Erhartinger Pils
Brauerei Erharting

From: World Wide Spirits, Teising, DE
Date: Best by 2014-02-04
Glass: Ayinger pils glass

Erharting's Pilsner is a well-brewed version of the style, fairly well-balanced in all aspects, the malt and hops detectable in all waves of flavor, varying a bit in intensity during the course of a sip. Certainly not an extreme beer, significantly lighter in body and malt character than some versions of the style I've had, but still a beer that is generally enjoyable and easily drinkable. I can imagine visiting Erharting's associated biergarten in Munich and seeking this out quite easily in the summer.

Pours a 2cm tall head of white-colored foam that is comprised of small-sized bubbles, creating a frothy appearance. Retention is above average, the foam lasting about two minutes in a slow decline to a moderate-sized ring around the glass and a collection of thin tendrils lingering atop the body of the beer. Lacing is average, a moderate collection of small dots cling to the walls of the glass. Body is a bright golden yellow color, with light bringing out pale yellow hues. Carbonation visible through the transparent body, many in number, moderate in activity.

Aroma is mild, though pleasant: lightly grassy, floral, and grape-like, with a bit of bitter lemon and baked bread in the background.

Overall flavor is of pleasantly moderate hops that contribute lemon, floral, and lesser grass-like flavors, as well as notable bitterness and balanced bread-like pale malts. Front of palate tastes crisp and clean bread-like sweetness with floral and dried grass-like hop characters. Mid-palate of moderate, clean, white bread-like flavors and sweetness with mild bitterness and lemon, floral, grassy, and farmyard-rustic hop characters. Back of palate tastes moderate to medium-high hop bitterness with a lemon and grape ester edge, on top of a pilsner malt bread-like sweetness. Aftertaste is of moderate hop bitterness with light lemon and floral characters, little residual malt-like flavors.

Beer is medium-light in body, with carbonation of high intensity, resulting in a fizzy mouthfeel at first, which gradually calms to a high foaminess (9/10) and subtle smoothness (1/10). The beer could be a bit less carbonated and not suffer, but as it is, it's still in line with general stylistic interpretations. Closes dry, with moderate stickiness lingering on the palate and lips.