LaCrosse Lager - City Brewing Company, LLC

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Light golden color with a fairly full, foamy, bubbly, light, whispy, white head. Average retention leaving a very thin lace.

S - Very grainy and sweet. Also lots of apple in the back. Almost like a light/off cider. Some hints of bready malt. Overall it is pretty light though.

T - Similar to the nose. Pretty light with grainy, bready, and sweet malt being strongest. Very little grassy hop flavor. Again, plenty of apple notes given it a ciderish taste.

M - Light body with above average carbonation. Light, crisp, and a lingering sweetness.

D - About as drinkable as a macro light lager. Apple flavors make it slightly distinct, but I'm not sure how exactly I feel about it.

Notes: Interesting beer. Lots of apple that isn't too far off from some malt liquors. Grainy and bready sweetness. Ok but nothing to search for. Ok for a cheap beer but nothing impressive, even for the price.

Serving type: can

10-21-2011 00:29:53 | More by FreshHawk

MarathonManCL

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +38%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The thing that makes this beer better than your typical mass produced lagers is the spring water and how this beer is brewed.
The artesian spring water in LaCrosse Wisconsin is some of the purest water in North American. This beer is fully kraeusened which naturally carbonates the beer. The double brewing process takes longer and combined with the artesian spring water makes this beer special. I have sampled beers around the world and can honestly say that this beer is one of the best beers for the price. This beer comes from the City Brewery in LaCrosee Wisconsin. The appearance is good, a golden color with a semi sweet aroma. The taste is very smooth as a result of the kraeusening. The 30 pack 12oz can cases sell for about $13.99 in the Northwest Chicago Suburbs. The price is greast for a beer of this quality. I highly recommend it for a everyday beer at a great price.

Serving type: can

12-03-2010 03:34:07 | More by MarathonManCL

hu5om

Wisconsin

2.85/5  rDev -4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

got a 30 in the LAX. As cheap beers go, this one ain't bad. I would rank it near PBR. If you are in Wisconsin looking for dirt cheap beer, conside this one. It actually has a bit of taste to it! Not worth pouring in a glass, but they do have it on tap at Bodega. Not a taster beer, but worth trying.

Serving type: can

06-25-2010 02:00:29 | More by hu5om

kilustration

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 30pack. What a pleasant surprise! Smooth taste, nice head, decent color. This may be my new beer of choice, just ahead of PBR and Hamms. Beats all the BMCs. Cant beat the retro looking can. May even try the Lacrosse Lager Light version too. Worth a try!

Serving type: can

03-14-2010 19:32:39 | More by kilustration

MNJR

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This brew costs about $16.00 out the door for 30 cans. So, it is exceptionally inexpensive. The rumor is these guys found the old 1960's Old Style recipe in an old file cabinet at the Lacrosse brewery. This is therefore supposed to be the authentic "old" Old Style in all but name. This is an very good beer for the price. It is light but has flavor, and is an excellent thirst quenching beer when you drink it really cold. The flavors are of slightly bitter grain, with an "almost sometimes" cross between banana and citrus poking its way through. Hops are light and not too noticeable. I can see where it might be a bit watery, but you don't buy this stuff expecting something that's not a bit light on ingredients. Hey, what they do with whatever goes into this beer for > $.50 a can is not to be scoffed at. This is way better than Milwaukee's Best, Stroh's or any other lowest of the bottom shelf brands. Buy this stuff and drink a lot of it - your wallet will thank you and you won't sacrifice much quality over big brand macro-brews. Of the cheap beers, this and PBR are my top two of all time.

Serving type: can

01-27-2010 00:14:04 | More by MNJR

NOOGIE

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Look: Poured 12 oz can into pint glass. Medium foam, which stays with the beer for the full drink. Normal stained yellow beer color.

Smell: Lot of water in the smell, almost to much really masks the other smells. The only thing I can smell is some malted barley.

Taste: Really sweet, with some barley and yeast in the taste. Then the watery taste is also in the drink.

Mouthfeel: Lot of water in the mouthfeel, also a sugary residue is left in your mouth.

Drink: Easy going down, but it fills you up fast. Also this is one of the sweetest beers I have ever had that wasn't flavored.

Serving type: can

01-24-2010 02:37:35 | More by NOOGIE

biggred1

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Clear gold with a fizzy white head that quickly shrinks to a tight collar of foam and leaves scraps of sliding lace on the glass. Sweet malt,soft lemon and hay make up the nose. The flavor is nice, grainy and corny with a decent mild (cluster?) hop bite. Light bodied and seltzery. Finishes squeaky clean. Not a bad lawnmower beer.

Serving type: can

09-04-2009 23:04:39 | More by biggred1

tommywaddle

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is alright for a cheap beer . It goes down pretty smoothe. It was only sold in a 30 pack at my local Binny's. I tried this think that it was the OlD Old Style. It is definitelyy different and NOT Old Style. I recently tried the Old Old Style and I will highly recommend you giving it a try instead. Overall this is an alright beer that is easy to drink.

