Little Nator Springtime Lager

Review Date 03/24/2024 By John Staradumsky

 

Style: Bock

  Brewery: Tröegs   Country: USA   State: Pennsylvania   $ Per OZ: $.15 (B)   ABV: 5.5%

Tröegs has a Little Nator! That’s right. Little Nator Springtime Lager. If you’re reading this, you may be familiar with Tröegs Tröegenator Doublebock Beer. Which is in my estimation one of the best American-brewed doppelbocks out there. Doppelbock is my favorite style, and I’ve drunk my fair share of it, too.  

Little Nator is a single or standard bock. I don’t see many of these from American brewers, but of course the best ones are a lot more work to brew. They should be decocted or double decocted as it seems Little Nator is, and they need to be lagered of course, which takes time.

Tröegs says:

This light bronze-toned lager is built on a foundation of caramel and pilsner malts to lend notes of crusty bread. Little ‘Nator is modeled as a lighter take on our iconic Troegenator Double Bock.

Hopped with El Dorado, Hersbrucker and Tradition, Little ‘Nator displays hints of stone fruit and delicate floral notes. And, our house lager yeast ties it all together with a touch of fruity esters and a sweet but crisp finish.

Tröegs Little Nator has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume and I paid $2.99 for my 12-ounce can from Half Time Beverage. Total Wine sells it for $11.99 for a 6-pack of 12-ounce cans in Richmond, VA. You can get a 12=pack there for $20.99. My can is stamped Best By 05/24/2024.

Tröegs Little Nator pours to a bright chestnut color with a thick creamy head and a nose of pronounced toasty nutty malt. Taking a sip, the beer is rich and chewy with dark toasty nutty malt. It hints at brown bread and molasses and burnt caramel and finishes dry toasty and gently bitter with hops. The Melanoidins are abundant here, and the beer just really begs for one sip after another.

Don’t miss it. It might be the best domestically brewed bock beer in America.

Glad I tried it?  T