“For far too long the tyrannical industrialized beer overlords have disgraced and cheapened the noble heritage of the pilsner with their relentless multi-generational downward drive to commercialized homogenization. Over decades, this once vaulted style has been slowly and methodically gutted, bringing forth a soulless and anemic result, all the while spending billions in advertising to convince the unwitting public that their fizzy yellow end result was beer. Well, I will not have it. We are striking back for true craft by stealing the pilsner back from their evil clutches, and restoring it to its almighty glory. They do it cheaply. We do it right. Choose vapidity, or choose righteousness…but whatever you do, choose wisely.”
Served in a footed flute glass. The pour offers a bright golden glow with a slight haze. It generates a thumb of tightly held foam that peels off and settles to a fine overlay. Laced reasonably well.
Good balance of traditional and new world elements on the nose. We certainly get those spicy and floral noble hop qualities with undertones of citrus and grass working in the background. Quite a big malt profile actually…bigger than the hops anyway with grainy, bready and cereal notes presenting. Maybe it’s just us but we’re also getting a sweet sherbet/cotton candy-like scent to it as well. Quite nice indeed.
The moderate body definitely benefits from the vibrant Co2 while that new world feel comes through with the active 47 IBU’s that grab the back of the throat. Texture is crisp, dry, maybe a bit metallic.
The grainy cereal malts show up initially, making way for the spicy and citrusy hops to inject its bitterness midway. Spicy herbal hops dance with the grainy malts on its way to a dry and grassy finish with a subtle warmth from the booze (5.8%) on the rear.
It’s a good craft Pilsner, we could be wrong but we think this is Stone’s first crack at this style. If so, it’s a damn fine representation. Props for this can too….Brilliant artwork on show here. Solid drop.