Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol Content: 4.7%

From: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://www.slyfoxbeer.com/

Finally after months of flooding it appears that the UK is finally drying out. Near tropical temperatures of 15 degrees centigrade have been recorded in London this week prompting the daffodils to awaken and bloom. To many daffodil sightings are the first signs of Spring and people begin planning for their summer holidays. I am no exception to this as I have recently booked a two week holiday to Croatia. The winter has however played havoc on my body and I am rather out off shape. So as the weathers improved, I have decided to start running again. After running just over three miles yesterday, I was in need of some light refreshment. I have often seen runners turn to beer after their gruelling exploits so I decided to do some research and find out more.

The answer is surprisingly uncomplicated. Beer is made up from 99.5% water with the rest being made up from malted barley, hops and yeast which are all rich in vitamins and minerals. Researchers suspect that sugar, salts and carbonation in beer combine to help people absorb the fluid more quickly. Faster hydration after exertion helps you to recover quicker. So next time you run home from work, grab a cheeky pint to recharge, doctors orders!

Sly Fox Brewery hails from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in December 1995 by the Giannopoulos family as the Sly Fox Brewhouse and Eatery. When off-premise sales increased beyond the Phoenixville location’s ability to keep up, Sly Fox opened a 20-barrel production brewery and accompanying restaurant in nearby Royersford, in November 2004. However this was not enough for Sly Fox as in 2012, they choose to open a third site in  Pottstown to take their annual production up to 3,600 barrels. The subject of this review is their Pikeland Pils, a Pilsner style lager.  

Colour: Pours a lemon yellow with a thick white head that reminds me more of a Weiss beer than a pilsner. It's so thick that you could mistake it for a Mr Whippy (minus the flake of course). This dies down after a few minutes but coats the side of the glass beautifully. Unlike every other pilsner I've ever drunk, the beer is very opaque. So much so, you almost can't see the bottom of the glass.

Aroma: Not the most perfumed beer in the world but you can certainly smell aromas of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon.

Body: Very light and refreshing as every good pilsner should be. This beer will help refresh you after a hard day at work or a long run like the one I undertook earlier today. There is no clogging on the back of throat and sips down a treat.

Taste: On the first sip you will be presented with notes of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon and honey in the background. As the drink warms slightly, a slight wheat note comes to the fore. This changes the character of the beer some what to become very reminiscent of a Weiss beer minus the banana and cloves. Very different to the soft perfumed pilsners from Czech Republic and Germany that I am used to but very nice all the same. A twist on a modern classic style some may say. The finish is mildly bitter but very crisp. The perfect refresher.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/victory-prima-pils.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/maui-brewing-company-aloha-baktun.html

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Victory Prima Pils

Victory Prima Pils

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol Content: 5.3%

From: Downington, Pennsylvania, USA

Purchased From: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames
http://www.victorybeer.com/

It’s been a while since I last reviewed a Pilsner and to be honest, I can’t even remember the last time I drank one. After hoppy IPA’s and dark malty Stouts, a crisp and dry Pilsner was a welcome break from the craft beer norm. So after a long internet search, I came across Victory Prima Pils, whom in a you tube video claim that their Pils, is the best Pilsner in the world; well let’s see about that. 

Founded in 1996 by Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski in an old Pepperidge Farm bakery, Victory has grown considerably and evolved well outside the traditional small market of a beer-brewing restaurant. The brewery's first three beers were Victory Festbier, Brandywine Valley Lager (now Victory Lager), and HopDevil Ale. Initially they thought that the malt forward Victory Festbier would become their most popular beer. However, they soon realized that consumers craved very hoppy beers, such as HopDevil Ale, the most. The brewery uses an automated, energy recovery, 50 BBL system made by Rolec in OberBayern, Germany. Victory also brews using traditional methods where appropriate, such as using the energy intensive decoction process for production of certain German style lager beers.

Its Prima Time!

Unfortunately, when I brought this Victory Pils from the Real Ale shop, it was already a couple of days out of date. So as soon brought it home I popped it in the fridge to try later that night. Will that affect the taste? I hope not.

Colour: Pours a rich straw yellow with a nice brilliant white head. This will dissipate after a few minutes but it's remnants lace the glass beautifully.

Aroma: Notes of grass mixed with fresh floral aromas dominate. These are under pinned with hints of pine and crisp soft water. In short it's like the Bavarian alps in a glass. Ah it takes me back to my holiday in Munich!

Body: Very light to drink as most Pilsners traditionally are. The drink is very heavily carbonated which is drastically different to the ales I have reviewed previously in this blog. Honestly, it makes a welcome change.

