Tag Archives: pale lager

HEINEKEN LAGER

Thankfully, one of the first quality European beers imported to America in the ’70s. Its iconoclastic ‘skunk-y’ whiff (usually a distinct drawback due to light-stricken beer bottles) re-enforces the bitter hop prominence and prickly yeast pungency, easing down the throat with an ultra smooth water texture. Still beats all mainstream American lagers for quality. Note: In the faddish bomber can, skunked yeast funk pushed back for sickly cloy nature ruining original essence.

KRONENBOURG 1664 PALE LAGER

Mildly creamed straw-hued French/German border brew much closer to German Bavarian lager than wine-y French ale. Salty sharp-hopped maize-dried smoothing, baguette-like sourdough yeast breading, and residual citric sugaring subside too quickly, leaving insufficient character to distinguish Kronenbourg from better competition. Serve with a lemon twist to add luster. Amazingly, this is supposedly the leading brand in France with a ridiculously absurd 40% market share.

BRAHMA CHOPP PREMIUM LAGER

Musty, ill-defined, grain-based straw-yellowed pale lager backs strong malt liquor aroma with sour yeast astringency. Reminiscent of bland middle of the road Czech beer, but too watery and soapy to be halfway assertive. Though lacking maintained corn-sugared finish, its grassy hop fizz will draw novices and blue collar fans alike. Cheap lawnmower fare.