Mike Duggan #17 Czech Pilsener
Duggan's Brewery

On tap at the brewpub. Pours a hazy golden yellow colour with thick white head. Nice lacing down the glass. Smells of grassy hops and some bready malt. Flavour has a nice kick of bitterness, very clean. Nice carbonation level. One of my favourite pilsners from Ontario.

A: Light golden-yellow, white head, good retention & lace.

S: Steelie grass and sulfury, almost earthy mineral.

T: Steelie, earthy mineral, grass & a little floral, light breadyness, good bitterness.

M: I was surprised that this seemed a little lighter in body than their German, but given the ABV, I guess that makes sense. Light to moderate body is very smooth.

D: Quite drinkable.

This beer pours a hazy medium straw colour, with two fingers of thin creamy white head, which leaves a ring of webbed lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of strong white cracker grain, and spicy Saaz hops. The taste is crisp, white grain, lemon, and grassy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body medium weight and zesty, and it finishes crisp, citric, floral, balanced somewhat with a sweet graininess.

A very good, strongly flavoured pilsener, almost biting, in the tradition of the great Czech samples that I've had over the years.

On-tap at the brewpub. Served in their small half pint glass. Pleasant saaz aroma, but the saaz leads to the impression its overcarbonated, also served a bit too cold, which initially affected taste, so better as closer to room temperature. Modest yellow body with white head. Its fresh, its tasty and refreshing, and a tad lemony.

On tap at the brewpub, keeping bobsy company.

Pours a very slightly hazed golden yellow, nice clarity, very tight and thick white head forms, slowly settles to a thick ring around the glass, lots of lacing sticks, good retention, looks great.

Smell is real nice, very delicate, floral and grassy hops, minerals, some light biscuit and honey maltiness, a touch herbal, very soft, this smells pretty great.

Taste is similar, nice minerally and hoppy bite, some floral, a bit grassy, some honey and toast in the middle, very delicate maltiness, big herbal bitter finish, very balanced.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium carbonation, tons of flavour for the low ABV. This is a fantastic Czech pils, I would put this right up with Reality Czech. Duggan is making some great beers.

Glass at the brewpub.

This arrives a clear light gold with a finger of creamy white head that leaves sheets of lace as it slowly drops to a film. A classic appearance, well executed, and its a sight to behold in the correct glassware, with a candle backlighting it. The aroma is neat - some floral notes mixing with lemon and pillowy malt. Quite inviting.

Taste is damn solid for a pils. Big soft pils malt provides a bicuity backbone and a hint of cereal and cream. The hops really shine, and provide a decent, yet balanced, bitterness to this beer. Some grassiness, some lemon, pepper, floral notes... they are all there. Well balanced and satisfying with the soft mouthfeel of a well made pilsener.

Tough to fault this one. Its clean, well-made and I could drink it all night. Chalk another one up for Mr. Duggan.