This beer immediately shot to the top of my personal list for a few reasons, one of which is that, at just eight dollars for a six-pack, it’s among the most affordable beers on the market. Our beer-brewin’ friends over at Whalers in South Kingstown, RI, recently launched a new flagship beer—Whalers Light Lager. Whaler dubs their first light lager as a beer brewed with crispness and simplicity at the forefront, and they are spot on. This beer immediately shot to the top of my personal list for a few reasons, one of which is that, at just eight dollars for a six-pack, it’s one of the most affordable beers on the market.
My favorite part of almost every Whalers beer is the can. The iconic whale logo and light-blue accents transport me to a New England summer before I even crack it open. However, with the addition of Light Lager to the lineup, my favorite blue whale might be playing second fiddle for a while. The Light Lager can actually looks like a delicious beer—it’s a deep-bodied, shiny gold with a nice thick white band. When the cans are fresh out of the cooler and glistening with condensation, they almost glow in the sunlight. Craft beer cans often feature intricate designs, but the world of light beer is inundated with bland cans… so a golden beer can that glows in the sun? Go ahead and put me down for a few packs of those.
The Beer
Just like Light Lager’s flavor profile, my review is pretty straightforward. It’s a crisp, golden lager that, when served ice cold, is as refreshing and drinkable as they come. It’s the 2-seamer right down the gut, the off-the-glass-and-in jump shot, or the “white paddletail on a jighead” of beers.
I first tried this beer after a very sweaty daytime surf fishing mission. Enjoyed ice cold on my truck tailgate, I couldn’t have asked for a more fitting beer for the moment. It cooled down my fishing buddy and I right away, eased the lace bite from wading boots, and quickly improved the overall merriment after a disappointing outing.
I find that sometimes inexpensive light beers have a mild yet undesirable sweetness to them, which diminishes that first ultra-crisp sip. Such is not the case with this brew, and I suspect it’s due to the flaked corn that’s brewed with the pilsner base. It is extremely palatable and refreshing—the kind of beer that earns a tongue click and a “tsk-ahh” after every sip.
Taking after the can, this beer excels underneath the golden summer sun and is an excellent liquid AC for a hot day on the boat or at the dock. At 4.0% ABV, it truly is lighter than other lagers, and makes it that much more crushable when you have a thirst that needs quenching. Late summer into early fall is my favorite time of the year to enjoy a light lager. For me, after a brisk day on the water chasing albies or jiggin’ for tog, it’s tough to beat the comfort of a few chilly ones around a hot stove or fire pit. That said, you’d be foolish to think I’ll walk away from eight dollar six-packs just because there’s snow on the ground. I can picture a slew of those gold cans stuffed in my ice-fishing tent already.
Currently only available in RI, the Light Lager will hit shelves across New England in the coming weeks. Since I first tried the brew in July, I’ve made several journeys across state lines to restock my fridge.
Overall Score: 9.4/10. This is my kind of beer. Simple, versatile, crisp, and delicious.
Whalers Brewing Company
Light Lager
ABV: 4.0%
Homeport: South Kingstown, RI
Official Score: 9.4/10
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