Steamwhistle Take 205

dhurtubise · Post by **dhurtubise** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 11:14 am

Hello everyone,

I know this is a beer that has been discussed a million times over on this board but I recently saw some rather blantant posts suggesting that this beer was pretty much in line with the Alexander Keith's and such. I thought it was worth revising the beer and perhaps the opinions on it as this lager has evolved quite a bit over the last year or so and I feel the opinions of the beer probably should as well.

I have to admit that it had probably been close to 2 years since I had sampled the beer and I may have been taken to a bit of derogatory opinion myself prior to last night. Two years ago, the beer had some DMS that I am rather sensitive to, however the beer I had last night was a much improved product.

Since the change in master brewer last year (Matt ) the beer has been ironed out and is truly a wonderful clean crisp malty lager with a beautiful delicate floral hop nose now. It is well worth revisiting.

I find it truly is amazing what a difference a good brewer can make in the more delicate beer styles.

beanmedic · Post by **beanmedic** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:12 pm

I agree. Although this beer does not compare to the greatest beers in the world, it is still somethng to be proud of. It's available enough and tasty enough to be my standby beer of choice.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:32 pm

I Had some SW about 2 months ago..bought a 6 and was not overly impressed by any great improvement. It was still a mild malty sweet pilsner a tad thin on hop and body...I'll try it again from the beer store ...the last six I got was from the LCBO and they were not in the cooler...dunno if that would hurt this beer I assume it's pastuized or sterile filtered.

midlife crisis · Post by **midlife crisis** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 12:34 pm

Have to agree, as I did in the other thread. It's in a different class entirely from Keith's and other macros, IMO.

Philip1 · Post by **Philip1** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:51 pm

I'd a fairly negative view of Steam Whistle until I tried it on tap at a downtown bar. About a year had gone by between trying it in bottles so it's possible the product has improved, but I suspected it is just one of those beers that loses something when put into bottles. Maybe I'll give it another try.

GregClow · Post by **GregClow** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:18 pm

My view of SW has always been tainted by the fact that the first time I tried it, it was lightstruck. I've had it a couple of times since and always found it pretty uninspired, but I've heard from more than one person that it's improved greatly in the last year or so. I'll have to give it another shot sometime soon.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 12:39 pm

Revisiting SW tonight in a pisner taste comparison....SW fresh King and Czechvar....will review impressions here later.

JerCraigs · Post by **JerCraigs** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:20 pm

I was hit and miss with Steamwhistle for a long time but one stinkin hot afternoon in the summer I had the pleasure of a pint or two while sitting on their patio avoiding rush hour and it was one of the better beer experiences I have had, well ever.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 3:26 am

dopple post sorry

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:23 pm

Well. I thought I'd post some impressions from my mid winter pilsner taste comparison (done for fun to rank some top pilsners I buy in my taste perspectives only). This was done on a whim and to take the suggestion to retry Steam Whistle now there is a new brewmaster in place.

On deck were:
(1) Czechvar (10/05 expirery)
(2) Steam whistle (package date 12/21/04) ,
(3) King brewery Pils ( bottled 18/11/04) and....
(4) suprise entry- Brick anniversary pils (bottled 12/04)

Serving condition:

(1) 45 Deg. F in a room temp 1/2 pint Pisner flute
(2) 36 " " " " " " " " " "
(3) 38 " " " " " " " " "
(4) 35 " " " " " " 1/2 liter weizen glass

( all temp's confirmed with my brewer's thermo placed in the bottle prior to decanting)

Impressions by rank:

Appearance: 3, 1, 2, 4

Nose: 1, 3, 4, 2

Taste: 1, 4, 2, 3

Overall rating: 1, 4, 3, 2

Steam whistle came off really well made and stacked up well against the Budvar...it is now a tastey little light craft pilsner ( it is now seems devoid of the smutty yeast tastes that fouled it on my tastings over a year ago)

Steam Whistle is back on the buy list with me...thanks to the poster that suggested revisiting it...it has improved...and now ( with that smutty yeast taste gone) you can taste the light biscuit malts and subtle hopping of this beer....I have made it a practice to hard pour a bottle to get a lot of the carbonation activity out of the way before I drink it now...the malts are easier to detect and enjoy...this one tastes better to me served warmer...like a Budvar.