Sunken City Brewing Dam Lager
Back in March of this year, I posted a review of Sunken City’s Red Clay IPA which, for the most part, was a decent brew. It did, however, have a minerally character that dampened the overall experience. Was it an off batch of beer, the particular recipe, or would we encounter it again in other products from the company?
Well, I happened across a sixer of the brewery’s Dam Lager and decided to to see. This 4.7% ABV amber lager is tasty and darn near chuggable, but it too has a bit of a mineral presence that lingers after each swallow. The trait isn’t as strong as what I encountered in the IPA, but it’s still there a bit. Perhaps it’s the brewery’s water supply.
At any rate, Dam Lager disappeared quickly from the fridge, but I fear that with other Virginia breweries making excellent examples of the style (Devils Backbone Vienna Lager for one), I don’t see myself picking up any more of this one in the future.
Appearance
The beer pours a crystal clear, golden amber in color with a decent crown of off-white foam.
Aroma
Toasted bread, caramel, grain and distant fruits combine for a nice smelling beer.
Taste
The lager starts out smooth in character with a medium body. Bready malts with a light toast and grain backbone wash smoothly over the tongue. Hints of carmel, honey and fruits persist. The mineral notes aren’t nearly as strong as the Red Clay IPA, but they’re still there in a more subtle fashion, lingering in the lasting, semi-drying finish.
Overall
Dam Lager is an easy drinking brew that has potential for a solid sessionable brew. In fact, I quite enjoyed it more than their IPA. I’m just still intrigued by that minerally character that is present in both beers. It’s not as distracting here in this lager as it was in the company’s IPA, but it’s still enough to take away from the overall drinking experience.
Rating: 3.5/5
