Yankee Brew News Archive

Pete's Wicked Lager Introduced to NE at Boston Brewers Festival

Originally Published: Sum/93

By: Brett Peruzzi

After seven years of steadily increasing sales and distribution of Pete's Wicked Ale, including significant penetration of the New England craft beer market, Pete's Brewing Company has now introduced Pete's Wicked Lager, which made its Northeast debut at the May 1 Boston Brewers Festival.

The culmination of company founder Pete Slosberg's travels and countless liters of research in Germany and Czechslovakia, the lager is being promoted as a beer made in the German/Bohemian pilsner style. Brewed from pale and caramel malts, with a blend of Willamette, Tettnanger, Liberty, and Mt. Hood hops, Pete's Wicked Lager is naturally carbonated by krausening, and weighs in at 3.9% alcohol. Brewed at the company's St Paul, Minnnesota brewery, it is available by the six pack, in 22 oz. bottles, and on draught.

Tasting notes on Pete's Wicked Lager:

Appearance: Medium-gold in color; moderate bead; good head retention--creamy.

Aroma: Wonderfully floral, spicy hop nose; earthy pungency; mildly sweet malt undertones.

Taste: Smooth, medium-full body; sweet, rounded maltiness with strong hop backing; finishes dry with spiciness of hops; low, fine-beaded carbonation level from krausening contributes to smoothness and drinkability.

Summary: Fresh, well-crafted American microbrewery interpretation of a German lager, straddling the line between the pilsner and Munich Helles styles. Dry hopping with Liberty hops, an American hop very similar to German Hallertauer, the de rigeur Teutonic lager hop, adds to its authentic European profile.