head quickly. Taste is good. Extremely well balanced beer. Way more hops than i expected, which is awesome! Very drinkable. It delivers a nice Lager taste with the malts, but then follows up with an awesome hop finish. I love the hop structure. Maybe it's because i expected some tasteless lager but... I really like this beer! Lacing is awesome for a Lager...it leaves these rad rings. Perfect session beer. I have nothing bad to say about this beer. It's perfect for what it is. And packs many surprises! Will for sure buy again. Brilliant. But I must say...if I tasted this with a blindfold on my head and had to guess the style, I would not guess Lager. But hey...I really like this beer! I bought a 6 pack and enjoyed every last drop, noticing different flavors every sip. I will for sure buy this again and recommend it to all my friends!

UPDATE: This has become my favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2008 06:12:57 | More by righlander

seth608

New York

5/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

love the Brooklyn lager... always pick up a six pack when I'm in new york... like the hoops smell and has a great taste that you can drink all night... also had on tap and is also excellent... excellent with hamburgers and other American food and BBQ foods.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 20:14:29 | More by seth608

whomas

United Kingdom (England)

4.9/5  rDev +29.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- a distunct red hue and deep amber colour very attractive with a thin off white head that sticks around.

S- Extremly hopy! deep piny hops with hints grapfruit a good amount of sweet malt and a slight funk.

T- Crispy and fresh with a massive burst of spicy hops hops and a juicy mouth waterning malt, the beer has a balanced finish finally becoming dry and quite bitter.

M &D- not your average lager, but an excellent diveation from traditon, a smooth mouth feel and great drinkability could drink this all year round but imagine it to be fantastic during the summer.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 15:56:43 | More by whomas

nortmand

Virginia

4.85/5  rDev +28%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a rich amber/ borderline orange. Slightly off white head with lace.

Resiny hops balance out sweet caramel maltiness.

Toasty biscuit caramel flavors dominate the taste, but a nice bitter hit catches right at the end. Genious.

Medium body with a nice tongue caress, very quaffable beer. How does Jim Koch sell any beer?

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2006 22:38:37 | More by nortmand

MadElf25

New York

4.8/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

When i took the first sip of this beer i could tell it had a very crisp clean taste to it, very hoppy and it is similar to a Sam Adams lager. i could definatly see my self at a bar drinking these back all night long. i highly recommend this beer to people who have never had it, if u live in new york city you don't have an excuse not to have it because you can get it at almost any bar down there

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 20:51:58 | More by MadElf25

drugsbunny

California

4.78/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Date notched on the side of the label. That is a good start. The color is an inviting dark amber, topped off with a decent tan head. The aroma is all hops. So different from what I expect in a "lager" but such a welcome surprise. Brooklyn makes a nice beer with this one. Great hop flavors pushing right up to its malt counterpart. Perfect balance and amazing taste. This makes an outstanding session brew. I feel very fortunate to have this as one of my locals. This is my absolute favorite lager and a must try for anyone in the NY area.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2005 15:01:54 | More by drugsbunny

scarletfire79

New Hampshire

4.78/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

pours a darker golden color. good head that leaves nice lacing.very fresh smelling, really nice. definitly an inviting beer. good bitterness, slight spice notes, slightly grassy in the finish. very refreshing. definitly how a lager should taste. i don't have anything bad to say about this brew. my favorite lager, and yet another great offering from brooklyn brewery.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2007 12:40:47 | More by scarletfire79

Schwarzbart

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Orange-honey in color with plenty of visible carbonation and great lacing.
Smell: Fresh malts and a good bit of floral hop.
Taste: I love the hop flavor, but didn't expect so much from a lager. Taste is leafy, very fresh and clean tasting with a citrusy bite at the end which seems more pronounced the more you drink.
Mouthfeel: Medium smoothness and a little more carbonated than many American Lagers.
Drinkablity: This came in a sampler case and I only have 3 left, oh no. I will definitely be getting some more.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2005 22:48:18 | More by Schwarzbart

elwood522

New York

4.68/5  rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

One of my all time favorite brews. Hoppy, malty and rich.

