Surf Bird
Allagash Brewing Company

Can. Beautiful clear pale gold with long-lasting head and lace. Smells a little like mango and feet at first, but the crisp crackery sweetness and citrus melon not-cloying finish works. Very light body and fairly low carbo for style (IMHO). Totally crushable. I could drink these all day, and I probably will.

Pours very light straw. Very clear, soft white head that hold its position for a while. Lots and lots of bubbles.

Smell is light cracker with strong lemon citrus notes. There is a strange smell, like wet/dank but not at all like an IPA. Hard to put my finger on it. Maybe wet grass?

Taste is a punch of this wet grass hoppiness that is odd. I assume it is from New Zealand hops I'm not familiar with. Mid sip it turns towards a nice maybe German style pilsner without the medicinal notes. Towards the finish the hops bring a very crisp bitterness that I like.

Overall it is different for sure. Maybe this hop character will grow on me but it sure is bold to use so heavily in such an otherwise delicate pilsner.

I'll drink all of them with no problem. Maybe this will grow on me.

 

12oz can, dated 04.07.2025, poured into a 16oz tumbler glass. Enjoyed on 05.06.2025, reviewed from Tasting Journal.

The beer pours a slightly cloudy, golden straw color, very pale with a foamy white head, frothy and tall, good retention and excellent webbed lacing. The aroma is pleasant, earthy green hop, citrusy, grassy, floral, with a nice base of soft pale grains. The flavors are good, bright citrus, green hop, slightly piney and herbal, very floral, juicy yet crisp, pale grains, and mineral water. The mouthfeel is good, crisp, lively medium body, lighter and easy, coating with a dry but smooth finish.

Verdict: A very nice pils from Allagash. Very hoppy, earthy and crisp yet still bright and refreshing.

12 oz can pkgd 4/7/25 into a Pilsner glass.
L: SRM 2.5 pours 95% clear light straw pale yellow with lush steady carbo, a frothy 1/2" head that recedes to thin, medium-thick scattered lacing.
S: Earthy, fruity, gently herbal.
T: A hint of mango, pear, apple, distant lemon, grapefruit zest, a light metallic note, light yeast, bittersweet with a zesty finish that has a light note of pepper. Tropical tasting overall.
F: Crisp then smooth medium-light bodied feel with a medium length lightly dry finish.
O: I like the NZ hops used here and the finish is a little bit bitter. It lacks malt character and I don't find the bread notes that most Pilsners evoke. Overall it is good in its style.

Packaged April 7, 2025 - enjoyed on June 15th, 2025 - poured from a 12oz can into my Radeberger pokal.

Pale aureolin/vanilla body, lightly hazy with a lasting short stand of off-white foam. Fine sandy lacing; good retention.

Mild candied fruit aroma - subdued.

Moderately sweet and bitter with notes of brioche and marmalade. Crackery and herbaceous. Medium dry finish.

Light bodied yet creamy - well carbonated.

Refreshing, albeit divergent from the style.

 

12oz can. Bottom stamp is 'PACKAGED 04/07/25 14:27'.
Partly cloudy, straw colored body. Thick finger of white head, and this recedes to a bubble infused cap. Leaves behind large, irregular shaped patches of lacing.
Aroma is full of citrus and tropical fruit.
Taste is mango, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, lemon, and hints of other tropical and citrus fruits. Pepper spice and grapefruit pith at the end. Absolute hop bonanza of fruit flavors.
More than medium mouthfeel. Quick drying finish. Very good carbonation.
Fruit dominant but does have a spicy pepper dry finish.

Brilliant white loose head almost 2 fingers high, of decently long duration in a tulip glass. Nice amount of lacing. really pale yellow color. Bitterness flavor matches expectations based on the hop bill. Not getting any malt characteristics at all, contrary to BA style description, so point off for that. medium body. Very clean finish. Not a bad beer, just not a great example of the BA description of the style.