Chesil
Dorset Brewing Company Ltd

500 ml bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Labeled a "Tradtional Pilsner". ABV is 4.1%. Brewed with lager malt and Caragold malt. The hops are Sovereign and Lubelski. Golden colour, decent white head. Very nice and strong aroma of honey, flowers and butterscotch. The flavour is distinctly hoppy throughout, but there is also a substantial malty sweetness. Bitter finish and aftertaste. Has the character of a well-made pilsener, but is apparently top fermented?

 

Served cold from 500ml bottle into Veltins pilsner mug.

L) Golden to light amber colour, with a slight haze. Thin bubbly white head. Lots of small bubbles. Its the haze that tells me this is going to be off-style first.

S) Toffee / caramel malt odour with a slight hint of sour orange.

T) Taste follows the nose closely. Dominant impression is of soft caramel malt flavours, with a slight sour balance. After a few drinks it becomes more lager-like, with hop bitterness emerging.

F) Light body, refreshing with no cloying malt or bitterness.

O) Its always a bit weird when brewers make an ale that is meant to be a lager (just make a lager like). However, this is one of the better efforts I've had. The little bit of sourness in there makes it a bit more interesting than just a very light ale. My wife paid £2.99 for this and it wasn't worth it, would be worth it at supermarket prices i.e. £1.50 - £2.00.

 

 

A brown 500ml bottle of 'Traditional Pilsner' from a small independant English brewer? Best before the end of Nov 2008, two days away.

I poured the bottle two and a half times into one of my Veltins Pilsner glasses.

Almost looks like a Pilsner, a slight haze but golden yellow. Not the normal carbonisation either, no bubbles rising up the body. The white head not as bright or full as a true Pilsner. However it still looks OK.

An aroma which reminds you of lagers/pilsners but with added yeast, some hops and grapefruit hints.

The taste is interesting, a mix of Pilsner and UK Pale Ale flavours. There is a citrus feel within the taste also, not a sour lemon or lime, but something is in there.

There is a body and fullness to this beer, half Ale, half Pilsner. It seems to work, not sure how or why, but it does.

I liked this hybrid beer and would have it again if we crossed paths.

Appearance: pale yellow, good clarity, thin layer of off-white foam that dissipates to a thin crown

Aroma: lightly honey-ed; angel food cake, apple blossom perfumey hops

Flavor: light malt profile with a fruity combo of apple cider, chamomile, and blossom honey; finishes dryish with a delightful, lilting bitterness

Mouthfeel: medium-light body, sparkling carbonation, crisp texture

Other comments: If pilsener was real ale, it would be like this. This beer is lusciously drinkable and so exquisitely balanced. Excellent beer!

Note: I wasn't sure which BA category to register this as, German or Czech pilsener. I chose Czech because it is closer to that than German because it is light and "fluffy".