Organic Pilsner
London Brewing

March 5 2026

473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Sep 5 2023 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a bright, clear golden hue, scaring up one finger of loose, soapy white head that lasts for a little over two minutes. It's swiftly worn down to a thick collar and patchy cap, with a neat curtain of even lacing draped along the glass - looks gorgeous. Grainy, wholesome aroma, reminiscent of whole wheat bread with a hint of sourdough; there are also hints of grassy, herbal hops and lemon zest. Off to a strong start.

It's a tasty little pils, with a unique hop profile that I became more fond of over the course of the session. Clean, grainy pale barley malt flavours come through, alongside some crackery sweetness; herbaceous, spicy hops join the fray later on. Finishes grainy & spicy, maybe even a little piney and/or minty, concluding with an herbal aftertaste that lingers a little longer than I'd like. Light in body, with assertive carbonation that remains lively right down to the last couple of swigs; crisp and refreshing, with superb sessionability.

Final Grade: 3.91, an impressive B+. Plenty of craft breweries have some sort of pilsener in their lineup, but not all of them manage to do the style justice. I, for one, have never really paid much attention to "organic" as a label, but in the case of London's Organic Pilsner it's clear that quality ingredients can make a significant difference. The hops are noble-esque - probably not a traditional variety (edit: they're Triple Pearl), but that kind of adds to the charm of this lager. I really think London Brewery has been stepping up their game over the past few years, and will definitely check this place out the next time I'm in the Forest City.