Elemental Pilsner

Tasted several hours after a pour (I was too caught up in the company). I received this bottle from the Iowa City Brew Fest a couple weeks ago. Enjoyed in the kitchen with David Misewicz while Jen was moving into the house.

Appearance: Golden straw, with a relatively strong head (even 2 hours after the pour, it still maintained a spotted film. Lacing is wet. Clarity is on the high end, but with a smidge of haze, in which I'd give a 9/10 for transparency. Still now, but was flustering a wealth of carbonation initially.
Aroma: Peppery with a touch of lemon and a undertoned honey sweetness. Floral up front with a mild fruit complexity at the end. Nothing too far from standard.
Taste: Definitely a honey characteristic to the malt bill, which is partial to the yeast attenuation and the integration and reaction of the hops and the malt. The finish is very crisp with a peppery bite, and a lemon zest element. The bittering hops are zesty but florally bitter, yet not overwhelming to the point they leave nothing to get through. I get Apple esters and pears in the finish. A bit of a resin, grassy bitterness in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, and certainly on the bigger end. with a nicely incorporated carbonation. Some residual stickiness present means more of a lower attenuation for a pilsner. Drying finish.
Overall Impression: A decent pilsner, but on the fruitier side with less emphasis on the crisp noble hops that are common to the style. Nevertheless it is quite drinkable and still relatively refreshing.


83/100