Coney Island Lager

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: Vienna
San Francisco, California USA

Draught at The Red in Santa Cruz. Clear amber with a compact, creamy off-white head that leaves moderate lace. Mostly hoppy aroma: floral, spicy, earthy, and a hint of citrus. The flavor is a great balance of toffeeish malts and assertive, complex hop flavors. The hops are a good blend of more citric american flavors, and more earthy and spicy european character. At first, it seems like a hoppy APA, but the light, crisp body and cleaner flavors let you know that you are drinking a lager. I love hoppy lagers, and this one is definitely well done. Just light enough to politely pair with the portabella sandwich that I had, but with enough hop flavor to cut through the richness of the brie cheese on it.

Aroma is strong and malty with just a whisper of fruit - banana on second examination. Color is a dark honey-amber, not like your typical lager, and with a nice thick off-white head that sticks around for a bit. Flavor is smooth, malty with a fair amount of hoppy bitterness and a trace of fruit. Hop flavor dominates the aftertaste. This is rather different from what I expect when drinking a lager.

On tap at The Red in Santa Cruz. Poured into a pilsener glass. Light amber with lots of bubble columns. The aroma showcases an unusual hoppiness for a lager; sweeter citrus fruit comes through alongside the more classic earthy Saaz. The flavor has a nice maltiness that is part caramel and part cookie. The hops are mostly leafy and herbal but some of the citrus from the smell is detectable. Body is heftier than expected for the style, but this is still a very drinkable beer.

not good but it could be worse. a litte off in the nose but fairly drinkable. it came with free cotton candy at the bar, the biggest upside to the brew.

Bottle poured pale amber with a bit of a cream colored head. The nose and the flavor were pretty bland. Not a bad beer, but not too memorable.

This brew pours a clear amber body with a large fluffy head. Aromas of caramel and ripe malts, yet with the sweet citrus from the hops. Very floral but resembles breakfast at the local pancake house. a mouthfeel which is very pleasent overall and a little heavier than most Czech pilsners ive tasted.

From a 22 oz bottle this poured a deep copper color with a small off-white head and light lacing. Mild nose of caramel malts and floral hops. Light mouthfeel. Flavor is malty with light hops. Not much in the finish. Kind of bland, but drinkable.

light maroon copper color and a thin tan head. Light but fragrant aroma of candied malt and floral hops. A medium to light thick body and a crisp carbonation. Faint brown sugar and grain followed by a metallic hop note. Delicate, subtle, and balanced beer.