Blue Ghosts
Whiplash Brewing

MAY 2026.
This is a German-style Pilsner hopped with Hersbrucker noble hops (originating in the Franconian region) and Czech Saaz hops.
33cl can (€5 from the pub fridge).
On the label: "Batch: 260018 - Best before: February 23, 2027".
When poured, it has a beautiful golden color and releases a head that's average for the style (so quite abundant).
On the nose, light herbaceous notes (of noble hops) and an even lighter grain grist.
On the palate, we find a beer with a smooth body (but not at all watery), refreshed (finally!) by a lively carbonation that makes the drink more thirst-quenching and ideally contributes to the impression of freshness of the product being consumed.
The malty flavor, with its balanced, unobtrusive grain notes, is offset by the herbaceous flavor (reminiscent of hay), with citrus and slightly floral nuances. The noble hops used refresh the beer and lead to a dry finish on the tongue, yet leave a pleasant, almost "crunchy" grainy (cracker) taste on the palate.
A linear and balanced beer, easy to drink but far from banal, fully reflecting its style.
Worthy of mention is the lively carbonation, which refreshes the drink and makes it enjoyable, a feature not always (if not rarely) found in the canned beers I've enjoyed recently.

 

 

On tap at Cardinal, Stavanger. Golden colour, large and creamy head. Fruity aroma and flavour, tolerable hop bitterness. A nice summer beer, does not carry a punch on a cold December evening.

it’s been a while since my last whiplash (by my average rate of whiplash consumption), and what better way to get back into them than having a beer from a style that i don’t actually care for that much… no matter, it’s whiplash, and they’ve put together a very nice pils here. this beer was of special intrigue to me, as it was once their lowest rated beer on here, a spot which now (rightly) belongs to that heinous “”“kölsch””” they released in collaboration with to øl a couple months back. this is leagues better than that. clear golden colour with vibrant carbonation and a rocky two finger white head, this beer has a rather aromatic aroma indeed, very fruity and floral and sweet, flavour wise, citrus fruits dominate, orange and lemon, white bread malt, digestive biscuit, vanilla, grass, floral and herbal, nicely sweet, light but not too light bodied, medium carbonation, crisp and super drinkable. it’s as good as pilsner gets really, a good summer beer, which they released in september…

CAN
Platinum with a rocky white head.
Soap, flowers + biscuits on the nose.
Cracker, bread dough, lemon, rosemary, and mild pepper end.
Crisp, smooth, with lingering bitterness.

4 4 4.25 4.25 4.25

Saaz, Hersbrucker

A couple of interesting things to note: the hop intensity is actually stronger mid-palate, where a bunch of Saaz citrus doubles up with Hersbrucker herbal notes, rather than the simple + relatively understated spicy end.
Also, it's pretty chewy, if not quite rich, considering it's got no Vienna.
I might carb it a bit higher, but water chemistry, finish, IBUs, all where they should be for a traditional pils.

Whiplash quality, and a damn sight better than the batch that died in Customs two years ago.

Pint at L Mulligan Grocer in Dublin
Slightly hazy lemon yellow in color with a small but short lived bubbly white head. Bready fruity with an astringent finish.