Tennets Lager 1885

Tennets Lager 1885 is a Massachusetts-made lager sold here as a four-pack, and the style gives a clear picture of what to expect. Lagers of this kind are built on a clean, cold fermentation, so the profile usually runs to light bready or cracker-like malt, a restrained grassy or floral hop note, and a dry, crisp finish with modest bitterness. No ABV or IBU figures are listed for this one, so treat those as typical of the category rather than measured numbers: most lagers sit in the mid-4s to mid-5s by volume, with bitterness low enough that the malt and carbonation do most of the work. The lack of fruity yeast character or heavy hopping is the point of the style. Where an ale tends to show esters and a pronounced hop aroma, a well-made lager shows its quality through clarity, balance and a smooth, quick finish. That makes it a useful beer to have on hand when you want something that doesn't dominate the food or the conversation. Serve it cold, roughly 38 to 45°F, which is a standard refrigerator temperature or a little warmer. Going much colder numbs the subtle malt notes, while letting it warm past the mid-40s tends to bring out sweetness and flatten the snap. A pilsner glass or a tall, slim pint glass shows off the color and keeps a steady head; a standard pint glass or a clean mug works fine, and the glass should be rinsed with cold water first so the carbonation behaves. On the table, lagers like this suit foods that benefit from a palate-cleansing drink rather than a contrasting one: grilled sausages and burgers, fried fish, fish tacos, pizza, roast chicken, soft pretzels with mustard and salted snacks. The carbonation and dry finish cut through fat and salt, and the mild hop bitterness won't clash with spice, so it also holds up alongside moderately spicy dishes such as wings or chili-rubbed pork.