Session Lager - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

BrownNut

Florida

2.58/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I had heard good things about this beer so finally picked up a twelve pack and was promptly disappointed. This tasted almost just like a macro. I worked my way through the twelve, trying to give it another chance, but it just came across like any thoughtless plain beer. But maybe I was being unfair. Was it really no better than Budweiser? That's what it seemed most like, but since I hadn't had a Budweiser in years, I went and bought a Bud fat single from the gas station for a side by side taste test.

Budweiser

A - surprisingly pale and thin looking, like the pee of a decently hydrated person

S - Halfway between wet cardboard and bread - so sort of like the disappointing outside of a Hot Pocket. Also a little like old popcorn. There's a fake sweet smell, vaguely like flower candy flavoring with a touch of fingernail polish remover. This is my least favorite aspect of it. Really that's not a good combination of smells. What is that? Is it corn or rice or something? As it warmed up I swear I got a hint of tired taco shell, so maybe corn.

T - Well... beer. This is the "beer" flavor we grew up on and is hard to dissect. Wet cardboard. A faint hint of that sweetness from the aroma, but fades.

M - somewhat dry and crisp, which I think is a good thing and helps make it more sessionable. Who'd have ever thought I'd compliment Budweiser?

O - Surprisingly I'd call this balanced. You hear about certain things like Coca Cola and Heinz Ketchup that are perfectly balanced, where no one flavor component sticks out such that it is really identifiable on its own. Budweiser approaches that, or at least its components are in relative harmony except for that sweet thing.

Session

A - medium gold

S - grain, something halfway between faint roast and faint hop - sort of vegetable soupy, and maybe an extra faint rumor of sweetness

T - wet cardboard, "beer" taste, hint of fruit, mild hop, hint of bitter

M - kind of round

O - Meh. You'd think Full Sail could do better. It's never something I'd crave. If they had it at a party I'd drink it and not think twice about it. But I'd rather be drinking something else.

Session has a little richer flavor and a hint of bitter, a bit more complex than Budweiser. It's rounder and sticks around on the palate a bit more.

Budweiser is has a dryer finish and a weird sweetness that is out of place.

I'd take a Session over a Budweiser, but they're not too far apart. If Bud didn't have that weird sweet smell/taste, it would come across similar to the Session. I used to think that American macro brewers just used crappy ingredients and processes but it may be that this style just sucks. The third option is that Session just sucks too.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 05:51:20 | More by BrownNut

megamass

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

05-18-2013 03:51:29 | More by megamass

TheLevi4000

New York

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

05-18-2013 01:27:55 | More by TheLevi4000

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-17-2013 12:46:11 | More by InspectorBob

Chegui

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +8.7%

05-14-2013 21:11:13 | More by Chegui

rainfairy

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-14-2013 08:29:06 | More by rainfairy

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

05-12-2013 17:03:31 | More by mikeburd1128

kickerofelves

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +22.3%

05-12-2013 04:47:06 | More by kickerofelves

bbapst

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-12-2013 02:26:42 | More by bbapst

startreker

North Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I found this beer by mere chance. I was at my local grocery store, and the name of the beer begged me to give it a try!! I`m so glad I did!!

A .. Very nice golden color, pours up beautifully.

S.. Not a whole lot of aroma, but nonetheless, it is pleasing, and reminds me of fresh made bread.

T.. Very nice and quenching, not overly bitter, nor sweet. Very pleasant, and finishes dry, wich is delightful.

M.. A very satisfying mouth feel going on here. Not to heavy, not watered down, but just right!

O.. Overall .. I love this beer!! Its not overly complicated, and really hits it spot on!! Price is very affordable!! This is my new go to beer hands down!!

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 23:43:20 | More by startreker

teraflx

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-03-2013 20:30:31 | More by teraflx

tfsimpkins

Florida

5/5  rDev +35.9%

05-03-2013 18:10:15 | More by tfsimpkins

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

05-02-2013 22:55:15 | More by xnicknj

Mister_Falcon

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%

04-29-2013 00:49:14 | More by Mister_Falcon

Rando23

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

04-27-2013 19:42:53 | More by Rando23

2beerdogs

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

04-22-2013 03:56:31 | More by 2beerdogs

beerme411

California

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%

04-21-2013 04:08:01 | More by beerme411

Dapperticus

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +8.7%

04-20-2013 19:06:52 | More by Dapperticus

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A - Pretty standard looking crisp bright yellow, yet not much head just a finger that reduces to lace ring.
S - Corn hush and lager yeast. Mild skunk and hops. Nothing outstanding but it doesn't smell offensive.
T - Not that bad it has some moderate hops, lager yeast and sweeter malts. In a way though it's kind of bland as well.
M - Light and crisp on par with session.

Overall not as interesting as the session black lager but a step up from BMC.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:42:32 | More by DrDemento456

Burkbom23

Connecticut

2.79/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

Clear Light golden color. Thin white head fades to film. Lots of bubbles. Tiny bit of lacing with not a lott of sticking power. Clean nose. Not much going on. Some hints of grain maybe some corn husk. Some very slight maltiness up front. Very smooth and drinkable as the name would suggest. Crisp finish. Light medium feel with good carbination. Better alternative to one of the macro lagers for sure, but still nothing I would seek out.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:50:20 | More by Burkbom23

e30todamax

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-15-2013 23:28:19 | More by e30todamax

blurredline

Oregon

3/5  rDev -18.5%

04-15-2013 02:52:36 | More by blurredline

tubeyes

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -11.7%

04-15-2013 02:15:37 | More by tubeyes

mnrider

Connecticut

3.71/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

11 oz. Snub Nose bottle. has freshness date.

A: Clear golden yellow, slightly pale. Small white head. Not much retention nor lacing.

S: Typical pale lager. Grass, grains and sweet malts. has a little bit of a floral kick to it.

T/M: Mostly clean and light on taste. Sweet malts and hop bitterness balance well.
More grains come in and the finish is on the dry side. Light bodied and impressively
crisp.

O: What it lacks in taste it makes up for on feel and overall drinkability. The taste is
pretty basic but is strong enough to complement the easy crisp drinkability. I see this
as a good summer beer and one I could easily Session.

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 22:14:57 | More by mnrider

Arsenal0328

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-10-2013 21:13:21 | More by Arsenal0328