New Albanian Elsa Von Horizon Imperial Pilsner

Brewed by New Albanian Brewing Company
Style: European Strong Lager
New Albany, Indiana USA

Draft at Bank Street. Poured hazy dark golden color with an average frothy white head that was lasting and produced good lacing. Moderate to heavy citrus hop and sweet fruity aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and lively carbonation. Medium bittersweet flavor with with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Nice beer.

Indiana Microbrewers Fest: Golden hue with a big head and good lace. A wonderful nose with hints of tropical fruits (mango, pineapple), biscuity malts, dusty yeast and a phenolic tone. The taste had a big snap of bitterness and booze. Chalky and biscuity undertone. The mouth feel is sharp and hot, not all that refreshing. Different for sure, just a tad too much boozy character for me.

On tap at Rich O’s Publick House during RBSG Road Trip 2007. Slightly hazy golden body with a small white head. Sweet floral hops aroma. Sweet citrus hops flavor with some light soapiness.

on tap at GTMW ’08. pours hazed golden white head. sweet bready aroma. citrus hop notes, sweet biscuity flavor. clean but too much and not enough hops!

Sampled at the St. Louis Microfest. Always a joy to see these guys at the microfest - good people, good beer. Pours yellow with a large off-white head. The aroma has lots of pils malt, grassiness and a presence that is very creamy and smooth. Medium / thick body with lots of semi-soft carbonation. The taste has lots of pils malt - so much it comes across almost milk-ish with a good amount of grassiness from the abundance of hops. The finish has lots of spicy hops and more grass. A very nice version of this style that is popping up more frequently.

Beer number three: Pours a clear golden, bright as day and once the fizz dies down, nothing but those noble hops coming through on the nose. Grassy and herbal, taste had a touch of saltiness. Dry and pleasent. Love the picture of Elsa on the label.

On tap at Rich O’s Publick House during RBSG Road Trip 2007. Hazy gold with a white head. Light lace. Medium sweet grain nose, rather bold floral hops. Lightly sweet flavor, honeylike notes over grain. Decent bitter herbal bite, lightly dry. A bit of soap in the end detracts slightly.

Beer #19 at GTMW ’09. Actually cloudy despite pilsener color. White pils head, though. Smell is nice, though alcohol does come in stronger than pils fragrance. Taste is mostly alcohol, but some pilsener hops do come through the center of my sample glass.