Joe's Magical Pills
Pinthouse Pizza Craft Brewpub

 

 

Looks solid enough. But it tastes muddled. Not crisp or clean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i didnt really find this magical at all. looks like a few locations for these guys, and a few listings for this same beer, not sure which spot made the one i had on tap at some dive in town, but i didnt love this one, especially in the context of all the other awesome lagers i had of all kinds while i was in austin. so much good light lager beer here from pilseners to helles types to american pale lagers, there doesnt seem to be much room for anything less than exceptional quality beer in this category, but here we have one, at least in my experience, which might have some dirty lines or something at this particular establishment dragging it down, but there just isnt much to it, super light and a little metallic on the grain side, a little crackery and european, but minimal and not super fresh to me. the hops and yeast are both super mild as well, so this is a bit one dimensional, although it is extremely light and crisp and bubbly, the feel is right, but the flavor just isnt there for me, refreshing as a cold liquid, but not too engaging beyond that. i like a little more character in my yellow beer than this one delivers, but i can see a different generation of yellow beer drinkers moving into craft with something like this, not bad in any way, just unexciting...

 

Local hops escort this pilsner away from the grassy Noble hop character we're used to in traditional expressions of the style and into floral and even dark fruit-evocative territory, hinting at plum and date (which, to me, is odd coming from hops instead of Belgian yeast).

I applaud the experimentation with new hops, but while I don't mind the taste, this beer's mouthfeel is off. Overcarbonated, overly full-bodied for a pilsner, and a bit too weighty on the palate. Could be softer, smoother, and more refreshing.

It won't dazzle discerning drinkers, but the hop profile is interesting enough and at $5 a pint you could do worse.

C / AVERAGE