Dundee Beer Part 2: Pale Bock Lager

Alright, the next beer that caught my eye in this 6 variety mix pack was the Pale Bock (6.2% ABV).  So what do I do? Crack one open and pour myself a tall glass.  Again, on the 20 pt scale, here's what I thought of this lager...

Appearance (3) - The beer is a dark golden color with very faint amber hues.  Now, while this may be a beer dubbed 'Pale Bock' I was not expecting something this light (Not the best first impression).  Now while the head retention was okay, I also expected the head to be thick and creamy...it was not.

(2/3)

Aroma (4) - Big malt aroma...but again hops? A traditional roasted smell? I can't find them...

(3/4)

Taste (10) - The balance of the good deal of malt is matched pretty well by a mild hop flavor and a good deal of bitterness.  Definitely works well. (4/4)

-Mild, slightly bitter flavors in the aftertaste.  But there's something else that doesn't taste so good...faint metalic tastes (irony). (2/3)

-Medium bodied...a little lighter than desired, but I won't nit-pick.  Good carbonization. (3/3)

-Overall it tasted pretty good (9/10)

Overall Impression (3) - This beer bent the rules of the traditional bock...but it tastes pretty damn good.  Again, I would expect some stronger hop aromas and roasted tastes/smell though. (2/3)

SCORE - 16/20 - Very Good Beer.

Dundee Beer Part 1: Honey Brown Lager

Okay so here is the first installment of my mix pack beer excursion...ENJOY!

I will score the beers of the Dundee mix pack via the 20 pt scale.  In this scale, points are awarded as follows:

Appearance - 3 pts

Aroma - 4 pts

Taste - 10 pts

-Hop/malt balance - 4 pts

-Aftertaste - 3 pts

-Mouth Feel - 3 pts

Overall Impression - 3 pts

*Beers scoring: 18-20 Excellent beer; 15-17 Very Good beer; 12-14 Good beer

I decided to kick off this review with Dundee's original - their Honey Brown Lager (4.5% ABV):

I crack open the brew and pour it into my glass to find that it is a beautiful golden color as I expected.  My first taste gives the impression of a typical lager very smooth and good drinkability.  However, there was definitely an added sweetness that gave this beer something else...

Appearance (3) - The beer was a beautiful golden hue when poured into a glass - fitting the personality of a lager perfectly.  However, the head retention was not the best I have ever seen...

Score - 2/3

Aroma (4) - My first impression of this beer was the aroma that arose from my glass as I poured it.  A sweet malt aroma hit my nose immediately and sent a positive first impression.  However, the smell lacked a hoppiness that I was searching for...

Score - 3/4

Taste (10) - The lighter malt flavors were okay, but as my nostrils first noticed, where's the hops!?! (2/4) 

The aftertaste of this beer is very mild, barely even noticeable.  Exactly what I expect from a crisp, clean, lager. (3/3)

As desired, this sweeter lager has a medium-light body which goes down very smooth.  However, it is not a carbonated as I want it to be. (2/3)

Total - 8/10

Overall Impression (3) - For what it is intended to be, this is a solid beer.  It is a clean, refreshing beer with slightly noticeable honey overtones.  I would expect a "craft beer" to be a little more creative, but the slight honey taste makes this beer worth a try.

2/3

TOTAL SCORE: 14/20 Good Beer