Rheineck

Brewed by Lion Breweries - NZ (Lion Nathan Co.)
Style: American Dark Lager
Auckland, New Zealand

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Shaker

Dark lager? I think not. Looks like watery chardonnay with a white head that spreads itself thinly over the top. The hop character is understated to the point that it is unidentifiable (it isn’t there). To be fair it has aromas of classic pilsener malt, lemongrass and cut hay. There is good mouthfeel which gives it a creamy texture and it is very cool and refreshing. I think that this is (guilty secret time) good session lager for hot days and deserves a better reputation than the one it does.

Rheineck Beer 9,5% Leicht malzig-muffig im Antrunk, hopfig-herber Mittelteil, in dem auch ein leicht nussiges Aroma aufkommt. Ein Nachgeschmack ist nicht vorhanden. Angenehm! Test vom 18.10.2006, Gebinde: Glasflasche Noten: 10,10,11,2,4,9 - 8,25

Bottled. A golden beer with a lazing white head. The aroma has notes of citrus and malt as well as a bit of cardboard. The flavor is sweet with notes of cardboard and malt, leading to a bitter finish. The body is thin.

Can. Sampled alongside Tasman Bitter and Ranfurly. Like the Ranfurly, this poured a clear golden yellow, nothing dark or amber about it. Just as plain and bland too, only in a more palatable way. In other words, I wouldn’t drink Ranfurly if it were given to me for free, whereas I would drink this (only if I were DARN thirsty, mind you).

Too sweet, sickly, not a good example of a quality lager. I was drinking this 25 years ago and people mocked it then, nothing changes.

Rheineck gets mocked a bit in NZ because it is only 3.5% ABV. But for those who have spent a summer afternoon drinking a few glasses of Rheineck, perhaps while watching some test cricket, this beer is a real treasure. It really does have a pleasant taste.

(Can 33 cl) Clear, deep golden with a dense, shaving foam style head that leaves a dense lacework. Sweet aroma of malts. Light in body with the standard NZ macro sweetness of malts and brewing cereal. Absolutely no bitterness. But admittedly very drinkable. 240108

Bottle. Cheap beer. Not strong enough. Sweet. Pale straw colour, Nice head though. Not malty. $10 for 12 bottles