A: Deep copper and a white foamy head.
S: Hoppy and slightly sweet.
T: Bold, malty at first with a nice lingering hop bitterness.
M: Just the right amount of carbonation.
D: Great on a snowy night with a bowl of spicy chili, a hot summer night on the roof with bbq, or with dessert. Very drinkable and very pairable with all kinds of food.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 19:55:08 | More by elwood522

jmbranum

Oklahoma

4.65/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was my favorite beer I've had over the last few days on a trip to nyc. (I bought this from a bodega on lenox in harlem)

Attractive dark gold or maybe a light amber, with a generous head.

Nice malty aroma. The flavor has much more complexity than I've ever had from a lager. Generous malts but still dry. Tons of hops, both floral and bittering, but not overpowering. Very well balanced. This is most definitely the best lager I've ever had. I highly recommend this beer.

On a sidenote, this beer (like most lagers) is best enjoyed cold, but it is very good when only cool which is a testament to how good this beer is.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2007 16:42:02 | More by jmbranum

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.65/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Orange-yellow-amber color. big sticky white head that laces very nicely.

S - Oranges, citrus, hops, and a whole lot of bread and mild bready malts.

T - Yeasty citrusy bready malty wonderfulness. Really refreshing and pleasant. Really really really well balanced in a way that it is kind of special almost.

M Medium bodied. Perfectly balanced between hops and malt. Great. Dry. Hoppy.

D - Very very drinkable. Could drink this all day every day and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite session beers of all time. Will be getting this a LOT in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 03:33:49 | More by jmerloni

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a rich amber color with sporadic carbonation bubbles. The head is massive and immensely dense. The rocky top looks like vanilla ice cream and lasts forever. Lacing coats 70% of the glass. The aroma is light and hoppy, with a citric character. Hops are assertive in the taste. Immediately you get a sinus filling dose of flowery, oily citrusy fresh hop aroma and a tart bitterness. Caramel and buttered bread flavors provide a great balance when they show in the middle. The finish is lemony with a lingering pleasant bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium with soft carbonation and mouthcoating hop oils.

This is a fantastic lager, and takes the place of Sam Adams as my second favorite American Lager. Its hoppier and lighter on the malt side. Prima Pils still remains king for me though.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2007 21:58:53 | More by CAMRAhardliner

sawbones420

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

There's a handful of "good beers" that I drink straight out of the bottle; beers that I believe are just as enjoyable straight up as they are in glassware. Brooklyn Lager is most certainly one of those beers. I'm reviewing the brew as is out of the bottle, because that's how most people probably drink it anyway when they buy it in 6-packs (but maybe I'm wrong). I'll probably take the time to review it out of a pint at a later time.

Appearance is the classic Brooklyn brown bottle with attractive but not-overly flashy label. I've always been suspicious of beers that put too much effort into labeling or work hard on having a gimmick. American IPAs are generally the worst offenders (Stone Coast's 420, for example), but I suppose that's predictable enough. Brooklyn keeps it simple, but instantly recognizable. When I see that B, I just sort of get excited.

Smells like hearty delicious lager made with fresh American hops.

Wowee. It tastes like a hearty delicious lager as well. Flavor hits the middle of the tongue, and goes down easy. A nice smooth malt/hop finish, with the ever slightest trace of alcohol flavor. This beer is the definition of balance.

At 5.2% and all that tastiness, this is an ideal beer for those looking to consume more than a drink or two in one sitting. Not too light, but not too heavy, Brooklyn Lager is versatile enough to suit most palates any time of the year. It can easily cool you off in the summer, but will keep you toasty in the windier months. A great beer for people that are a fan of Sam Adams, but want to kick up the quality several notches while lowering the price a bit.

