Pilsner
Hop Federation

 

This is one of the better lagers I've had for quite some time. It's restrained, but delightfully sweet and crisp. Carbonation is low (for the style).

Some previous reviewers have mentioned it clashes some with the German pilsner. I agree with that at the same time as I am having a hard time knocking an Australian hoppy lager for taking some liberties - whatever the style sets out to be.

Pours a fairy clear yellow, with some fine foam.

Smell is floral and a bit bready with a hint of lemon.

Taste is citrusy with some sweetness to it, and a nice floral hoppiness. Notes of oranges and a mild bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium, slightly undercarbonated.

Overall, this is a pretty good beer. It is NOT a pilsner however. I could go for India Pale Lager, but there is just not nearly enough malt to be a pilsner.

 

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Nov 2017. Given to me by my brother a little while back, after he went to NZ on holiday. Described on the label as a NZ pilsner hopped wit Riwaka, Nelson Sauvin and Motueka.

A: Poured into a tulip. Bottle conditioned. A rich golden-amber colour with faint floating sediment and good carbonation. Produces a small head of creamy white foam that rapidly settles to a patchy surface layer.

S: Aroma of fruity hops with hints of resin, tropical fruit, citrus, peel, grass/hay, subtle spice, caramel malt, barley sugar and earthy yeast. Nice.

T: Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with notes of pine resin, tropical fruit, citrus, peel, grass/hay, faint noble hops, caramel malt, barley sugar and earthy yeast. Quite sweet, with a crisp, lingering bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with soft carbonation and good body. Could be a tad more textured. Aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops, tropical fruit, citrus, sweet malt and earthiness.

O: A nice beer, even if not quite in keeping with the style. Subpar looks - the head disappears almost immediately. However, the aroma and flavour are great with tons of fruity hops and a well-developed yeast character that hints at lengthy maturation. Decent body; could be slightly livelier. Also, the malt is rather on the sweet side for a pilsner. All that said, it goes down very easily - worth sampling if you come across it.

Appearance - Pours a slightly hazy amber with a finger width of foamy whitehead.

Smell - grapefruit, lychee, Nelson sauvin hops, melon, bready malts, and a hint of caramel.

Taste - Pretty much the same as the aroma, nice bold and tropical fruity hops. A moderate level of bitterness with a touch of caramel sweetness.

Mouthfeel - Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Slightly sticky on the palate along with the dry finish and lingering hop bitterness.

Overall - A classic New Zealand pilsner-style beer. I can't get enough of the Nelson sauvin and Riwaka and motueka hops. Another job well done by Hop Federation.