Original Popsicle Ice Cream Pils
Buxton Brewery

 

 

Brewed in collaboration with Buxton Brewery in England, I have in front of me yet another ice cream beer. I’m hooked on these ice cream beers – just seeing them triggers a Pavlovian response, I must try them all! This time Buxton/Omnipollo state: “An icecreamification of a pilsner and attempt to bend your mind. Brewed with mango, milk sugar and our favourite hops.” I’m really not sure what mad-science goes on in those breweries to produce such insane beers, but whatever they’re doing it’s working – I’m hooked and want more (even ended up buying a couple more bottles of the Original Ice Cream Pale after reviewing it)… I’ve got goose bumps pouring this Popsicle Pils into my Duvel tulip, yes, I need to get a life.

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Nice Jonquil-coloured cloudy body with a thin white head that quickly drops back to lace splotches on top. That colour is great – that light cloudy yellow is so appealing for some reason. 8/10.

S: Freaking nailed it! What a smashing aroma: sweet/creamy vanilla with hints of mango, jack-fruit and floral notes. Is this a Pilsner in any sense of the word? Not really no. Do I care in the slightest? Hell no! This is the Buxton/Omnipollo Ice Cream beer collaboration at it’s greatest: a total disregard of beer styles for the sake of an awesome dessert brew, and I love it. 10/10.

T: Intriguingly not as crazy as I was expecting (or as Original Ice Cream Pale was) with a prominent mango note upfront, less sweet/creamy vanilla than expected, potpourri character, a slight grainy wisp, a touch of herbal character, and a long dry finish with hints of bitterness. Much less sweet than the aroma (and my prior experience of Omnipollo as a brewer) would leave me to believe. Still it’s an interesting brew, and it gets better as it warms, I was just expecting a bit more of that ice cream sweetness – more dessert, less refreshing crispness. 8/10.

M: Mid to light, almost medium bodied, with a fairly creamy carbonation and a bit of fizz. 8/10.

D: Not the best in this series, but nonetheless a decent brew. I thought Original Ice Cream Pale was a bit one of a kind and this proves it to some extent. Makes me wonder if the difference between Ales and Lagers is at play here – Ales are generally more sweet and full flavoured, was the yeast the reason for Popsicle not popping with me? Only Buxton and Omnipollo know… 8/10.

Food match: Chicken dishes with thyme and lemon spring to mind.

From Saveur Biere. In Teku glass. Playing Avernum 2. Very original profile. Plenty citric, with a truly fresh mango fruityness and some vanilla with a pilsen body. Ultra refreshing and aromatic

 

A: Creamy mango, lightly sweet, with light citrus and tropical fruit, stone fruit hop aromas.

A: Bright gold color, hazy, with a moderate dense white head that has solid retention.

T: Vanilla with light mango, citrus and tropical fruit hop flavors, light hop bitterness, with a juicy mouth-feel.

M: Medium-light bodied with moderately high carbonation and a creamy, very smooth mouth-feel.

O: Very interesting; the beer drinks super easy and has a very inviting aromatic quality.

 

Poured to an Omnipollo glass.

A: Body is yellow and crystalline, pouring a nice one finger thick white head. Retention is nominal. Lacing is non-existent.
S: The aroma is very expressive of vanilla and yuzu peel. There's also some bright maltiness and some belgian yeast.
T: The taste starts off with a off putting aroma of vanilla, but on the next sips gets more balanced and soft, creating a sort of sweetness heaven with the citric and acidic touch of the yuzu peel. Taste reminds me of Vanilla Milkshake with the absence of hops, being very sweet but to the point.
M: Body is low. Carbonation is good. Bitterness is very low. Sweetness is medium high but balanced.
O: Overall, I was expecting this to be the worst of the Ice Cream Series but after all it's a good surprise.

Pours a semi hazy yellow, with some thin foam.

Smell is just mango ice cream with a hint of lemon.

Taste is, well like a pilsnerflavored mango ice cream. Creamy and sweet, but a little bit artificial.

Mouthfeel is thin, with lively carbonation.

Overall, a very drinkable beer, that taste like a Solero ice cream dipped in beer.

On tap at Beavertown Extravaganza. Aroma has bubblegum, artificial fruit notes and some grains. Taste is sweet, fruity and artificial. Doesn't work as well on a lager beer base.