Judge’s Review: 92 Rating – Old 121 Lager by Old 121 Brewhouse

American Lager | Year-Round | USA

By David Sapsis

Judges Rating: 92
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 18

Old 121 Lager by Old 121 Brewhouse is being judged as an American Lager, category 1B in the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
The beer is presented at 47 degrees F in a stange glass, showing a deep straw (~3 SRM) color with brilliant clarity and a modest white foam stand.
The aroma shows off a nice bright cereal-corn note with a hint of cracker sweetness and a wispy light peppery hop note. The nose is light but still significantly richer than a typical industrial version of the style, and I detect no DMS or acetaldehyde. If anything, there is a light fruity ester reminiscent of asian apples or pears that is not overtly fruity but rather ripe and somewhat nectar-sweet. 
The flavor is quite light in malt character, showcasing a crackery/bready note to complement a light white-corn like angle, with very modest bitterness, estimated around 12 IBU. The mid-palate flavors highlight a touch of herbal hop flavor to round out the light malt and a noticeable but soft acidity. The finish is dry with lingering crackery malt notes and a light mineral character. Gas level is appropriately high and adds to the crisp nature of the beer, a foundational element for the style.
Overall, this is a very nice example of an American lager, with expressive cereal-like malt structure and balanced hop character all in a tight, gassy and refreshingly dry package. The hint of fullness coming from the light fruit ester element is somewhat complementary, giving the beer more flavor than often encountered, but not pushing it wide of the style marks. Give it a try after mowing the lawn and I predict your thirst will be slaked while you reach for a second serving. Well done.