Foothills Torch Pilsner

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

Date: 07/02/2006
Mode: Growler
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

clear light yellow, thin fine white head, sweet slightly skunked malt aroma, nice sweet malt flavor, good floral hop character, light bitterness,

Aroma: 4/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

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

Sampled from a growler thanks to boboski on 7/2/06: Pours a clear pale golden with a nicely-lacing thin white head. Has a good, fresh Saaz hoppy aroma with a pale malty sweetness. Body is smooth, lightly toasty and well-hopped. Very authentic, fresh and drinkable. One of the best pilsners I’ve had.

My Bottom Line:
Honeyed hay and grassy, herbal hops merge into this sparkling clean and highly drinkable American take on the Bohemian Pilsener style.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam dips into the clear golden.
-The Saaz bitterness is quite pleasant.
-The spritzy carbonation did not detract from my enjoyment of the pint, yet its intensity was a little too much compared to indigenous versions of the style.
-A dash of sulphur passed by half way through.
-This was well balanced and its Czech heritage was clearly suggested.
-A chewier pils maltiness would have increased my appreciation.

On tap at The Flying Saucer in Charlotte.

Draft sampler at SBGF07. Poured a clear pale color with a moderate fizzy white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate sour citrus hop aroma. Medium body with a slick texture. Medium bitter flavor with a medium bitter finish of moderate duration. Drinkable brew.

Poured a clear light yellow color with a medium white head. Malty and grainy aroma with a fair amount of grassy hop. Very long moderately bitter finish with a malty base.

On tap. A few times around NC, but the best was at the Brewpub. Pours a nice golden with a lasting white head and some lace. Aroma is lightly nutty- good big doughy and fresh bready malts and a nice not too strong herbal and floral hop note. Hops get a bit spicier in the flavor which is nice to cut through the pilsner doughiness, and fresh bread- ok nice green hops, and awesome floral and herbal hop tones. Finishes crisp and clean. Super fresh- a couple other places the beer seemed a bit too creamy, less crisp and more doughy- wheat messy and other things going on with their tap lines. Fresh at the brewpub this was awesome!

Draught at the brewpub. Clear golden color with thin tan head. Hop nose is a bit more prominent than most pilsners, bu this brewpub seems to like the hops, so it fits. Crisp finish, slightly sweet.