Thomas Hooker Munich Lager

After a recent visit from the Thomas Hooker representative, I wanted to try the full variety of brews.  I've had most (if not all) of the Hooker beers over the past couple years, after all they are practically right down the road.  There's also a few rumors floating that some new beers are on the way, so revisiting the old favorites is becoming even more of a priority.

This brew from Hooker Brewing is the Munich Style Lager.  There is often a shortage of Lagers among craft brewers, largely because of the extended brewing time compared to that of Pale Ales and IPAs. This Munich Style Lager is cool-fermented and aged for 6 weeks, compared to the average ale which can be ready in just 2-3 weeks.

Munich Style Lager pours out a clear golden color, with just a thin layer of white foam. The head fades back pretty quickly, as you can see by my 3-seconds too late photo.  The aromas are what I think of as the quintessential smell of beer.  Just a touch of hops is largely overwhelmed by the firm backbone of malts. This isn't the candy-sweet style of malty aromas though, I'm talking about the just slightly sweet, bready/grainy style of hops.  It smells much like the best lagers in the business, such as Augustiner and Weihenstephaner.

On the palate, this Lager is almost exactly what I expected: crisp, clean, and easy-drinking. There's a touch of malty sweetness up front, which just a slightly dry finish on the back-side. A deliciously balanced brew! I now know why this Munich Style Lager is ranked so highly on beerAdvocate!  Why did I not try this one sooner?

Located in Bloomfield, CT, Thomas Hooker brewing has received some serious accolades over the past 10+ years that they've been brewing.  High on the "best brewery" lists from both beerAdvocate and RateBeer, this local favorite should not be over-looked!

Thomas Hooker Brewing
Munich Style Lager
TCSH Rating - 8.5/10
Aka - One of the best domestic Lagers to date

Eli
Bibo Ergo Sum