RateBeer
Score
1219
OVERALLStyle
Brewed by Big Rock Brewery
Style: Premium Lager
Calgary, Canada
Serve in Lager glass

bottling
unknown

on tap
available

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RATINGS: 42   WEIGHTED AVG: 2.3   EST. CALORIES: 150   ABV: 5%
COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
XO Lager is our recipe for a 165 year old pilsner beer style. It has a creamy head and a crisp clean finish. XO's soft delicious balance is accomplished by using Saaz hops from the Czech Republic, one of the most 'noble' hops in the world. The name XO signifies the extra time left to age in our lagering cellars.


1.2
   AROMA 3/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 2/10   PALATE 1/5   OVERALL 4/20
Oakes (10009) - Gibsons, British Columbia, CANADA - JUN 1, 2007
UPDATED: JUN 10, 2007 Woohoo...the once and former World Classic (see 4th edition of Jackson’s Pocket Guide). Golden colour. Doesn’t hold much head in my Grasshopper glass. The aroma is grainy/bready with a strong overtone of that signature Big Rock mushroom/foot character. Soft carbonation is a plus, but it might be the only one. This is very sweet, but not in a full-bodied malty sort of way. This is sweet in the doughy/worty way that non-alcs are. No hops. Saaz? Extra lagering? You cannot dazzle me with bullshit. This beer is poor, a failure amongst even the weak field of "craft" lagers. And what’s with the stewed peaches?

1.8
   AROMA 3/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 3/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 6/20
JoeMcPhee (6835) - Toronto, ON, Ontario, CANADA - APR 2, 2011
Hazy pale golden pour. White head. The aroma is fairly sweet with lots of DMS present up front. Fairly slick, almost greasy palate. I think that about says it all - down the drain with this beast.

2.7
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 11/20
jerc (5446) - Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - NOV 6, 2007
Bottle shared with Mabel. Crisp pale yellow body with a small fluffy white head. Mild grassy hops aroma. Flavour has a mild bitterness throughout with light grassy and floral notes. Average palate. Meh. I did not think this was nearly as bad as everyone else, perhaps it was just cold enough, or I was thirsty enough to look past it, who knows

2.6
   AROMA 4/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 6/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 10/20
Braudog (4473) - Hampton, Virginia, USA - MAY 17, 2007
Bottle. Bright yellow with a thin macro-like head. Very starchy aroma. Bad start. But this drinks pretty well ... smooth and tasty. Light malt and lemon cookie with a basic hop component; this is made to compete with Labatt Blue, I presume and I’m not sure one could distinguish. Well made lager with just enough hop tanginess to rescue it from mediocrity. (#2881, 5/14/2007)

1.9
   AROMA 3/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 7/20
tiggmtl (4467) - Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA - OCT 22, 2007
Corn-like DMS is strong in the nose and unfortunately overwhelms just about everything else except a light grainy character. Clear golden body is topped by a low white head that recedes rapidly to ring. While the graininess and corn are present in the flavour as well, there are also some lightly peppery hops and decent bitterness. Light body is somewhat watery in texture and carbonation is quite pointy. Tulip glass. Just above fridge temperature. Bottle (Gift. May-07). Thanks, Oakes!

2.3
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 10/20
DuffMan (4242) - the land of bitumen, beef & beer, Alberta, CANADA - MAY 15, 2007
I suppose this can be thought of as Big Rock’s answer to Paddock Wood’s Czech Mate. The latter is by far the better. This came off as completely ordinary with barely a whiff of hops. I would place this behind most of Big Rock’s other offerings, and it certainly isn’t a standout among craft beer pale lagers.

2.2
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 2/5   TASTE 4/10   PALATE 2/5   OVERALL 9/20
mabel (4129) - Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - JAN 2, 2008
[811-20071104] Bottle (w/ jerc). Yeasty sea aroma qualities. Clear, pale yellow body with a very quick bubbly white head. Grainy mild flavour has a bit of yeasty alcohol. Light-medium body. Not interesting.

2.7
   AROMA 6/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 5/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 10/20
presario (3977) - Stampede City, Alberta, CANADA - MAY 8, 2007
Sometimes I find a lager or pilsener hard to rate. There is a fine line sometimes between success and failure. Sometimes intimidating to put the first rating in. Gold. Fair carbonation. 1/3 inch head does not last very long. Light bubbles maintained on the edge and middle. Light aroma with notes of grass, bread and sweet cookie. Noticeable up front hops. Sweet malt and finish. A light pilsener. Not going to set the world on fire. More mainstream than craft. Just can’t work up an excitement for it.


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Rating Notecard:
Beer: Big Rock XO Lager Rating Avg: 2.3 No. of Ratings: 42
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