Czech Pale Lager
Barbarian Brewing

a fairly sturdy but authentic take on this style, done with czech ingredients and very solid overall, although a little darker and fuller than anticipated, and than the style generally is, but it hits anyway, great for this time of year frankly, and i never think these guys get enough credit for their clean beers, they do this kind of thing better than i think people realize, i was stoked on this, and really on all the beers we had in there this weekend. brassy to light copper colored, pretty clear, high fizzy white head on it, slumping white lacing on the inside of the glass, good looking pint. aroma on this is pretty prominent, still tight and clean on the lagering, very european overall, but a bigger contribution from the malt, not pils-like, a little more bready than that, still high minerality, but light toast and even some sweetness to it, and then also hoppy, lightly spicy and bitter, really appealing and fresh to me, nice balance, they packed a lot into this. the flavor is nice, decidedly european which i love, well lagered, thats its essence, the grain is bready and fuller but stays dry, the hops have herbal intensity but its all late, even a climax after the swallow, good bitter pop but not overdone at all, not untraditional to me, the freshness is wonderful too, the imports never really are, so that part of this is key. slight toffee, toast, almond, green tea, hay, and rocky minerality. rushing carbonation makes it real drinkable, refreshing even. a nicely structured and flavored lager, old worldy and very professionally done, dont sleep on barbarian lagers...