On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, robust German-styled pilsner appears to be less brisk and more musty than fruitier Victory Prima Pils. Dank lemon-soured pungency soaks into grassy-hopped herbal peppering, grain-toasted Vienna malting and floral-dried honeyed peach tone to wheat cracker spine. A tinge of cilantro, lemongrass and basil found beneath gritty citric surface.
Presumptuous amber-hazed pilsner (with heightened 8.3% alcohol burn) scatters coarse juniper-grapefruit bittering across hard-candied lemon tartness and obverse creamy crystal malting. Sweet apricot, peach, tangerine, marmalade and strawberry undertones register below grassy-hopped floral aspect. On tap at Doherty’s, sharp juniper hop bittering crisply backs lemony grapefruit-peeled peach, pineapple and orange fruiting.
Ethereal Imperial pilsner (small batch series 2012) is well moderated. Mild peat-y rye influence slips inside citric daintiness and doughy baguette snip. Polite honeyed malt sugaring contrasts tranquil grassy hop salting. Fresh-watered mineral grains underscore subtle grapefruit, orange and cherry illusions. Delicate sessionable lawnmower fare.
On tap, robust saffron-hazed German pilsner with great head retention clusters creamy crystal malting with intensified yellow fruiting. Sharp floral hop spicing invigorates crisp lemony grapefruit tartness to biscuit-y wheat spine. Dry horse-blanketed hay, alfalfa, and whey scratch surface as parched wood snip increases. Perfect on its own or to complement meat and fish.
On tap, easygoing golden-hazed moderation brings soft crystal-malted lemon-sugared entry to supple grapefruit-peeled peach-apricot-tangerine tang. Delicate vegetal undertones relegated by endearing spice-hopped yellow-fruited niche.
Hapless ‘big beer’ proves out of range for commonplace Utah brewer. Dubious sunny yellow-hazed medium body lacks body and character of exalted Imperial class. Brawny Saaz-hopped pilsner-malted citric-honeyed astringency corrupts grassy black-peppered bittering. Detrimental lemon-rotted orange-juiced souring and soapy cabbage-like vegetal acridity run rampant above frail peach-apple whim. Pass.
Originally brewed in collaboration with Italy’s Birra Del Borgo, this busy adjunct pilsner may seem pricey but it’s enticingly original. Immediate candi-sugared yellow-fruited impetus receives herbaceous floridity above grain-roasted spunk. Bitter grapefruit rind tartness lingers through resinous black-peppered juniper slipstream countering honey-glazed peach-nectarine-pineapple tang. Wafting dark floral seduction accentuates herbal fruit-spiced theme.
