McNeills Pay Day

Brewed by McNeills Brewery
Style: Pale Lager
Brattleboro, Vermont USA

22 oz bottle direct from the brewery - this version is NOT the bottle-conditioned version that has received some rather negative reviews below. Color is clear light amber and there is appropriate carbonation though head retention is minimal. Aroma is minimal, and clean appropriate for style. What really stands out in this beer is the solid malt backbone that is really deliciously grainy, with a very slight sweetness. Hops are there minimally for balance not for show. The bottom line: this is a very well crafted Vienna Lager, not an easy style to pull off as there are no huge IBU’s or dark malts to hide behind. I realize that the bulk of Ratebeerians are hopheads or highgrav freaks, and might care less for a "mild" style such as this, but from what I hear the folks of Brattleboro have embraced Pay Day as a session beer worthy of your attention. The high drinkability of this beer might lend itself to serve as an intro microbeer for somebody who has never had anything more exciting than a Bass Ale. It is unfortunate that from the negative reviews I have read, the initially unfiltered bottle-conditioned version of the beer had an aggressive yeasty assertion that must have overpowered the subtle beauty of this beer.

(22 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with jjpm74, thanks John!) McNeill’s beers have a very short shelf life in my experience, so as soon as I got this beer in trade, I put it in the refrigerator in a brown paper bag to keep the fridge light from impacting the beer, and now I’m drinking it five days later. That’s about the best I can do in a trade. Having stated this, I’m hoping the mild to moderate sourness is intended because it’s not very subtle. It seems more like a sourdough type of sourness rather than a citrusy one, and though it’s not exactly enjoyable, it doesn’t make this beer an instant drainpour either. Still, there isn’t too much behind the sourness, which is why it’s so apparent. The mildly flavorful malt base seems very grainy and husky with just a hint of smokiness in the finish, and there is only a modest amount of hops for very gentle bitterness. Far in the background is a light sweetness that seems vaguely fruity, though no specific fruit jumps out at me. The nose is far from aromatic, with just a modest graininess and slight tartness. Body is light-medium and carbonation is fairly low, but the sourness at least keeps the palate refreshed. Orange amber in color and fairly cloudy in appearance, but there is enough translucence to see that there are no carbonation bubbles rising through the beer. No surprise there since there was barely a wimper when I popped the cap, and pouring the beer, I could only muster a thin filmy layer of "head". That film has of course long since disappeared and there is barely a ring around the edge now. Lacing is nothing more than a few sporadic spots. I wish I could say I enjoyed drinking this beer, but all in all, it’s just not very good. Maybe if it were less sour, it would be better, but even then, I still don’t think I’d enjoy it.

Deep golden in color with a medium white head. Aroma/flavor is a balance of malt and hop witha touch of butter. Medium bodied and a dry finish.

Pours a hazy copper orange with a thin white ring of foam. Has some mild citrus and caramel malty aroma. Starts with some full dry bittersweet maltiness with a touch of tartness and earthy hops. I had no idea what this was supposed to be before I drank it (nor did I know how it was rated) and I really don’t think it’s as bad as these ratings suggest. An interesting brew. Doesn’t really fit any specific style though.

demonstrates skill in an underappreciated style. It was still fresh and very popular with my drinking mates, finishing a 750 ml. Yeasty aroma. CLoudy unfiltered look, good head, lace. well malted and smooth creamy mouthfeel, though metallic in finish.-after all it is a lager.

Pours a cloudy orange color with a thin white head. Weak aroma of spices and caramel. Unpleasant flavor of spices, hops and caramel, there’s something gone wrong in there. The body is light and the carbonation low. It’s hard to believe that’s a McNeil ...

Bottle. Gold color with a little white head. Dry plastic and hoppy aroma. Fruity and sweet flavor. Apricot notes. No goodl

Bottle. Gold color with a small white head, Aroma is dry but fresh hops with some plastic (no pool toys though). Taste is almost repugnant, fruity with apricot and sweet/sour like chinese food. Horrible.