Session Lager - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

schoolboy

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Full Sail Session Premium Lager is an above average American Lager. Should you rush out and get a case, not necessary. But it's a well made drew. The beer looks great in a glas - almost like an IPA. The aroma is typically weak, but nice.

It falls down somewhat on taste, not being anything extraordinary. The same goes for the aftertaste. Overall, it's drinkable, but it is not something I would ever want to buy again.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 00:22:44 | More by schoolboy

1234Jack

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Iconic stubby bottles. Charming rock, paper, scissors bottlecaps.

Good taste out of the bottle - a healthy grain taste.

No skunkyness to note, especially when compared to adjuncts like Rolling Rock.

Smells subtle.

Clear golden color in a glass. Head lasts for about 30 seconds.

Smell out of the glass is more metallic.

Taste out of the glass is very satisfying. Feel is also milky - carbonation does not overpower.

Excellent price. Can get these for $11.99 at a QFC in Seattle.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 05:56:59 | More by 1234Jack

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Seen this one many times and never took the time to try it. I didn't realize that it was a Full Sail production, at first.

This is a pretty easy drinking lager. A bit hearty with some grain tones on there that push it out of being a lighter beer. But it is still smooth with a good character.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 19:40:19 | More by RblWthACoz

DCon

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bought a 12-pack of this brew from Fred Meyer’s in Yakima, WA for $14.49. Poured one of the Red Labeled, 11 FLUID OZ. bottles into a 16oz Arcadia IPA Pint Glass. Has ENJOY BY: 09/29/12 - 55 on the side of the label. Will do!

Aroma- Very sweet, malty, and grainy on the nose. Not much corn but more sweetness than any other lager I've rated.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that has average retention. Has the lightest orange/gold colored body with great clarity. Leaves only suds that eventually die on the glass.

Flavor- Very crisp, clean, and sweet all the way through. Floral hops come into the taste mid drink and then turn it over to a light-medium bitterness level while also being dry.

Mouthfeel- Light-Medium Bodied, High Carbonation, Small amount of hops/malt combo and then bites with flavor. Awesome!

Overall Impression- This is without a doubt one of the BEST lagers I've ever enjoyed! While it is refreshing and quite light, the flavor and well-balanced background makes this a sure shot to be one of the best of this style (hence why I gave it a 5/5). Get your hands on some if your in the area!

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 01:16:41 | More by DCon

sommersb

Tennessee

3.9/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 07-10-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 11 oz. brown bottle, twist-cap
Glassware: Schooner
Purchased: Hotel lobby

Picked this up on a hotel stay in Colorado. First beer I've ever had in an 11 oz. bottle. I do like the unusual bottle shape and marketing of the Session beers.

Pours pale yellow and clear. Head is a couple of fingers high; retention is fair and lacing is good.

Aromas are grainy, with pilsner malts, grassy hops, hay and sweetness.

The taste is a nice balance of light hop bitterness and a light malt sweetness. Nothing heavy or complex here, but the flavors are handled well. Crisp mouthfeel on a light body. Finishes with the same balance between bitter and sweet (but not much of either).

A simple, but enjoyable, well-brewed lager. I think they hit the target for what they wanted to achieve very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 04:21:57 | More by sommersb

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Packaged in a stubby, short, red stripe looking bottle. When if first picked it up mistakened it for a central american macro. Pale honey-maize color with a strong macro infused fizz of carbonation. A soapy seashell head is barely strong enough to cover the surface area and quickly dissipates. Lacing, dont count on it.

S: Tinny aroma, dried honey malt, fresh green leafy hops are faint but detectable.

T: Sweet malt, corn, green leafy hopping. Simple lager flavor, not that bad actually. Some pale grains, buttered crossiant and dry wildflowers.

M: has a strong backing of carbonation, syrupy body thickness to it.

O: Overall sweet flavor, grows on you afer awhile. A great intro beer for those macro buddies. Easy drinking pale lager with a small bit of hops your bmc friends should enjoy and not find offensive. Interesting, pretty good fullness of body with a good carbonation factor.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 23:04:08 | More by beerthulhu

NODAK

Tennessee

4.1/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma has cereal grains on it....some hops...lemongrass. Pretty clean and straightforward, really.

Taste is has quite a strong cereal grain sweetness on the body....definitely the predominant taste right away, then it fades into a strong grain profile that mixes with a sweet creamy note as well. I guess the two words to sum up this beer would be sweet and grainy. that's not necessarily a bad thing, because this is supposed to be an easy drinking lager and that's exactly what it is. So by style, I have to give it high marks. This would be remarkably easy to drink on just about any day, especially hot ones.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2012 02:54:09 | More by NODAK

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

P:  Brilliantly clear ,and effervescent, golden body with a thin bubbly 1/2 inch of head that resides to a layer of creamy foam.  

