LTD Series - 05 - Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub

lisomiso

California

3.18/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked this one up as part of a mixed six-pack. It's ok. I don't really like it that much, but my other beer isn't cold yet, so it's better than no beer at all. It smells clean, and the lightly bitter finish is refreshing, but there's something in the malt profile I don't like and can't quite put my finger on. I suppose it goes down just fine as long as I'm not thinking about it.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2011 02:56:00 | More by lisomiso

XCOR

California

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 05:34:15 | More by XCOR

kojevergas

California

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Acquired at the Trader Joe's on Pico Blvd in Santa Monica, CA earlier this week. The label clearly identifies it as a "Vienna Style Lager" - not an American Amber as currently listed. I'm reviewing as a vienna lager. 5.6% ABV confirmed. Uninspired but understated label. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pry-off pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Expectations are low; Full Sail constantly disappoints. I'm in the mood for the style, though.

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

A: Pours a two finger beige/light khaki colour head. Nice cream. Nice thickness. Above average (~3 minute) retention. No lacing as the head recedes.

Body colour is a rich vibrant auburn; transparent and translucent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Right on the money for the style; looking good.

Overall, I'm surprised at how good it looks considering the brewery. Maybe this'll change my mind about Full Sail.

Sm: Grainy malts, caramel, sweet wort, residual unrefined sugars, some toasted malt character, amber malts, and biscuit malt. Hop character could be called herbal but is really just muted and floral to my tastes. No yeast or alcohol is detectable. Hints of candi sugar. Comes off just a biteen too sweet for the style, but otherwise it's pretty respectable. Average to above average in strength. I'm looking forward to trying it.

T: Not too shabby at all. Nice grainy malts (all those mentioned in the aroma above), with some decent toasty character. Hop character is indeed muted and floral. Yes, it's a bit too sweet - but it's not cloying. It's tolerable. Maybe a vague hint of buried cherry fruit. Quite simple, but well put together and decently balanced for a Vienna lager. No subtlety at all. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. I'm surprised at how pleasant this is coming from Full Sail. Good body. Nice flavour intensity for the style, though the depth and duration of flavour are lacking.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Fairly full body. A bit too thick. Decent presence on the palate. Overcarbonation. Not as soft or crisp as it should be, but decent. Approachable. Supports the flavour profile generally, but doesn't feel custom-tailored to it. I wouldn't call it refreshing, but it's enjoyable.

Dr: A drinkable little Vienna lager from Full Sail. I expected far worse; this surprised me. I'd get it again if I was in the mood for the style; the price point is solid. Wouldn't recommend it to friends or pay a premium for it on-draught. Hides its ABV well. Opens my mind a bit to Full Sail.

Low C+

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 03:58:31 | More by kojevergas

Falien02

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

06-08-2013 02:47:34 | More by Falien02

MaddDogg84

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +23.3%

06-06-2013 04:23:53 | More by MaddDogg84

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.76/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a half finger of head on a clear, medium straw colored body.
It has a great aroma of grain with a bit of barnyard in the background.
The taste is wonderful. Full of grains with a nice malt background for a lager. Well balanced.
It is crisp with moderate carbonation.
A pretty good lager.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2013 01:38:57 | More by Fatehunter

beertunes

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Served in Nonic. Poured an attractive golden honey blonde color, with about 3/4 inch of white head that had good retention and thick lacing. But, the brewery lists this as a "copper" lager, this beer has no coppery coloring at all.

The aroma was nicely grainy, with some gentle hops, and a hint of yeast. Sadly there was a slightly funky "off" scent in the background that became stronger as the beer warmed. On the tongue, that funk dominated, much to the detriment of the beer. The base grain and hop flavors were hidden underneath, and the beer was a bit murky tasting.

The body was nicely smooth and full, a bit creamy and had a medium finish. Drinkability was OK, but that odd taste was a bit off-putting. Overall, not a terrible beer, but one not up to the standards of the rest of the LTD series. Probably worth a shot if you see it, but not worth hunting down at all.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2013 17:58:47 | More by beertunes

beerme411

California

2.75/5  rDev -24.7%

05-31-2013 20:12:58 | More by beerme411

wac9

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

this taste more of a fall beer then summer frist smell frist taste is crispy a smooth beer going down but enjoy this beer but their other out that dont remind you of fall roastly dont taste it i mostly drink dark beer they say what they put in it i dont taste it

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 02:01:11 | More by wac9

Wedcat

California

3.25/5  rDev -11%

05-28-2013 02:46:20 | More by Wedcat

Kendo

New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from the bottle into a pilsner glass. Body is coppery/orangey-amber with a half-finger off-white head. Lots of large, rising bubbles creates a nice presentation - and fortifies the head once it settles to a thinner film on top.

