The Bar Towel

This is a product not available in Canada, it is a new Sam Adams product, or new to me, and warrants mention by virtue of being truly outstanding. I had it on draft at La Guardia's airport bar. It has a fine rich clean malt flavour and a big fresh taste of Hallertauer hops (or a similar variety) that are of the highest quality. I can't imagine any European pils would be better. Quite honestly it blew away most of the craft beers sampled recently in New York except for the amazing Sinebrychoff porter on draft at Gingerman and a handful of other beers there, e.g., a Leipzig Gose from Germany and some of the Brew Dog beers they are featuring now. Brew Dog is really reaching its stride and the beers strike me as a kind of trans-Atlantic blending, they seem to combine some of the best features of American and English beers. One I liked a lot was Davine, a circa 12% ABV dark ale stored in a whisky cask. Another was 5:00 a.m., an amber beer, 5% ABV with a West Coast-like hopping. Top-class.

Gary

How does the SA Noble Pils compare to Victory Prima, Sly Fox Pikeland, King Pils, and Brooklyn Pils?

I love pilsener and will have to remember to grab some of this if I find myself in the US.

All mentioned are excellent and I must add Mike Duggan's German Pils. I have a particular admiration for Duggan's, Victory's and Sam Adams'.

Gary

mintjellie wrote:How does the SA Noble Pils compare to Victory Prima, Sly Fox Pikeland, King Pils, and Brooklyn Pils?

I love pilsener and will have to remember to grab some of this if I find myself in the US.

It's a great beer. I probably like Prima Pils more. And then King. But it's definitely worth picking up.

I was a little disappointed in the Noble Pils to be honest. It seemed to me that I enjoyed the White Ale that it replaced much more.

Much prefer the Victory Prima to this(haven't tried the others sorry)

Timmy wrote:I was a little disappointed in the Noble Pils to be honest. It seemed to me that I enjoyed the White Ale that it replaced much more.

Much prefer the Victory Prima to this(haven't tried the others sorry)

King is very well crafted traditional Czech-style pils, brewed right here in Ontario. It's worth checking out if you like pilsener.

The Noble Pils is available in six pack bottles here in Newfoundland. I like it.

Timmy wrote:I was a little disappointed with the Noble Pils to be honest. I prefer Victory Prima Pils

^ What he said ^

This is my review on BA. Gave it a 3.7 (B):

"Saffron golden yellow with a ring of white head and threads of lacing on the pint glass. Grainy funkiness on the nose, hops are very mild (I get some lime), sort of flowery, honey and pils malt in the background. Flavour is fresh wheat and lemon grass with a spicy, citric hop bite and dryly malted finish. Not nearly as bold or tasty as I thought it would be. Nice crisp mouthfeel, light-bodied and peppery. A trace of Noble bitterness lingers on the palate. Good overall, but I'm pretty disappointed. I bought into the BA hype, expecting an excellent beer, and this is really just a better-than-average pils. Great for a session, though I prefer Victory Prima."

Interesting how perceptions vary. Mine was heavy-bodied with a big resinous fresh hops taste and finish, the only parallel locally I could give is Pilsner Urquel, or a cross between that and Mike Duggan's German Pils perhaps. Mine was on draft which might make a difference in some cases but it depends also on the draft freshness, mine left heavy rings on the glass and seemed very recently packaged.

Gary

I've tried both the draft and the bottle, and felt they were both a little lack luster.

nicktbm wrote:I've tried both the draft and the bottle, and felt they were both a little lack luster.

Welcome to the forum! Nice to see an influx of Londoners joining up!

I had it the last time I was in New York. I found myself wanting more. Not that it was a bad beer, just I was expecting more. It wasn't all that hoppy. Although well balanced I just found the taste subdued and not as pronounced as I would have liked. Good beer, I'll have it again, but wouldn't be my first choice.