Victory
Braumeister Series Saaz Pils
Review Date
So there I was
sitting at the bar at my local Taco Mac perusing the draft beer menu. You
may look at the food selection before you think about what beer you'll be
drinking, but with me, the beer always comes first. Anyway, the first beer
that caught my eye was Victory Saaz Pilsner, part of Victory's
Braumeister (German for brewmaster) series of beers. These pilsner beers
showcase a single variety of hop, and as you've likely already guessed, the
one I sampled featured the Saaz hop. I should explain I'm
fairly new to this location in Canton, Georgia, just a mere three miles from
where I live. We just moved here a month ago, after all. So, they don't know me yet. The bartender seemed a tad hesitant
when I ordered the beer, as if she wasn't sure if I liked craft beer or not. At
this I was disappointed (I was wearing my "Lord of the Beer" T-Shirt after all),
and assured her that if it was from Victory, I was sure to like it. Anyway, a
pint of the beer soon arrived, and I was exulting in it's hoppy glory. Victory Braumeister
Saaz Pils made the perfect first beer of the afternoon, and was as sunny and
bright with herbal hops as the warm April day on which I enjoyed it. The beer
pours to a pale golden color with a slight spritzy head formation and a very
grassy, herbal bitter hop nose. The palate is very crisp and biscuity, like
chewing a handful of fresh pilsner malt. The hops soon take
over, herbal, grassy, and a tad minty, and they become quite bitter in the
finish. I love the earthy character of Saaz hops, and they were certainly well
represented here in all their glory. Comparisons between this beer and Victory's
perennial favorite, Prima Pils, are inevitable. To be sure, this beer is lighter
in both body and hop assertiveness than Prima, but is a delightful refresher,
well suited to washing down spicy foods. Perhaps a plate of spicy wings? Then
too, at about 5.5% alcohol by volume, you can drink a few without becoming
overly tipsy. However you enjoy it,
enjoy it soon, as this one is a rarity indeed.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
Also From This Brewery
