Trader José Dark Premium Lager

This is pretty good, kind of liike a Negra Modello. It needed a little more scent and flavor distisnctiion but it was a solid refreshing drink.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark mahogany-hued body with a frothy, white head. Smell: Sweet-smelling, malty nose with notes of caramel, toast, and dark fruits. Taste: A flavor of sweet caramel, with lighter hints at toast and nuttiness. Light fruitiness. Only a very light bitterness. Drying, reasonably toasty finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Not altogether terrible and priced, if not for glory, then at the very least for an outdoor, sunnytime gathering.

Picked up to post for a ADL and for drinking with my wifes fajitas. Pours attractive garnet brown with a quickly dissipating off white head. The nose is malt sweetness and brown sugar. The flavor is about the same with the addition of some roasted malt and dried fruit. A bit sharp on the palate. Clean finish. Surprised to see everyone pissing on this beer so much.

Pours into my 33cl tulip glass with a frothy, initially almost three-finger thick, amber-dirtied, tan colored head. The beer shows some clearness but is dark enough that it is hard to see through as it sits on the table with a red-tinged, concentrated amber color; when held up to the light it shows a brilliantly clear, cranberry red / amber color. The aroma smells of caramel and grain husks up front and has a sweet, almost fruitiness. The finish has a slightly grassy, crushed grain aroma to it as well as just a bit of toasty / bready malt character to it.

Sweet tasting, with a light nuttiness to the finish and just a hint of roast to it. Fuller bodied than I was expecting, but this is light and quaffable. The sweetness plays up some light caramel notes and even a touch of berry-like flavors. The hop presence is fairly low, but there is a slight bitterness to this brew and perhaps a touch of herbal hop presence. The carbonation provides a touch of a bit in the middle that couples with the hop notes. This finishes with a toasty, almost bread crust like, biscuit malt character that in its dryness does a fair job of balancing the sweetness that is found up front.

I know it says its from Mexico so it must be crap, but I am quite surprised by this brew. I think it gives Negro Modelo a run for its money and if it isn’t, it sure does a good job of faking the aromas and flavors of an all malt beer (well minus the caramel coloring). While this is certainly not earth shattering, it actually has a better mix of flavors and balance than many of the usual Trader Joe’s label beers. At the price they sell this at it is almost a go to BBQ / grill beer for those hot Summer afternoons & evenings.

(Bottle) Moderately dark in appearance, little head. Only barely bitter...somewhat sweet. Neither heavy nor light. Has a hint of the creamy taste that some Mexican dark beers have, but without the pleasant vanilla aroma. There’s not much aroma at all, in fact. Overall it is weak tasting, although not completely flavorless. Somewhat reminiscent of Negra Modelo...perhaps it’s an attempt at an imitation...if you ask me, it succeeds in this role.