S:  Fruity esters, banana, coriander, tart lemon and a dash of salt.  Earthy grains,white grapes and a touch of floral hop aroma. 

T/M:  Stingy carbonation on a light mouthfeel.  White grapes, grains, dry grass, lemon, slight honey and delicate spices.  Finish is semi dry with timid red delicious apple bitterness. 

O:  A great session beer that delivers great taste and low alcohol so you can pound them away. Really enjoyable in the summer and one of my favorite "garage work" beers. 

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 00:53:39 | More by Hopswagger

Maximusmaximus

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beware! These 11oz stubby bottles go down fast! This all-malt, pre-prohibition style lager will take you back to the roots of brewing in America. It's golden color and crystal clarity combine with a smooth, almost sweet taste that keeps this little beer enticing to the very last sip. The cozy 11oz bottles add a charming, nostalgic character that almost makes up for the missing 12th oz.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 17:01:05 | More by Maximusmaximus

kylehay2004

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: single finger head on a golden and straw colored clear body.

S: subtly sweet with pale malts but overall light on the nose.

T: adjunct lager malts and hop bitterness without the bad aftertaste instead finishes with a semi sweet corn finish and subtle caramel malts.

M:light to medium body and moderate to high carbonation and a semidry finish.

Overall:Too much of the adjunct lager style for my liking but finishes better.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 01:43:37 | More by kylehay2004

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Full Sail : Session Lager

12 oz stubby bottle. Pours a clear straw yellow, small fizzy head forms and recedes to nothing.

Aroma of lager yeast, cereal grains, and floral hops.

In the taste, bready lager yeast strain, pale malts, corn, and some earthy hop flavor. Tastes like a mainstream macro lager, but a touch more refined.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, well carbonated, clean and crisp.

Overall, a simple session lager. Just enough hops and full sail yeast flavor to keep it interesting. Not bad with buffalo chicken pizza.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 03:14:42 | More by Stinkypuss

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks as clean as any other american lager but with a bright and whiter head that retains much better. Unique sweet unbaked bread dough on the nose, some graininess and a touch of hop on the back of the nostrils. Full mouth feel, graininess throughout with a touch of lingering sweetness. Hop bitterness enough to balance it. A unique creaminess as well. A bit earthy but a clean and well done lager. Its nice to have a craft 12 pack option other than varieties and this fits the bill quite nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 02:02:40 | More by jtierney89

harrymel

Washington

2.73/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Best by 16MAY12

Pours a light golden ale with a little white foam on the surface and brilliant clarity. The nose strikes me initially like a bohemian pilsner with earthy hops and sweet, corn like malts. Really a light and sweet nose here with just a hint of rose like florals. Flavor is of faint grain and cardboard; not much else for me. Medium bodied for style with standard hi carb and a semi dry finish. The beer is nice looking and smelling, but the flavor kills it's appeal for me greatly. Although I wouldn't turn it down over many others, it's not special.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 05:08:01 | More by harrymel

imasloth

Texas

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Served into a pint glass, beer yields minimal thin head that recedes quickly. Golden with a hint of orange in the color. High carbonation.

S- Some nice clean malt overtones, with a hint of bitter hop in the background. Kind of has the 'skunky' scent often associated with Heineken.

T- Very malty, light obviously. Some sweetness there. Bitter hops flavor. Clean finish.

M- Light to medium, I rather enjoy it. Very smooth, you don't feel the bitterness that you taste. Pleasant feel from the carbonation.

O- I like it and, given that it's often selling for $9.99 for a twelve pack around Austin, I'd recommend it. Even if it isn't that cheap near you, it's a quality lager that won't break the bank or offend your taste buds.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 01:00:13 | More by imasloth

davidsumner

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Have to say that I'm not too impressed with this offering. Not that it's bad. But there really isn't anything that stands out in my mind. It's pretty bland. It's a little gassy and is just a little too uneventful. I do think that it would be a good BBQ beer with the guys, so in that respects it does live up to it's name, but; it should be a little cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 20:54:15 | More by davidsumner

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

iannutter

Colorado

3/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This is an interesting beer, not as good as its European cousins, but somehow it pulls together and works in an interesting way.

I've never quite had a beer like it, it is definitely better than Budweiser or Miller and it is interesting because it is a window to the pre prohibition era beers of America.

The taste is light and slightly tinny, and the the head retention is null.

