Sam Adams Downtime Pilsner

@MACrist Find yourself some Jever... if you want some light reading all you could want to know about Jever is covered in this thread: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/jever-the-german-pilsener.320362/

 

Beyond any differences in formulation, simple marketing needs can be a catalyst for this as well. From an article about the Harpoon rebranding and the tiger face on their IPA label:

I could see the name "Downtime Pilsner" testing well with consumers when compared to "Noble Pils."

 

Never enough Imperial Pils! Be great if that were the new "it" beer for a little while!

 

Seconded on the Hallertau Imperial Pils. I think that was the best SA beer I ever drank.

 

I do remember it being quite good, although that was a long long time ago. Not sure what I'd think of it today.

Depending on price point, that may be a tough sell with IPL offerings from Jack's Abby and Peak Organic. Back then there was no competition.

As for why they axed Noble Pils? I imagine sales slipped when it went year round, it was wildly popular when it was the spring seasonal. Not sure why exactly they replaced it with Downtime (or so it seems).

 

Maybe Boston Beer Company thinks that market conditions have changed for craft brewed Pilsners? Below is something I posted previously on this topic:

You might be interested in knowing that there is sales growth for craft Pilsners:

“When a category is up 127 percent, you pay attention... According to IRI... the craft pilsner category has added more than 317,000 cases year-to-date (through Aug. 9). Only four other categories – IPA, Variety, Fruit/Veggie/Spiced beer and Pale Ale– have added more incremental volume in 2015.”

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/goose-island-debuts-new-four-star-pils.329472/

Cheers!

 

Yep, I agree, I've actually quoted that post from the Goose Island thread a few times.

But which part of my post were you responding to? They aren't actually bringing back the Hallertau Imperial Pilsner that I know of...was it in response to my curiosity about why they are offering Downtime? Because my curiosity was more about why they replaced Noble Pils with that specific beer, than why they are again offering a year round pilsner.

 

Yup.

In the recent past Boston Beer Company made a business decision to stop producing Noble Pils (I assume due to poor sales).

My guess is that the decided to produce another Pilsner since market conditions have changed.

I do not view this as a case of this beer replacing Noble Pils. They had already decided to nix Noble Pils and therefore that beer is 'gone' from their product line. They are now producing a Pilsner (Downtown Pilsner) to address the craft Pilsner market.

Are you suggesting that they resurrect a beer from the 'ashes' (i.e., Noble Pils) and produce it again?

Cheers!

 

I liked noble pils also. I'll try this when I see it.

 

Nope, I liked Noble Pils (wasn't perfect, but enjoyable), but I'm definitely not suggesting they bring it back.

I was just curious why they're offering Downtime now, but your theory is a good one.

If I was them I'd still make it a spring seasonal rather than year round. I still feel Noble Pils sales slipped because it went year round and was no longer a seasonal offering.

 

Was there an announcement (e.g., A Boston Beer Company press release) which states that Downtown Pilsner will be a year round beer?

The Sam Adams website lists:

“AVAILABILITY

Beers of Summer variety pack”

https://www.samueladams.com/craft-beers/downtime-pilsner

Cheers!

 

I recently saw 6 packs of the DP...did not check the expiration dates, so it could've been there awhile.

 

I have also seen the 6-packs on the shelves (but did not buy it). I am wondering whether this is a release to test the market; to see whether folks would be willing to buy a Sam Adams Pilsner.

Their last foray with Noble Pils seemed to not be successful. One data point I can report is that I never saw this beer on the shelves of my local beer retailers. I can't buy this beer if I don't see it (unless I am willing to order it from my retailers). It may have been that my area (Southeastern PA) was a tough market for Sam Adams Noble Pils since there are many other locally brewed high quality Pilsners to choose from: Stoudts Pils, Neshaminy Creek Trauger Pils, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils, Victory Prima Pils, Troegs Sunshine Pils, etc.?

Cheers!

 

I never saw 6 packs of NP either. For quite a while, every time I'd go into the store I would check for it. Does anybody else do this when they go to the store? Make a mental list? haha...I think in my area it may have done...ok.

 

I recently bought a sixer of DP and thought it was OK. I wondered if
DP could possibly be the base beer used in Porch Rocker which is
described as a golden Helles lager, but I'm no expert.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/21/

For the record I thought Noble Pils had a harsh aftertaste
nice upfront though.

 

A difference between Porch Rocker and Downtown Pilsner is the malt bill. Porch Rocker is brewed solely using “Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend” while the Downtown Pilsner also utilizes German Pilsner in the grain bill: “Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, German Pilsner Malt”.

Cheers!

 

Nope, doesn't look like it. My apologies, I assumed it was based on this thread, but I've admittedly been popping in and out of it since Monday and may have quickly skimmed parts of it.

 

Certainly not an official resource, but Beeradvocate lists this beer as a year round offering.

The Sam Adams website definitely makes it look like a seasonal offering in a variety pack though.

 

While we're on the subject of bottom fermented things, I had a chance to get another Zwickel last night. Really do love this style. Scored a couple of pints of this on draft in Boston: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7282/53989/

Have you had this one Jack? What about @AlcahueteJ or @TongoRad? You folks have it? Tasty brew!