California Lagers (2022)

Toast is worth the experience for the tap handle alone. Took me a few years before I realized it was from the fine folks at Moonlight.

By the way, I’m still looking for a California substitute for Live Oak’s pils!

 

Let me know when you find one. Until then I'll buy every batch of Hell that Urban Roots brews

 

Live Oak is good, but there’s a lot of California pilsners that are better.
Just from my favorite breweries that make multiple great pilsners regularly.
SARA
Moonlight
Urban Roots
Enegren
ASB (on a good day)

 

Thanks for reviving this thread @unlikelyspiderperson

 

Enegren does make good shit
Also...if anyone is ever at Cellador their Slow Pour Pilsner is one of the best i have had and maybe the only pilsner i have gotten more than once

 

Will do.

and if anyone isn’t convinced of my arguments or thinks they have something better, I’m usually willing to do some trading.

 

If i drank pilsners I'd try everything listed here, but i only drink stouts and strong ales

 

Let's be clear, I'm not knocking California lagers/pils. I've been a big fan of all things Moonlight since I was riding a bike with training wheels.

I should have clarified earlier that I am looking for something akin to Live Oak's Pre-War Pils (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/383/411249).

I really go for that grassy hop and biscuity malt backing in pilsners. (Czech? Bohemian? I know the names and read the style descriptions, but I still turn them around.)

The Pre War Pils isn't anything like that, which is part of the reason why I am surprised to dig it so much. It's more sweetish, with that creamy corn/corn grit character (the adjunct part of an AAL, I suppose), but in a good way. And it seems to be widely distributed, maybe a seasonal if not year-round, and $10/sixer.

 

...all that talk about beer is making me thirsty! Since I'm helping host the NA tasting this weekend I could use some NA pilsner recs too, if such a thing exists. (Yes, I know it exists. But is there one from a CA brewer worth recommending is the real question.)

 

I am a fan of Live Oak Pilz. I drink it a lot when visiting friends/family in Texas. Live Oak markets this beer as being a Bohemian Pilsner but it tastes like a German Pilsner to me.

I would not exactly use the word "substitute" here but if I was living in California I would be drinking plenty of Trumer Pils.

Cheers!

P.S. As a FYI to others there are other high quality Pilsners brewed in Texas Hill County: ABGB Pilsners (Industry, Rocket 100,…), Real Ale Hans Pils, etc.

 

I think Eppig makes some of the finer Pilsners I've encountered from Calif, as good as Enegren to me.

 

Speaking for myself, but i have never seen any eppig beers in A can format

 

Likely because of distro issues. Their IG is full of their cans

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYFBGfpPVn0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

I know why that would be the case , but shit im in Los Angeles and have never seen any Eppig outside of their Brewery. People will probably have an easier time getting their hands on Enegren

 

Good to see a new thread going.

 

Any recommendations for a Vienna Lager available in CA? Shipping within CA or brewery/bottleshop in the greater LA area.

I just finished my third case of Monkish Whatever Rhythm and wish I had more or something similar. At the risk of sounding like a Monkish fan boy, I swear they make some of the best lagers in the LA area.

 

If you haven't had Smog City, Enegren (though a bit far to be considered "LA" area) or Highland Park's lagers, you definitely should

 

Loved the collab of FW/RR STiVO. It’s coming back in cans this Friday.