Ascension
Upward Brewing Co.

Can dated 25265 , so Sept 22, so 91 days old? Left in the trunk of my car for about 3 hours, at 35-40F.

Translucent light gold with two fingers of relatively long-lasting pure-white head, that leaves a few streaks and spots of lacing.

Smell is lightly-toasty grain, with a bit of honey and light floral aromas. Smells like a helles.

Taste is similar to aroma, but much drier. There is a bit of hop spiciness at the end. Just before this, there is brief instant where all the flavors seem to pause, a give it a(n almost) plain seltzer vibe. Moderate bitterness, that lingers awhile.

Feel is light, with moderate lightly-sharp carbonation bite, and a light pleasant burn at the end. Drying finish.

Overall, a pleasant, easy-drinking lager. Comes across as a helles/pils hybrid. I'd have it again.

 

 

 

 

The beer is a straw to golden color and hazy. The head is modest but recedes in a lumpy fashion never completely fading away. A few large spots on the glass for lace.

Bready aroma without much floral hop as I expect from the style. Light alcohol in the background.

The taste is an improvement from the mundane smell. To start, the malt is light but flavorful. The hop bitterness seeps in before the swallow. The body is a bit richer than the Czech cousin but there's plenty of spritz to balance the beer. The finish is more bitter than most Pilsners but not too strong. Decent length to the aftertaste.

 

Dusty pail straw, and almost clear (SRM 2-3). Surprisingly little carbonation, with three columns oftiny bubbles, only builds a 1/4” head. The paltry white head quickly quits, leaving only a ring, a thin vail, and occasional spots of lace on a hand blown pilzner glass.

The aroma is delicate barley with faint floral notes. VERY simple and clean.

Mineral flavors open the show with moderate bitterness. It is crisp, with light earthyness. Some honey works its way out. This one tastes more like an Autumnal beer. The finish is long, dry, bitter, and slightly astringent.

A medium body, with a hard, stiff texture. Alcohol is as expected. Fizzy carbonation is also as expected for style, not appearance. It also has lots of mineral notes, which work here.

Ascension is a decent Pilzner, enjoyable late in the afternoon. It’s really a lawnmower beer or something to drink while out back chatting with friends. This can may have suffered age, as the “canned” date reads 13.May.2022.

From Beer Drop. The stamp at the bottom of the can scares me. 22034. I hope that doesn't mean 34th day of 2022.

Pours a clear straw gold with a finger of foam. Good lacing.

It has a nice spicy hop aroma with some biscuit malt, hops are Saaz reminding. Does not smell old.

The taste is nice. Noble hops character, biscuit malt, spicy, dry, doesn't taste old but what do I know?

Good body and carbonation.

I like this.

 

 

 

A: Clear canary gold pour. Pure white lacing.

S: Water is soft but has a distinctive sweet minerality. I will home 10 miles to fill two water bottles with the water they use. Combo of rich water and herbal hop aids the rich woods and spice. Bouquet of white pepper, thistle, dandelion greens...nuances of lavender.

M: Med-light body. Semi-dry finish.

T: Warm and woody along with biscuit malt. Never used avocado as a descriptor but it has that fat fruitiness along with gin botanicals, carrot and an green mango. I doubt it's the cleanest pilsner I've tested but this really popped for me.