Favorite Colorado Lagers!

Exports are interesting. People usually associate them with DAB/DUB or American takes on those two. Those are kinda like a strong pils with the hops dialed back a little. There aren't many of those left, but I guess they used to be super popular 50 years ago.
Like with most things, I'm way more familiar with the ones brewed in Bavaria. They're basically a strong helles, and they're still pretty popular. Edelstoff is one of Munich's most beloved beers, and the favorite "value" beer in the region is Oettinger Export. My fave actually comes from Lowenbrau, which is a little unusual.
I'll have to try the one from Bierstadt to see what direction they went in.

 

Saw this maibock at Molly's yesterday and almost bought, but I don't think I've ever had anything from Elevation. Any thoughts on this brewery? They deliver!

https://twitter.com/ElevationBeerCo/status/1258892989759229952

 

Elevation is great! They do big bodied, malty beers very well in my experience, so I would think this is a safe buy. I'll grab a 6er if I see it and will report back

 

I'm also in the Elevation camp. Never had anything bad from them before. They're one of the few places that hit (non-wild/sour) Belgians out of the park, too. Their brewery/facility/tasting-room is one of the most beautiful around.

 

Picked up a 6 of the Bitburger/Sierra Nevada triple hop’d lager and really like it. Good easy drinking summer beer with some body to it.

 

Boulevard & Bierstadt Pilsner collab is dropping around town in 6-pack cans

 

It’s good, but Slow Pour cans exist right now, so what are we really doing here?

 

FINALLY got Slow Pour without having to carry my happy ass downtown to get it. It's not quite as good in cans as it is on draught...but...it's one DELICIOUS brew, for sure.

 

Is it a different style of pils? Czech or maybe one of the less dry spins?

 

The beer is brewed by Boulevard in KC, other than that not sure. The only thing I could find was:

"We used a traditional recipe following a beer purity law that dates back to 1516."

 

Won't hear any complaints from me about more Pils on the shelf.

It's a completely different brewhouse over there, but some of the things Boulevard did were trying to replicate what Bierstadt does. They did use the same malt, no flotation tank, but used an empty fermentor as a makeshift one. The hops were different and got way better efficiency they had expected, overshooting the gravity by a couple of points. Overall, it's maltier, even with the adjustments using deaerated water

 

Bierstadt keeping HSA down then?

 

My thoughts on the Boulevard/Bierstadt collab:

 

SN Summerfest is no joke. I haven't had this year's, but it has been one of America's best pilsners for a while. Especially considering how widespread it is. I used to think Summerfest and NG Edel Pils were the best two in America and only one of those is still around.
A lot of American versions are too hoppy, too dry, or too husky. I guess Sierra Nevada employs (at at least did) a ton of Germans. Both long-term and as part of brewing training programs. That can't hurt.

 

Upslope Pilsner is drinking really fine right now. I have to found any slopour, but Upslope is keeping me from feeling jealous.

 

Wish I liked Czech Pilsners more than I do, never could get into SN's Summerfest.

When I was over on Oskar Blues's site I noticed they have a Lager Series, Slow Chill, with a Helles Munich Lager and a Vienna Lager. Any good? Never got into Mama's Little Pils for reasons states above....maybe off topic but I am confused with their marketing; their website lists Mama's as a German Pilsner, their can lists it as a Bohemian Pilsner. Always tasted like a Bohemian Pilsner to me.

 

The Slow Chill series is good. The Helles is very light and crisp, not particularly sweet in the middle.

They’ve tweaked Mama’s to be more German-style in nature over the last couple years. German malts, German-grown Saaz, and I think French Aramis hops. Dropped the ABV down a tad, too - it’s much less dense now. I think you’d like the changes if you haven’t had it in a couple/few years.

 

German Style Pilsner is right up my alley, so maybe I should revisit alongside that Slow Chill Helles.

I think I am still confused as to why they would still use the Bohemian Pilsner label on the can.

 

Yella Pils does have pretty pronounced saaz character, which is a hallmark of Czech/Bohemian pilsners. It's otherwise way closer to the dry German kinds.
It's a weird beer I have mixed feelings about. They keep changing it. The first time I had it was nearly 12 years ago and it was a super-rich Czech pils. No diacetyl, though. When they started canning it, they clearly decided to emulate Urquell and it definitely DID have pretty hefty diacetyl for 2-3 years. So much so that I grew to hate it. Then they changed it again to be closer to the original. That was my favorite version. Fast forward again and I think they even dropped the saaz (or blended it down) to favor something like hersbrucker or magnum. Not sure what they were using, but it was a German noble or a spin-off. Now it's somewhere in between and they've gone back to the saaz. Make no mistake - it's a good beer, but I just wish they'd make up their mind. Personally, I like the Czech versions that didn't have diacetyl. I dig the low bitterness and thicker texture. Plus, there just aren't many other beers like that out there.