Freestyle Pilsner
Santa Fe Brewing Company

Freestyle PilsnerFreestyle Pilsner
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From:
Santa Fe Brewing Company
 
New Mexico, United States
Style:
German Pilsner
Ranked #396
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,757
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 13.35%
Reviews:
57
Ratings:
184
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 25, 2023
Added:
May 14, 2006
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  23
As its name suggests, this Pilsner does not like to be categorized. Inquiring whether it is a German, Czech, Bavarian, American, or any other style pilsner will result in an impatient sigh and the explanation that the whole philosophy behind this pilsner is that it does not fall into any categories. True, it is brewed with traditional ingredients (soft water, pilsner malt, saaz hops, and German yeast), but it is the way that these ingredients interact, and the characteristics of the yeast, that cause this particular pilsner to defiantly stand alone. The assertively hopped Freestyle pils exudes the flavor and the aroma of the classic Saaz hop (a tribute to “the original” pilsner), while maintaining enough body to balance but not overpower this hop’s pleasant, spicy tone. An unhurried lagering process so frequently overlooked by American craft brewers is strictly adhered to in the production of Freestyle, which makes this beer by far the most light, clean, and quenching beer in the Santa Fe Brewing Company’s line up.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.75 by Beergod420 from Michigan

May 25, 2023
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Chill haze pale yellow with a thick and well retaining fluffy white head.

Also fluffy in feel, the medium body is a little breadier than expected at first, but transitions to a nice assertive hop bite afterwards. It's lightly piney and herbal, contrasted by a note of honey before finishing softly dry. There are catty accents here or there in the aftertaste.

Finally, my first ever New Mexican beer! I can't believe how long it's taken. But then again, I guess West Virginia has never graced me with a brew of their own either...and we live right next door. In any case, there will be many more NM reviews to come, as we have several stops planned in New Mexico throughout this long Southwestern odyssey of ours.
Jul 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

May 02, 2021
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Rated by LukeGude from Iowa

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Can from NM poured into pint glass several weeks later. Solid pilsner.
Dec 13, 2020
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.72/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz can BEST BEFORE 07/07/20 poured into a perfect pint glass at fridge temp 5.5% ABV. The beer pours barely hazy light golden yellow with off white head. The head recedes to a thin ring and a few splotches of tiny bubbles. Minimal lacing. The aroma is faint with pale malt and earthy, dry noble hops. The taste is bright pale malt with strong floral hops. Neither overwhelms the other before a moderately bitter finish. The mouthfeel is soft, thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Cleanly lagered. Overall, good. Craftfully and simply done pilsner that focuses on malt and hops.
Jun 27, 2020
Photo of SierraNevallagash
Reviewed by SierraNevallagash from Maine

3.99/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
12oz can - best before 07/07/20 - poured into a Tree House Willi Becher at 38°F,

Pours a slightly cloudy golden yellow colour, topped with two large fingers of foamy snow-whitw head with very good retention, leaving some lacing as it recedes. Plentiful visible effervescence.

Nose: Soft, grainy, almost bready pilsner malt sets the foundation, with bright notes of lemon, grassy, spicy, floral Saaz hops, and this really subtle, very unique fragrant note that reminds me of dryer exhaust or Fabreez. Definitely a nice floral element here, in an otherwise simple pilsner.

Palate: The beer greets the palate with grainy, almost bready pilsner malt, much like the aroma, and then a big bright, floral, grassy, and spicy hop profile with lemon, orange, a bit of grass, a hint of meadow flowers, and lots of spicy Saaz notes. Towards the finish, the hops take on a touch of bitterness with a slight resinous quality, and those spicy, floral notes really emerge in the dry, clean finish. A bit of lemon lingers, as well as that fragrant fresh floral note that reminded me of Fabreeze.

Mouthfeel/Body: Light to medium-light in body with a nice grainy softness. No stickiness, fairly dry, and a tight, lively effervescence. Some soft hop oils gently coat the palate after the swallow. Crisp, refreshing, and easy drinkability.

Overall: I'm not sure what the reason is for some of the poorer reviews. It's a little hoppy for a pils, but it's a very traditional hop character, and it isbt remotely as hoppy as some of the offerings that are actually labeled as "hoppy pilsners". Personally, I think it's very good. Not quite as light and zippy as some other offerings, and it certainly doesn't compare to the ultra fine pilsners, but for what it is, it's a great little pilsner with no obvious flaws.
Jun 18, 2020
 
Rated: 2.5 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.15 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Feb 04, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by bdlusa from Texas

Jun 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3 by Hayley_86 from Netherlands

Dec 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.51 by gmale9000 from New York

Dec 06, 2018
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This is an ok beer. Maybe I had an old can - drinking it in November and it is a summer beer.

Poured clear yellow into a shaker pint, not much head or lacing. Sweet bready smell. Clean taste, fairly crisp finish. My guess is that this is great fresh from tap.
Nov 23, 2018
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Clear yellow colored beer with a small white colored head.

Smells mostly of toasted grain. Hop scent is grassy.

Starts out tasting mostly of toasted grain. Grassy hop has a taste of hay to it,

Mouthfeel is light.

Overall just a clean light beer.
Nov 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by COBEERHUNTER from Colorado

Sep 01, 2018
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.24/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I blasted a tall boy of this in a hotel in Espanola, New Mexico. I was pleasantly surprised by the bright color and hop spice. I salute the decision to include traditional Saaz hops, which always give alittle extra zip. Really high drinkability here. I like pilsner beer and this is one of the best American produced pilsners I have had in many years.
Aug 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.45 by SargeC from California

Aug 07, 2018
 
Rated: 3.35 by mmmbeer89 from New Mexico

Mar 01, 2018
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Rated by JLaw55 from Missouri

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
One of the more refreshing pilsners I have ever had.
Dec 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by cryptichead from Illinois

Oct 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.64 by OKbrew89 from Oklahoma

Jul 05, 2017
Freestyle Pilsner from Santa Fe Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 184 ratings