Catahoula Common is being evaluated as an American Lager (2015 Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Category 1B, although it could alternatively be categorized under the Historical Beer category as a pre-Prohibition lager (2015 BJCP Category 27F.)

Grainy malt with a slight sweet impression and a little toasty note. Some low level fruit esters reminiscent of apricots are pleasant but out of style for a lager. Very low levels of herbal and earthy hops are joined by a little Sulphur from the lager yeast. Golden with brilliant clarity and a tight creamy white head which drops to a lingering ring of foam. The flavor provides a moderately grainy malt presence and hop bitterness. There is an herbal, earthy hop that comes in mid-way through which diminishes as some sweet malt appears. The beer manages to finish moderately dry with some lingering herbal hops. Medium body with moderate carbonation, creamy and smooth. Easy drinking and flavorful summer thirst quencher yet a little sweet and not as crisp as your standard American lager. An increased carbonation level would have helped balance the beer and clean up the finish. The beer is not as bitter as a pre-Pro lager and the fruity esters, while pleasant, are stylistically out of place for either category. So, this one doesn’t fall neatly into either BJCP category but who cares, it’s a tasty summer beer.