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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/580366
www.cheersonline.com 46 • October 2015 A LINEUP OF LAGERS For this round of reviews, we asked our national panel of beer experts to sample some lagers. These selections include brief tasting notes and a rating. If you're a retail or on-premise beer professional who would like to learn more about participating in our panel, please contact Kyle Swartz at 203-855-8499 ext. 225 or kswartz@ epgmediallc.com. BEER RATING SYSTEM FIVE STARS (93-100 points) A top-fl ight beer. Superior in taste and character, providing an outstanding price/ value relationship. FOUR STARS (86-92 points) A highly appealing beer at an excellent value. A beer for which customers will keep coming back. THREE STARS (80-85 points) An above-average beer at a reasonable price point, which many consumers will enjoy. FIVE STARS (98) Nooner Pilsner (Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA) 5.2% ABV, 38 IBUs. A snow-white head from the bottle that has staying power, and a lovely golden straw color that is clear as can be. It has a clean, light, malty nose with a pronounced noble-hop aroma. A perfect balance of malt and corn-like sweetness, with a strong noble-hop fl avor and bitterness that lasts and lasts. This beer is a wonderful take on an old country classic. (95) Hotter Than Helles Lager (Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL) 5% ABV, 20 IBUs. This beer pours from the can with a short-lived creamy white head with a crystal-clear pale golden color that has a strong, clean and grainy aroma with very little hop in the nose. Has a wonderful carbonic bite that plays well with clean and crisp malty sweetness, kissed slightly with noble hops. A quintessential lawnmower beer made for Florida's long hot summer on the boat, beach or lounging by the pool. (94) Zywiec Porter (Zywiec Brewery, Zywiec, Poland) 9.3% ABV. Opaque black, with tall and creamy tan head. Toffee and dark chocolate fi ll the nose. The sweet malt is complemented by toffee, chocolate and cappuccino fl avors. Medium-bodied, viscous and creamy. Long, luxuri- ous fi nish. Throat warming is pleasant, and the alcohol is well concealed. Unlike American or British por-