Yankee Brew News Archive

Yankee Brew Review: Battle of the Boston Pilsners

Originally Published: 08/96

By: Brett Peruzzi

Yankee Brew Review

Battle of the Boston Pilsners

Despite both having quasi-pilsner style beers on the market already, Boston brewers Mass. Bay Brewing and Boston Beer Company apparently couldn't resist bringing out a "true" pilsner. After being bombarded recently with style-bending and fruit-laden craft brews, perhaps the next trend will be back-to-basics, true-to-style beers.

So how do they measure up against the archetypical beer style that made Pilsen famous, and then was bastardized world-wide? Read on and decide.

Beer: Samuel Adams Golden Pilsner

Brewer: Boston Beer Company, Boston, Massachusetts

Appearance: Dark straw to light gold; clear; small, fast-fading head.

Aroma: Subtle but pungent hop nose with slight spicy note. A hint of malt sweetness.

Taste: Soft-bodied, somewhat light. Moderate hop bitterness throughout; but very subtle, as in aroma. Some malt sweetness in middle; bitter finish of moderate length.

Summary: Echoes of a Bohemian-style pilsner, but its American microbrewing origins show up in its lighter hopping and malt profile, cleaner ferment and less overall complexity.

Beer: Harpoon Pilsner

Brewer: Mass. Bay Brewing Company, Boston, Massachusetts

Appearance: Medium gold in color; clear; soapy, retentive head.

Aroma: Spicy hop nose undercut by clean maltiness.

Taste: Big hop bitterness gathers toward the middle, then stays for a pleasantly bitter and lasting hop finish. Rounded body with good malt balance.

Summary: Nice European style pils with Germanic profile.