Judge’s Review: 93 Rating – Riverwest Stein NA by Lakefront Brewery

International Amber Lager | Year-Round | USA

By Randy Scorby

Judges Rating: 93
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 38
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 18

Riverwest Stein NA by Lakefront Brewery is being evaluated as an Experimental Beer (Category 34C) from the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Riverwest Stein NA Amber pours a deep copper color with a very light haze that features a fine, thick and creamy head that lingers. The aroma opens up with a prominent bready, grainy maltiness that includes a hit of caramel. As it continues to warm, a moderate herbal, earthy hop aroma emerges with a touch of orange fruit. The fermentation is clean with no yeast-derived esters developing.
The flavor shifts to a more prominent hop character, with moderate orange fruit and light lemon zest. The light herbal hoppiness rests more in the background. A moderate and balancing grainy malt flavor emerges mid-palate, along with a light caramel character that offers an additional layer and light sweetness. The moderate and smooth hop bitterness lingers into and throughout the medium-dry finish. The flavor also features a clean fermentation profile. The medium-light body and moderate carbonation round out this beer.
This is a well-brewed NA beer, the balance between the bready, grainy and caramel malt flavor and the herbal and citrus hop character makes for a very pintable beer. This beer will be a hit with fans of NA beer, and even if you do not typically drink this style, try it, as you won’t miss the contributions from the alcohol.