Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

Certainly, and justifiably so -- you may/may not enjoy something like Pivo on its own merits, but if it was a traditional German pils you're after, this probably ain't gonna fit the bill.

 

As an American hoppy pils, it's a great beer. Prima is a well-made beer, too. Both of those breweries (and the brewers behind them) are talented folks for sure. Just don't try and tell me those beers are "authentic German" -- either from the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, or 10s. They, like a handful of outliers within Germany, are extreme takes on a style.

 

it sounds like it....its not even that expensive in NYC ($14 a six-pack is unheard of for core beers)

 

Having a Schlafly Kölsch tonight. Going to have more of this on hand over the summer.

 

$10 is about the cheapest you'll see a craft six pack around here. $12 is fairly standard, so $14 isn't a reach. Imports forget it. You're looking at $15+ for a six-pack easily.

Drafts on average around many of the "higher" end bars are ~$7-8 per pint (if you're lucky enough to get an actual pint). There's a German-themed bar around here that I've seen serve a pint of EKU pils for $15. There was another bar that I refuse to go to anymore because our local Jack's Abby, which is about 20 minutes away, has a session beer that is 4.5% abv (Jabby Brau)......$8 for a pint at this place. That was the last time I went there.

 

Have any of you tried Anderson Valley's Blood Orange Gose? I had my first can yesterday, and by all standards, one of the most unique beers I have ever had (never had a Gose before). Sounds 100% gimmicky, and I was expecting the worst (sorry Anderson Valley) but this was an amazing "twist" on a classic (I see @herrburgess rolling his eyes now) that I can highly recommend to at least give a try. Tart, salty, refreshing and only 4.5% ABV. I was blown away.

 

I preface this by saying I haven't had a German version of the style yet (I used to see Ritterguts on the shelves but never grabbed one, and now they seemed to have disappeared). But, of the American ones I've had, AVBC's might be my favorite. Like you said, I expected the worst, assuming it'd be really artificial tasting, but I thought it smelled/tastes of actual oranges. Didn't turn into orange soda either thanks to the salt/sourness.

Westbrook seems to be the one of the big ones that got the craze going, but I find theirs a little too funky for my tastes (though I friggin' love their One Claw pale ale and even their IPA). They have one called Gozu that uses yuzu fruit that's pretty tasty, though I think AVBC's is just a little easier to drink.

 

I can't remember if I've had their "Kimmie, The Yink and the Holy Gose" or the "Blood Orange" one. I remember it being ok, but no way near as good as the one in my avatar.

 

Looked for Schlenkerla Fastenbier, Victory Lager, Southern Tier Helles, maybe some new Maibocks -- to no avail.

But I did happen on Schlafly's Summer Beer (new to my area), labeled as a German Helles, but being just a little too grainy, even husky, in flavor for a good representation of the style. However, it's still a pretty tasty beer and I'd give no second thought to picking up another six-pack.

 

Just found some Victory Helles at my local place. Buddy of mine who works there put a 6-pack in the cooler for me so it'd be cold when I picked it up after work. Just cracked a couple and poured into the appropriate glassware: a Masskrug.

Impressions: Nice golden color; good fluffy white head after a fairly rigorous pour. Smell is slightly husky/grainy initially -- some cut hay. Taste...definite malt sweetness initially that is balanced by the earthy, slightly floral hops (there's a touch of spice and even a hint of lemon there, too). The more I drink, the more the hops open up in the nose, peaking just below the malt. Well done. Finish is fairly clean; husky/grainy sweetness lingers a bit, but is balanced by the hop nose. Taste remains just a touch too sweet, and the depth of breadiness in the best examples isn't really there at all, but overall this is a very nice beer. Was -- and still is -- my favorite German offering from Victory. Prost!

EDIT: To the question of whether the new version is "better" than the old one: there is a bit "more" of everything -- which may be a freshness issue -- but it seems overall to be a slight improvement. I could do with a bit less grainy sweetness (may be a matter of the maltster than of the brewery), but the hop aroma and balance are pretty right-on. Good beer.