Taste: Normally, I am not of fan of any Pilsner that is not made in either the Czech Republic or Germany. Will this drink change my mind? Well the answer is most definitely a Yes! (Insert Daniel Bryan's pointing to the sky). The pale malts provide a lovely slightly sweet and crisp taste to start which is promptly followed by a long lingering, lemon bitter finish created from the blending of Hallertau and Saaz hops. Very nice indeed, but is it the best Pilsner in the world. Sorry Victory, but for me that honour is still held by Pilsner Urquell. Disagree? Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/gambrinus-excellent-11.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/ellezelloise-hercule-stout.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Gambrinus Excellent 11

Gambrinus Excellent 11

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol content: 4.7%

From: Pilsen, Czech Republic

Purchased from: Prague Airport

Back in November i visited Prague for the first time. As much as i would love to say that i wanted to study the culture and the buildings. My main aim was to try all the local brews. Whilst i was there i drank Kozel,
Staropramen, Pilsner Urquel and Merlin to name but a few. When i returned to the airport, i remembered that i saw a section selling beers. I naturally gravitated towards this and i was surprised to see that they had a number of beers that i had yet to try. I think i picked up about six bottles in total. Most will be reviewed on this blog (unfortunately i drank quite a few of them before started writing this blog, whoops!).

Gambrinus is a beer brewed in the Czech Republic at the Plzeňský Prazdroj brewery. The brewery was founded on  the 24th January 1869 in Pilsen Inn. Twenty famous businessmen, headed by knight Emil Skoda, signed an agreement establishing the second modern brewery in Pilsen. On the 15th October 1870 the first Pilsner was launched to much critical acclaim. It is one of the most popular beers in the Czech Republic although before my trip to Prague i had never heard of it. The beer is named after Gambrinus, a legendary king of Flanders known for his mythical brewing abilities. Gambrinus is the unofficial patron saint of beer or beer brewing. The beer i am reviewing today is the Gambrinus Excellent 11.

Colour: Straw yellow with a glossy white head. On the pour it appears to be quite heavily carbonated. This settles after a couple of minutes leaving you with a lovely bright looking pint. 

Smell: Sweet Saaz hops have been used in the making of this beer. These hops have earthy grassy notes which make the Pilsner surprisingly spicy warming and inviting. It has been hopped three time to ensure that the flavor has been passed from the hops to the beer. It captures everything that you would expect from a Czech Pilsner; sweetness and richness. 

Body: Light and refreshing. For its levels of carbonation, this drink is very smooth and goes down a treat. In the mouth it feels a lot heavier than it actually is. If i had ordered this in a pub in the UK, it would of gone very nicely with a pack of salt and vinegar crisps or chips.

Taste: This beer is very sweet for a Pilsner. This comes from the caramel malts and the soft water that are used during the brewing process. The beer is not overally hopped and is very fresh with grassy notes.  If i matched it with some food from Prague, it would go very nicely with a pork chop and apple sauce. The sweetness of the beer would work very well against the sourness of the apple.  This is a lovely beer that i would enjoy again and again. One of the best Pilsner's that i have ever drunk.

Czech this out!

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Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol content: 4.8%

From: Boston, USA

Purchased from: Beers of Europe

Just before the end of the year; I finally ordered a batch of beers from Beers of Europe. Beers of Europe allow you to order beers from there extensive warehouse and get it delivered to you door for a small shipping fee. As this was my first purchase from them i went halves on a crate with Jon. As we ordered so close to Christmas the delivery took slightly longer than we had expected; however when it came we where both very excited. We ordered eight beers each and they will all be reviewed on this blog for you to enjoy.

Nice Full Case of World Beers

Most of you will be aware of the brewer Samuel Adams. Their Boston Lager has been on sale in most UK supermarkets for quite awhile now. Certainly, if you head to the East Coast of the USA and ask for a beer in a restaurant, you would most likely be served this. But what i did not know about was the shear variety that they offer including some seasonal ales. If you get a chance have a look at their website. The family which runs Samuel Adams have been brewing for six generations but they still maintain their craft credentials by creating excellently refreshing and divergent ales.

So abit more about the Noble Pils. Brewed with five different types of Hops; the Noble Pils attempts to capture the essence of Bohemian in a glass. The hops all come from either southern German or the Czech republic. The Hops used are Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter, Saaz, and Hersbrucker Noble. Now with this amount of Hops I'm expecting this Pilsner to be quite bitter. But if they are trying to replicate the Czech Pilsner's then they shouldn't be.

Colour: Rich golden colour. It looks like a Czech Pilsner rather than most standard lagers that are served in most UK pubs and bars.

Smell: On the nose you get notes of sweet mango and lime much like the Brewdog Punk IPA i reviewed earlier. However, a strong smell of bitterness also kicks in on the second sniff. The bitterness is all most over powering. I guess that's what five tyes of hops will do to a beer.

Body: Very smooth on the pallet. But there is a very high level of carbonation in this bottle which does not settle down. You can really feel the bubbles tickle the back of your throat with each sip.

Taste: Compared to most Pilsner's that i have drunk this is very hoppy. The bitterness can be very cutting. I would actually go out on a limb and say that this beer has a more of an American IPA about it rather than a Pilsner. The zesty robustness of the hops can take you back at first but as you get use to the flavour the beer becomes genuinely enjoyable. To me; the Noble Pils is a pimped out version of the Boston Lager that we all know andlove.

Pilsner or IPA?!?

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