Anderson Valley El Steinber Mexican Dark Lager

Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Style: Amber Lager/Vienna
Boonville, California USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Shaker

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Robust, malty aroma has fruity and hay undertones and a hint of - peppers? It pours a dark and semi-transparent chestnut brown with a fairly thick and foamy wheat head. Flavor has malty, hay, caramel and subtle apple juice tones and some smoky hints. Smooth texture is firm and fairly fizzy, leaving a malty and fruity finish with a hoppy hay overtone. Mas than what I expect from a lager - muy bueno!

16 ounce pint - $6.50 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Passed across the bar a clear, dark brown-hued body with a half inch of head the color of dusty ivory. Fine, slim lacing on the way down.

Smell: El Steinber leans malty, with notes of toasted bread crusts, lightly roasted malt, and cocoa. Slender hoppiness. Small touch of fruit.

Taste: Dark, liberally toasted bread crusts atop subtle pils malts housing tastes of cocoa powder and a restrained roastiness. Sensible sweetness. Turns a bit nutty as it warms. A little raisin fruitiness. Minor hint of herb and spice, with a low bitterness from the German hops. Nicely malty, nutty finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation.

Overall: Works fairly well as a easy-going, easy-drinking dark lager.

On draft at Tap 25. It pours a very dark amber color with a khaki head. The aroma is super bready with multigrain and a hint of caramel. Maybe there’s some light floral hops in the background. The flavor is very dry and grainy. Pretty complex malt profile. I enjoyed this one a lot. A very good, standard dark lager.

Draught from Brouwerij lane. Dark deep clear amber pour. Yeast and malts aroma. Very roasted. Powerful taate yet light bodied.

Can: dark brown pour with large beige head. Aroma is earthy with some dusty toasted grains, soft cocoa powder and a touch of toffee. The flavor is interesting with barely sweetened toffee, nutty, and a earthy grain. Palate is smooth with a light sweetness that grows mildly dry/bitter in the end. I was not expecting much but was surprised by how flavorful and easy to drink this beer was. I would drink more if this becomes available locally.

Tap at Stagshead with no mention of Mexican in title. Pours brownish with beige head. Light nose of malt and coffee. Tastes of coffee, apples, chalk, malt, smoke, earth, and some leather. Finishes dry and easy drinking

Draft to taster. Looks good for the style; a mostly transparent brown with foamy off-white head. Smells and tastes of caramel and dark malt with a nice, light mouthfeel and a fairly dry finish. A decent lager.

The Trestle Inn, Philadelphia tap: Pours a dark brown with a beige head. Aroma is darkish chocolate, roasted malts, and a modicum of hops. Taste is somewhat sweet, with plenty of chocolate flavour. This was very drinkable, and frankly I am surprised at the low rating... maybe because it is weighted.

Dark, almost black with a thin white head. Aroma is slightly musty with hints of chocolate. Flavor is a slight chocolate, notes of roasted malt while not being big and full. Nice dark lager, kind of like a upscale Negro Modelo, it could be good with spicy food as a counter to heat without being heavy. Not bad, nice little session beer.

This one poured a light brown color with an off white head. Aroma was light caramel, toasy, some biscut and grass too. Flavor was similar, nice balance, not adjuncty and worth buying another.