Dockside Amber Lager - Wagner Valley Brewery

Bighuge

Minnesota

1.53/5  rDev -53.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This is one charged up beer. Carbonation is huge. Must have been a mistake in QC or something. My pint glass has more head than beer. Smells of solvent and soap. Mouthfeel is so gaseous it's almost hard to swallow. Inevitably a burp follows every sip. This is not enjoyable. Let me rephrase....this is just plain bad. Only faint hints of malt flavor emerge through the solvent and soap. I will not finish this one.....and that is a rarity indeed.

Thanks to Davo for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2003 20:24:11 | More by Bighuge

Greenlabel

New Hampshire

1.53/5  rDev -53.2%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

I've tried many amber lagers in my day but none quite like this one. There was so much carbonation that, blindfolded, I might have thought I was drinking some strange type of soda pop. While the beer didn't gush out of the bottle, it poured mostly foam into the glass. The bottle says it's a Vienna style lager but, to me, it gave off an unpleasant taste of sweet caramel - very raw and unbalanced as if the product was bottled before its time. I'm amazed it could have passed any quality control test before leaving the brewery. No question the beer was fresh- too fresh, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, I bought a 6-pack as I've had several other Wagner Valley products, particularly the Sled Dog Dopplebock, which impressed me. Guess their quality isn't consistent from product to product.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2003 21:25:03 | More by Greenlabel

Newsman

New Jersey

2.42/5  rDev -26%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I always try to hit Wagner every year when I vacation up in the Finger Lakes, and finally decided to properly review a few of their offerings. First up was the signature Dockside Amber Lager.

Poured the 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Deep, deep amber color, somewhat cloudy, with good head retention and lacing. Smelled pretty nice too, with some malt and floral kick to it.

But the taste...hmmm. What IS this beer? Much fuller and maltier than I would've expected from a lager, amber or otherwise, and not in a good way. I found the sweetness overpowering and cloying. There's some hop bitterness in there somewhere, but overall I found the flavor profile a bit of a mess.

Mouthfeel, for what it's worth, was fine, nice carbonation, but again, the sweetness made it a difficult call overall. It's drinkable to a point, but I could only really handle just one.

It's a shame, because Wagner does some awesome brews, especially the Sled Dog. And maybe I got a bad batch. But overall, I'm not going with this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2008 20:02:53 | More by Newsman

wiseguy142

New York

2.53/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a deep mahogany amber with a nice off white lacing with eccentric bubbles floating around on top and low visible carbonation.

Aroma is a bit salty.. of Vienna malt and a touch of chocolate comes out modestly clean.

Taste also alternates between a bit of chocolate, slight biscuity Oktoberfest flavor, and a clean bittering hop. Almost seems like there's more alcohol in there than there really is. Actually it's the hops. There's something way off in the hop character here.. maybe my mind was set for an Oktoberfest or something more juicy like Brooklyn lager. This has a very spicy, acidic hop finish that ruins the beer really. In total contrast to the mellowness of the malt. Very sour and puckering. I think it's just a pure overdose of the bittering hops along with some harsh tannins. This is close to a drainpour for me.

Mouthfeel is decent though. Nice and smooth and round.

I was expecting a little more from this beer and it just turned out weird and offsetting. This was the first of a mixed six pack I got as a gift from this brewery so I'm hoping the rest are a little better.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2009 21:24:00 | More by wiseguy142

Brent

Kentucky

2.58/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

For a Vienna style, this had a rather faint, roasted malt with a rather odd, smokey aspect. Perhaps it is the yeast strain being used here, but the beer had an off flavor that threw the beer out of balance. Not bad, but I do not find myself wanting another.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2003 15:54:40 | More by Brent

LilBeerDoctor

New York

2.68/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed on 8/11/09. Bottle. Pours a dark, clear brown with a small light tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, bready malt, toffee, and caramel. Flavor of cola, sweet bready malt, some vegetal notes as the beer warms. Thin, watery, grainy body. The aroma/flavor composition are more like a doppelbock than a vienna to me. The flavor gets worse as you drink it. Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 22:50:48 | More by LilBeerDoctor

nomad

Kansas

2.8/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

Poured a dull orange-ish amber color, with a very thin head left from a boring foamy pour. Had spotty but constant lacing. Smell was malty and spicy, with the slightly sticky sweet of a Vienna red lager. Simple and without the grainy pleasure of fine German malts. Combined with pepper, cinammon, and a mediocre hop leaf scent. At times smoky – strange.