Serving type: can

02-12-2009 16:12:42 | More by tommywaddle

hopdog

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle acquire as part of the Mystery Beer Swap v2 from DocLock (thanks!).

Poured a lighter and see through straw color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of grain, some straw/grass, and a touch of honey. Tastes of grain and lightly honey sweet. Thin and watery body.

Notes from: 2/7/07

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2009 15:05:39 | More by hopdog

morimech

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

The Old Style beer of yesteryear.
Nothing sets this apart in the appearance or aroma. Typical macro straw yellow color with a short-lived white head. Some spotty lacing is left on the glass. Has a sweet malt aroma. Has a pleasant sweet macro flavor with a touch of apple. A little more hops in the flavor and bitterness than your typical Bud or Coors. Light body and fizzy but finishes nice and clean. This is superior to much more expensive macro beers at a budget price.

Update: After a couple of years, this has become my cheap beer standby. Cannot beat the price/taste point. I have upped the score.

Update 2: This beer deserves a spot in the top 50 in Pale Lagers. It is better than most that is listed at half the price.

Serving type: can

01-27-2009 22:42:01 | More by morimech

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Ahh, the fully krausened Lacrosse Lager. Let's give 'er a go...

Appearance - pours the basic golden straw color, a thin white cover. Decent bead action in the glass.

Aroma - a mixture of grain and sour apple. That's a first for an all-malt. Starts to wear on me after a bit.

Taste - hmm. Grainy like I expect, and per the sniff, quite apple-ly too. It's kind of like a shot of apple cider in the beer. Unusual profile, I think I'd go for it more if I knew what to expect. A little strange outta the gate though. I'm undecided on this one.

Mouthfeel - thin and crisp per the style, no surprises here.

Drinkability - light, a bit sweet per the apple flavor, a little tasty and a little weird at the same time.

Serving type: can

10-23-2008 04:04:44 | More by brewdlyhooked13

kinger

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Solid swill, had a couple at my wife's sisters house the other day. Aroma and appearance are nothing to write home about. There is a fuller mouthfeel and a maltier taste than most commercial swills. Nothing spectacular but decent on a hot humid day while hanging out on the front porch.

Serving type: can

08-06-2008 12:50:54 | More by kinger

thartman

Pennsylvania

2.73/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured with a thin head that was gone in seconds, zero on the lacing. Smells of hay and corn. OK taste, kind of sweet and malty, with an oily, sweet aftertaste which is long on the palate. A little heavier than other macro-style lagers like Budweiser. Worth a try, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2008 00:44:57 | More by thartman

orangemoustache

Illinois

2.6/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a crystal clear golden with a thiner than thin bleach white head that leaves no lacing.The smells are not great,but are sweet and slightly fruity,I also detect some graham cracker within.This tastes much different than it smells.It's similar to many other macros,it has some underlying caramel flavors along with some semi offensive(to some)skunky flavors,I actually like these funky notes a little,I guess comparing it to a BMC this actually has some real flavor(not great flavor,but,flavor none the less).Light bodied,and average carbonation round off a pretty boaring,but better than an average macro.

Serving type: can

07-09-2008 03:01:58 | More by orangemoustache

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a medium amber color with sparse white head. No retention, no lacing.

Smell is very light. Only a slight sweetness detected.

Taste is unexpectedly full bodied. There is a very strong malt presence that gives this beer great flavor and a refreshing character.

Great taste retention with a long lingering malty sweetness.

Very nice to drink, Refreshing. A very enjoyable tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 22:22:38 | More by tgbljb

ChiTownHustler

Illinois

2/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I have read on the internet this was the original old style recipe, Bullshit. This is an average beer that is scarcely on the shelves in Chicago anymore.
If you want old style buy old style.It is much better than this swill.
I could not even give this beer away.

Serving type: can

02-05-2008 02:00:48 | More by ChiTownHustler

plaid75

New York

3.4/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a medium straw hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light doughy malt and a smattering of flowery hop.

The taste was rather well balanced and consisted of some soft bready malts and light balancing hops. Pleasant residual sweetness.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side for the style with a touch of creaminess.

Overall a tasty lager. I enjoyed the simplicity of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2007 00:49:11 | More by plaid75

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz can with "Brewed with pure Artesian Water" on the front so you know it has to be good. Poured this one into a nonic pint glass.

A: Quite a bit darker than the Bud I just tried so points for that, also pours a hugly bubbly liquid and head. The head is pure white and bubbles down to a barely there cap. The beer is a very light shade of amber.

S: The smell was a bit of a let down after the pour, this one does not smell too much different that a Bud, sort of a fruit twinge with ceral grains, not impressive so it scores likewise.

T/MF: This one is a bit more malty and a tad more hoppy than the Bud, but has sort of a strange sour fruit taste but finishes quite clean. Light to medium bodied but not much better than the Bud.

