California Dream
Mikkeller ApS

 

 

 

 

This was one of those intellectual curiosity beers that was fascinating and good but I don't think I need to have again. Mostly clear golden body with a huge white head, spotted lacing. Sweet grain and malt aromas with grassy hops and lemon before being somewhat muddled by the ale yeast. Taste is much the same, but the yeast gives a buttery and fruity (pear, grapefruit) nature to the malt and a floral and lemon zest tone to the hops. Feel is where I have the most trouble: not crisp yet bright, almost sweeter feeling, want more grain. Again interesting but prefer a more traditional czech pilsner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a semi clear yellow with fine head.

Smell is bready and citrusy with crisp, floral notes.

Taste is clean and crisp with notes of wheat dough, citrus and soft bitterness. Creamy with some grapefruit on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium, creamy and well carbonated.

Overall, a very tasty beer. Not a traditional pilsner at all, but very refreshing.

Type: 16-oz. can
Glass: Clear 16-oz. Bruges beer glass
From: Gregg
Price: N/A
Purchased: N/A; Received Aug. 13, 2019
Consumed: Aug. 16, 2019
Reviewed as: Czech Pilsner
Misc.: Canned on June 6, 2019

Thanks, Gregg!

Got this and six other random beers from Gregg via a hookup at Stone. Had a taster of this once, giving it a 3.50 on Aug. 11, 2017 and writing, “Good, but not my favorite hoppy pilsner.” Not sure of the hops going in.

Poured a golden clear color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy-to-fizzy off-white head, which fizzled out rather quickly. A good deal of bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass at fast speed. Poor watery lacing. Very bad retention. (Sight - 2.75)

Smelled spoiled fruit, peach, plum, passion fruit, tangerine, mixed berry, grain, caramel malt, wheat bread, wet grass and herbal. More ESB like than Czech Pilsner, which doesn’t make any sense. Better out of the can with Saaz hops, black pepper, lemon zest, peach and passion fruit shining through, with the addition of pilsner malt. (Smell - 3.50)

Taste was a little better than the nose, but still not a full-blown pilsner to me. Got peach, passion fruit, mixed berry, Saaz, black pepper, tangerine, earthy grain, caramel, wet grass, herbal and pilsner malt. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium-to-light body. Oily texture. Average-to-lively carbonation. Clean finish. (Feel - 4.00)

Good overall, but I think I overrated it slightly. (Overall - 3.50)

3.61 | 82 | B

 

 

 

This beer pours a translucent, golden yellow with good carbonation and a think, foamy head that lingers, depositing some spotty lacing. The smell is earthy and grassy with a toasted pilsner. A doughy characteristic is present along with a crisp hoppiness. Taste is bready and biscuity, which is crisp, yet carrying a hoppy bitterness on the backside.