Reuben’s Brews Pilsner

A hearty malt base with herbal hop notes on top and just a bit of a doughy yeast note. The subtle hop notes remind me of a pleasant blend of dried Italian herbs and spices. Malt takes the lead on the palate with a nice balance between toasted and sweet. Both carbonation and a soft bitterness keep this beer nicely balanced and very drinkable. Full bodied for a golden beer. Overall: great subtle complexity; something I’d love to have available in my home market! Should go well with any dish using Italian red sauces.

Ray Daniels is the founder and director of the Cicerone Certification Program and the author, editor or publisher of more than two dozen books on beer and brewing. Follow him on Twitter @Cicerone_org.

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There’s ever so slight sulfur on the nose, which I always enjoy in a pilsner. The beer is highly carbonated and finishes crisp and clean, another hallmark of the style. And it’s as bright in color as it is on the palate, with spicy, lemony hops set against a biscuity malt base. It’s tough to wrangle from the beer additional descriptors, but sometimes the best pilsners exhibit a sophisticated simplicity. While I can’t go on and on describing this beer, I could go on and on drinking it. It checks every box you want in a pilsner. 

Daniel Hartis is the editor of All About Beer Magazine.

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