Beach Beer is Eppig Brewing’s Vienna lager, a seasonal amber lager built for San Diego’s beach life. Our notes listed this one simply as “Eppig Vienna” at 5.3% ABV; the actual beer is Beach Beer, listed by BeerAdvocate as a Vienna Lager at 5.2% ABV. Eppig’s own press coverage has also described it as a Mexican-style amber lager, which fits: the Vienna lager style survived in Mexico after nearly dying out in Austria, and Beach Beer leans into that heritage with a clean, toasty, easy-drinking amber lager.

The basics

• Brewery: Eppig Brewing (Vista, CA)
• Style: Vienna Lager
• ABV: 5.2%
• IBU: Not published

What to expect

Beach Beer pours a clear copper-amber with a white head. The aroma is soft and malty, with toasted bread and a light caramel sweetness. On the palate it is smooth and clean, with a lightly toasty, bready malt character and a moderate bitterness that keeps it balanced, finishing relatively dry. The body is medium and the carbonation is gentle, which makes it an easy second-pour beer. It is not a complicated lager, and it does not try to be: it is built for warm afternoons, fish tacos, and a second round.

Our rating

7.0/10

Rated by Alex (7). Alex gave this one a 7, and we agree it earned it. Beach Beer is a well-made Vienna lager that does exactly what the style asks: toasty malt, clean lager character, and a dry finish, all in a very drinkable package. It will not change your life, but it is the kind of beer you reach for again without thinking about it, and that counts for a lot.