Parkway Pilsner
New Jersey Beer Company

Ah, the Parkway.

If you've lived in Jersey for years like me, the highway has probably taken a mythical status above all other roads because of how integral it is to life here, shore runs included! Of course, when I saw the label, I wanted to give it a go because it reminded me of the Parkway shield but this was a Pilsner too and it's not a common style these days. Thankfully, this held true to form as it was full, nicely crafted, and easygoing - perfect for a muggy summer night such as this!

Of course, this was golden in hue and nearly clear with enough faint sediment in it and bubbles floating to the top after every sip and swirl. A nice head topped it off and once it slowly settled, there was very little lacing left on the side of my pint glass aside from a faint hint of a ring about a third of the way down. Cereal, grass, yeast, and bready spice were in the understated nose as the taste was nearly identical to the aroma. Full, somewhat outdoorsy, and nicely countered by the fruit and spice, there was some lemon, bread, grass, and honey slickness to counter the apple, pear, and light and tangy orange that gave this a nice, subtle kick of color that it needed. Lightly sticky and slick, the carbonation complemented that mouthfeel nicely as there was just enough to keep this from feeling too rustic or weighed down.

The alcoholic presence was even less as this was a good a session beer as I've had in quite some time. Even on this wet, stormy, sticky night, I could have easily had another one of these after finishing this off. Not as bright as a true German Pilsner, this was still on par and didn't have any funk or sourness like you'd find out of something in a green bottle. No date or writing on the bottom of the can but this held up as since there wasn't any sediment to be seen. Enjoyed this beer from my backyard as it would pair nicely after a night with the top down coming back home over the Driscoll Bridge...

Clear golden body topped by white frothy head. Aroma of cereal, honey, light clementines and grass. Tastes of honey cereal, light citrus, lemon cookie, followed by unnecessary hop bitterness and pine. Light bodied with high carbonation.

New Jersey Beer Co. "Parkway Pilsner"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
$3.99 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: Well it's a nice looking glass of beer that's for sure: slightly hazy golden with some particulate in suspension beneath a two-finger thick head of frothy bright white that seems to be holding well. The aroma is floral and gently fruity, a bit yeasty (negative), and mildly spicy and earthy. I can't tell if this is supposed to be a German pils or a Czech pils but seeing as how I don't get Saaz hops initially in the nose I'm going to go with German. On the other hand, it's not as bitter as a north German pils so it much be southern in nature. Unfortunately the yeastiness found in the aroma carries over into the flavor and it's distracting there as well. The floral character is quite nice though. The Pilsner malt is lightly sweetish, and perfectly balanced by a median-firm bitterness - they got that right at least! Medium in body and gently crisp. Yeastiness aside it's quite nice, full of flavor, and highly drinkable.