Prime Time Lager+

Prime Time's Lager+ is a caffeine infused low calorie lager.  I have to applaud Prime Time for creating a low calorie lager that tastes like a regular lager but the addition of caffeine feels a bit like too much of a gimmick for me.

It pours a deep golden colour with a frothy, robust off-white head that lasts and laces.  It smells delicious with a sweet and juicy aroma of citrus, hops and caramel.

The flavour is so light that it's quite disappointing after the amazing smell, but I had to remind myself that it's a lager and I wouldn't really expect an explosion of flavour.  It has a very watery taste of hops and a slightly soapy hint of citrus.  The hint of caffeine is perhaps in the aftertaste that I can only describe as 'a bit weird'.  As you would expect from a lager it's thin bodied and well carbonated so it has a proper lagery mouthfeel.

It's a refreshing light lager but it's more of a Lager minus than a Lager plus for me.  The caffeine leaves too much of a weird taste in my mouth and I much prefer a beery aftertaste so  unfortunately, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by The Innovative Brewing Co, London
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Prime Time

Prime Time Premium Lager

I was attracted to Prime Time's premium lager by the 95 calories per can as I often drink alcohol free beer when I'm on a diet.  So, I have to give Prime Time extra credit for creating a low calorie lager but as you know I like my dark ales, so lager is never going to be a high scorer for me.

The lager is a deep golden colour with a frothy and surprisingly tight off-white head that lasts and laces.  I was really impressed by the aroma; it smells lovely and beery with a traditional combination of hops, malts, caramel and light fruit.

The flavour is very light but not unexpected for a lager, however, after getting a whiff of the lovely beery aroma, it tastes like a watered down beer.  There's a metallic aftertaste that is really the only hint of flavour I picked up.  It's well carbonated and nicely fizzy with a thin body.

I expected a bit more taste from a 'premium' lager so I was disappointed with the very weak flavour.  It's a very subtle lager that will appeal to novice palates but I prefer my beer with a bit more oomph.  Unfortunately, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by The Innovative Brewing Co, London
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Prime Time

Staropramen Premium

Staropramen Premium is a light lager brewed with Czech hops.  It's mass produced and brewed in the UK by Molson Coors.

This bright golden beer has a very frothy off-white head that clings to the side of the glass as you drink it.  The aroma is very hoppy with hints of sweet caramel.

It has a traditional beery taste of hops and caramel with a dry, bitter finish.  It's well carbonated and fizzy with a thin body that makes it very refreshing to drink.

Considering it's mass produced, it's a very tasty lager with a bit of oomph thanks to the Czech hops.  Although it's nothing complex, it's a very refreshing thirst quencher to drink in summer and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Molson Coors Brewing Company, UK
5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Staropramen

Impossibrew Enhanced Lager

 

Impossibrew Enhanced Lager is an alcohol-free beer with a difference: it contains mood enhancing L-Theanine and Griffonia seed extract to calm and soothe the mind.

It’s a lovely light golden yellow lager with a frothy off-white head that retains a decent, albeit patchy, layer as you drink it.  Although it has quite a light aroma, it has a traditional lager smell but slightly more hoppy I think.  

The taste of dry hops continues into the taste as well as a slightly bitter hint that lingers in the finish.  It’s not an overly complex flavour profile but it’s clean and refreshing, which is what I’d be looking for in a lager.  It’s well carbonated and fizzy with a thin but not watery body.

I loved the hoppiness of this lager and the slight citrus tang in the finish.  I wouldn’t have guessed that it was alcohol-free if I was doing a blind taste test.  I think the mood enhancement works too as this lager had a similar effect to CBD drinks.  I felt calmer and more relaxed but of course I had a beer in my hand so I was already in my happy place.

I’m pretty impressed with this Impossibrew lager and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Impossibrew, London
0.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Impossibrew

Michelob Ultra

Although I rarely drink it, sometimes it's nice to have a lager; especially if the sun is shining and you want something thirst-quenching and quaffable.  I think it's really good that some breweries are promoting health and wellbeing by producing a range of low carb, low calorie, gluten-free, low alcohol and alcohol free beers.

Michelob Ultra is billed as a superior light beer and targeted at people who want to keep fit but still want to enjoy a beer, without feeling guilty about the number of calories they are consuming.  I'm not sure about the keep fit thing for me but limiting my calories is something I'm keen to do, however, I love beer so much that I really don't want to compromise on taste.

So very pale it appears anaemic, Michelob Ultra looks a bit sorry for itself in the glass.  It's a very very very pale yellow with a rapidly disappearing loose white head.  I had to take the photo as quickly as possible as it gets a very headless flat appearance within a few seconds of pouring.

The aroma is equally uninspiring, but then again you don't expect much from a lager.  It has a very weak smell of hops and maybe a hint of sweet honey.  Unfortunately, the taste test continued the disappointing theme.  It really just tastes like beer flavoured fizzy water, although it is clean and refreshing to drink. 

I have to give them full marks for creating and marketing Michelob Ultra but it's a very uninspiring tasteless experience; I'd rather forego the 3.5% ABV and have an alcohol free Becks Blue or a glass of fizzy water.

Brewed by AB Inbev (Anheuser-Busch), USA

3.5% ABV

My rating:

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