Beer Review: Lakefront Riverwest Stein
After a harrowing two hours of 24 (which included the death of a somewhat beloved character), I need a beer. Tonight, I'm trying the Riverwest Stein from Lakefront Brewery. Lakefront is a great Milwaukee brewery with a fairly diverse catalog of beers. The Riverwest is an amber, fairly cloudy lager. It's got a pretty strong, malty aroma. The flavor is very distinct and quite complex. I can't say that I've tasted many beers that I can honestly compare this to without missing important details. There is a powerful caramel flavor on account of the caramel malts used in the brewing process. There are hints of roasted barley as well, but they are more in the background. There is a strange effect as you swallow the beer. Once the beer goes down your throat, there is a rush of flavor across your taste buds. The flavor is a heightened version of the malty caramel that you taste in the beer itself with an extra kick from the hops. It's like a tingling rush of hops, very unique. It also acts as a palate cleanser. I would expect such a malty beer flavor to stick heavily in my mouth. I'm glad that it doesn't, because now every drink maintains that strong, "first sip" flavor. The Riverwest Stein is going to be high on my list of repeat buys. It will also be my first selection when I take their brewery tour again.
