(NW) Redhook Ales’ Rope Swing Pilsner Gets A B
Woodinville, WA – While we have been away from writing our thoughts regarding the various fresh and interesting beers, it doesn’t mean that we have forgotten about them. When we got back from our trip to the East coast we noticed a familiar cardboard package waiting on our doorstep from Redhook Ales out of Woodinville. Previously we discussed their Big Ballard Imperial India Pale Ale, if you want to learn more about their Imp. IPA go here.
Installed in the package was two 12 ounces bottles of their newly developed and released Rope Swing Pilsner. Dubbed a Czech-style Pilsner, the category evoked thought of imports like Pilsner Urquell or Bud-weizer (commonly called Czechvar). Traditional pilsners are pale or golden and most always demonstrate strong clarity.
Under closer examination we learned that the style in question got its roots as far back as the 1840’s, in the modern day region of Plzen. The style itself was discovered when brewers noticed that the caves of the area provided an optimal temperature for their bottom fermented lager yeast. Before this most Pilsners were a top fermented dark beer with little in regards to clarity.With some trepidation we approached the Redhook spin on the Czech-style (or Bohemian) Pilsner.
After popping the cap off the Rope Swing and pouring out the contents, we noticed the familiar pale golden color with the expected strong clarity.
In the more familiar exercise we took the glass gave it a swirl and then placed it under our nose to take in residual corn sweetness, sharp saaz hop bitterness which was capped with a slight floral character.
Despite what our expectations were from previous pilsners (Czechvar, Urquell, etc), Rope Swing presented a grainy-like flavor with some mild hop bitterness. Resting the beer on our tongue we picked up a mild almost medium weight. Overall, a balanced summer ale that would best a can of PBR, Budweiser, Miller, or Coors any day of the week. Suddenly I have a craving for pork brats’ and some Dijon Mustard.
Thought’s by your colleagues
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18134/56977
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/redhook-ropeswing/116043/66840/
B, worth trying and would work well at a barbecue
Cheers
About the photos’ author
Paul “Fruit Trees” Orchard, is an amateur craft beer enthusiast and amateur photographer. Throughout the many years in craft beer he is always carrying a camera (smartphone, digital, traditional) and is invites you to see that beer can also be exciting even if you can’t drink the photo.
In accordance with new FTC regulations regarding bloggers and endorsements, the aforementioned company has provided me a free sample that was used for research prior to writing this review.
