Odell Double Pilsner

Brewed by Odell Brewing Company
Style: European Strong Lager
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Next in the eagerly anticipated line of O’Dell beers to try came the Double Pilsener, graced on the box with what looks like a two-spired Cathedral. Whatever it is, and whether it suggests majesty or not, I absolutely fell in love with this beer, which would at this point make O’Dell the object of my amative desires. This beer’s light blonde head extends about a centimeter and a half into the glass, beneath which the golden brew is roiling with flavor. But first the smell - slightly nutty, very clean, mineral, lemon-orange, wool and pistachios. Good, rich, but not yet inspiring. The taste, however, is much thicker and more viscous than I would have expected. A quote from my notes, "Wow!" Sweet corn, a generically delicious sugar, and a strong lager grain quality all appear, but with a trenchant flavor profile that is hard to describe in words. What really gets me is the absence of skunkiness in either the flavor or aroma. That, and no cheap nutty tastes or smells. Just quality flavors. A little probing and I eventually catch a few more flavors - pineapple and pork. Looking back, this review does very little justice to what a solidly good drink this is. Enough flavor that I’m nodding in silent appreciation, but not so complex that I have to choose between the beer and the person across from me in conversation. Yet another six pack that should be in my refrigerator at all times.

Pours a thin gold with a marshmellow white head, Smells of champagne grapes amd hops. Nice level of sweetness, hops and alcohol with a nice bitter long lasting finish. Palate in non-distinct and typically pilsneresque. I like it.

bottle very nice aroma. Nice amount of hops to this beer. Very smooth with a little bit of sweetness.

12oz bottle. Pours a clear gold, with a medium/small white head, with little carbonation. No lacing when I finished this one. Aroma is fairly hoppy, with just a touch of light bread. Flavor is fairly well balaned with sweet malt and hops, and with a very noticable alcohol bite. Palate is fairly smooth, but finishes a bit dry for me. Overall a drinkable beer, but a bit too much alcohol flavor, and way too dry to be an everyday beer.

12oz bottle from Mass Beverage, Lawrence, KS. Pours a clear yellow hay color with a white soapy head. Lightly sweet pale malts and grains in the aroma with a touch of herbal hops. Smooth medium body. Sweet caramel and doughy malt flavors aren’t overly sweet but balanced with herbal and peppery hops. The peppery hop finish is really enjoyable. This is incredibly drinkable and I didn’t notice the alcohol at all. This went down so fast I was left wanting more, but the rain prevented me from going back to Mass Beverage. Tasty beer.

Pours a clear gold with a medium white head. Aroma is grapes and creamed corn. flavor has both as well, some bread and a bit of spicey (pepper) hop character. Snappy carbonation, decent.

12oz bottle -pours a foamy retaining white head and yellow/gold color. Aroma is light malt/grainy, doughy, grassy/earthy (continental) hops. Taste is malt/grainy, doughy, grassy/earthy/floral/spicy/lemon (continental) hops, creamy and crisp. Good carbonation. Good session ale vs. the distinct strong (same rating) beer Sam Adams ’07 Imperial Pilsner. Thanks to chesky-SD via Joe-jwc215 for the trade.

On tap at brewery. Deep yellow beer with white head. Clean hoppy aromas. Taste is a little sweet for a typical pilsner. Nice hop balance. A refreshing beer for a hot day. It left me wanting another, though not too many with the 8.1%ABV.