If I could only choose one American lager to drink for the rest of my life, this would be it. I've yet to try a better one thus far, although I'm taking suggestions.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2007 04:16:10 | More by sawbones420

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured copper/amber, with a heavy dose of carbonation, two fingers of white, good head retention, and good lacing. Smelled of biscuit, malt, pear, grass, and herbal hops. Nice to see what a good lager is capable of smelling like. The taste yielded a nicely balanced herbal/grassy/malty mix that progressed to a crisp dry finish, and left malty hints afterwards. More pear fruitiness was revealed as it warmed towards room temperature. The mouthfeel was a perfectly carbonated medium body. An excellent session lager.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2010 03:01:19 | More by donniecuffs

BaltimoreMike

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Well I've heard good things about the Brooklyn Beer company, so I figured I would give it a taste. I have to say I was NOT disappointed. This is a great beer all around, actually thinking about moving it into my favorite status. Superb flavor, great hoppy taste that isn't overpowering, and doesn't leave you wanting more. Great color, great aroma, price is a bit high, but on par with all the other micro-brews and beers like it.

Definitely one of my all time favorites.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 21:54:23 | More by BaltimoreMike

brendan13

Australia

4.58/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Freshness date of Feb 08.

A - Slightly hazy orange amber colour with a dense inch or so of off white head that slowly falls away. Patchy lacing.
S - Citrusy hops with some nice malt undertones.
T - The citrusy hops are there backed up by some slightly sweet caramel malt.
M - On the fuller side for a lager which is alright by me. Medium carbonation.
D - I think this is the best "lager" I've ever had. Drinks much more like a good pale ale. Shame it's availability is so limited in Australia. I could drink this all night long.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2007 09:17:15 | More by brendan13

hwwty4

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Thanks to Hojaminbag for sending me this one. It has been a top wants for a long time.

Poured a 12oz bottle into my Tripel Karmeliet tulip. This beer pours a dark orangish red with a fluffy 2 finger head that left an unanticipated amount of lacing. The aroma is surprisingly hoppy. This is definitely the most hoppy lager I have ever had. The aroma is floral and citrus hops. There is definitely a good bit of lemon in the nose along with a good floral bouquet. The flavor is just a superb combination of a nice hoppy bite with a good caramel malt backbone. The mouthfeel is nice and smooth with a velvety creaminess to it. I wish this beer would be local to me. I definitely would make it a staple in my beer rotation.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2009 01:00:23 | More by hwwty4

RBorsato

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dark gold to amber with a nice creamy tan head, good carbonation, and decent lace. Nice dry-hopped aroma when fresh. Good malty flavor with great balance -- flowery hops. Light-medium bodied and smooth with a dry finish; maybe just a tad too dry.

One of the better American Amber Lagers -- a great seesion brew and much more consistent in quality than Sam Adams.

Label States: "The Pre-Prohibition Beer"

Per B.B. website:
Malts: 2-row pale malt, caramel malt, carapils
Hops: Hallertau and Cascade

Per "Beers" book: Crystal and Pale malts, dry hopped, 5.1% ABV

Per "B.A.B." book: 5.2% ABV

Gold Medal - Vienna Lager - 1992 GABF

Best Before: Sep '02
Tasted: 10/25/03

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2003 17:06:03 | More by RBorsato

dmk139

New York

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Brooklyn Lager is a classic. its everything i look for in a beer. hoppy, yet smooth. bitter, yet tasty. I can drink a 6-pack in one sitting, or I can have one with dinner. A good beer for the winter, but also nice on a cool summer night. I love this beer. It is the standard by which i judge all other beers of this type.

Just a well--rounded lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2007 15:32:28 | More by dmk139

tmitch75

Illinois

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Monthly club selection for June. Brilliantly clear golden amber color with thick soft white head and good retention.

Smells clean and bready... it's a very full and pleasing smell. Fresh floral hoppy aroma with a touch of citrus.

Full bready all-malt flavor, slighly toasty with crisp floral hoppy finish.

Medium bodied or a little over, very full for a lager and it works quite well.

Excellent lager, this is my new standard-bearer for the style. Hats off to the folks at Brooklyn.

Tasted on 7/4/08 (God Bless America and God Bless our Troops).

