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.

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.

22oz bottle: Pours to a slightly hazy light-medium amber body with a small light beige head. Shines light copper when held to the light. Aroma is light grain, mild fruit, a hint of yeast, and a very light dough. Taste is light grain, wet sweaty grains, a hint of lemon, yeast, pale malt, and light hints of salty water and bready malt. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, finishes with a hint of good grains, floral/grassy hops, and a bare hint of citrus. Excellent mouthfeel and body, no off flavors whatsoever. No sourness anywhere in my sample.

Pours amber with a thin rim of white bubbles. Smells of citrus and some sugar. Taste is very citrussy with some caramel on the 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.

Poured an amber color with a thin, off white head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of caramel malts, light citrus and metal. Taste is much better. Some grains, sweet caramel malts, dough, some citrus, light bitterness, and a dry finish.

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.

Well I guess there’s not much too say that hasn’t been said, so I’ll say that overall I like Mcneill’s brews. This one not so much. Aroma has a funky smoke to it, oh yeah this bottle is from last christmas, so I have no idea how much older it may be. Poured a dark hazened yellow. Flavor is grainy to me. Palate isn’t anything to complain about this just wasn’t for me. Maybe I’ll crack that imperial stout soon.