Prima Pils – Victory Brewing Co.

So yesterday I drank a Chirstoffel Bier to support the Dutch in their efforts to make the World Cup final.  I can only imagine it was my alcoholic support that inspired them to such great heights in their match.  To ensure a Netherlands v Germany final, today I am drinking the closest thing in my cellar to a German beer: Victory Prima Pils.  Pils is the German style pilsner, so I think this will do the trick, despite being brewed in the USA.  I actually drink this beer fairly regularly, ever since I first had it at an American Craft Brewer’s pairing dinner at Beer Bistro, so it will be interesting to drink it “under the microscope”, as it were.

Prima Pils - Victory Brewing Co.

From a 355ml bottle with a brewed on date stamped on the label, the beer is lemon-peel yellow.  Nice fluffy head sticks around for ages, and leaves good bit of lace.  Very active carbonation.  Aroma is astringent hops, a little piney and metallic.  Perhaps a touch of malt, but it’s hard to get through the head.  A lot more malt in the flavour, grainy and sweet, but also a very sharp citrusy hop.  While the grain is immediately apparent, the hops come roaring in, and dominate the beer.  If you’re not a fan of hops, tread carefully.  There’s a bit of a wood-like characteristic to the middle of the taste, but the finish is all hops, very dry and resinous.  The beer is very light bodied, with that excited carbonation it goes down very easily.  I could (and have) drink this all night.  Quite a beer, not your average pils at all.  It’s a very American interpretation of the style.  Big brash American hoppy beer.  Nice one, Victory.  Here’s to a German victory today!  Prost!