This is a
black Pilsner. Yes, I know, a black Pilsner. What will the crazy kids at Camden
come up with next? The idea behind it is quite simple; what if their Hells
lager went to the dark side? Execution is slightly more complex, as they wanted
the colour without too much roast flavour coming to the fore.
To help keep
their dark-but-still-Pilsner plans on track, they added Premiant hops from the
Czech Republic and Motueka from New Zealand. Throw that in with a lager yeast
and finish off with some dry hopping for good measure. Simples. But does it
work?
It’s a 330ml
bottle and is 4.8%. It poured black with a frothy mocha head. The aroma was
pleasant: a subtle mix of fresh coffee, a little malted bread and a slight
roast tang. The beer itself was crisp with clean, distinct flavours. Sweet malt
and coffee quickly gives way to a surprisingly dry, lemon-tinged aftertaste.
Sometimes
these experiments fail to come off-they look better on paper than they fare in practice.
However, this beer is an unqualified success. I really enjoyed it. Somewhat
reminiscent of a Schwarzbier, it has a good balance of flavours. But its trump
card must be the dry hopping which imparts a very satisfying dryness and makes
for a very easy drinking experience.
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