Cove
Storm Stayed Brewing Co.

From a 355ml can dated 2024/07/29

Poured into a pilsner glass, a three finger fluffy white head on a clear gold. Excellent head retention that sticks around to the end. Lots of patchy lacing. Grassy, grainy malt smells.

The taste follows the nose. Sweet herbal. finished crisp and dry, as billed. A clean, mild hop finish. A medium light body with good carbonation.

A fine German Pilsner. Definitely worth seeking out, it easily rivals some of the better imports.

 

355 mL can from the LCBO; no discernible packaging date. Served slightly chilled.

Pours a foggy pale golden colour, producing one finger of tight, foamy white head that recedes within two or three minutes' time. A frothy collar and thin, filmy cap hold their position, with a swirl or two of the glass generating a little bit of lacing. Clean, wholesome aroma of grains and bready malts, supported by spicy, floral hops with just a hint of orange zest.

This is a rather tasty German pils; great balance between malt and noble hop flavours. Bready and grainy at the forefront, with a touch of biscuity sweetness; this is followed by a modest dose of herbal, spicy hop bitterness on the tail end. Finishes with grains, spicy hops and a hint of citrus peel, fading into a dry aftertaste. Light in body, with moderate carbonation that feels crisp, adding just the right level of bite to this lager's smooth, pleasing mouthfeel. 355 mL is practically a tease.

Final Grade: 3.95, a B+. I really enjoyed my glass of Cove Pils - to be frank, it blows a lot of the local SW Ontario pilsener competition clear out of the water. This is one of those styles where it can be challenging to brew a product that matches up to the authentic German equivalents, but Storm Stayed seems up to the task. I would've preferred a tallboy... but when my biggest complaint is that the serving size is too small, I think you're in good shape. Very solid pils, well worth a try if you enjoy German-style lagers.