Rio Salado Lightning Bolt Pilsner Blond Lager
Rio Salado Brewing Company

This beer has a light subtle aroma that is almost sweet and slightly herbal. The beer is quite clear, it is topped by a pale white head and the beer itself is a nice gold color. There is an appealing sharp bite to this beer. It has hop bitterness all over the place, though hop aroma and flavor are barely noticeable. The bitterness really dominates in this beer, especially when it is cold. This beer is quite clean, as a good lager should be. I do get some light notes of lemon, and herbs. Overall this is a sharp, refreshing beer with a solid hop bite to it.

Another local offering from Rio Salado (Salt River, for you gringos living in MN)

This pilsner pors a gold color with a slight haze. Good retention from the white head.

Aroma of lemon and hops, some grains. Almost reminds me of a Belgian wit.

Taste is sadly disappointing. Bitter and indistinctive. Citrusy grains, or is it grainy citrus? Aftertaste is more of the same, and it hangs out on the tongue awhile.

I do my best to support the local breweries, but I can't get behind this offering. Arizona makes better beer than this out there, boys and girls.

Appearance – This is light, clear orange in color with a decent head.

Smell – The aroma here is very light but musty. I can pick up a hint of citrus hops but not much else.

Taste – This one is very sweet, like sweetened orange juice, with a touch of citrus hopping.

Mouthfeel – Little carbonation and light in the body. This is lacking the fluffy “pils” structure.

Drinkability – I didn’t think that this was bad, just that it missed the style. If they would have advertised it as a Pale Ale or something along those lines I’d have given it a better score.

Light gold color, large white foamy head. Aroma is grassy and sweetish. Light tasting lager. Yet it has plenty of malt and hop flavor. Smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and effervescent. Finish is crisp and clean. Aftertaste is hoppy and slightly bitter. Very nice summer beer.

Appearance: a hazy, dull orange color, including scads of traveling floaties zipping about, and the head is short, white.
Aroma: hoppy, citrus, lemon, slighter suggestions of honey and flowers.
On the palate, some hops up front, but gone right-quick, and very mild thereafter, mild to the point of dormancy.
Light body, no surprise, and very shy texture. Hops continue to make their presence felt, and the finish is pleasant, but ordinary, and brief.
Not an outstanding pilsener in any respect, but decent enough a drink.
I guess.
Thanks to Gusler for providing.

The pour a clear lemon yellow color, the head masterful, white in color with large sheets of clinging lace. Malt dominates the nose, crisp and clean, the top is cadaverous, finish is immensely acidic, droughty aftertaste. Another “Habeas Corpus Pilsener/Lager” Where’s the “Body”.