D: Again the fruityness sort of turns me off, but for some reason tastes better out of a can (and for some reason fells more natural to keep it in the container it came in) that being said I'd take this one over most other macros, and would make it the second or third choice if I were on a tight beer budget.

Serving type: can

08-21-2007 02:00:40 | More by bluemoonswoon

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This recipe I've heard is based on an older version the Heileman's Old Style from the 70s. Not bad. Yellow gold color, slight head, no lace, beery aroma of some hops and malt. Flavor is basic world wide light lager. There is a bit of body to it. Carbonation is decent for this kind of beer. Get a good burp out of it. ok finish.

Serving type: can

05-24-2007 03:42:27 | More by drpimento

Mdog

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pale gold, fading head. But it's meant to be drank out of the can!

Smell: Sweet, maybe a touch of vegetable.

Taste: Grain sweetness, some crispness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, light.

Drinkability: Very good, easy to drink.

This is probably my favorite "cheap" beer. I find it to be better tasting than the macro-brews. It has enough taste to be enjoyable, but it is light enough to have a bunch if you're drinking with a crowd. Supposedly this is the same recipe as Old Style. I like it!

Serving type: can

03-24-2007 18:10:01 | More by Mdog

brdc

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light golden, with a decent white head.
Smell is your average lager, although no hops are noticeable here. Mostly bread and sugar dominate the smell.
Taste is better than your average lager, if not complex. Pleasant light body, and malts and bread are evident.
Easy to drink, nothing special but perhaps a good beer for a large party.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 23:03:04 | More by brdc

Ricochet

Ohio

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

This is Strohs 101. If I had a Strohs to compare it with, it would be pretty close, but Strohs has a little less of the follow through of this beer. Poured with no head, mild carb, darker yellow, so a notch above average. Smell also above average with the hops and the malt of this sticking out, like a Strohs. This is okay in my book. Taste was, a better than average American lager. Almost like Yuengling's premium, there was a thickness to this which gave the mouth a plus, mostly the corn flavors were noticeable, but they blended with the alcohol and made this a plesant drinker.

Well, it was the first time I saw this at my regular, thought I would give it a try for no other reason than City buying the Latrobe brewery and putting those peeps back to work. This isn't bad at all and if I see it more around Cleveland, it is cheaper than Strohs and when Yuengling runs dry, it will make a good carry over until I get to PA.

Serving type: can

11-05-2006 03:27:05 | More by Ricochet

chilidog

Ohio

2.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I thought thisone may make a good stand-by or at least a keeper for cook'n, but perhaps not. Its at a good price in my area, but its not what im quit looking for .

On that note; It pours well. A clear gold with a fair fluffy head that maintained well. Lace was ok, at least it was there.
The body is medium and the mouthfeel is somewhat chewy I think from the body. Carbination is good. No fizz with alittle activity. It says its naturally carbonated, so it is.
The aroma is sweet malts and grass.
The taste is sweet, malty with a metalic background with hints of grass or earth. The mouth is left alittle dry and tin like.

Serving type: can

09-30-2006 12:42:58 | More by chilidog

pmcadamis

Illinois

3.08/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours crystal clear pale gold from a cheesy loooking bottle into the pint glass. This champagne like beer has a 1/2 finger head and streams of bubbles rising to the top. Some decent lacing is left on the glass.

I just got back from a long run out in the heat, and I'll be damned if this doesn't look thrist quenching.

It smells pleasanty fruity. I smell apples and apricots in addition to a weird but nice rubbery smell. I tried the light version of this about a week ago, and the smells are almost identical (this one is just a little bit more pungent than LaCrosse light).

The taste is fruity and grainy with a macro-ish funky taste. Not bad. It's better than just about any other cheapo beer that I've had (read: all of them....I was a poor college student once). Mouthfeel is nice and creamy
for such a lightly colored beer.

As predicted, this is extremely thirst-quenching. Sure beats gatorade!

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2006 16:24:55 | More by pmcadamis

musicjustintime

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A decent, affordable, American lager. At $12.99 for 30 of these puppies, how the hell COULD you go wrong?! It's got 'nuff hoppiness, yet it's not TOO bitter. Very smooth and probably a wonderful summertime brew to just pound. Why pay a ton of money to help beat the summertime heat, to burp, and to piss....when you can pay $12.99 for THIRTY of these bad boys and beat the summertime heat, burp, and piss???!!! (In all honesty..don'tcha git da same effect and results from ALL SUDS?!?!) I'd recommend this to any Bud drinker...or any macro-drinker....'cause it's CHEAPER AND PROBABLY A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE BIG SWILL SHIT! AND, you're not paying for the advertising. Yeah...in fact...I HIGHLY recommend this. Bottoms up, my beer-loving pals!! Nice job, La Crosse Lager brewers.

Serving type: can

06-27-2006 18:59:00 | More by musicjustintime