Noble Hop Prize
Buck Hill Brewery and Restaurant

DATE: JULY 20, 2018... OCCASION: another picture-perfect summer day ends with a new brewery to try--and nice to see former student/historian Dan serving beer commensurate with his character... GLASSWARE: Penn State pilsner... pours from an hour-fresh growler an opaque, creamy orange body, with occasional bubbles contributing to a thin, sudsy off-white head... orange, peach, and light tobacco mingle with cracker malts to suggest a refreshing, light-hearted affair... faint pine is present as well, with a hint of grapefruit to spare--hopper than your usual pilsner, without any of the trademark Saaz ping... sippable almost to a fault, evacuating the mouth before qualities can be discerned... slowed down intentionally, something chewy can be detected, but the rather clean, even quality leaves little trace, trial or triumph... what makes this beer fun enough is its orangy insistence at each sip to be more than a mouth rinser... in fact, it gives peach, pineapple and pine to front-load the lager, while its back end remains loyal to smooth, easy-drinking brethren... its flat, cleansing nature wins, though it is definitely a beer that stirs me towards more flavorful profiles in the BH menu...