Spalter Premium Pils
Stadtbrauerei Spalt

Earthy, a hint of caramel, bitter end. Good. 3.90

 

Half liter bottle picked up at a huge getrankemarkt in northern Stuttgart labeled best by 04.06.24. Enjoyed their Helles in Berlin so when I saw this, I had to pick up a bottle. Wish I bought a few more as it’s a fine-drinking Pils. Has all the great aspects of the style but happier than most. Has the grain and barn and slight funk but it finishes with a citrusy hop bill and I’m here for it. Would love to have this from draft.

Pours a clear golden coloration with a large, foamy head and slightly visible carbonation. Smells of doughy malt and grassy hops, with a hint of citrus. Taste follows the nose, with a great balance of slightly sweet doughy malt and grassy, bitter hops, with hints of citrus, straw and light herbal accents. Finishes with a medium/strong, lingering, herbaceous bitterness and some doughy malt and grassy hops lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and medium/strong carbonation.

A very well-balanced, crisp Pilsner that finishes with a distinct and lingering bitterness.

Poured from fridge temp. Pours a somewhat murky yellow with nice white head. Quickly becomes completely transparent. Nose is wheat, pine, orange, some peach, and some smooth vanilla. Taste follows the nose - really nice citrus and yeast/wheat/grass notes. Definitely getting a bit of sweetness and maybe some tree bark in there. Nice mouthfeel - quite dry. Aftertaste lingers nicely. Probably the best of this style that I have tried.

Huge pillowy bright-white head holds strong. The transparent sunshine colored beer holds a swarm of fine bubbles. For a brewery that is named after, and uses, a particular type of hops I would expect more in the aroma. It is moderately strong and there is a bit of floral hops in it I really concentrate, but it is dominated by pale malt sweetness. There we go. This is one bitter beer. A bitter bite is the first thing I taste, and it's not until midway through that a bit of sweetness from the Pils malt kicks in. It's quickly drowned out again by a strong bitter bite that carries into the finish. The bitterness is quite intense and reminds me of some of the more potent West Coast IPA's. The mouthfeel is crisp and the body moderately light. This is a delicate Pils with a heavy dose of bittering hops unlike I have seen in Germany in the last year.