Pils
Newbarns Brewery

neat beer here, the only one i had from these guys on our scotland trip unfortunately, but a tasty offering with more personality than expected, really distinctive, would be easy to pick out of a crowd of pils types even after a single pint, well refined and true to style to me, but also sneakily original in a generally tight style window. this is both quite hoppy and also rather fermentation forward, bitter but also grassy and very classically noble, and well lagered, but also slightly funky in a way that enhances it all, not quite bretty, but like, almost, not estery but rustic despite its high refinement, a cool element for this to have, could just be a property of the lager yeast, but its a defining factor here. pretty pour from the tap, light bright golden tone with high carbonation and a lasting inch or more of wispy weightless white head. the nose has some malt richness to it, a little graham cracker thing without being sweet, hay and straw from the hops, light noble spice, very fresh on the hops, somewhat bitter, green tea, verbena, bread yeast, almost sourdoughy without the tang just the funk, deeply earthy overall, some specific minerality here too playing a part. the flavor is great, all elements firing, the grain and hops are both fresh and in balance, a little more malty up front, trace brass, light toast, and warm biscuit, a touch fuller than just classic pils malt to me, while the hops have pleasant bitterness much of the way, an herbal freshness, and subtle dried floral and mowed lawn nuances, short of spicy but peppy for sure. the lager yeast is sudsy and active to me, like still fermenting in it without this being yeasty in the messy sense even a little bit, and again i get some almost bretty back end to this, very drying and the whole thing is about gone on the swallow, which is crazy for the flavor being more robust than many, old worldy but not generic, a great showcase of all of these ingredients really, and an immediately distinguishable brew. very well done overall, nice with smoked fish, wish i had been able to drink a few more from these guys, but this really made an impression.

 

Pours a clear yellow with fine head.

Smell is bready and a bit floral with notes of citrus and brewer's yeast.

Taste is light and bready with some fine fruitiness. Notes of citrus, crackers and rye with some floral hints a fine bitterness. Crisp and easy to drink.

Mouthfeel is thin to medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a nice pilsner, well made and easy to drink, maybe a little light on flavor.