Foothills Torch Pilsner

Brewed by Foothills Brewing
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Winston-Salem, North Carolina USA

on tap-pours a white head and yellow color. Aroma is sweet malt. Taste is sweet malt, light hops (saaz) bite.

Draft at FB. Translucent, pale golden with glints of creamy whites. Curtains of lace drape across the peaks of the glass when the modest, creamy white head slowly recedes. The aroma is authoritative and quite credible, in regards to its inspirations and heritage. Provocative notes of Saaz hops leap from the glass as I draw it close for what would turn into a very prolonged and involved, ultimately rewarding nosing session. Grains are fresh and seem as if they’re still attached to stalks, sun-drenched and healthy. Grassy notes are well integrated and add to complexity and the fresh vibrancy of the aroma. Light biscuit touches, as well as hints of honey and dried herbs. Alcohol is completely unnoticeable. A marvelous start. The flavor is astonishing; from complex, subtle intracacies to simple fresh results, this beer tastes like it was created yesterday in Plzen. Bitterness is moderate and when coupled with very low acidity and lightly toasty and bready grains, authenticity is remarkable. Light sweetness from malt and alcohol don’t drown out any fresh crispness. The finale exhibits a slight bite and adequate maltiness, finally revealed as hops gently fade away. Grains and hop oils linger indefinitely. The mouthfeel is fantastic too! Light bodied, perfectly smooth while retaining crisp bitterness.

Absolutely the most exciting and delicious Bohemian Pilsener I’ve had the fortune to try. It saddens me to see such a well crafted and skillfully executed pilsner garner so many low ratings. After multiple samples of this I really feel this is an underappreciated and generally misunderstood beer. The same could be said about the style as a whole. A great achievement that will certainly continue along, mostly unheralded, simply because it isn’t a monstrously flavored beer. I loved it.

Draft at brewpup. Flavor was of sweet malt and some earthy/citrus hoppiness. Hit the style pretty well. Enjoyed the amount of hops present.

draft. golden yellow with a frothy head and sticky lacing. light grassy hop aroma. smooth light mouthfeel with light hoppy citrus and a refreshing slighlty sour crisp finish. very little dry bitterness but enough to keep this refreshing.

On tap at the brewery. Surprising level of hops for a pilsner, but it retains a nice clean graininess.

Fruity tastes overwhelm the tounge with this one making it taste like a ’little beligian’ or something along those lines. Too much fruit for me.

Refreshing hop aroma. Sweetness means the malt is there, as it should be. Very smooth with some hop bitterness. Very drinkable and well-balanced. Really like this pilsner.

Draught during my NC brew tour. Pours light gold with a small white head. thin, corny sweet, papery nose. The flavor has some light semi-fruity sweetness with a low level of nipping hops and a finish of cedar. There’s a slight astringency throughout. This isn’t my ideal fare.