All right Wiseacre, let's do this. You're bringing me an Italian-style Pilsner. I wouldn't expect such a thing from a Tennessee brewery, but you guys march to the beat of your own drum. Honestly, the only beer that I can even remember coming from Italy is Peroni, and that's a lager. I can't even say for sure that I've ever had a different Italian beer, and I almost certainly have not had an Italian Pilsner. So, you may have more experience with Italian-style Pilsners than I, and I hope that means you know what you're doing.
The remarkably clear pale yellow beverage has about 30 small bits of white stuff floating around in it. I guess this is their idea of compromising between a completely clear beverage and a hazy beverage. The head, normally quite voluminous in this particular glass, is actually rather reluctant to erupt. Nevertheless, retention is decent with just a little bit of the beer showing through the giant lily pad in the middle and a strong ring around the side with echoes of lacing. The aroma is bread, flowers, and light citrus.First sip has the taste that follows the nose directly, but it also tastes a bit watery at first. A second or two after swallowing, and aftertaste rises up with bitterness and fruit rinds. I'm not really sure what to make of this. I'm not going to say that it's particularly good, but I can't say that it's bad. I'm not sure that it's average, but I have no idea where to place this. It's different, and different is welcome. The flavors will have to stand on their own in a full gulp.
Tip-in is bread malt with spices brushed upon it while carbonation barely tingles at the free ends. The middle turns the carbonation up to a ruckus as fruit rinds try to fight it for supremacy and all other flavors recede under the onslaught. The finish becomes dry before a counter wave of bitterness hits and holds on to bread for the trail off.
Bottom Line: Ultimately, the experiment was probably not worth it.
2.25/5