Peach Pilsner
Brock Street Brewing Company

Brock Street Peach Pilsner does indeed look peachy, both in the literal sense (its light yellow-y orange colour) and in the more figurative one insofar as it has a cheerful and dandy demeanor. Plus it even has that similar fuzz atop (also gradually along the sides of the glass too).

One can sure smell those peaches but, equally as important, the fact that it's a pilsner is evident too. Adding fruit was no excuse to subtract hops., The bouquet's pleasantness can't all be attributed to air of summertime sweetness; the grassy, zesty Saaz hop is also readily appreciated.

The complaint I have with most fruit beers is that recipes are either satiated with flavouring or syrup to the point of being diabetes in a candy coating, or, the opposite, there's only the minimal amount of fruit required to be legally marketed as such. But Brock Street has found the perfect balance; sweet, juicy peaches are a natural foil to the pungent, earthy hops and the two flavours blend wonderfully.

I'll admit to being skeptical about this one, not only because of my reservations about fruit beers but I've also found very few local producers capable of making proper lagers. But not only is it properly hopped, this pilsner also has good weight, a clean finish, and not a single off note. It's difficult to imagine a more pleasing beer for late summer (or, for that matter, a better use of local, in season peaches!)

My impression of Brock Street after trying their first half-dozen offerings has been that they're all very well made but also terribly uninspired; it's all ultra-safe styles and super plain packaging. But Peach Pilsner may be a turning point as this new brewery is finally settled in. And whoever is making the stuff over there sure knows what they're doing and aught to have carte-blanche to try anything.