Good Land X Carwyn ‘Ratskeller’ Oak Aged Pilsner

Rating:

“Brewed with 100% Voyager organic Pilsner malt and using only traditional German hops in the kettle to balance the malt with a crisp bitter finish. Oak aged in white wine barrels for 4 months, very lightly dry hopped and conditioned for a further 4 weeks. Lovely layers of oak, a light vinous character and mild honey. A refreshing, elegant treat.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Light golden-amber hue with a substantial haziness. It constructs two fingers of finely beaded white foam which retains nicely. Excellent lace work left behind on the glass.

Aroma: Mostly old world/Noble hop features i.e herbals, freshly cut grass, mildew and soft earthy tones. As it settles the white wine barrels start to open up and display some vinous fruits like gooseberry, white grapes and zesty lime while delicate hints of bush honey and rice crackers provide a bit of the sweet and savoury. Solid.

Flavour: Not as clear-cut as it was on the nose. It’s coming up to 7 months old so it’s certainly a little over the hill. Nonetheless, it still provides a good dose of fruity white wine and oak, restrained Noble hop characters and a sweet grainy malt profile. Quite a nice clean finish with some dryness lingering on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and light on with a bit of grip on its way down. Slightly higher than expected Co2 and a well concealed 5.5% ABV.

Overall: Not blown away by it but at its core it’s a decent Pilsner. We have a feeling the age on it isn’t doing it any favours. All in all it isn’t too bad.