Yuengling's Lord Chesterfield Ale

Back in August, at the 16th Annual Southern Brewer's Festival in Chattanooga, TN, I battled the heat, the crowd, and the excessive pretzel necklaces in order to try some of the country's best beers. Normally, I try a few too many and end up forgetting all the different beers I tried. This time, though, in the interest of beer journalism (and the desire to avoid heat stroke), I kept it to a more reasonable four.

One of those beers came from a familiar name: Yuengling.  But the beer, Lord Chesterfield Ale, was less familiar. In fact, I'd never heard of it (turns out they have Lord Chesterfield Societies up north... no kidding.)

Anyway, the beer was great. It was my favorite of the festival.  I hadn't really thought much more about it until I came across a six-pack in a convienence store today. Surprised, I ponied up the $7.00 and bought some. Again, in the interest of beer journalism -I've got to keep you guys informed!


Right!?

Right.

Ok, first, the luster that Lord Chesterfield had at the festival has faded.  The draft beer at the festival had a bold, round flavor, whereas this bottle was flatter and more one-diminsional.

Out of the bottle, it smells Dutch (think Grolsch or Heineken).  Where those beers are bold and bright, Lord Chesterfield leaves a flat initial taste with a mild, dry carbonated sourness through the middle.  It finishes clean and dry with some notes of bitter grain. 

Let's personify the taste: Lord Chesterfield (he was a real guy -a British diplomat back in the 18th century, apparently) takes a carriage ride to the Netherlands to introduce a new plan to defeat the French or the Spanish or whomever. While there, he drinks a Grolsch, thinks 'I'd like a Pale Ale from back home', and takes an Alka-Seltzer (he had a headache?).

They didn't make Alka-Seltzer back then?


Well, IF THEY DID, then that's what Lord Chesterfield Ale would taste like.

I don't want to sound too negative though, I do think it would make a great session-drinker.  It's light, crisp flavor keeps you coming back for more and doesn't bludgeon your taste buds with complexity.  All things considered, I enjoyed my bottle of Lord Chesterfield Ale, but it was nothing special and it certainly didn't live up to the keg from the festival.

I give Yuengling's bottled Lord Chesterfield Ale a 2.5 out of 5 and the draft version a 4/5.