Olde Towne Pilsner
Olde Towne Brewing Co.

 

If Olde Towne has shut down as reported, this will be my last review of one of their beers. I also have some of their Amber beer, but from what its tasting like, it must have been infected or had some other serious problem, so I will not be reviewing.

Poured into a tall pilsner glass from a 12oz. brown bottle.

A: Huge 5 fingers of white, creamy head. I'm sure the glass has a lot to do with the gigantic head, but it is pretty to see. Lots of carbonation in the bubbles streaming. Color is a straw yellow with some hazy quality to it. Good retention and lacing.

S: Nice crisp aroma, with pale malt and some floral and grassy notes from the hops. Some fruitiness as well.

T: Well balanced between the bitterness of the hops and malt sweetness. I tasted some light breadiness and also a bit of lemon/citrus.

M: Light body with a medium amount of carbonation. Aftertaste is not bitter or sweet, this is a very nicely balanced beer.

D: Good, easy, refreshing beer.

12oz bottle, big thanks to sommersb for my first tick from Alabama, my 49th state ticked (including DC). Let me first give a shout-out to the brave beer advocates who recently freed the hops in this state, and my condolences to the guys who tried to keep those hops in their cage. It was a battle well fought, with your intelligent and well-spoken arguments: "What's wrong with the beeah we got? The beeah we got drink pretty good, don't it? The Budweisah, Millah, Cooahs!" Sorry that those hops got out.

This beer pours cloudy yet lively, golden in color with a one-finger white head that fizzes down to thick foam.

The aroma is interesting, very fruity and almost like a Belgian pale ale, with big green apple as well as sweet malty notes.

On the flavor, there is definitely something interesting there. It's the unmistakable taste of Belgium! Did they throw the wrong yeast into this beer? Either way, I sort of like it. Green apple and slight banana with sweet malt and caramel.

Medium-bodied and a little less crisp and clean than I'd like on the mouthfeel.

Not too shabby overall though, for a brewery from a state I didn't expect much from. Maybe I should expect more from the home of the Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers.

Pours a nice golden yellow with a little bit of initial head, no lacing, but some nice carbonation. Sweet malty scent, although more "macro-skunky" than real "German pils." Sour and skunky taste, although it does have a bit of sweetness to it. Goes down fine, but this is closer to a macro lager than a real German pils.

A 12 oz. bottle, capped and wrapped with a sunshine yellow label; poured to a pint glass (Mockingbird Cafe from neighboring Mississippi). One of several different Olde Townes from a selection sent along by unclejedi - thanks, Jim!

A: Glistening golden pour, very slightly hazy. Carbonation ascends with purpose (not too quickly) in a few steady streams with some stragglers. Short head of white cream, maybe a 1/2 finger at its apex, the a half-cover of skimcoat. No notable lace, a few thin broken bands.

S: Pilsner malt (of course) nose: dry crackers - saltines? - with sweeter notes of honey and cut clover.

T: Crusty bread, fresh and doughy with a dry spice. Good balance of lightly sweet malt and a punch of spicy zing. Hops aren't too bitter, just drying and complementary with a light grassy greenness, flowers and a brief lemon-sweet citrus.

M: Airy, without being overly 'crisp'. Has a nice light chewiness, fleeting spice that rests squarely on the back of the tongue. Light-medium body, clean finish.

D: Easy enough to drink and good style representation. Olde Towne did a fine job here; it's one I'd gladly have again and a clear-cut summer refresher in steamy Alabama...or chilly Portland.

Special cheers to my Trailblazers for winning a monster game vs. SA Spurs, 98-94, while I was downing this brew with dinner. Go Jerryd Bayless!

Thanks goes out to unclejedi for this brew.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden yellow color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy white head, with some sticky lacing to follow. The nose is malty, with some nice hop notes, citrus. The taste is malty, hoppy, with some nice citrus/grapefruit notes. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a pretty tasty brew, good example of the style.