Judge’s Review: 82 Rating – Kühlschrank by Moniker Brewery

Vienna Lager | Special Release | USA

By Brian Eichhorn

Judges Rating: 82
Aroma: 19
Appearance: 4
Flavor: 36
Mouthfeel: 7
Overall Impression: 16

Kühlschrank by Moniker Brewery was reviewed as Style 7A, Vienna Lager, per the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
In the glass, it’s a slightly hazy deep burnished gold, touching on amber perhaps. The head is creamy and off-white, maybe a touch fizzy and collapses relatively quickly to a ring of bubbles. The nose presents as slightly fruity, with some berry and apple notes, not as clean or toasty as I was expecting. There’s an undercurrent of toast and a hint of cocoa, minimal, slightly spicy hops as well. On tasting, it comes across as much toastier and less fruity, though there is some fruitiness into the finish. I again get a sense of cocoa, though not full-on chocolate. I presume that’s the maltiness popping. It’s fairly light on the palate and very drinkable and attenuated, but it’s lacking a lager cleanliness and crispness that I’d expect. Malt-forward and quite drinkable, but it’s kind of missing some elegance and pop. It’s not caramelly and it is appropriately bittered, with a suggestion of spicy hop flavor. Nice enough, but not as toasty as I’d expect.