John Harvards Backporch Pilsner

2 draught pints at Harvard locale on 5/19/07
Some douchebag kept remarking to the bartender that this beer was phenolic. I then remarked that, "No, it wasn’t, are you sure you’re not just trying to sound cool?" to which he only remarked, "It’s phenolic." So I left it at that. I’ve had a lot of pilsners full of diacetyl, DMS and acetyldehyde, but I dont remember too many phenolic pilsners, and this one certainly wasnt. Let’s hear it for people trying to sound like they are superior in knowledge to everyone else at the bar....
Basic American pils. Golden-brass colored body has a small white head, with poor retention, light lacing. High clarity, quite fizzy.
Somewhat underattenuated, and with lots of minerals and some acetyldehyde (but no phenols) in the nose, the malts seem rather sluggish and forceful, not having that light, crisp, dainty honey appeal of the better in the style. Hops are grassy, somewhat leafy and herbal as well, but are quite dry and not overly aromatic. Probably just a cream ale, there isnt much yeast crispness.
Spicy herbal hop notes produce thyme, oregano and basil hints, with a bit of acidity. But not enough to cut through the sweet, sticky, vanilla and cookie-dough-like maltiness. Still, for the underattenuation, and some paperiness, it’s got a brisk enough carbonation (and not too much of it) to keep it drinkable. Not very complex, but passable. No alcohol noted.