Elefantbräu Pilsener
Nagasaki Ōshima Jōzō Kabushiki Gaisha

Appearance: Thick-looking grassy yellow straw; fairly sparse carbonation with medium-sized bubbles that form a solid, snowy white head with very good retention.

Smell: Surprisingly complex for a pilsener, almost saison-like, with unexpected notes of bubblegum and banana and even a hint of vanilla. Did they use a weizen yeast strain or what? Hops are floral (orange blossom) and a bit Saaz-ish in their spiciness, but more subdued than expected, lending a nice, round freshness. Everything is couched in a fresh-grain pear-juicy sweet pilsener malt base.

Taste: The banana and bubblegum aromas come through sublimely in the taste, starting off fruity and sweet but giving way to a clean, soft, and dry finish. A bit lacking in terms of overall impact - perhaps turning up the hops a notch would be beneficial - but this is otherwise a very pleasant and somewhat unique take on the style.

Mouthfeel: Soft, lush, and airy carbonation make this light-bodied beer feel full-bodied on the palate, but it's just sparkly enough to remind you that this is a Pilsener. Finish could be a tad cleaner (this is not the most attenuated Pils) but other than that, this is a mouthfeel as savorable as it is refreshing.

Drinkability: Excellent work, especially for what I expected to be something of a tourist trap of a beer (each bottle cost about $5!). Flavorful but not overpowering in any way, and a nice, subtle departure from your typical Pils with its toned-down hop presence and toned-up yeast presence.