The Session #25: Love Lagers

The topic for this 25th edition of The Session comes to us from The Beer Nut and it is “Love Lagers“:

It’s the world’s most popular style of beer and can be found in abundance in almost every corner of the globe. For millions of people the word “beer” denotes a cold, fizzy, yellow drink — one which is rarely spoken of among those for whom beer is a hobby or, indeed, a way of life.

You can read more about Beer Blogging Friday a.k.a. The Session over on the Brookston Beer Bulletin.

Icehouse. Yes – The Plankroad Brewery Icehouse. When I was an under-age drinker (not that I’d encourage such behavior mind you) – that was my beer of choice.  Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately – I couldn’t bring myself to actually purchase the requisite 24 pack for a trip down memory lane.   I probably wouldn’t be able to finish even one.  What in the world would I do with the other 23?

So how about something that isn’t completely terrible instead?  More amber than yellow – but always cold and fizzy.  For the last several years our “Premium” lager of choice has been Pennsylvania’s own Yuengling.

On draft pretty much everywhere around here (and most of the east coast of the United States) – even if they don’t sell “craft” beer they still have Yuengling.  And while the brewery produces several beers – the Traditional Lager is what you get when you ask for a “Yuengling” at the bar.

Also available in the green bottle – because that’s part of the flavor.  I mean why else would anyone still use skunky ol’ green bottles?  Besides all that marketing and brand recognition stuff – though I’d be more likely to remember it if it tasted good.  Unless it was exceptionally bad – I’d probably remember that too – but that would be like anti-marketing…

Made with a base of malted barley, corn and a touch of caramel malt for color – it also features cluster and cascade hops (in strict moderation of course).  And for a fizzy amber lager it’s actually not that bad.  Sort of a middle ground between the traditional macro swill and a high-falutin’ Sam Adams Boston Lager.

Possibly the most refreshing – best tasting beer I’ve ever had was a Yuengling.  A long afternoon of helping a friend move – sweating like crazy – moving boxes and appliances.  The task seemed to stretch on forever.  Finally – the job done – it was time for a beer.  I grabbed one of those frosty green bottles (marketing!) out of the refrigerator.  Twisted off the cap (yes, twist-off!) – and drank the whole thing in about 8 seconds.  Man that was a good beer.  The second one was pretty good too…

I’ve tried to replicate the experience since – sweat and all – but I never have been able to do it.  I think a large part of what makes a beer “good” or “bad” is the terroir of time and space (Is there a word for that?).  Where you were on that particular day – what you were doing – and who you were with – can take even a mediocre beer and make it out of this world.

“But wait one minute there mister intellectual-cosmic–sweaty-pants!”, you’re probably thinking.  “Only available on the east coast?  This is sounding a bit crafty to me!”  And you’d be right – kind of.

While D.G. Yuengling & Son only produce a little over 1.7 million barrels per year – they do so in only 11 states.  Compare that to the 50 states needed for the Boston Beer Company to sell 1.9 million barrels.  My napkin-math tells me that if they had the capacity to send beer to all 50 states – then they would be making an ass-load of beer.

Seemingly content with regional supremacy – the brewery doesn’t appear to be in a serious hurry to expand.  They also produce 6 other year-round beers – including a couple of “Light” versions.  Note the use of  “Light” as opposed to “Lite”. Crafty! (You see what I did there, right?)  They also currently choose not to produce any seasonal beers (although that is subject to change).

So, the next time you happen to be visiting the east coast – make room in your beer itenerary to give this little not-so-macro lager a try.  You may be pleasantly suprised at its ability to to blur the line in this seemlingly “either or” macro vs. micro brew world in which we drink.

Tagged as: beer, lager love, lagers, The Session, yuengling