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 01:14:21 | More by tmitch75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I CANnot find enough beers in CANs, CANfound it!

The pour created a massive two fingers' worth of rocky, light-tan head with great retention. The color was a deep reddish/orangish amber with NE-quality clarity. At first blush, I was reminded of Killian's Irish Red, which I have not seen in a long, long time. The nose tended to be more hoppy than sweet, which was a pleasant surprise. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a very dry, hoppy bite on the tongue. Finish was likewise dry and refreshing. I remember when the USS Normandy first pulled into Staten Island and this was one of the beers at our local hangout. I used to alternate between this and Rolling Rock. Now, this would trump all!

Shore Test: I already said that I am taking a sixer of Little Yella Pils. A sixer of this is going in the cooler, also. Ten Fidy may not make the trip at this rate.

Serving type: can

07-13-2009 16:07:59 | More by woodychandler

thefireman

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I had one for the first time in a while, and was reminded just how good this beer is. Pours with a nice, creamy head that sticks around. Not overly carbonated, making it quite drinkable. Lots of malts at the start with a nice, subtle, hop bitterness. Reminds me a little of Anchor Steam. Moderate alcohol content makes this a great session beer. (can't wait til summer)

These guys have proven that in an age of "can you top this" in the hop and alcohol contest, a good , solid beer can be enjoyed. Now that I have found a reliable supplier for this stuff my fridge will always have some on hand. Also a great beer to serve to the casual macro drinker who is turned off by the "mega" brews.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2003 05:03:11 | More by thefireman

orfeu

New Mexico

4.53/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Slightly hazy, amber orange with a dense yet modest yellowed-newsprint head. Wonderful caramel-candy malts in the nose right away with a slight scent of grassy-earthy hops at the end. The sweetness foretold of the caramel malts by the aroma is artfully restrained in the taste, revealing itself to be more of a toasted biscuit/caramel hybrid. A not unexpected grassy hop flavor is also detectable near the finish, which is decidedly metallic and just slighty marked by an earthy compost character. Medium thin body, not overcarbonated at all. Overall, an utterly smooth and clean mouthfeel. This is a classic lager that I really don't have around as much as I should. In my estimation, a flagship beer of which all New Yorkers (even us out here in the western part of the state) should be quite proud.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2006 03:56:47 | More by orfeu

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance - pours out with a one-finger head and lots of foam. Amber-orange color with lots of bubbles and some decent lacing on the far side of the glass.

Very nice malt and floral nose, you should be able to tell pretty quickly that this is not your average lager about to be sampled.

Taste - A rather hoppy lager. A quick malty presence is quickly over-ridden by an outstanding but not aggressive hop kick. Not terribly bitter, but solid and tasty, blending beautifully with the carbonation. As the bubbles die down, the sweetness of the malt comes through on the finish. The sweet of the malt and the bitter of the hop resolve in perfect balance at the eleventh hour of the aftertaste. A fine, fine way to round out the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel - pretty heavy for a lager. Slightly oily/resinous, which provides a lot of body to the beer. Solid coating, doing its best to make you remember its name...

Drinkability - A very versatile beer. A light enough style to be a session beer all by itself, but enough character to stand up admirably if paired with food. I suspect the hops would hold their own reasonably well with wings or barbecue.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2003 05:55:47 | More by brewdlyhooked13

tugdriver7

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Phenomenal offering from a fantastic craft brewery. I tried this back in my early beer drinking days (2 years ago) and then tried it again today. It was like tasting it all over again. I liken it to one of the best APAs I've ever had but with lager smoothness. Gorgeous amber color, with small head that disappeared but left a nice tan lacing all over the sides of the glass. Smell was all malt with a tiny hint of floral hops in the nose. Great, firm mouthfeel that really reminded you you're drinking a substantial craft brew. Then the taste... heavy malt with delightful floral hops that tickled the tongue but stopped short of being overpowering. Like a good ale, as it warmed it tasted even better. This is absolutely a wonderful beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2007 03:08:34 | More by tugdriver7