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Portage Brewing Company

 

16oz can into a tall Pilsner glass.
L: Pours pale straw lemon yellow w a tall rounded white head, a large cap, excellent retention, very steady carbo thru end of beer, some heavy lacing with loose banding and broken sheeting.
S: White bread, dough, fresh cut wet hay, a hint of caramel malts, light yeast.
T: Savory bright Saaz hop bite, lemon grass, caramelized malts, a touch of honey, sweet bread, light diacetyl, fruity, citrus zest linger, hay. Pale, gently sweet and fairly full-flavored.
F: Lightly crisp med-light bodied w a firm mid section and a moderately fast finish w a smooth med-light linger.
O: A brilliant tasting Pils with full-flavor and lasting vibe. Crisp, relatively fruity with a quenching sensation overall. It hits all the marks and is outstanding in its style.

Very good Czech Pils. Great find in Walker, MN

Appearance: Pours a clear, light golden color with a strong white head. SRM of 6. (4.00)

Aroma: Moderate aromas of pale bread malt, biscuit malt, a grassy hop profile mixed with a buttery and bready yeast aroma.

Flavor: Moderate flavors of pale malts, pale biscuit malt, bread malt. A lot of buttery bread malt mixed with a mild lemon citrus. There's earthy and grassy bitter hop flavor. A strong yeast component. Then a moderate bitterness lingers off the end and the finish is dry.

Feel: Medium-bodied, strong carbonation and a moderate bitterness within the yeast lingers.

Compared to Modist Side Pull 10/4/22: Pours an identical color. Stronger aromas. More hops and yeast. Less soft, buttery bread malts. A more bitter finish.

Compared to FairState Super Clear 10/4/22: Pours a darker color. Stronger aromas. More buttery bread and malt. Less earthy and rustic yeast flavors. More malty, smoother, and less bitter.

Compared to Utepils Pils 2/2023: Pours slightly hazier. Similar head. Similar aromas with slightly more yeast and salt. Less lemon citrus and smooth bread malt. Slightly more bitter. Winner: Portage

Compared to Off Color Tooth and Claw 7/2023: Pours identical, larger head. Milder aromas. More dry grains, bread yeast. Less earthy, oaky, grassy yeast flavors. Slightly drier and cleaner.


Compared to Venn Pils 7/2023: Pours identical, larger head. Milder aromas. More dry grains, bread yeast. Less sweet lemonbread and biscuit and cereal. Dryer and lighter.

to Utepils Keller Pils 7/24: Larger head. Hoppier aromas. More lemonflower, salty, buttery notes. Less smooth bread and grains. Sweeter.

to Talking Waters Reality Czech 7/24: Pours darker, stronger head. More buttery bread notes. Less bitterness. Slightly sweeter. Winner: Reality Czech
9/24: Pours similar, stronger head. Stronger aromas. Less tart yeast. More bitter lemon citrus and bread. Winner: Portage
10/24: Pours similar, milder head. Stronger aromas. More buttery bread, lemon, diacetyl. Less tart yeast.

to Bauhaus Wonderstuff 1/25: Pours lighter, More tart lemon, less smooth bread.

to Bahaus Zizkov 7/25: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More salty and tart lemon. Less smooth and buttery. Winner: Bauhaus

Overall: An excellent representation of a Czech Pilsner. Great buttery, bready flavors with a light lemon citrus flavor. A bitter hop profile and grassy yeast to balance. A moderate bitterness lingers. Portage nailed this Czech pils with the pale bread malts along with a slightly salty and buttery flavor and even a touch of bitternesss off the end. It leans dry, bready, and bitter. It's quite fantastic and extremely well-rounded and complex. (Rating: 4.18)

 

Can. White head with lace. Clear golden color.

Crisp, clean, light, zesty. Toasted crackers, bread and biscuits, floral and earthy hops. Light bitterness. Smooth, flavorful, easy drinking.

Now in pounder cans. It pour a clear light golden color with a fluffy white head. Smell is lemon citrus with herbal notes and baked bread. Taste is floral and herbal , lemon grass ,citrus and baked bread malts. Mouth feel is crisp and quenchable with medium carbonation, twas good.

750ml crowler with no date. Pours a clear straw color with a finger of head that had good retention. Smell is bready with a touch of hay and pepper. Little too sweet for how I like my pilsners. Also just a hint of diacetyl. I like the malt flavor but just wish the fermentation was a little cleaner. Light body and appropriately carbonated.

L-Golden colored...nice clarity

S-Light breadiness...

T-Nice breadiness...malt forward...needs a hit of Noble hops to add some spiciness.

F-Clean....malty.....leans sweet.

O-Drinks really nice. Good beer. A touch of spicy hops would make this special. I like the emphasis on the malt but just needs a little more hop impression. Not much. I want this style malt forward but it should have more of a spicy hop impression to be special. Love this place though and their brewer is legit. Wouldn't surprise me if he has come to the same conclusion on this beer.