Baby Oma
Benchtop Brewing Company

 

From a stamp on the label on the can: "12/13/23"

Appearance: It is a pale gold color with a slight bit of haze. There is a very large foamy white head with very good retention. It leaves some nice cobwebs as it slowly drops from the edge of the glass.

Aroma: It has a light floral aroma which smells a bit like wildflowers and clovers. There is a slightly spicy hop scent to the beer as well, but it stands in the background when compared to the floral notes.

Taste: Up front there is a somewhat tart flavor which is a bit like berries. This is joined with a light vinous character and some prickly herbal hop notes. The hops hit pretty hard right up front. Towards the middle there is a light bit of a grain flavor and a touch of a cedar note, then very quickly a strong hop character steps in. It has a bit of a pine and mint hop flavor towards the back. It has a long-lingering hop presence in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: The beer has a pretty strong hop bitterness and it hampers drinkability quite a bit. The beer feels medium-light in body. It starts out a bit slick and then it finishes a touch abrasive. The texture of the beer is all over the place.

Overall: It is a really odd beer because it has a great aroma and it has loads of flavor, especially hops, but it is lacking in nuance and craftsmanship. The can states that this is a "Foeder Aged German Style Pilsner" and it feels more like a hopped-up Americanized take on a German Pilsner, not a German Style Pilsner. There is a bit of cedar character to the beer but that often comes from hops, so it's hard to tell if the foeder is delivering that character or not.

As a whole the beer feels just above average. If you want a lager that is just jam-packed with hops then this is worth drinking. If you want one that has a bit of restraint and is more balanced then I wouldn't recommend it. Although the beer has a lot of flavor and a great aroma, it isn't one I would buy again because it drinks too abrasive.