Anthemic (Azacca)
Aslin Beer Company

 

I get that Aslin is showing their versatility. I get that they like to drink not just thick crazy beers but Everyman beers too, and that they want to make what they want to drink and not just what we demand. But this is definitely not what I go to them for. It's balanced, a little bit hoppy, refreshing, but a little too creamy for the style (for most people). For this kind of beer, I think a thicker mouthfeel is not the best. After drinking a few of their dope brews, I cracked one of these and would swear it was a Budweiser... but not even! I would rather drink a Bud Light, which I do think is actually a perfection of a certain kind of beer.

Try it if you want, but you may regret spending your money (and time in line) on this guy. KNOCK IT BACK!!! (or grab some BLs....)

I suppose if it's coming from Aslin Brewing, you have to expect unfiltered. I like my pilsners bold and bright, however, both in appearance and taste. This is neither. Called "Anthemic," which means worthy of a song, and made with Azacca hops, it's certainly worthy of pairing with kielbasa and pierogies (most anything is), but quite honestly, I'd sing Roll Out the Barrel, hoping the barrel was full of Pilsner Urquell, Two Roads or Beach Haus. Aslin can sure make IPA's, but this is the first Aslin beer I'd pass on--unless you were buying. It's OK, nothing more.

 

 

 

 

The beer pours a pretty foamy and bubbly white head that dissipates quickly but still leaves a bit too much head, which kind of hurts the appearance. The beer itself is decent to look out with a watered down orange juice like pale straw color. It isn't bad but it doesn't quite resemble the pilsner that was promised.

The smell is pretty good. It has a very and moderate bitter flowery hop note that is really good but not much else going except for maybe a slight sweet pale malt presence dancing around with the hop notes.

The taste is kind of a disappointment compared with the smell. The hop note is weaker while the pale malt note comes out a bit sweeter and bready and stronger compared with the smell. At least it still resembles a decent pilsner.

The feel is meh. It's light bodied but has none of the crispness expected from a pilsner.

Overall, it's okay but I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a fanboy who has to have every one of Aslin's beer.

 

Can dated 8/1:
Ok, this is a hard one to rate. I tried to go "to style" based on other Keller/Zwickel/Pilsners I've had...

So sure, unfiltered, and while this might be a little "clearer" than many Aslin beers, it's still a medium thin cloud of pale yellow. The head is nice, white, lasting, and lace-producing, though.

Not many beers of the stated style have this much fruitiness to it. The malt comes out, but it almost smells like wheat might be in with the Pilsner malt. Then again it could be the lemon meringue, papaya, pineapple notes could be confusing things. Even being hopped up, it's not with a classic German hop. That said and ignoring style, it's a nice smell in general - maybe even a 4.25.

Taste starts lemony, thenthe malt comes on, as well as a little lemongrass note. The middle gets the tropical note backed by some grapefruit pith. Back actually seems t bring in the malt again, with a husky aspect to it. End note has a little spritz of lemon back in it. If this were a session IPA, we'd be talking 4-4.25

A tad thick in feel but rather light in heft relative to that.

So a high overall because I really like it. I just think you should know what you're in for here - a beer that might not fit in to normal expectations for a German lager/Pilsner.