Pilsener
Brouwerij Nacional Balashi

 

 

Bit of a rolling rock feel and taste. Easy to drink when planning on having more than one.

 

DATE: July 31, 2022... OCCASION: saying goodbye to Aruba will not be easy--reviewing this beer is one way to cope! GLASSWARE: nondescript pokal... as with other Balashi products, its golden yellow body sports few bubbles that contribute a vanishing act of a sparkling white head which eventually rings the glass in a pencil-thin cluster... beefy corn, cracker, light floral hops, honey, and metallic ping--what one expects from a beer of this purpose and climate... dry and abrupt, its light-bodied presence doesn't spend time at the teeth or the tongue... though light and refreshing enough to fulfill its goal ("perfect for Aruba's hot climate"), it doesn't inspire the next sip.... lemon, hay, honey, metal, corn, and cracker make a predictable profile, one that seems a Dutch principality would be destined to produce... not hating, especially while on the One Happy Island, but off the island, this wouldn't be my pick if I had another choice--just another foreign offering in a green bottle/can... that said, I raise my glass in salute of the brewers for producing a truly Aruban beer...

Had bottled , 7.5oz at Lola’s at dinner in Aruba. Had no idea what to expect but wanted to sample what was local. Came in a green bottle and tasted just like Heineken. Refreshing in the hot Sun. Not surprising the taste was identical seeing the Dutch connection.

 

 

Poured from can into tulip, good 2 finger cream colored head, good retention and lacing. Pale yellow in the glass, clear, slight particles floating, but the beer is 2 years old, so all forgiven. Smell is crushed grain, slight grassiness. Taste is sweet malt, some grassiness and a mild sweetness thru the finish. Dry finish with a mild bitterness and a slight salinity on the palate. I have had worse, and for the 2+ years on the can hidden in the back of my fridge, not bad. This would be easy to crush on the beach

 

 

 

 

 

This is the official beer of Aruba and it truly embodies the island style of a Pilsner. The beer takes you back to the colonial routes of the island while adding it’s own smooth tropical taste. A real treat!

There's worse out there, but this is with them.

My bestie brought a can of this back for me to try. It poured a clear golden with fizzy white head that dissipated quickly and left no lace. The scent had faint white wine flare. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with grain flourish. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its an ok beer.

 

Poured into a pint glass via bottle

Color is a mild yellow

Smell is a sweet malt

Tatse is the maltiness followed buta sweet creaminess

Medium carbination

Decent mouthfeel

The beer itself is nothing special yet it tastes really good when you are drinking it in a raft going through a lazy river with the sun beating on your face

 

 

 

 

An 8 oz stubby can from Aruba, it pours clear yellow color with a 1 finger white head that faded rather slowly, leaving basically zero lacing. I didn't expect much in the looks department, like trolling a bar at last call, however this was decent enough looking.

Smells of caramel, corn husk, malt and lemon zest or faint hops. Again, didn't expect much and didn't get much.

My first impression of the flavor is that it's very sweet, like corn syrup and light caramel. Then it tastes like a lager with the sweet malt, vegetables or corn husk, honey, earthy notes, mild skunky notes and toasted grains. Seems they run the same brewing and flavor playbook between Miami and Venezuela.