A March of German Styled Pilsner

Apparently March, or at least its last two weeks, has tilted towards German styled pilsners as that beer style surfaced regularly over that period. But what's the difference between the German styled pilsner and it's Bohemian (Czech) relative? Whereas both beer styles are lagers, Czech pilsners are brewed with soft water (lower levels of calcium and magnesium) and utilize Czech Saaz hops which provide a very mild, earthy, herbal and spicy aroma. That's a Pilsner Urquell. On the other hand, the German styled pilsner is generally dryer, lighter, and crisper. They typically use German noble hop varieties, especially Hallertauer (highly floral, slightly earthy, and weaker spicy flavor) and Tettnanger (mild, floral, and slightly). 

The beer style first appeared during a weekend trip to Philadelphia where the Sly Fox Brewing Company Pikeland Pils and Victory Brewing Company Prima Pils were available at restaurants and bars. Both were earthy and herbal, light, clean and refreshing. This style was also available during a stop at 2nd Story Brewing Co., which is highly recommended for both its beer and food. They offered the Daisy Point Pils, perhaps their best offering, which hit all the flavor points.

When I returned home two German styled pilsners had ascended their draft list at our local WholeFoods Market: the Sixpoint Brewery The Crisp and the AleSmith Brewing Pilsner. Both were steller with the Alesmith completely balanced between hops and minerals, earth, and herbs and the Sixpoint providing a more pronounced hop presence.  A day later I stopped into my local beer store (Norms Beer & Wine) and a representative from Starr Hill Brewing was pouring their Warehouse Pils - a refreshing high mineral and herbal beer with a decent hop payload.

I wonder where the next German Pils will pop up this weekend. Cheers.

Sparkling Cyser? Oh yea - Blue Dog Mead Green Collar Cyser Mead

 After a day of cycling I ended with the normal practice of grabbing a beer at my local Wholefood Market. The on tap menu was heavy on heavy beers so I ventured to the singles isle and sighted an interesting green can holding the Blue Dog Mead Green Collar Cyser Mead. Sparkling cyser mead at that. Cyser is a traditional mead made with apples, so I thought, why not.   The apples are sourced from Washington State and fermented with Wildflower Honey. After the injection of CO2, the result is a refreshing beverage, with a surprising vanilla finish and not that laden with R.S.  Quite thirst quenching and a decent pairing with local oysters. Cheers.

The United Grapes of America - Hawaii's Tedeschi Vineyards Hula O'Maui

4th of July Hula O'Maui.- Ocean City MD

We are going to expand on a great article by Jeff Harding at StarChefs.com on the The United Grapes of America and attempt to taste a wine from each state once per week. And why not on this 4th of July feature a wine from our most recent state - the Tedeschi Vineyards Hula O'Maui. This is a sparkling wine made in the Methode Champenoise style from 100% Maui pineapples. The wines are available in the East Coast courtesy of Vino50 Selections and I purchased at Wholefoods for $23.99.

Although Tedeschi Vineyards\Maui's Winery grow and produce grape wines, we would expect a Hawaiian winery to utilize fruit indigenous to the islands. So we weren't surprised that they offered a pineapple wine - the surprise was the sparkler. And as expected, this wine is all pineapple - the tasting notes mention other fruit characteristics - but let me tell you, this is pineapple - from nose to tail. Many readers might be thinking that the wine must be sweet; and yes there is inherit fruitiness that may be misinterpreted as sweetness.. But the wine is fermented brut - completely dry.  And talk about refreshing - who needs Chardonnay (at least when dreaming of the Tropics); in the words of Andrew Stover, "a fun wine". Happy 4th of July. 

StarChefs.com: The United Grapes of America

Update: Evidently my family has a more sophisticated palette than me because many in our group picked up citrus flavors as well as some clove.