Cerebral Brewing 'Character Reference' Vienna Style Lager Beer, Colorado

Manuka honey, toasted biscotti, and rooibos tea shape a malt-driven profile with subtle herbal depth and a clean, dry finish. Cerebral Brewing 'Character Reference' Vienna Style Lager Beer combines Vienna and Pilsner malts with Tettnang hops before an extended conditioning regimen that includes six weeks in an American oak foeder. It reflects Cerebral Brewing’s scientific approach to fermentation and its particular enthusiasm for precisely made, foeder-conditioned lagers.

Product Details:

• Owners: Sean Buchan & Dan McGuire
• Head Brewer: Sam Bennett
• ABV: 5.5%
• Malt: Vienna and Pilsner malt
• Hops: Tettnang
• Conditioning: Six weeks in an American oak foeder followed by two weeks in stainless steel
• Oak: American oak foeder

Sensory Description:

Manuka honey introduces a gentle floral sweetness on the nose, followed by toasted biscotti and the earthy, herbal character of rooibos tea. The palate is malt-focused but restrained, with light toast and biscuit tones carried by a smooth texture and subtle woody complexity from foeder conditioning. Tettnang contributes a measured herbal and lightly citrus-driven hop presence, keeping the malt in balance before a clean, dry finish.

Awards & Accolades:

• Score: Craft Beer & Brewing 94 Points, 2022

Brewer's Background:

Cerebral Brewing was founded in 2015 by Sean Buchan and Dan McGuire in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood. Buchan serves as Co-Founder and CEO, McGuire as Co-Founder and CFO, and Sam Bennett currently leads brewing as Head Brewer. From its beginnings, Cerebral has described its philosophy as a scientific approach to beer, combining precise brewing methodology with creative recipe development and an in-house quality assurance and quality control laboratory. The brewery has developed particular expertise across foeder-conditioned lagers, hop-focused ales, and barrel-aged beers. Since 2022, production has operated from an expanded 18,000-square-foot facility in the Aurora Cultural Arts District, supporting a broader program of fermentation, lagering, and barrel work.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve cold at 5 to 7 degrees Celsius in a lager glass, Willi Becher, or handled mug to emphasize its malt aromatics, smooth texture, and clean finish. Pair with roast chicken, bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels with mustard, roasted mushrooms, nutty cheeses, or other savory dishes that complement its toasted malt and herbal character.