Pilsner and Lager Beers

But there's no adjunct in that beer. Even the hops are completely different from what (little) BMC use. Summerfest tastes like a pretty decent Pilsner should -- maybe not as bready as some German beers, but certainly more good character and body than any macro.

 

Bready is a great thing! S.N. Summerfest is a great one, and I -wish- a year-round offering. Call me greedy!

 

They had the same offer this year (expired 7/7/13) but it included more brands.

 

I have been WORKING the Great Divide Nomad pilsner and Hoss rye lager lately. I also had a good double-pils from Uintas, Tilted Smile was the name of that one.

 

Let me be clear--I was not alleging it uses adjuncts, just that it tastes like an adjunct lager. I can't quite describe it. The smell is OK, but it tasted like stale socks sweat. It wasn't hops and I don't think it was yeast. The closest I can compare it to is really old Sapporo or Strohs on tap. It's not quite bitter and certainly not sour but just off. Can't describe it in any other way. Bottom line is that I would not buy it, but then I'm not in the market for summer lagers.

I know I'm in the minority here, but the whole SN base line to me tastes sub-par. I've had SNPA since at least the early 1990s and thought it was competent but mediocre (better than BMC but not worth switching from imports for). And you can always look up my Torpedo review (which, I'm sure, would receive hate mail and down-votes if that option existed, but I still gave it a decent score). And I really, really wanted to like Torpedo. I liked Narwhal, but, as I said, it's competent but mediocre--I can have better stouts in that price range. Sorry! I really wish I could like them more.

 

I'd like to say I'm surprised that people are generally dismissive and ignorant of the great world of lagerbier, but I'm not.

 

In WI
New Glarus
- Edel Pils, Hometown Blonde, Oktoberfest, Uff-da Bock, Two Women, Totally Naked, Bohemian Lager
Capital
- Maibock, Eisphyre, Winter Skal, Autumnal Fire, Blonde Dopplebock

Regional
Great Lakes
- Wright Pils, Dortmunder, Eliot Ness, and the greatest Oktoberfest I've ever had.

 

Schell's has about a half dozen, maybe more, that top a lot of the beers on the OP's list (it is a good list, not talkin' shit). Firebrick, Pils, Dark, Goosetowne, Snowstorm, Chimney Sweep, etc.

 

But how can it taste of adjuncts when it has none?

Are there any Pilsners you like? Even any German Helles-type lagers? Because it sounds more like a palate preference than anything.

I spent my youth (long before the micro boom) drinking nothing but adjunct lager -- it was all that was available to pauper school kids. If you put a BM or C in front of me blind with another glass of SN Summerfest, I could separate them by look alone, let alone smell and flavor -- they're miles apart.

 

Well at least your honest. However you will burn in BA hell for speaking ill of Sierra Nevada!

 

There are actually a lot of Pilsners I like, and not just PU. I've had quite a few German and Dutch lagers without getting that reaction. Hell, I spent a year in Holland alternating between Grolsch and Hoegaarden as every-day beers (yes, I know, Witbier is not lager) and supplementing with Belgian ales a couple of times a week. I'll go one better -- I never drink BMC unless in a company of people who only drink BMC and there is nothing else available (e.g., a summer party where I was not assigned to bring beer). And I've had the same attitude toward BMC from the start, so it's not exactly a late change. And, like I said, I've had a long experience with SNPA and have always found it inoffensive but unspectacular--what I would call a middle-of-the-road brew (competent but not special).

And I certainly don't hold it against anyone if they like SN more than I do or even if they like summer seasonals--which I am certainly not a fan of. There are people in these forums who detest beers I like and I don't hold it against the either

 

Sorry, man! Didn't mean to be contrary. Agreed on Hoptimum and Celebration. Never had Bigfoot. Just saw Life&Limb at the store, but didn't think it worth the price (checking the ratings, I seem to have made the right choice). And I like Narwhal and Torpedo--even enough to make them every-day (one-and-done) beers, but I don't think of them as "special". I've already said all I have to say about SNPA and Summerfest. No need to hijack the thread for that.

 

Not understanding this SN aversion because it's not like they have some sort of "house" character going on. Their beers are pretty solid to-style all around and the Summerfest can stand next to many Pilsners the world over (Grolsch not necessarily included).

I have to ask where this whole "summer seasonal" stigma takes hold -- no matter SN calling the Summerfest their "seasonal" brew, it's a Pilsner and that's not a seasonal style to many breweries. Is it that you don't care for lighter bodied, crisper beers? Which wouldn't be crazy, there are many who feel the same.

Certainly everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but to say Summerfest tastes like BMC is akin to saying Coke tastes like the grocery's generic brand -- it just ain't so. To most beer drinkers, anyway.

P.S. -- this is only discussion, not judgement in any way.

 

If Summerfest had the same bready character of New Glarus Edel Pils, and the Edel Pils had the same hop character as Summerfest -- they'd be the 2 best Pilsners brewed by U.S. micros in the country!

 

I loved reading this! Really informative. Thank you!

 

Last comment on this subject--if this were the case, I would have liked it a lot more.

PS: My reaction to Summerfest was not based on the "summer thing". Also, had another Torpedo from the same 12 pack and it smelled and tasted more malty than the other 4. Not sure what to make of this. Maybe I should keep drinking it until I love it

 

Mama's little yellow pils
CCB Hotter than Helles

 

Since no one has mentioned them yet, I have to homer for Chicago's all lager Metropolitan Brewing. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know how authentic they taste compared to the German forebears, but I do know each of their offerings tastes great and nothing like an American adjunct.

As for the imports, Ayinger's Jahrhundert is awesome, and I have a soft spot for Stiegl Goldbrau, among many others.

 

They are damn spot-on!