Would I get it again? Probably, if not for anything else but for its unique red stripe-esque style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 21:46:38 | More by iannutter

scottfrie

California

3.58/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

11oz bottle into SA perfect pint glass.

A: Pours a very pale light golden color with a thick bright white head that took its time to fade into a faint scum and collar.
S: Not much to the nose as expected. I get a few notes of crackery malts and peppery lager yeast. Pretty straightforward pale lager, but definitely not offensive.
T: Follows the nose. Pale lager taste. Dry crackers and a bit of yeast is all there is. The finish is lightly sweet.
M: Refreshing mouthfeel, clean and light body, tingly yet creamy carbonation.
O: Drinks pretty good. Light, clean and easy. Not much to it, would go well with a meal. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 02:07:11 | More by scottfrie

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours straw yellow with a fizzy white head that slowly dissipates. There is not much lacing. It looks like a generic lager.

S-Generic beer nose. Malty, a hint, and I mean a hint of mustiness. No real hop presence from the nose.

T-Malty with a hint of hoppy bitterness. It is somewhat sweet from the malt. It tastes better than the typical macro lager. Its less grainy thats for sure.

M-The mouthfeel is nice. Its got some body and character to it.

D-Very drinkable for sure as there are no "off flavors" and the abv. is low enough to drink many of these in a session.

Overall, this is a true session beer. However, for the style I've had better. I don't think its worth the price of $16 for a twelve pack. Next time I will purchase Yuengling or Schlitz Gusto.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 22:48:46 | More by thegodfather2701

KajII

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

[Best served in a Lager glass]

The pour was a very light clear amber with an average sized (1-2 finger) white fizzy head that diminished quickly and had poor lacing.

The aroma was kind of musty of straw malts, a light grassy hop and a sweaty yeast with mild notes of caramel and the mild scent of dust.

The taste was extremely light but still a bit malty and very mildly bitter from start to finish with a mild caramel sweetness at the end. The flavor lasted a very short while after the swallow and faded fast until the taste was almost non-existent.

Mouthfeel was very light in body and watery in texture with a fizzy carbonation.

Overall a brew that is very mild in the flavor department, which is typical of a lot of light Lagers. Would however be great for a nice hot lawn cutting day...

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 22:27:54 | More by KajII

bondjedi

Washington

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Work with me here - I never get a chance to pour this scrappy little brew because it usually gets handed out around the campfire or at a party for immediate quaffing.

That being said, it is a feisty, full bodied beverage with a little grit to it and a nice finish. If this is a regional beer then everywhere outside the West Coast should be clamoring for it. This should fill the niche left by Rolling Rock once RR went corporate.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2012 23:06:56 | More by bondjedi

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The waiter at the restaurant wanted to tell me about this great brewery in Oregon. I agreed that Full Sail has a great history and reputation... after having visited their brewery in Hood River. I recommend the tour. Their location is picturesque.

This beer pours golden with a very thin film. It looks like how Coors pours in their commercial (which is very different from reality).

I am not normally a lager drinker, but I really liked this beer. It smelled fresh. You get wheat and a little bitterness. It was very easy to drink.

I recommend this as a very good alternative for BMC drinkers. It would be great on a hot day.
Plus, it has a fun, chubby bottle for this chubby drinker.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 00:59:48 | More by ummswimmin

angusdegraosta

New York

4.08/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Session Lager is light amber gold, with not much of a head but crisp carbonation nonetheless. Smells like cider and malt to me. This is as pure a taste as you could hope for in a lager. A slight tartness is rounded out by smooth malt flavor. Crisp. Delicious. Though this is straightforward stuff, I've never had anything quite like it.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 06:34:35 | More by angusdegraosta

StJamesGate

New York

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale gold with trailers of bubbles and steady snow white foam. Grass and soap on the nose with sweet grain.
Crackery malts with more slight grain sweetness and light noble coriander hop bite.
Sweet finish, clean linger. Soft, round, crisp, light.

Sweet and sour malts, enough hops, and good body. Old school. Lives up to the name.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 15:20:29 | More by StJamesGate

gatorguy

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

This is as straightforward as it gets for a lager, in a good way. Pours a nice gold color with a finger and a half white head that fizzes away and leaves some lacing. Smell is of sweet malts, and light flowery hops. Taste follows the nose, comes in with sweet malts, some breadiness, and finishes slightly bitter thanks to the hops. Also a slight, slight hint of citrus. The big thing about this beer though is it's smoothness and drinkability. This thing goes down super easy, very refreshing. Overall, this is a great example of the pale lager style, and is replacing longboard lager as my go to lager as we speak.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 22:18:12 | More by gatorguy