S: Toasted bread and a good deal of nuttiness, along with a touch of fruit sweetness, which surprised me for a Vienna Style Lager. Still, overall a pleasant nose.

T: Clean nuttiness and sweet malt (caramel malt, some toffee) underneath. Finishes fairly clean with some residual sweetness up front and modest bitterness on the back of the tongue.

M: Lightish in heft, but not thin or watery. Appropriate for the style, heft-wise. Carbonation is active but not harsh.

O: This is a good version of the style. Maybe a touch too sweet to earn higher scores, but a good, flavorful (and colorful) lager.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 02:17:47 | More by Kendo

wander4

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

05-24-2013 21:44:50 | More by wander4

MacStinson

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

05-13-2013 00:33:45 | More by MacStinson

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a pilsner glass

A- Poured a very rich and dark mahogany red. Very clear, big fluffy white head that left splashy lace

S- Rich toffee, caramel, bready, chocolate, and mineral notes. Some cereal notes.

T- Rich toffee, caramel, fruity red malt character, quite bready, big mineral notes, and some chocolate and cereal malt notes.

M- High carbonation, very smooth, mostly dry finish

O- A very complex and rich tasting vienna lager. This is the best of the style that I have ever had, really great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 01:55:23 | More by Hoptometrist

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

04-30-2013 04:43:55 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

grubefresh

Arizona

4/5  rDev +9.6%

04-27-2013 22:10:20 | More by grubefresh

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

03-24-2013 05:35:13 | More by onix1agr

JMS1512

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

03-14-2013 00:42:43 | More by JMS1512

MadScientist

New York

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: a medium-light copper beer with excellent clarity. An agressive pour gives about a finger of creamy, off-white with a decent retention time.

S: Rich malt aroma that has a some bready character and a moderate spicy, Saaz hops aroma. A clean lager without fruitiness, diacetyl or DMS.

T: A very flavorful lager with a balanced, moderate malt and hops flavors. The hops are spicy and the bitterness is at a moderatly light level. The balance is even. The finish is dry with a hops flavor in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a bit crisp.

O: A very flavorful lager with the flavor of malt, spicy hops and hops bitterness all balanced.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 23:27:47 | More by MadScientist

khargro2

Georgia

4/5  rDev +9.6%

12-10-2012 19:12:01 | More by khargro2

TANelson

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

12-02-2012 16:35:56 | More by TANelson

rangerred

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a clear dark brownish-red with a one finger tan head that fades rather quickly leaving very little in the way of lacing.

Aroma of toffee and caramel along with noble hops. There is also some toast and nuttiness.

Flavor has caramel and nuts up front nicely complimented by spicy hops. Toffee and caramel in the background along with a little bit of toast. Moderate bitterness with a little bit of a creamy mouthfeel. Clean finish with just the smallest amount of stickyness.

Overall, a tasty lager but not one that really stands out from the pack. Really reminded me of SA Boston Lager. I would pick it up again if I saw it.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 22:31:23 | More by rangerred

mjurney

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Look:
Deep amber color, clear. Lots of fine carbonation rising to the top. Thick frothy head that disappear slowly. Leaves a nice lacing behind.

Smell:
Malty, caramel, crisp, hint of earthy.

Taste:
Malty up front. I'm getting caramel and toasted malts mostly. Slight bitterness along with earthy-herbal hops. Crisp finish. Medium-light bodied, carbonation is nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 23:15:10 | More by mjurney

GFD400

New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%

10-08-2012 22:23:16 | More by GFD400

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle pours a clear copper color with a moderate cap of off-white head. Retention is ok and lacing fairly good.

Nose is nice, nutty chocolate with a little bit of toast. Malts are offset by a clean floral hop aroma. I like this one already.

I like the malt profile on this one quite a bit...just enough sweetness on a cocoa, hazelnut, caramel flavor. Kiss of leafy hops add the right amount of bitterness. Mouthfeel is decent with an appropriate carbonation. This is my favorite in the LTD series since the very first one. It is kind of somewhere in between a dunkel and an amber lager. I wish I would have found this one earlier in the summer, I would’ve bought it on more than one occasion, that’s for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 19:13:22 | More by twiggamortis420