Ultimate 6er | A Guide to Utah Pils

As I drive to meet a local brewer to learn about his most recent release, I think about the time we once asked another brewer what he felt was the ‘next big thing’ in craft beer. His reply: “German Pilsner.” This no doubt came as a bit of a shock. Berliner Weisse, session IPA, or even Imperial fruit beer would have all seemed appropriate. Instead, he picked a classic style originating from the Czech Republic in 1842. Interesting enough, we started noticing a trend: Friends working in breweries often mentioned pilsner as their go-to-beer. A few years ago there might not have been enough local quality pils to make an Ultimate 6er and although it hasn’t become the ‘next big thing’, it has made a resurgence. We give you a guide to Utah’s very own Pilsners. Read More

Terrapin Beer Co. | Sound Czech Pilsner

ABV 5.2% | IBU 42

Terrapin Beer Co. enjoys great music, great beer and their wonderful community. All this is apparent in the beer company’s latest addition to their year-round lineup, Sound Czech Pilsner. Read More

Goose Island Collaborates with Local Chicago Band

For the fourth year, Goose Island has teamed up with a band performing at the Pitchfork Music Festival to create a unique beer that represents the bands taste in beers. This year the brewery collaborated with Chicago’s own Twin Peaks to create Natural Villain, a garage/pilsner-style lager.

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Atwater Brewery | Purple Gang Pilsner

ABV: 5% | IBU: 31

In the 1920s, industry was booming in Detroit. The car companies were producing jobs for the area faster than they could be filled, and the 18th Amendment turned Detroit, with its thin water barrier between the glory land of Canada and dry United States, into one of the most important towns for liquor running and bootlegging. In Detroit, the Purple Gang (run by the Bernstein brothers) was the most ruthless and terrifying group of people you could run into. Known for their general lack of discretion and ability to do anything from kidnappings to murder for hire and bombings, The Purple Gang was vicious enough that Al Capone stayed in Chicago and bought off them rather than attempting to battle them for territory. Eventually their complete disregard for covering their tracks got them caught and led to the group dismantling, but not before becoming notorious enough to make appearances in Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock and multiple James Bond books.
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Coney Island Brewing Company | Mermaid Pilsner

There are few New York cultural institutions that have survived the Disneyfication of the city better then Coney Island. The injection of the money has created some updated facilities and relatively cleaner beaches, the classic Coney Island experience is still available for those willing to take the long train ride down to the bottom of Brooklyn. Whether you are looking to take advantage of the sun and swimming, gorge yourself on every carnival-type fare available, or scream your head off on roller coasters old and new, Coney Island has it all. Coney Island Brewing company has captured all of these into a nice little pilsner perfect for the summer that celebrates the emblem of the area’s greatest parade, Mermaid Pilsner.

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Susquehanna Brewing Co. | Pils-Noir

One of the best parts about living in New York City in the summer is getting the eff out. I spend as much time as possible myself running away to the woodsy wonders of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The combination of plentiful lakes and rivers, scattering of small towns, apparently every single firefighter from New Jersey working volunteer service, and legal fireworks; the area is gangbusters for all you can stand Americana. To sweeten the vacation deal, the area is flush with smaller brew pubs and craft breweries that allow me to discover a new favorite beer each time I go down there. While the 4th of July day was a literal washout for the folks on Lake Wallenpaupack, it did allow me to discover this wonderful fusion of light pilsner quality with dark tastes that matched the gloomy weather.

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Platform Beer Co. | New Cleveland Palesner

I know it is not the case this year in some areas of the U.S., but this past week has been toasty in the Cleveland area. With temperatures almost reaching 90 degrees on the 8th and 9th, it is strange that not long before the first week of May we had weather forecasters talking about snow and wind chills.With summer at the doorstep, and already here, in some locales, a killer cavalry of refreshing brewskis have arrived. Therefore today, I share with you a delightful beer from Platform Beer Co., one of Cleveland’s newer breweries. Pictured above is a pint of Platform‘s New Cleveland Palesner.

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Moonlight Brewing Company | Reality Czeck

ABV 4.8%

Since everyone has already hopped on (pun intended) the pumpkin train, I thought I would instead giddy up on the often forgotten Pilsner train because we hardly get autumn in Southern California. And few perform better in the Pilsner department than Moonlight Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, Ca.

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KelSo Beer Company | Pilsner

ABV: 5.5%

IBU: 23

Barely there at eight years old, KelSo Beer Company lives in the heart of Brooklyn, New York under the supervision of brewer Kelly Taylor and wife Sonia Giacobbe. For a New Yorker, this brewery’s inception surfaced from an interesting background. Taylor, in fact, oversees production for the entire Heartland Brewery group — which, if you are a local here, know is the leading brewpub of the craft beer movement in the nineties. When the distribution of native beers was nearly non-existent, with beer taps so redundant we avoided the bar scene altogether, the fiery red lights of Heartland Brewery shone like a beacon for lost ships in the night. He is a master of his trade, and by all means, a trusted name whispered among the beer-enthusiasts walking our streets. Read More

Viru Pilsner – A. Le Coq Brewery, Estonia

ABV: 5.0%
IBU: N/A

On a normal trip to my local liquor emporium, I stumbled upon a strange sight in one of the back coolers. Upon gazing, I see “Viru, beer from Estonia!”. My first thought was “where the hell is Estonia? Eastern block, maybe?” My next thought: “Well, I don’t think I’ve ever had a European beer from outside of Belgium, so let’s give it a whirl!”

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Sixpoint Brewing – The Crisp

ABV 5.4% IBU’s 42

Although they are coming up on their 10-year anniversary, I did not become very familiar with Sixpoint Brewing until GABF of last year. Since then, it seems I am constantly introduced to more awesome facts about them. Not to mention their great beer. Just last night, I found myself in front of a phenomenal Chicago centric beer list, however I chose Sixpoint’s The Crisp, a combination of a German and Bohemian Pilsner.

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Ultimate 6er for the Macro Convert

I recently decided to buy only craft beer, but sometimes I still get in the mood for something yellow, bubbly and light in alcohol. If you’re trying to kick PBR for a better option, try some beers that always work for me. Here is my Ultimate 6er for the Macro Convert.

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Happy Hour Bike Ride with Joe’s Pilsner from Avery Brewing Company

Joe’s Pilsner – Avery Brewing Company Boulder, CO

ABV: 4.7%

IBU: 50

One of my favorite times to drink is at the … Read More

Judging A Beer By Its Label

A few weeks ago, some friends and I were at Whole Foods picking up some of their amazing guacamole (seriously, best grocery store guac EVER), and decided to get some … Read More