Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
http://www.karlstrauss.com/
Karl Strauss Amber Lager at a Glance:
Style: Amber Lager
Appearance: Clear, deep copper
Aroma: Caramel malts
Taste: Toasted malts
Verdict: Boring but very drinkable
When we left off after part I of the Snark Double team, Brian was busy hating his Sam Adams Summer Ale and was eager to try something else. I offered him Old English and Mickey's, but he picked Karl Strauss Amber Lager instead. Yuppie.
I cracked open two bottles and poured one for Brian and one for myself. The color of the beer was exactly what you'd hope for from an amber lager. I'll leave it up to your imagination. The head was cream colored and the bubbles were tightly packed, which retreated to form a lasting ring around the glass.
The aroma was caramel malt and only the tiniest hint of hops.
"It tastes like toasty," Brian announced after enjoying his first sip. "It reminds me of Fat Tire."
The flavor was toasted malt up front with a lingering, mild bitterness after the swallow. It reminded me of Fat Tire Ale too, a bit, but a worse Fat Tire. The mouth feel was thin and watery, but not inappropriate for a lager.
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| Karl Strauss Amber Lager |
The final word? Karl Strauss Amber lager is a boring but completely drinkable beer. It is a good candidate for those seeking to expand their horizons beyond piss yellow macro lagers, but a beer aficionado will find little here to excite him or her. Brian announced, "I don't need a super exciting beer." When you are Brian a boring beer will do you just fine. My life isn't that exciting; I need my beer to be.
-Ryan
Style: Amber Lager
ABV: 4.2%
Availability: Southern California
Other beers that may interest you:
Trader Joe's Bohemian Lager
Harp Premium Lager