 

Here comes (for me) the real test: does #3 taste better than #2...stay tuned.

EDIT: holds up pretty well, honestly. The sweet graininess is a bit magnified at this point, taking over somewhat from the hop balance. Not really cloying, but definitely noticeable.

 

My notes on the old one, a number of years ago, also make mention of slight DMS. I still haven't seen the new one, but I will definitely grab a sixer when I do.

 

First time with Sunshine Pils. Took a few ounces of Nooner off the tap to compare. Really digging the can offering! Nooner seems to have a little sulfur in the aroma (could be faulty nose too) and more of a lingering bitterness. Sunshine seems "cleaner" to me; well balanced, not aggressively hopped (American standards) and delicious!

 

Thanks for posting that photograph. That is my first Sunshine Pils sighting of the season!!

Troegs advertises that Sunshine Pils is a seasonal starting in April. This is one beer I have zero issues with a having an early release.

Sunshine Pils is indeed a beer of beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

 

Yes, sir - can date 3/19!

 

I feel like jumping into my car and doing some beer shopping!!

One of my favorite beer purchases last year was a 12-pack of Sunshine Pils (cans)!!

Cheers!

 

Bunch of random American-made Germany-style beers lately. A brief roundup:

-Full Sail Pilsner: Officially called a "Cascade Pilsner" on the label, which is apropos because this thing is chock full of giant floral Cascade hops. It was too much for my palate, and with the associated ABV (6.0%), veered perilously close to IPL territory. Said it once, and I'll say it again -- it takes a super deft hand to make an IPL (or IPL-type) beer to work for me. Don't think Full Sail hit the mark here. Too bad, as they just made this a year-round brew, and I was hoping it might be a repeat buy.

-Gordon Biersch Maibock: Waiting for Hofbrau Maibock to show up in stores here, as it's one of the few German maibocks we get, but thought I'd tide myself over with the GB. Not a bad choice at all. In fact, the wife liked it so much, she commandeered the glass, so my sample size wasn't huge here As I recall, though, a nice breadiness in the nose, not super heavy, with a good little spicy hop kick. A general sort of richness of taste. I was digging this beer and certainly would drink it again, though next time with reserves on hand for the wife!

-Bear Republic Global Kölsch: one of the few kölsch I've had, so not entirely sure what I should've been looking for, but this was a nice deep golden color in the glass with the slightest bit of chill haze. Had a very light, almost honeyed sort of fruitiness, very delicate though. Maybe just a touch of hop bitterness and flavor. The malt was there but not what I'd call especially bready, just sort of delicately sweet, never cloying, accompanied by that hard-to-pin-down but still enjoyable fruitiness. Interesting brew and one I'd probably need a few more of to really get a feel for.

 

I have not seen a Bear Republic Kolsch before. I visited the Bear Republic website:

“Brewed with malt and yeast from Cologne, Germany, this hybrid ale is slightly fruity like an ale, but fermented and cold conditioned like a lager.

Beer Details

Style: Kolsch

ABV: 5.4

IBU: 15

Color: Pale Amber”

Based upon the color description of “Pale Amber” I suspect that this beer was brewed using Kolsch Malt (4.5° L. From a maltster co-op based in Osthofen).

The Cologne brewed Kolsch beers that I typically purchase are Fruh, Gaffel, Reissdorf, and Sunner. If you can find a fresh version of these beers (which can be challenging) you might want to give them a try.

Cheers!

 

I take it you cannot get Mühlen or pfaffen or päffgen in the US?
I pretty much avoid the 4 you mentioned, though I guess Sunner isn't bad.

 

I personally have never seen the three breweries you mentioned in the US. When you were in Oregon, did you see those beers there?

Cheers!

Edit: The vast majority of the Kolsch beers I drink are my homebrewed Kolsh beers brewed with German Pilsner malt and a Kolsch yeast strain. Kolsch beer is a delicate beer style and best consumed very fresh; homemade ensures freshness!