Appearance: 9/10
It's a crystal-clear amber with an inch and a half off-white head. The head persists nicely, and when it falls, it leaves moderate lacing behind. The carbonation is visible and inviting.
Aroma: 21/25
Starts off malty, finishes slightly fruity, maybe like cherries? There's also hints of barley, biscuit, mild earthy tones, and a light peppery-spiciness. Interesting nose overall.
Taste: 30/40
On the malty side of the spectrum, this beer also has toasty, caramel, floral, fruity (again, picking up some cherry?), and spicy flavors. I like the rich, grainy taste, but I was expecting less hop bitterness from a Vienna-style lager. I like the other hop characteristics, and I think they combine to make a very drinkable beer, but it's a little different from what the name led me to believe I would be drinking. I'm not really sure where the "Vienna" part comes in with this beer, since it tastes more like a regular amber lager or even a brown ale.
Mouthfeel: 8/10
Medium-bodied with a crisp finish. Very, very faint alcohol-warmth lingers on the back of my tongue, as does a fuzzy, tingly feeling. What little aftertaste remains is on the malty side, and it's very faint.
Style: 3/5
Vienna lagers shouldn't have any fruity esters, but I'm picking up on cherries. The finish and aftertaste also diverge from the style guidelines, as do the IBUs -- this beer has 33 IBUs, while the style calls for 18-30. The abv just squeaks by on the top end at 5.5%.
Drinkability: 8/10
Slightly above average for drinkability. If my local bars offered this on tap, I'd like to try it that way, but chances are slim. It has a good flavor but lacks the overpowering aftertaste that I'm not so fond of in other beers.
Overall: 79/100
So far, Tommyknocker Brewery seems to produce decent beers -- nothing spectacular so far, but enjoyable nonetheless. I would probably get this beer again. I think it would be a good beer to give a friend as an introduction to craft beers.
Cheers!
