Beer Review - Coney Island Lager
December 4, 2008
After a brief hiatus, I have decided to make my glorious return to beer reviewing by checking out Coney Island Lager which is brewed and bottled in New York by the Shmaltz Brewing Company.
At first glance, the bottle definitely sticks out on the shelf when you’re browsing for new beers to try. I picked up the 22 oz one ($3.99), just because of the look of the bottle! It has a creepy looking puppet with a big smile, and tattoo’s all over his face. The label says for ‘Lager Freaks and Beer Geeks’. (A definite calling for The Brew Club members!)
As I open the bottle of Coney Island Lager, I have a sniff and pick up a very hoppy caramel aroma to the beer. To be honest, it smells like a good solid beer. When pouring the beer into the glass, it produces very little to no foam. The color is light amber to almost a dark orange type of color, and it’s pretty cloudy also. As I take my first swig of Coney Island Lager it has a bitter taste at first, but finishes slightly smooth.
The label it says that this brew is composed of 8 malts, 6 hops, & Czech pilsner yeast. Perhaps that is why I’m having a difficult time of pinpointing what this beer tastes like exactly! The beer is slightly heavier than your normal lager might be, and I’ve also noticed that the cloudiness of the beer remains even as I slowly continue to drink the beer. The Coney Island Lager has a 5.8% alcohol content, so it definitely has a slight kick to it.
In my opinion, one cool thing that I have noticed on the label is that the Smaltz Brewing Company (He’Brew Beer) brews the Coney Island Lager. All the proceeds of this beer are going to the Save Coney Island Foundation, which works to preserve the famed playground Coney Island in NYC – so you can also drink for a good cause!
The Coney Island Lager is a pretty decent beer, but I would find it difficult to drink more than 2 because it gives you a full feeling after drinking it. Given that, it’s definitely a very drinkable beer, and if I were at the bar I’d definitely order this brew!
I give it 3 1/2 stars!
Rating: 
Liz
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Posted in 3 Star Reviews, All Brews Reviewed, American Beers, Lager
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December 4th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Actually Shmaltz is out of San Francisco. I sampled this at the most recent beer fest I went to and it was good. I have also been told that their Lenny’s RIPA is amazing by multiple people. I am trying to find it around my area.
December 5th, 2008 at 2:14 am
I dunno. On the website (bottom by copyright notice) it says Shmaltz Brewing Company San Francisco, New York 1996-2008. I guess they are on both coasts? Maybe some are brewed here and some there???? Dunno. On their Craft Lager page, it says ‘Brewed & Bottled in New York’.
Mike, I have also heard good stuff about the other He’brews, but unfortunately Liz only got one for herself and didn’t share with the rest of the class!
Scott - TheBrewClub’s last blog post..Beer Review - Founders Reds Rye Ale
December 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hi all. This is Zak from Shmaltz Brewing Company. First off, Liz, thanks so much for the Coney shoutout. We’ve been having a great time with that entire brand and I’m really glad you enjoyed the beer. We’re really trying to play around with the lager style of beers by creating some delicous and robust brews using all lager yeast. The rest of the lineup is pretty unique also. Mike and Scott, we were started in San Francisco back in 1996 and brewed out of Northern California for the first several years. About 5 years ago, we moved our production to Saratoga Spring in NY, thus making us bi-coastal. We still consider ourselves a San Francisco-based company, but all of the beer is brewed in NY. Where do guys all live, I may be able to help you track down some of the elusive RIPA. Feel free to email me at ztdavis82@gmail.com. Cheers and have a great holiday!!
December 5th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
And there we have the answer. =)
December 6th, 2008 at 4:02 am
Looks like a really interesting brew, and looks like the Schmaltz guys are having a real brewing adventure.
I’ll look out for their stuff in the specialist beer shops here in London, certainly the label is distinctive enough!
Bob the Brit’s last blog post..The Poacher