Laško Zlatorog

I've been really enjoying Eastern European lagers over the last few months.  They tend to be crisp and refreshing, if a little predictable.  From this camp comes Laško Zlatorog, a Slovenian brew that hails from the city of Laško.

I picked this brew from a handful of similar lagers offered at the LCBO for two non-beer reasons: the outstanding image of the goat that adorns the can and the adorableslogan "Traditionally Brewed with Love Since 1825."

The beer is sold in 500mL cans and weighs in at 4.9%.  It is a clear yellow-gold colour with a thin head and a moderate amount of lace.  The beer is not terribly carbonated for a pale lager, but it's still pretty fizzy.  Zlatorog has an ordinary lager smell; wheaty, tinny and slightly bitter.  The flavour is wheat first, with some corn thrown in.  The mouthfeel is thin and watery.  The aftertaste is bitter, but only mildly so, and extremely brief.

This is an easy drinking beer, but there is very little to set it apart from the scores of similar pale lagers on the market.  There is no real character.  That said, if you like pilsners and Germanic lagers, this is the brew for you.  For those readers who enjoy a pale lager on occasion, give this one a try--just don't expect any surprises.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.