Beer shop finds.

Not Metro West, but last Saturday Ball Square in Somerville had some four packs left. I was there tonight but didn't look to see if there was any left.

By the time I got to Ball Square tonight around 5:30 all they had left was Knockout Blonde and Space in Between. In about ten minutes all that was left was one four pack of Knockout Blonde.

Snagged a four pack of the Blonde, some Proclamation Derivative Citra, and some Smokey the Beer from Lamplighter.


RE: the Trillium thread

Wow.

I think Trillium may have supplanted Lord Hobo as the most hated brewery in the New England forums in less than 24 hours. Impressive.

 

If Notch the Standard is gone, Von Lune Pilsner from Mystic’s side project is really good. I actually liked it better than the Standard.

 

Them's fightin' words...

But seriously, I find them to be completely different beers.

I haven't had Von Lune in awhile, but it definitely felt a bit on the hoppier side, maybe even a bit German in the overall profile. This isn't to suggest it wasn't good either, just different.

But The Standard's malt profile has a depth and complexity that I have yet to find in any other American attempt at a Czech Pils, including Notch's previous Czech style Pilsners.

 

Redstone really goes hard in the paint for Black Friday huh?

http://www.redstoneliquors.com/black-friday-2018/

 

only had a 4pk of Von Lune and really didn't like it. Just wasn't refreshing. Was fairly heavy and lacked any dry/crisp finish.

 

They certainly go hard in the “hard pass” for me. But hey people will go. Good for them. I’ll be eating leftovers.

 

This was my feeling when I had the first batch of Von Lune and I haven't had a chance to try newer batches since. I've seen praise for it here, but has it improved? Both it and Trail Magic were very sweet and crusty like bread. Not necessarily bad, but lacking the crispness that makes pilsner great.

 

Not a great line up truth be told. A bunch of Lawson's some prairie and CBS, all of which have been available in many a store over the past few weeks.

Hell by the time they have opened I'll likely have my half dozen goose island picked up from elsewhere and already be at work.

 

I liked it, but agree with your description - definitely full bodied for the style.

 

They did indeed have it. $19.99 for a 4-pack. Thanks for the tip!

 

Picked up a 4 pack of barrel aged expedition. Kinda pricey at $29:99, but figured I’d splurge as it’s highly rated. Colonial Stow btw.

 

Anyone else snag any Uerige Sticke? What about the various Thomas Hardy’s showing up on shelves?

 

This was from a couple weeks ago

 

Yup those are it. Thinking about picking them up. Should be nice for the holiday season.

 

I saw a bunch of love for The Standard on here, but honestly it didn’t do anything special for me. Tasted pretty much in line with their regular pils. I like their regular pils and their zwickel, but the pils doesn’t quite make my top tier.

I want the hops to be both balanced and noticeable in a pils, otherwise might as well be drinking a helles.

I thought Crooked Stave’s Von Pilsner was excellent as well.

 

Foley Bros. Citrennial cans at Yankee Spirits in Swansea. Anyone know when they last canned this? No dating on the cans. Took a gamble. Particulate all over the place. Bit syrupy. Tasted pretty good but too sweet. I suspect on the old side. Disappointing for sure as I've always enjoyed the Foley bombers I've tried in recent years. Bit concerned these were cans not intended for distro but got sent once they weren't moving.

 

I agree with you RE: the Standard in Cans. I've had 3 iterations of the Standard over the last year and the version in cans did nothing for me like the Session Pils or Tenner does. Also Von Pilsner is one of the best beers of 2017/18. Love that beer.

 

Do you guys simply prefer hoppier Pilsners?

Bear in mind Czech-style Pilsners typically have lower perceived bitterness than their German counterparts (especially Northern German Pilsners). Notice I said perceived bitterness, as the IBUs in a Czech Pils can and will be higher than many German Pils.

To me at least, Czech Pils are softer, and the bitterness is noticeable and lingers on the tongue a bit, but it's simply a complement to the malt profile.

The malts are still the star of the show in my opinion for both German (southern Germany at least) and Czech style Pilsners. It shouldn't be a Helles, you should notice the hops, but it shouldn't be THAT noticeable (see Prima Pils). Von Lune's was leaning more towards a Prima in my opinion, albeit not as hoppy as Prima.

I also think many US brewer's label a Pilsner "Czech Pilsner" when it really leans more German in its overall profile.

Finally, I think freshness REALLY matters in a Pilsner, especially if hop perception is your favorite aspect of that style. Because it's not hopped like an IPA, that small drop in hop flavor can really make a big difference. Fresh at the brewery The Standard was otherwordly to me, but I also drank many cans that were quite fresh when they hit the shelves. If anything is kicking around now it's closing in on two months old.

 

That's awesome that you loved the Standard. What I was saying is that I preferred the Standard I had on draft in 2016 and 17. The cans were good but different from how I remember it. To me, Notch Tenner is otherworldy. You'd love Tenner. Funny you mention it because I consider Czech pils to be my favorite style followed by Helles.

 

Is that the last time you had it on draft? I too preferred it at the brewery on draft as opposed to cans, but the cans were still quite good.

I wonder, were they using decoction mashing for The Standard in 2016/2017? I imagine they were.

Which style of Czech Pils do you like best? Ever been to the Czech Republic? It's on my bucket list, as I've been to Germany a few times already. If you like Helles, you HAVE to go to Munich.

Personally I think Czech Pils is criminally underrepresented here in the US. At least properly brewed Czech Pilsner. Notch is the only brewery I know of that does multiple styles of Czech Pilsner in the US.

Edit: I looked up Tenner, it looks delicious! It's the same style as their regular Notch Pils. Notch Pils being Světlé Výčepní (lower gravity; e.g., 10°) and The Standard being Světlý Ležák (moderate gravity; e.g., 12°).

The Czech's would call both Tenner and Notch Pils "Desítka (ten)" and The Standard "Dvanáctka (twelve)."