Jack Straw
Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon

Jack StrawJack Straw
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From:
Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 8.97%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
144
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 04, 2018
Added:
Mar 21, 2014
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  24
Jack Straw is an easy drinking Pilsner that will wet your whistle on a hot summer day. This down-to-earth beer has a grainy sweetness, medium hop bitterness and country straw color. Better make hay while the sun shines, this crop is only ripe for the pickin' for a limited time.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by greg4579:
Photo of greg4579
Rated by greg4579 from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Jul 03, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.61 by bafcats from Pennsylvania

Dec 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by ItsBeer4Me from Pennsylvania

Sep 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.62 by JDeV from Pennsylvania

Sep 02, 2017
 
Rated: 3.62 by Marzen_Fan from Ohio

Aug 19, 2017
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fat Head's Brewery "Jack Straw Pilsner"
$6 / pint @ Twisted Jimmy's, Indiana, PA

So it appears that this beer is listed twice here on BeerAdvocate, once as a Czech Pilsner and once as a German Pils, which would normally not be a problem because it's usually one or the other and they can then just be grouped together once one is determined to be the proper choice, but in this case Fat Head's themselves have proclaimed this beer to be a little bit of both in their description by stating "Bohemian and Bavarian Pilsners collide to create a crisp Pilsner brewed with Czech floor malted barley tenuously hopped with German Magnum, Tettnang and Saffir hops". The specs also include 5.3% ABV, 35 IBUs, and German yeast. As it's using German yeast and German hops, and the IBU's are smack dab in the center of the BJCP's listed range for German Pils, and the alcohol is just slightly above the listed top of 5.2% ABV, I have to go with German Pilsner as the style. To argue it further, although Czech malt is in use, the IBUs are at the bottom range for a Czech Pilsner, and the alcohol is again at the top of the range (but still within limits) and that just seems unbalanced - it fits more naturally as German Pils in my mind, regardless of where the malt came from.

So what about the beer itself? Well it's got the typical appearance with a golden body and bright white head, and the head retention and lacing are quite good. The aroma displays a bit of lemon which is a little unusual for either style,although sometimes found, and I attribute that to the Saphir hops although I've never found that myself with them as they're usually more 'generic citrusy' or orange-like. And that follows into the flavor. It's also a bit floral and spicy which fits with the Tettnanger. The malt is surprisingly rich, but that probably has to do with the floor malting; and it still works within the beer, it just makes it seem a little bigger than it is. (Interesting trick, I should make a note of that). If I had to chose a style that could handle the richer malt however, I'd go with German Pils - Czech Pilsners are more delicate and more about finesse whereas the German style is more "achtung', shall we say?

Anyway you want to look at it, once the beer is in front of you it's a high quality "Pilsner" that's well done. It may push the limits on its "drinkability", slightly, given its fuller flavor but it's certainly within range of other American versions out there and it's quite satiating. Nicely done!
Aug 15, 2017
 
Rated: 2.75 by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania

Aug 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by bigred89 from Maryland

Aug 06, 2017
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.92/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look - well I'm drinking out of a bottle so disregard my value
Smell - very grainy straw
Taste - same as the scent with a slight spice and sweetness
Feel - medium body and carb
Overall - solid pilsner
Jul 26, 2017
Photo of neenerzig
Reviewed by neenerzig from Ohio

4.12/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served to me on-tap in a pint glass, this beer draws a clear, light, pale golden color with several steams of little bubbles fairly rapidly and continuously rising to the beer's surface. Has a white head that settles decently quickly to a thick ring lining the inside of the glass along with some big cluster swirls of a film layer of foam on the beer's surface. Good lacing. Aromas of some bready malts, a bit of wheat, and some herbal, floral hops. The taste is pretty much the same, with bready malts and a bit of wheat along with herbal, floral, slightly spicy hops that give just the right amount of bitterness to balance out the flavor profile. Has a mainly crisp, yet also smooth and slightly frothy, medium bodies mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Has a clean finish and aftertaste. Quite an enjoyable beer all around.

Eric
Jul 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.96 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Jun 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by Zombiefeynman from Ohio

Jun 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by scottspencer from Indiana

May 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by axf4129 from Indiana

Apr 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.7 by AlexFields from Tennessee

Dec 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by glass_house from Ohio

Nov 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by Maillard from Ohio

Oct 31, 2016
 
Rated: 3.6 by Wheels2532 from Pennsylvania

Oct 28, 2016
Photo of TX-Badger
Reviewed by TX-Badger from Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear bright yellow golden color with white head. Cereal grains and some light grass on the nose; follows onto the palate. Light bodied. Finishes with more cereal grain.
Oct 16, 2016
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On. Draft in shaker pint glass

Clear yellow golden color, white head. Grainy aroma, a bit of earthy floral hops. Balanced taste, easy drinking. Thinner bodied
Sep 05, 2016
Jack Straw from Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 144 ratings