Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

Best by was late August, so I was figuring it was only a couple months old max. Wasn't a bad beer by any stretch, just not really noteworthy or something I'd probably reach for again. They just started distributing out here (AZ), and this is actually the first brew of theirs I've tried. Interested to try the rest of the range (esp their season Hayseed, a sub 4% ABV table saison, a style which I'm particularly fond of).

Thanks for the insight. My exposure to pils (and lagers in general) is still in somewhat of its infancy, so I can't claim to be all that skilled when it comes to discerning malt profiles, but this one certainly seemed to be lacking some character, at least to my inexperienced palate. As ever, the trouble is in finding fresh German examples to really give a good foundation for comparison. Meanwhile, the wife is fully on board with a trip to Germany, so now it's just a matter of time until I can do some research at the source

 

Had this one last Sunday - it's a foreign beer (non-German) but it isn't from the US either. This seemed like a good place to post it tho. It was bottled a few days before I opened it as a colleague brought it back last week after a biz trip to the Czech Republic

 

Been mentioned before, but have you found Trumer? Being in California, I'd guess you'd see it around. Try that next to the Smuttynose (or any other Ami Pils) and see what comes to light.

 

They have a solid line-up, BM me or just post in this thread if you see any you'd like to try and want an opinion. They're local to me, so I've been drinking their stuff for years. Their Finest Kind is their flagship, and it's a solid "old school" IPA, when it's right, the grapefruit pops in that IPA more so any other I've tried (grapefruit from hops, not Grapefruit Sculpin). I remember it being my first "light bulb" moment with IPAs. I was hooked from there.

Their Hayseed is new, and extremely drinkable. I picked up some moderate lemon notes that make me think of summer, but nothing so bold as to take away from it's sessionability. A really nice table saison at 3.8%. Enjoy!

And? How was it?

Also, I still don't believe your pictures are real.

 

Your photograph looks like a painting. Bravo!

I have come to the conclusion that you are the master of using backlighting.

Cheers!

 

I'm in Arizona these days, so sadly no access to Trumer. Next time I'm in CA I intend to grab some though.

 

Sorry.
<----- need to update that info...

 

thx - I am fortunate enough to live with a nice west facing window of a 12th century church.

It was every bit as delicious as it looks, that is for sure.

 

Alright, so I just tried another American made German-style pilsener-- Sunny Ridge by Jack's Abby. I was quite thoroughly impressed- the malt backbone was decent, the crisp lagery-ness was there, the hop bitterness was there, the dry finish was there. It wasn't overdone- it was subtle and flavorful.

I actually compare it quite favorably to Rothaus in terms of flavor and finish- both have a decent herbal hop bite and a relatively pervasive dry finish. Rothaus ultimately has a bit more depth of character- the malt core extends a bit deeper, but damn, as far as a to-style American made German-style pils goes, Jack's Abby knocked this one out of the park. I'd venture to say this is almost a Rothaus clone- it's not a perfect copy by any means, but it's eerily similar in some respects. I'd definitely recommend this brew if you guys can get your hands on it.

Stats compared to Rothaus Pils:
Rothaus Jack's Abby
OG (plato) 12.4 12.5
ABV 5.1 5.1
IBU 32 35

 

Thanks for the review! Have not been impressed with the half dozen beers I tried from Jack's Abby so passed on the Pils. Will be sure to grab a six this week.

 

New beer for me.
Beautiful ruby pour. Great nose from the Munich: sweet maltiness, caramel and dark bread. Delicious malt flavor, sweet but not cloying. Raisin and fig, maybe some toffee in the end. Great viscosity, was a little hot at first but that sensation dissipates with each sip. Not well versed with the style but seems to be excellent substitute? Will seek out again.

 

Troegenator hits a ‘sweet spot’ for me. What I posted recently:

“My absolute favorite Doppelbock is Celebrator but I don’t drink it too often since it is so damn expensive.

I think Andechs is good but it is also too damn expensive.

My second favorite Doppelbock is Victory St. Victorious. Unfortunately I have only seen it in tap at the Victory Brewpub this year.

I have had a fair amount of Troegs Troegenator; it is very tasty and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”

Cheers!

 

So, here is Ballast Point's dubiously named Pale Ale, which is, in fact, a kolsch-style ale. Whatever the nomenclature, I found it really quite tasty, with a distinctly German hop profile and very clean malt base. Those German hops played well with the very light citrus/fruit notes from the ale yeast, but neither excessively covered up the malt base, which offered the slightest bit of sweetness and a very clean finish (read: not super estery like a regular pale ale might come across). It also happened to look terrific in the glass. As an absolute noob to kolsch-style ale, I'd be a terrible person to consult for its stylistic accuracy, but, to my novice palate, it seemed in the ballpark at least, and, even if you decided it took liberties with the style, I think you'd still find it a pleasing, light, clean summer beer. Prost!

 

Sounds like regular Pale Ale drinkers would be confounded by this beer's label. Reverse false advertising?

 

Oh, absolutely, and I can only surmise that's caused a portion of its low ratings on the site. That and the fact that it's not a big old hop bomb of a "pale ale". I imagine some of you might take issue with BP's description of it, but here it is nonetheless. (Also, for what it's worth, this was the beer "that launched Ballast Point", and knowing that they began back in the 90s , my theory is that they figured folks wouldn't know what do if they saw a "kolsch-style ale" on the shelves, so they called it a pale ale and went on their way.) (Note: it also apparently has a bit of wheat malt in the grist; not sure if that's to style or not.)

 

To the inverse, I'd probably pass it by because I rarely look at Pale Ales anymore, but a Kölsch would attract my attention.

Goose Island used some wheat in their Summertime Kölsch and didn't effect its character too badly. Might have to look for the Ballast Point to see if it's a good replacement for the Goose Island.

 

Just gotta keep a sharp eye for those hard-to-read bottled dates on the labels (or on the cardboard containers of the canned packs). Julian-style, of course -- year, followed by numbered day. I scored some 15065's or so, cold stored no less.

 

Wish their web site had a beer finder -- not sure I can even get it around me. Though I'll keep my eyes open.

 

Didn't realize that -- bummer. Well, luck be with you then!

That does sort of remind me about how I've lately been appreciating the role of these "larger" craft breweries as far as being able to consistently get fresh product to market. Here in Arizona, it's usually not hard to find stuff from Ballast Point, Lagunitas, Stone, Firestone Walker, and Sierra Nevada that's more than a month or two old (and sometimes you'll find stuff just a week or two old). Outside of drinking super local, it's always awesome to find reliable, fresh beer from out of state. Though it also just makes me mourn the journey the import stuff has to go through:/

 

Just for @breadwinner (okay, more for me, really), picked up some Trumer at the only local carrying it (in 12 packs, anyway).

Clear, yellow-gold with a finely-bubbled, creamy, long-lasting white head.
Aroma is a balanced blend of light DMS, lightly grainy malts, and light citrus -- slightly soapy -- noble hops.
Flavor is all of the above with an underlying backbone of bready malts that finishes more grainy than bready. The balance of malt to noble hop is sublime in that the aftertaste is spicy bitterness from hops, but not in an overpowering, palate trashing way.
Body is light with a very crisp mouthfeel.
Overall this is a fine, refreshing, delicious version of a German Pils that could define the style. I plan to save a bottle to compare with Sierra Nevada's Summerfest for my own study.

@TongoRad: In comparison to the Spaten-brewed Dinkel Acker CD Pils, I'd say the Trumer has less melanoidin character -- may be a bit drier, but has the same perfect balance of noble hops and malt to be an ongoing, reach-for 12 pack in the fridge.

Bottom line: it's damn good.