I've been missing my favorite East coast beer, Pennslyvania'sYuengling, for some time and decided to try - again - to find something that can remind me of that perfect beer. I was first introduced to this beer while living in Delaware by a co-worker from Pennslyvania.

This was nearly twenty years ago, and back then I don't think you could find Yuengling outside of that state. However, he would head home almost every weekend and bring back a case for the week. When I would take that first sip it was as if I was drinking Zeus's piss, it is that good.

But being on the wrong side of the Mississippi river, it is not distributed. Yet, from time to time I feel the craving - is there anything out there that can help me?

In my searches, I found that Brooklyn Larger could possibly offer a glimmer of hope.

Brooklyn Brewery History

Founded in 1988 by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter, this brewery does indeed still operate out of Brooklyn, NY. Interestingly, Steve was a reporter for the Associated Press and covered Middle Eastern news. During his time there, he befriended many diplomats and other Western workers. Since alchohol is prohibited in those countries, the diplomatic compounds often had a thriving microbrew culture.

Forget murdering people, I say that Diplomatic immunity is wasted if you aren't using that power to make your own beers in the middle of a desert. Wouldn't you agree?

Being around such operations for years he picked up a profuse amount of brewing tips from these diplo-brewers. Upon returning home to Brooklyn, he began to dabble with the recipes in his own home. After some time, him and his downstairs neighbor, Tom, decided to go bigger.

Brooklyn Larger Beer Review

STATS:

• Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
• Alcohol content: 5.2%
• Company description: Brooklyn Lager is amber-gold in color and displays a firm malt center supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma. Caramel malts show in the finish. The aromatic qualities of the beer are enhanced by “dry-hopping”, the centuries-old practice of steeping the beer with fresh hops as it undergoes a long, cold maturation. The result is a wonderfully flavorful beer, smooth, refreshing and very versatile with food.
• Ratings on Beeradvocate.com: 3.72/5 with 3,707 ratings - 'Good'

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Label

No fancy artsy gimmicks to catch the eye here, just a basic label. However, the 'B' is very reminiscent of something I might see in a baseball logo. The strong green color used is also distinctive.

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The Details

Appearance: A dark, cloudy, orange-amber color that reminds me of a strong IPA. It holds a decent amount of carbonation that makes building a head easy. I actually overdid it a bit as I did not expect the head to build so fast. Head retention is also good, and you can expect it to stick around for awhile.

Smell: There is no powerful smell to this brew. Nothing in particular stands out, it just smells a bit malty... like a beer. You know what it smells like when you walk up to a bar? That is this beverage.

Taste: Like the smell, no flavor stood out amongst the others. Every ingredient is well blended into an above-average drinking experience. There is a light, not unpleasant, bitterness aftertaste left on your tongue.

Mouthfeel: This larger is refreshing with its medium-light body and medium carbonation. The blend is smooth and the carbonation is felt on the tongue as it passes. Combined together it actually hints at a caramel creamyness.

Drinkability: This is something you could down while watching a Yankees game. Or building a deck. Or at your friends BBQ. The point is that this is something you could drink for hours... and keep going back to.

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Verdict

Brooklyn Larger is simply an above-average beer that could become my go-to if I didn't have to pay a premium price to get it all the way out here in Arizona.

You might think that being medium, or 'average', in nearly every area wouldn't be so good - but you would be wrong. Without any glaring negatives, this astonishingly excellent blend of malts and hops leads itself to something that can please the masses - from the swill-drinkers to the beer snobs - without sending anyone away to get something else.

To me, this "Pre-Prohibition" style larger is a noteworthy beverage that I would be glad to have in my fridge at all times.

It is no Yuengling though - the search continues.

4.25/5