99 times out of 100, whenever you come across an import beer labeled ''premium lager'', it’s going to suck. International brewing companies are well known for creating a handful of mass-producible bargain basement beers and in turn making their money off of relentless advertising campaigns. Think of any major premium lager import. Got it? Now name one other beer they make. Take your time. See what I mean? These companies bank on consumers thinking they have scored some sort of exotic beer, when in reality they are just drinking another country’s Budweiser. So going into the Stawski Premium Lager, I cringed and thought ''here we go again.'' Luckily it wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected.

In the glass, this beer has a clear golden coloration that reminded me of apple juice. It comes with a rocky white head that actually has good retention. The aroma consisted of the standard lager fare: base of pale malt and some grassy notes. Surprisingly, I found no metallic smells that so often appear with crap beer, so we were off to a pretty good start.

The mouthfeel is decently smooth to start and bitters up on the finish, but not in an intolerable way. It’s more of a delayed hop sting that actually gives the lager some heft and much needed personality. The core feel is a thin-to-medium body that is actually much thicker than your average piss water. The flavor profile consisted of the standard grassy notes followed by an herbal character and a dash of lemon zest.

Overall, the Stawski Premium Lager is actually a pretty decent brew. I wouldn’t call it great by any means and it’s still very forgettable as a lager. But, compared to the glut of mass produced crap lagers on the market, Stawski definitely emerges as a winner. I would happily partake in more if offered, but I won’t be seeking them out because there are just too many better options to choose from. I would say that the single biggest take home point of this beer is that it exceeds lowered expectations. Those looking for a quality lager will be disappointed, but those looking for a no-thinker drinker might be pleasantly surprised.