Weeping Radish Fest Amber Lager

Brewed by Weeping Radish Farm Brewery
Style: Vienna
Jarvisburg, North Carolina USA

From notes 1/15/03: Amber/copper/orange tints to the body of the beer. Has a head that jumps out at you and says, "Hello, sailor!" I swear the head played tricks on my eyes: it started an orangey hue, then settled down to an off-white. But before I could really question my visual skills, the head poofed away to near nothing. A malty kick to it. A smooth flavor that warms me nicely. Nothing too sweet or sticky, just a nice malt essence. There is a bready toasted feel to it as well. The hop kick is minimal as this is more smooth malt than anything. As the beer warmed, there was more of a lingering of the flavor on the tongue. Rather nice.

On tap at the brewery. A deep amber and thick head, but nothing notable. Mildly nutty nose.

Had this one on draught in Manteo, North Carolina. Way overrated. Medium reddish brown pour with a filmy head and very little nose, cidery and somewhat dry but balanced. Not terrible, but not good either.

Tap. Light raspberry malt aroma. Dark amber color with moderate head. Light sweet malt flavor. Light body. Very light but tastes good - nice for the style.

Pretty average micro. A little going on, and I mean a little. This is a good lawnmower beer. Crisp and easy to drink with enough malting to give it some character. A bit watery with a litle bitterness to remind you that this is an America fest beer.

Crystal clear amber pour releases a nicely lasting off white head, and the appearance is quite promising. Light caramel aroma, perhaps some faint hops. Malt dominated flavors with some citrus hops coming through a well carbonated, even fizzy, light to medium body. Pleasant enough, but nothing special.

Weeping Radish Fest Amber Lager pours to a beautiful, bright, deep amber color with a creamy white head, and a good amount of carbonation. The nose is very well done on this beer with an excellent balance of toasty/nutty malt aroma and grassy/herbal hop aromatics. The palate is firm, with plenty of sweet, toasty, and nutty malt flavors. The body is round, and clean, making this beer very smooth and drinkable. Fest Lager ends with more sublime balance, good toasty malt flavors up front and some nice herbal hop bitterness at the end. This is a truly exceptional example of marzen/Oktoberfest bier, with fantastic toasty/nutty flavors, and great balance

I’m surprised I enjoyed this as much as I did, given how bitter it is. This beer has a fairly sweet caramel malt, and an uncomplicated flavor profile with a touch of medicinal hops that’s oddly enjoyable. I so rarely have Viennas, but they DO indeed have a distinct flavor. Though I can’t put it into words, that flavor is certainly present in this Weeping Radish brew. Very nice.