I loved everything I’ve tried from Le Castor. They put a lot of care in crafting high quality beers. This is the first time that they brew a Pilsner & I am expecting great things from it due to positive experiences. They made a fantastic IPL with 100% Pilsner malt a year ago & it was so good, it’s the reason why I bought this beer.
“…it left me wishing for more.”
Pilsner
Brewed by: Microbrasserie Le Castor
Type: Pilsner
Region: Rigaud, Quebec, Canada
ABV: 4.8%
Hops: Saaz, Premiant (Organic)
Cereals: Pilsner Malt (Organic)
IBU: N/A
Appearance: 9/10
Le Castor has changed from bottle to can over the last year. This is a good choice, in my opinion, since it’s the best way to preserve the aromas & flavours of the beer. They still use bottles for beers with aging potential. The label is quite informative with cues on pairings & serving temperature as well as a nice description of the brew. The Pilsner has a deep straw colour with a surprising opacity. Upon pouring, a dense white head formed, although it quickly vanished. I usually prefer a better retention in this particular style. However, the lacing is quite beautiful & the effervescence seems to be moderate. The visual analysis lets me suppose that it’s going to be less crisp than the average craft Pilsner.
Nose: 10/15
The nose is quite delicate, hinting at some fruitiness & a touch of cereal. The Saaz appears with some dried floral aromas along with a subtle grass character. Other than that there seems to be a slight spicy notes, close to white pepper, which I find to be pretty common in Czech hop varieties such as those used in this beer. The Pilsner Malt shows some fresh cereals & some white bread, but not much else. It’s not bad, although it is a really quiet nose which doesn’t allow for some complexity or depth.
Mouth: 11.5/15
On the palate, the beer has a certain crisp sensation. The texture is fluid & the body is quite light. The bitterness is well balanced with a hint of sugar. Finally, the bubbles make it seem even lighter, although not as aerial as I would’ve liked. All in all, the mouthfeel is good. I would’ve preferred something a little more refreshing, drier & crisper. The flavours are slightly more intense showcasing faint apricots & grapefruit peel. Then comes the same fresh cereals & white bread from the malt as well as the spicy, floral notes of the hops.
Finish: 9/10
The finish is the best part of my experience with this lager. The flavours linger on loads of crunched cereals, dried flowers & peach puree. The bitterness outlives the sweetness, which forces you to take another sip rather quickly.
Overall: 79/100
I know I seemed a bit harsh on this Pilsner but it wasn’t bad at all. I just like them with more complexity to them to move as far away as possible from the bland commercial examples. This was heading in the right direction, although it left me wishing for more. The mouthfeel was refreshing & crisp, but just not enough & the flavours lacked depth. It was good, just not great & I would be more than happy to drink this again, although I probably won’t buy it anymore. Since then, they have released a new Pilsner, which seems more promising from the few comments I’ve read.
3-word Description:
Light, Cereal & Floral.
The Reference
More information @microlecastor.ca
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