Loncium Vienna Style Lager
Review Date 4/29/2020 By John Staradumsky
For Christmas of 2015, my wife bought me a really cool present: BeerAdvent Calendar 2015 from Kalea. In truth, my wife got me a lot of nice presents (she’s the best wife ever), but the nice thing about the Beer Advent Calendar is you get it early. You have to, since it’s comprised of 24 different imported German beers in a box with little doors that you open, one per day from December 1st through December 24th. All of the beers are listed on the side of the carton, however, so be careful not to look and spoil the daily surprises!
I love German beer more than beer from any other country on Earth, so this was definitely right up my alley. I have managed to get my hands on one of these calendars each year since, and have never been disappointed. Overall, this is an amazing way to sample 24 German beers over 24 days, and I look forward to it every year. For the first three years, I've found these at Costco in Georgia and paid $59.95 for the box. Last year, though, we were in Spring Hill Tennessee and I saw these on a pallet at the local Costco in mid-October. I grabbed one there to make sure I didn't miss out. They were up $5 to $64.95 (and indeed, when I did see them at the new Costco in Woodstock, Georgia a month later they were the same price). This year, I found them earlier than ever (September 26th) and bought one at Costco here in Georgia for $63.95, though curiously they were down to $59.95 on my next visit.
That might sound steep, but when you distribute that price over 24 different half liter cans, it only works out to $2.66 per can. Not a bad deal at all looked at that way. It certainly does not stop these from selling; a follow up trip to my local Woodstock Costco a few weeks after I saw them and there they were: gone!
For 2019, there are six new beers in the mix and 18 returning favorites. I do like this, because there are a lot of the beers that I really enjoy, and want to enjoy again. It's like 18 old friends and 6 news ones in the same box. What's better than that?
Day 19 delivered the second of two Austrian beers: Loncium Vienna Style Lager. Just a few days ago, I opened a door to a can of Schwarze Tinte Collab Stout, which was interesting indeed (stouts are not common from Germany or Austria, at least we don't see them often here in the US). A Vienna Lager, though, is the perfect style to represent Austria. It originated in Austria in 1841, the brainchild of brewer Anton Dreher. I love the style, it is (or should be) rich and malty and delicious.
Loncium Austrian Vienna Style Lager is brewed by Loncium Biermanufaktur of Kötschach-Mauthen, Autria, not far from the Italian border. They say about the beer:
Eine untergärige, mit Karamellmalzen eingebraute Spezialität. Die Malze verleihen Farbe und Aroma. Leicht süßlich, erinnert an Karamellbonbons, angenehm Hopfenbitter.
Which means, if you don't speak German:
A bottom-fermented specialty brewed with caramel malts. The malts give color and aroma. Slightly sweet, reminiscent of caramel candies, pleasant hop bitters.
My can from the Beer Advent Calendar is listed as 5.1% by volume. My can is stamped EXP 05/2021. Loncium sells the beer as Loncium Amber Lager in Austria and they list it at 5.5% by volume alcohol with 22 IBUs. The can says gebraut von Kalea GMBH, so apparently the calendar version is contract brewed for Loncium.
Loncium Vienna Style Lager pours to a deep caramel color with a moderate sized head of creamy foam and a delicious toasty malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer is a malt lover’s dream: caramel up front with deeper notes of toasty nutty melanoidin goodness. It finishes gently bitter with grassy bitter hops balancing off the malt. A very tasty Vienna Lager, well done!
I’m greatly enjoying my Beer Advent Calendar 2019 with the day 17 beer. Here’s looking forward to the remaining 7, and another assortment of 24 in 2020. We’ll be on the lookout next year at Costco once again! Follow them on their Facebook page.
The beers of the 2019 Beer Advent Calendar:
Day 1 Kauzle Helles Lager
Day 2 Hohenthanner Blau Weisse
Day 3 Schnaitl Brau
Day 4 Memminger Gold Marzen
Day 5 Kress Bayrisch Zwickel
Day 6 Erlkonig Hell
Day 7 Perlernzauber German Pale Ale
Day 8 Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell
Day 9 Burgerliches Brauhaus Altbairisch Hell
Day 10 Hosl Marzenbier
Day 11 Ankerbrau Nordlingen Grandl Helles Lagerbier
Day 12 Graminger Kirta Dunkles Weissbier
Day 13 Herrnbrau Jubilaums Sud
Day 14 Zwonitzer Rauchbier
Day 15 Edel Bayer Urtyp Hell
Day 16 Herrngiersdorf Hallertauer Hop Cuvee
Day 17 Schwarze Tinte Collab Stout
Day 18 Kurpfalz Bräu Helles
Day 19 Loncium Vienna Style Lager
Day 20 Propeller Bier Turbo Prop Pilsner
Day 21 Egerer Baren Weisse
Day 22 Schlossbrau Rheder Original Pils
Day 23 Wittmann Urhell
Day 24 Kartauser Doppelbock Dunkel
Glad I tried it? T
Would I rebuy it??
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled, Canned
(D)=Draft