Taste of hops touche me quick, with oily and green, almost chewy hop flavors, pretty much noxious. Had a long drying finish, parching and almost chalky with prominent hop oil flavors - a bit too much. Moderately thin mouthfeel, washes over with an easy but nicely full body.

Where is the malt flavor? A mediocre vienna lager.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2003 16:04:31 | More by nomad

fisherman34

Manitoba (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Decidedly brown in colour with a medium amount of carbonation. It’s got a nutty / malty aroma with little hop influance. The caramel malt is the dominant flavor, along with some minor notes of vienna and munich malts and some clean bitterness. Still, it's a little too cloying to have more than one of these. It’s fairly average stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2005 21:49:28 | More by fisherman34

Bills453

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance - as the name suggests, the color is amber! No head.

Smell - a bit sweet smelling. Not much else.

Taste - sweet at first, changes over to a bit of a bitter ending.

Mouthfeel - average.

Overall - average. There are plenty of other lagers I would drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 23:50:22 | More by Bills453

aquatonex

New York

3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

You don't just get wine from the Finger Lakes...

I must say this one is better on tap, as are all Wagners, but I did bring some back bottled and was a little disappointed.

Pours medium-dark mahogany amber with a light beige foamy head, quick dissipation, decent carbonation. Smells slightly like dried raisins or prunes with some malts and a bit of 'oldness'. I think it was sittin' in the bottle a bit too long. Taste followed well, medium maltiness, lightly sweet, and a good punch of hops. Rather well balanced but again tasted a bit outdated. Overall, OK, but better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2006 02:23:15 | More by aquatonex

cbl2

New York

3.03/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance:

As the name implies, this pours a nice amber brown with a faint lacing of white head on top.

Smell:

Fairly mild with some nice malt flavor to it, but nothing that jumps out and says drink me.

Taste/Mouthfeel:

Nice and smooth with a smoked aspect to it. Sweetens by midsip, and ends with an off bitterness to it. Probably the weakest offering from Wagner I've encountered.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2004 17:07:49 | More by cbl2

CBFanWish

New York

3.13/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I want to love these guys. I really do. Anyone who both brews beer and wine is worthy of everyones respect. I wish I have had a good beer from them. When I was there the other day, I bought a sixer of everything they had. This was your perfectly average lager. Amber in colour it was. A moderate head. The smell was light all around. Mild hops and mild malts. a little caramel. The taste was exactly the same. I don't know. It's just your middle of the road lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2004 02:10:23 | More by CBFanWish

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with Shippos. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured in an imperial pint glass, forms a 1/2" creamy light tan head, which laces ok. A copper hued brew, with a prevailing aroma of slightly nutty malts. Taste is follows the nose, but just seems to be lacking in the flavor department. Mouthfeel is thin, and drinkability is okay. Not bad for a session, hanging-around-with-the-guys-watching-football brew, if that's what you're looking for.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2004 21:48:00 | More by ppoitras

soju6

Missouri

3.13/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark amber color with a small tan head that fades quickly and no lacing.

S: Mostly a grain aroma with a hint of sweet malt.

T: A mild sweet malt & caramel taste. A very light bitterness with a mild sticky sweetness for an aftertaste.

F: Fairly light body, quite smooth.

D: Decent drinker, but a tad sweet to have more than 1-2. A nice unoffensive brew. Got as a 6-pack mixer.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 00:46:39 | More by soju6

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Out of a bottle this beer was a clear copper color with two fingers of head that quickly faded. The aroma was of caramel malt and nuts. The flavors were of caramel malt, sweet malt and a bit of nuts. It was very simple and though not bad it wasn’t much to talk about. The mouthfeel was average, the body medium and the carbonation a bit high.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 12:55:54 | More by thekevlarkid

Gavage

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours a copper color with a two finger head that slowly falls. Some nice lacing develops during the session.

Smell: light caramel is all that is detectable.

Taste: thin malt profile. Caramel, hints of brown sugar, mild earthiness, and a mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start, smoother and a touch dry at the end. Lighter side of a medium bodied beer.

