Review Date 10/2/1996 Last Updated 2/11/1998
Try?
Re-buy?
As I was scanning
the shelves of a local beer retailer today I noticed three
new beers from Latrobe Brewing of Latrobe,
PA. My usual reaction to being
confronted with new beers is to buy some, and being a stickler for
tradition, I did just that. Surprise! Each beer proved to be rather interesting,
not world class brews but a far cry from the company's Rolling
Rock beers.
The first I sampled was the Bohemain Pilsner. The Bavarian Black was next, and though it might be more appropriately labeled Bavarian Dark or Dunkel, it is a very good Munich Dunkel IMHO. A sweetish, roasty maltiness is followed by a light hopping, which in this case suits the syle more closely. I understand this beer won a gold medal at the GABF in the dark lager category. I'm not much on competitions, and I'm not sure I'd say the beer is of that caliber, but it is a great brew, and my favorite of the three.
Update: February 11, 1998:
I find each beer in the
Latrobe line to be a very decent
beer and a good example of it's respective style. The pale ale is a big hoppy
brew with plenty of character, the pilsner has a decent hop bite and a
soft malt body, and the
Bavarian Black compares
most favorably to such classics as
Kostritzer and Sprecher. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we've been
bitching and moaning for years that the big three and regional brewers weren't giving us what we want, and now that they are trying to do just that we're
still bitching. Give them a chance! Great
deal at $3.99 a six-pack,
I would buy the
Latrobe Bavarian Black
at
twice the price.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
