The Essential: Compass
Trillium Brewing Company

Canned 2025/04/17
Pours a foamy large 1 finger pillowy head, good retention, sticky lacing, hazy light pale color

Nose brings some doughy malt cereal lager, touch of straw, fair hops, floral hops with a bit of citrus, a little fruity spice as well

Taste brings hops out front, herbal floral at first, a bit of citrus and fruit, into pine, then mostly pine but not overwhelming, fair malt base, light but enough to prop up the beer, a bit of grainy straw malt, fair bitterness with a nice balance, semi dry slight crisp finish with more piney hops but again on the more mild side

Mouth is med to lighter bod, med carb

Overall pretty nice pale lager, more American style but easy drinking and balanced with plenty of character

a: golden yellow color with a 1/2 finger fizzy white head

s: sweet grains and floral hops. crusty bread, lemongrass, oranges and some mild caramel sweetness

t: lemongrass and a crisp lager spice upfront. crusty bread, sweet lemons, apricots and a big sweet grainy note follow. a touch of pepper spice and malt sweetness close it out

m: light mouthfeel with strong carbonation

o: a very nice Pale Lager. the hop bill adds a ton of flavor, but does not turn this into something else. great stuff

16oz can poured into a snifter

A- pours a clear straw color with a one finger creamy white head that has good retention

S- bready malt base with aromas of lemon, citrus peel and toasted grains

T- light grainy malt is quickly followed by an undertone of citrusy hops that gives orange marmalade and grapefruit peel. Slightly grassy mid-palate, the finish gives light doughy malt with a linger of citrusy hops

M- light body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that continues into a crisp finish, high drinkability

 

Look - hazy pale with slight head and rimming
Smell - grainy citrus, wish I could have a soap that smelled like this
Taste - same as smell but tasty without being butter
Feel - light crisp body
Overall - nice pale lager

 

Depends on what you expect from a lager. Having been to Munich and experienced helles lager from the 6 famous Munich brewers there, it set a standard to which all lager should want to be. Trillium The Essential Compass tastes like a very good light pale ale, light crisp, clean, carbonated, dry, citrus, but not the bready crackery malt flavors with balanced bitterting hops and that distict "German" flavor.

 

 

So full disclosure, this struck me more like an IPL, but I will review as an AL as that is what it is described by the brewer to be. Cloudy yellow body with a billowing eggshell white head. Smell is lead powerfully by leafy and grassy hops with moderate citrus and melon. Taste also has a super big hoppy front, again more like an IPL, with leafy, piney and grassy hops, bready yeast and citrus zest support. Higher carb shape the light and crisp body with the hops and lesser so the yeast.