LAGER (D.G. YUENGLING AND SONS BREWERY, POTTSVILLE PA)

A lager is a relative new kid on the block, considering the long and distinguished brewing history of ales, and gained some prominence in the19th century in Germany and parts of what is now the Czech Republic. The simplest and most basic difference between the two beers is in the yeast. Ales use top-fermenting yeast and are brewed at higher temperatures, while lagers employ bottom-fermenting yeast and are brewed at cooler temperatures. The early 20th century brewing industry in the US can help to account for the worldwide popularity of lagers. The need for mass-produced, transportable beer in warmer American climates combined with the availability of refrigeration set the stage for lagers to become the most popular beers in America; produced year-round in state-of-the-art breweries across the country. Lager styles vary quite considerably. The Pale Lager is probably the most common and available (Miller, Budweiser, and Heineken). Bocks, pilsners, ambers, light beers and malt liquor are all considered lagers.

D.G. Yuengling and Sons Brewing Co. boasts the oldest brewery in America, which began operations in 1829. They say so right on their bottles. Yuengling`s Traditional Lager enjoys immense success and popularity in the Philadelphia area, South Jersey included, and has topped Budweiser as Philadelphia`s #1 beer. Not too shabby for a regional brewery. Walk into any bar in the area and order a lager, and watch them pour you one of D.G. Yuengling`s own, without questioning the brand you prefer. Yuengling is also available in 12 oz. bottles, the contents of one were chosen for this week`s review.

Yuengling pours into the glass and gives the immediate impression of an amber lager, with a respectable but fizzy rather than foamy head. The darker, amber appearance of the brew leads one to believe that it will be more fully flavored than the average pale ale. It smells sweet, but almost sickly-sweet and there is a slight burn from the carbonation, which continues to fizz while the head dies off some. The taste, while an improvement on the smell, is a slight letdown after the first look. It is a smooth drink with a nice malty sweetness; unfortunately the sweetness is not well balanced by the under-achieving hops. The sharper, less-pleasant bitterness of carbonation is alone in offsetting the sweetness.

Now for the disclaimer…

I stock Yuengling Traditional Lager in my own refrigerator. I enjoy it while watching the game, I pull on one while doing yard-work in the heat, I serve it to friends and I order it at the local bar. It is a smooth-drinking beer that lacks somewhat in character, but is refreshing and pleasant nonetheless. It is an excellent alternative to most of the bigger American super-breweries and is reasonably priced, so an evening at the pub won`t set you back too much. It is an accessible lager. It is not the province of beer geeks alone, and so may be enjoyed with open and varied company. I think this says much, for who wants to drink alone anyway?

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Jim Clark