I'm not going to lie. I expect perfection from this beer. Not that I expect this beer to be necessarily the best beer I've ever had, but I expected to be the perfect pilsner. This is the original recipe from the original brewer from which this style originated. That's a lot of use of the word original in various forms, and I think it's probably warranted in this case. I have been looking forward to trying this beer since I bought it this week.
As seems usual for beers in these tall glasses, the head seems like a bit much for the rest of the beer, but I am almost positive it is just down to the glass. The golden-yellow beer is very clear through the center like a pristine urine sample. The aroma is unexpectedly floral with a bread malt base and hints of light spices. It smells very simple, but it smells pretty good.Zounds! This beer has a lot more going on to it then I expected. It has lemongrass, wheat, bread, spices, and even significant bitterness. At first it really didn't seem like that, but all of the flavors seem to hit right as the beer was going down the gullet. The back of the throat is where this beer seems to live, and it is thriving there. I have had many Pilsners in the past, and I was told that they should be mostly aping this beer, but I don't think I've tasted a beer quite like this.
Tip-in is mildly bitter (almost tart) with grains and flowers under a sheath of carbonation that is barely burbling. The middle of the beer hits with solidity as the bread and grains weigh everything down and the grass and flowers wave about in an unbridled and not particularly pleasant way. The finish turns almost funky with the tartness entering back in before bitterness takes over and an almost skunky trail off leads away.
I let a little warmth get into it, and it got considerably worse.
Bottom line: I'm profoundly disappointed.
1.75/5