Oranjeboom Premium Lager, Breda, Holland
May 12 '01 (Updated May 13 '01)
The Bottom Line Not the most appealing lager available, but as a summer thirst quencher certainly does its job. Worth having a few in the refrigerator when you need to hit that spot.
Well I hope the rest of you who read my reviews across the States, as well as the few in England are enjoying the weather. Here in Palm Desert we reached 110F all week. I’ve been looking in my refrigerator for something to drink only to find that I’m somewhat heavy on the ales. Fortunately I work nights, so by the time I start drinking its only 80 or 90 degrees.
Well today I was over by Trader Joe’s and decided I needed to balance out my refrigerator. So I picked up a couple of lager six packs, Oranjeboom, which was something of a bargain at $3.99, and another which I will review later.
OK, so having learnt a fair bit about beer tasting and reviewing over the last six months, now the challenge becomes a little more difficult. Ales by definition are very well defined, individualized and full of character. Lagers in comparison tend to carry very similar styles, admittedly some are better made than others, intended mostly as thirst quenchers. Stuart A.Kallen in his “Idiot’s Guide to Beer” probably puts it best when he categorizes lagers as champagnes and ale as any other kind of wine (and I would add fortified wine). Even within the world of champagne though, there are of course Korbel’s and Cristale’s, same styles but with huge distinctions.
Oranjeboom
This is the original Oranjeboom Premium Pilsner. One of the finest examples of Continental European brewmanship. This brewery was established in Holland in 1671. The striking name, crest and color of the Oranjeboom, symbolizing the family tree of the Dutch Royal family, the princes of Oranje-Nessau, were assigned to the brewery and its premium beer to pay homage to the royal founders of the Realm of the Netherlands. According to the Surgeon General……oops you caught me copying from the label.
Beyond the label Oranjeboom, brewed in Holland, translates as Orange Tree. It is something which I had passed by a couple of times. Let’s face it the name is cheesey, the bottle is green and the six pack is only $3.99. I’m busy trying to find the best beers in the world, not the worst. But I have to admit that Oranjeboom certainly seems like a lamb dressed as mutton.
Tasting Notes
As I poured Oranjeboom into my pilsner glass it quickly begs temptation. A nice white foamy head forms beneath a clear light golden body. The carbonation is very impressive, constant rising bubbles, providing as much captivation as a lava lamp. As you stick your nose over the glass you’ll quickly notice the malt, however the hops are very strong and I even detected a hint of spice (no doubt the strong hop).
As you taste this beer, you’ll immediately notice how easily quaffing it is, you could probably knock a bottle back in 10 minutes if it were your first on a Sunday afternoon. The flavor is certainly sweet initially, however this does quickly turn to a sharp, hoppy dryness. The finish is distinctively dry, but very satisfyingly so. The sweet malt at the start followed by the crisp dry finish make this a very enjoyable brew.
The Verdict
Don’t get me wrong, this is by no means the best lager I ever tasted, but you could call it a pilsner. If you asked me what was wrong with it, I could say it’s a little weak, watery and flavorless. But at the same time it’s definitely an excellent thirst quencher, and by no means the worst beer in the industry. I’ll have no problem finishing off the other five (four by the time I finised writing).
At $3.99 for a six pack, this beer certainly proves that there are many quality cheap alternatives available in the beer market. A year ago, if I was looking for something cheap, I’d have probably picked up 12 Natural Ice’s or dare I say budweiser’s. Oranjeboom proves that there’s never a reason to buy Bud again; no not even the price can get me now!
So if you’re looking for something to drink after mowing the lawn on a Sunday, or something different to take to a party, Oranjeboom definitely does the job. Unadventurous but very tempting, it’s worth a try.
Recommended: Yes
Rating: 3 stars
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: California via Yorkshire
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I just watch a lot of movies. Epinions is a great excuse.
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