Ballast Point Brewing Company - Longfin

For the Third Beer of Christmas, we drank the great, great, great grandfather of most North American lagers (like Bud, Coors, etc.)

Ballast Point Brewing Company
Longfin Lager

I have been accused by a few people of drinking "tar" and "scary black beers." Maybe that's true. This year I made sure I grabbed a few bright, non-scary beers to throw into the mix. Today's brew is a craft beer version that's very similar to, but tastier than, the North American lagers (Bud, Coors, etc) that I grew up drinking.

The appearance, taste, and aroma are all similar to the commercial lagers, but the taste and aroma are definitely better.

The beer is a beautiful pale gold, just like you'd get from a draft beer or if you poured your Bud/Coors into a glass. The head is a very thin cap of tiny bubbles that clears away well before I can finish the glass.

A fragrance of sweet grass -- not freshly mowed, but long and sweet -- and a light floral from the hops are the main scents that greet the nose. It's not a beer that smells so good that I want to linger over it like I do with my tar-like brews, but it is nice and light, promising a refreshing drink.

Light and mellow are the best descriptions I can give for the taste of this beer. There's a light citrus taste from the hops and it has a well balanced combination of malt and carbonation that make it a thirst quencher which doesn't dominate the mouth or linger on the tongue.  This beer is highly session-able.

Overall, I prefer a bit more presence from my beers, but this is a solid brew that's highly drinkable. If you're trying to sway friends or family members away from the mass market commercial beers to craft beer, pick up a sixer of Ballast Point's Longfin along with some Calico (their amber) and Wahoo (their white.) Soon you'll find them rifling through your refrigerator looking for a porter.

Stats
Brewer: Ballast Point Brewing Company
Location: San Diego, California
Website: http://www.ballastpoint.com
Style: Munich Helles Lager
Alcohol Content: 4.50% ABV
Interesting Note: Ballast Point isn't just a brewer, they're also a distiller with offerings of rum, gin, vodka, and whiskey. I have not tried any of their spirits, but I think some Devil's Share Bourbon may be in my future.