Drinkability: so-so as this is a bit thin. Low alcohol gives this a bit higher nod, but overall this is a bit dull.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2008 16:23:50 | More by Gavage

JDH2000

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Brought some back with me after visiting family in Rochester, NY.

Pours dark amber--almost reddish--with a nice head that settles rather quickly. Decent carbonation throughout, but not much lacing.

Smell of caramel and chocolate and sweet malts. I also get a hint of woody, earthy hops.

Upon tasting, much of the sweet malt comes through. Later I get a bit of the root beer taste that others mentioned.

Mouth feel is light, yet creamy. Very smooth and perfectly carbonated.

Overall, I'd say it's a pretty decent beer. At first, the initial sweetness was off-putting to me, when I've taken the time to enjoy it, I actually like the balance of flavors. The six-pack I picked up will come in handy as a nice refreshment for a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2010 00:55:40 | More by JDH2000

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark brown. Candy nose. Flavor brings a bit too much of the same. Too much cotton candy sweetness. Too much tang. No balance. None of the earthy character I would hope would be delivered. Feel is slick and smooth on liquid. Carbonation is middle of the road, but what's there nips at the mouth. Too sweet. Too tangy. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 05:03:21 | More by RblWthACoz

almychristopher

New York

3.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

this beer pours a pretty amber color with a tall white head that recedes to lace. the aroma presents some light sweet malt and just a touch of those bottom feeders. the taste once again is just a bit of light sweet malt at the start, the odd citrus hop selection and the dry lager finish. the light body and aggressive carbonation make this a pretty easy drinker, but not nearly as good as the oatmeal stout...

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2009 02:27:34 | More by almychristopher

Boto

Connecticut

3.33/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle: Yes, it is amber in color, just like the name. It pours pretty clear, with a little head. The aroma is malty sweet, with some caramel. The taste contains some roastiness to balance the sweetness. Some hops there in the background. Not too bad. It gets better with each sip.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2004 21:43:09 | More by Boto

armock

New York

3.33/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured a amber color with a thin off white head

S - Is mostly of sweet malt

T - Much like the smell sweet malt with some caramel

M - Has light carbonation pretty smooth

D - his is a pretty easy to drink beer good taste and is smooth could session this beer

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 21:11:31 | More by armock

Franz4

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- nice dark amber color, small head that left quickly, no lacing to speak of.

S- slightly malty, grainy as well, not overpowering

T- Malt comes through more than I expected with a slight hop finish that balances it out well.

M- very lightly carbonated, just very slightly oily

D- very drinkable, seems to be a solid amber lager but I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2010 22:26:20 | More by Franz4

Gusler

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer after dislodging itself from the 12-ounce brown bottle sets in the glass an amber color with a modest off white head that is frothy in texture as it dissolves the lace forms a fine curtain to drape the glass. Nose has a sweet malted grain aroma, crisp and fresh to the senses with the start lightly sweet and pleasingly malted, the top is middling in its feel to the palate. Finish is middle0of-th-road as far as acidity goes, the hops delectable in their spicy bite, the aftertaste dry, and a nice change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2004 13:00:56 | More by Gusler

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Deep amber color with about one and a half fingers of tain head that dissipate quickly leaving isolated specks of lacing behind.

S - Grassy hops mostly, a bit of sweet malt and lillies. It's pretty nice.

T - Sweet caramel malt and grassy hops, The aftertaste is a dryer maltiness paired with a grassy flavor that has no bitterness in it. The flavor doesn't impress me a lot, but it has nothing to complain about.

M - A light, smooth beer with low carbonation. Very refreshing.

D - I finished this before I realized it. It is an ideal session beer. Great with food. It other characteristics are average for the most part, but it is the sort of beer you will drink five of before realize it.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2006 01:17:12 | More by mrasskicktastic

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Vienna malt…roasted…nutty qualities…lightly hopped aroma. This beer is a mildly aeromatic, but very pleasant to smell. Subtle and understated, but very nice. It’s a dark, nearly ruby, reddish-brown color. The hue is more deep than what I’d call amber. It has no appreciable head. Moderately sweet up front with a nice bitter and lingering hoppiness by the finish. Enjoyable and average local brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2004 03:19:33 | More by Suds