Buzzards Bay Lager

Formerly brewed at Just Beer (fka Buzzards Bay Brewing)
Style: Dortmunder/Helles
Westport, Massachusetts USA

Rich copper colour (dark for style); nose is not that big, but packs a few different elements in - slightly oxidized hops, an almost kumquat-like fruitiness, creamed corn and Irish whiskey (or is it whisky?). The palate is malty, with a slight bit of tin, maybe 24 IBUs, with more DMS (slight at first, but getting stronger towards the finish).

12oz bottle acquired in trade. Poured a medium and clear golden color with an averaged sized white head. Aromas of grass, citrus, and I get some spiciness. Tastes of citrus and grass. Like the tastes, the body was a litte on the weak and watery side. Lively body as well. Not one of my favorite styles, but still drinakable.

Pours a pale clean golden with light carbonation and a thin-lacing, airy white head. Aroma is mildly, sweet and toasty with some graininess and noble hoppy presence. Body starts with a mild light sweetness, turning more dry and bitter toward a crisp, authentic finish. Fairly true to style, it’s just not that exciting of a beer.

Sparkling clear, light golden lager with a small, creamy, white head. Decent retention with sparse lacing. The aroma and flavor are both malty with notes of butterscotch, butter and light herbs. Decently balanced by the diverse hops. Medium-bodied with a syrupy/sticky mouthfeel and fizzy carbonation. Short, bitter-sweet, creamy finish. Good stuff... for a helles.

My Bottom Line:
This eminently drinkable but uneventful Helles suggests a few blond cereals to go with its leafy, spicy hop subtleties, before moving into a dry and moderately bitter finish.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam covers the clear golden.
-The nose doesn’t offer much more than whispering pale malts.
-The body is healthy and super clean. Flavors are so timid though that watery passages feel too present (even for the style).
-Malts could have been crisper. Nonetheless, this is the kind of product big breweries could (should) easily brew.

Bottle.

Pours amber with a thin head that doesn’t stick around. Smells of nananas and oranges. Taste is on the sweet side. Tastes more like a bland golden lager than a dortmunder.

Bottle. Copper color with a moderate white head that diminished slolwy with fair lacing. Moderate sweet aroma. Medium body with smooth texture. Medium flavor with a good refreshing finish.

Hmmm the only "local" beer at the dull bar that was blocks from our motel in Great Barrington MA, and I'm at a loss to explain all of the good reviews here. Maybe it's because I'd just had an excellent brewpub experience or something, but this was really boring, weak, somewhat ricey, with no nose to speak of and nothing on the finish. Ehhh.