 ClarkVV (3547), Allston, Massachusetts, USA
Mar 29, 2007 Updated: Apr 3, 2007
Bottle, best before some time in 2006, at Hollingshead Deli on 3/22/07
Moderately full white head tops a brassy-gold body with just a hint of amber. Clear and filtered, force carbonated too, with minimal lacing and moderate retention.
Taking in to account its age, the beer seems quite nice. Flowery german hops (hallertauer/saaz most assuredly) in the aroma were no doubt fresh and appealing and in more quantity than most pils. Residual grassiness provides aroma and light bitterness, while honey dough flavored malts comprise the remainder of the aroma. Some light acetyldehyde, though not in too high an amount, accompanied by a moderate fruitiness reminding me of golden apples and pears. Doughiness thickens as it warms and breathes, but there are no oxidative notes. Medium strength of aroma.
Aside from some golden apple sweetness/tartness up front, a distinct grain/biscuit-like flavor dries things out initially and is very pleasant. Doughiness fights back on the finish and though some thicker-than-preferred honey/dough notes persist, it’s also lost much of its carbonation since bottling, and being past its best before date, I certainly can’t take points off. No doubt a more brisk carbonation would help disperse some of the sweet maltiness. Still, underattenuated is underattenuated, no matter how you slice it, and this beer could stand to be decidedly more dry for the style. As well, there’s a moderately toasted malt note which injects light sourness/acid that I could do without. Almost gives it a corn-like flavor (lagering flaw?). Nice beer, though, with the cleanliness (for the most part) and hoppiness that are must-haves in this style. Score reflects how this beer would have tasted fresh. Oh the things I do for a rating...(though to my credit, I am certainly not rating the next beer I had, Bischoff Pils that was 2 years past its BB date).
GarrettB (410), Seattle, Washington, USA
Aug 29, 2008 Concluding my jaunt in German beers is the Aktienbrauerei Jubilaums Pils. Other Aktienbrauerei beer’s have been modest in quality, but I still had high hopes for the Pilsener, which I anticipated would be so classically central European that no German brewer would release anything less than unacceptable. My brain knows this is untrue, but my gut has an overiding optimism. A desultory, mottled, soapy head floats on the surface of the bright yellow beer. A horde of bubbles make their migration to the top, some sticking steadfast to the side of the glass, but most do not. A sweet and semi-corny aroma drifts up from the beer, gracing my nostrils with a touch of brown sugar, a squeeze of lime and a bright and clean aroma that is so characteristic of a well crafted pils. Not a whiff of skunkiness anywhere. The flavor resounds mutely and dry, with no sugar sympathy anywhere. At first I catch a glimpse of honey, but it quickly fades into a quenching, medium-light, dry and grainy brew. The taste is absolutely crystal clear, and delicious, but neither complex nor deep. So my question is, is this the real deal? Is this a genuine pilsener? Is this like Kaiseki Japanese food where you need proper acclimation to appreciate the subtle flavors?
kmweaver (2010), Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
Jun 19, 2008 0.5L bottle. Pours a clear, medium straw color; bright white head with good retention and fine-bubbled lacing. Very solid, dry, and crisp aroma; toast, crackers, and some yellow fruits; nicely dry and refreshing with some mineral bitterness. Medium mouthfeel: toasty malts, breadiness, and bone-dry overall; crisp mouthfeel, with a solid presence of balancing minerals and herbal hops; as Jordan stated, not exceptionally high on bitterness or on resiny hoppiness, but very dry and refreshing and a good example. I could drink a lot of this beer; very sessionable. Medium finish: burnt toast, crackers, and a touch of cardboard and minerals.
BückDich (4540), Boise, Idaho, USA
Jun 11, 2008 Bottle: Lightly hazy gold color with a light white head and a decent ring of lacing. The nose is snappy with a touch of earthy noble hops and a very clean touch of pilsner malt. A light malty mouthfeel accompanies the nose and it transcends down into a light mouthfeel and a crisp grassy body. The finish is pale and light. Toasty malts, crisp bitterness, but not as brash as I’d expect. I’d like to see more toast and more bitter.
IrishBoy (2129), Bakersfield, California, USA
Jun 7, 2008 .5L bottle from Hollingshead Deli; Nose of grassy hops, light sweetness, and grain; yellow with a big, glass-lacing white head; flavor is lightly bitter, peppery, and grainy breadiness. Finish lightly bitter; great pils!
BlackDonald (1040), North Carolina, USA
Jun 5, 2008 Sweet floral nose, with just a touch of honey and grassy hops. Sweet bready maltiness, not overly sweet not quite as crisp as I would like, but still pretty easy drinking.
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