For this year’s Spring Break boondoggle, Benita, the Urchins and I headed out to Las Vegas for a few days before we ventured up to Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah. After checking in to the Cliffs at Peace Canyon, we headed out in search of provisions to the local Walmart. Much to my surprise, Nevada has taken an enlightened approach to the sale of beer, wine, and liquor and allows it to be sold right there in the grocery store, so while Benita and the Urchins were off in search of foodstuffs, I found myself with a free moment and hit the beer cooler.

While we traipse around on vacation, I like to try and find locally crafted beer in an attempt to try something that I probably won’t find  in South Jersey. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my reading specs with me, so my purchases were a bit of a hit or miss. I nabbed a six pack of Hop Rising (a double IPA) from Squatters Pub Brewery (a Salt Lake City brewer), and I grabbed the six pack pictured above. The packaging led me to believe that this was a unique product from some craft brewer called the Band of Brewers. It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed (with my cheaters on) that this wasn’t really a craft beer but rather a big beer hiding under a crafty name. Curse my far sightedness! I traveled all the way to Nevada to buy a six pack from Coors. Smooth move!

Third Shift Amber Lager is one of many beers produced by Molson Coors that are distributed throughout the US under the MillerCoors joint venture. Before we begin the review, here’s what Band of Brewers (like that’s even a real brewery!) has to say about the Third Shift:

You’ve had dark and full-flavored beers. You’ve had light and easy-drinking beers too. We think a beer should be both. That’s why we crafted the damn near perfect Third Shift Amber Lager. It’s beer done right.

And, now for the review…

• Appearance: Golden Amber with a quickly dissipating foam.
• ABV: 5.3%
• Aroma: Wheaty. Like wet wheat bread with a hint of hops.
• Taste: A bit fizzy with a somewhat flat flavor. Not much of a lager. More like a lager/wheat hybrid.

The Verdict

As I mentioned, I had picked this one up sans specs and didn’t realize that this was a Coors product. I found this beer to be neither dark and full-flavored, nor light and easy-drinking, nor some combination of both. I should have paid a little more attention (or had an Urchin with young eyes read the label!) as this one was a bit meh to me. I had a chance to grab a local craft beer and totally whiffed on this one.