Episode 24 of Matt Likes Beer shines a spotlight on a rice-forward American-style lager from Table Brewing, continuing the show’s run of style-driven, BJCP-informed beer evaluations. Picked up through Tavour, the beer prompts Matt to dig into one of the most frequently misunderstood brewing ingredients in modern beer: rice.

Matt opens by addressing his own preconceived notions about dark beers and adjunct lagers, acknowledging that rice is often unfairly associated with mass-market American lagers. From there, the episode pivots into an educational breakdown of how rice is actually used in brewing, including the distinction between standard brewer’s rice and more aromatic varieties like jasmine rice, which can contribute subtle floral and grain character rather than just fermentable sugar.

Judged using BJCP guidelines, the beer presents with excellent clarity, a pale golden color, and a clean, well-formed head. Aromatically, it remains restrained—appropriate for the style—while offering delicate grain notes and a soft, rounded malt profile. Flavor-wise, the beer is crisp and highly drinkable, with rice contributing dryness and smoothness rather than overt sweetness or hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light to medium-light, clean, and refreshing, aligning well with the intended style. While the beer performs well technically, Matt notes that the subtlety of the style inherently limits how high it can score in competition settings. The final BJCP score lands in the Very Good range, reinforcing a recurring theme of the podcast: some beers are meant to be enjoyed, not chased for points.

The episode expands into a broader discussion about style bias, particularly how adjunct lagers are often dismissed before being properly evaluated. Matt argues that when brewed with intention and quality ingredients, rice lagers can be elegant, nuanced, and extremely difficult to execute well—making them worthy of respect both on the judging table and in everyday drinking.